Content protection processing method

Abstract

To provide a digital broadcast receiver capable of performing more value-added functions. [Solution] The broadcast receiving device 40100 includes a broadcast receiving unit capable of receiving location information that describes a reference destination for acquiring broadcast data of broadcast program content and data related to said broadcast data from a broadcast transmission line; a communication unit capable of receiving communication data of broadcast program content from the reference destination described in the location information via a communication line; a recording and playback unit capable of recording and playing back the broadcast data of the broadcast program content received by the broadcast receiving unit; and an output unit that outputs the broadcast data of the broadcast program content played back from the recording and playback unit to an external device. The output state from the output unit includes a state in which location information is output in which the description of the reference destination has been rewritten to indicate a server function unit, and a state in which layout control information is output in the state in which it was received by the broadcast receiving unit.

Description

Technical Field

[0006] , ,

[0001] The present invention relates to a content protection processing method.

Background Art

[0002] One of the extended functions of digital broadcast services is data broadcasting that transmits digital data by broadcast waves and displays various types of information such as weather forecasts, news, and recommended programs. A large number of commercially available TV receivers that can receive data broadcasts already exist, and many technologies related to data broadcast reception, including Patent Document 1 below, have been published.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In response to environmental changes related to content distribution in recent years, TV receivers are also required to have various function expansions. In particular, there are many demands for the distribution of content and cooperative applications using a broadband network environment such as the Internet, and for the high definition / high resolution of video content. However, it is difficult to provide a high-value-added TV receiver that can meet the above demands by simply diverting the data broadcast reception function or the like provided in the current TV receiver, or by only expanding the functions of the data broadcast reception function or the like.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to realize a content protection processing method that can execute a function with higher added value.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] As a means for solving the above problems, the technology described in the claims is used.

[0007] To give one example, a content protection processing method in a broadcast receiving device of a transmission system in which control information related to a broadcast program and broadcast program content are transmitted from the broadcasting station and the receiving unit of the broadcast receiving device receives the control information and the broadcast program content, comprising: a reception step in which the receiving unit of the broadcast receiving device receives the control information related to the broadcast program and the broadcast program content; a recording reservation step in which the broadcast program is reserved for recording using an EIT containing event information from the control information received in the reception step; a storage step in which, for the broadcast program reserved for recording in the recording reservation step, the broadcast program content received by the receiving unit of the broadcast receiving device in the reception step is stored using copy control information from the control information received in the reception step; a video output step in which the video of the broadcast program content received by the receiving unit of the broadcast receiving device is output by controlling the acquisition of video using an AIT which is application information from the control information received in the reception step; and the receiving unit of the broadcast receiving device receives The system includes: a viewing output step for outputting the broadcast program content stored in the storage step to an external device for viewing; a copy processing step for copying the broadcast program content received by the receiving unit of the broadcast receiving device and stored in the storage step to an external device; and a move processing step for moving the broadcast program content received by the receiving unit of the broadcast receiving device and stored in the storage step to an external device. In the storage step, if the broadcast program content received by the receiving unit of the broadcast receiving device in the reception step is content that has been transmitted with protection allowing only one generation of copying by copy control information included in the control information, the broadcast program content is stored in an encrypted state so that it can be played back only by the broadcast receiving device.When the content transmitted in the transmission system is protected to allow a predetermined number of copies, the broadcast program content is stored in a state that allows for nine copies in the copy processing step and one move in the move processing step. The storage of the broadcast program content received by the receiving unit of the broadcast receiving device in the storage step can be performed at a storage unit located at the output destination of the IP interface, via an IP interface composed of Ethernet-compatible hardware provided in the broadcast receiving device. The storage of the broadcast program content received by the receiving unit of the broadcast receiving device to the storage unit located at the output destination of the IP interface in the storage step, output of the broadcast program content stored in the storage step for viewing to an external device in the viewing output step, copying to an external device in the copy processing step, and the move processing step The system allows for moving content to an external device via the same IP interface configured with Ethernet-compatible hardware, and changes the control state depending on whether the external device's IP address is within the same subnet as the broadcast receiving device's IP address or not. This control states whether output for viewing to the external device via the IP interface in the viewing output step, copying to the external device via the IP interface in the copy processing step, and moving to the external device via the IP interface in the move processing step are possible or prohibited. The content protection processing method used allows for output of the broadcast program content to the external device via HDMI in addition to output via the IP interface configured with Ethernet-compatible hardware in the viewing output step. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] By using the technology of the present invention, it is possible to realize a content protection processing method that can perform functions with higher added value. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a system configuration diagram showing an example of a broadcast communication system including a broadcast receiving device according to Example 1. [Figure 2A] This is a diagram illustrating the overview of coded signals in MMT. [Figure 2B] This is a diagram of the MPU configuration in MMT. [Figure 2C] This is a diagram showing the configuration of an MMTP packet in MMT. [Figure 3] This is a conceptual diagram of the protocol stack of a broadcasting system using MMT. [Figure 4] This is a hierarchical diagram of the control information used in broadcasting systems. [Figure 5A] This is a list of tables used in the TLV-SI broadcasting system. [Figure 5B] This is a list of descriptors used in the TLV-SI broadcasting system. [Figure 6A] This is a list of messages used in the MMT-SI broadcasting system. [Figure 6B] This is a list of tables used in the MMT-SI broadcasting system. [Figure 6C] This is a list (part 1) of descriptors used in the MMT-SI broadcasting system. [Figure 6D] This is a list (part 2) of descriptors used in the MMT-SI broadcasting system. [Figure 6E] This diagram shows the relationship between data transmission in the broadcasting system and each table. [Figure 7A] This is a block diagram of the broadcast receiving device according to Example 1. [Figure 7B] This is a diagram showing the logical plane structure of the presentation function of the broadcast receiving device according to Example 1. [Figure 7C] This is a system configuration diagram of the clock synchronization / presentation synchronization of the broadcast receiving device according to Example 1. [Figure 7D] This is a software configuration diagram of the broadcast receiving device according to Example 1. [Figure 8] It is a block diagram of a broadcasting station server according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 9] It is a block diagram of a service provider server according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 10A] It is a block diagram of a portable information terminal according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 10B] It is a software configuration diagram of a portable information terminal according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 11A] It is a diagram showing the data structure of MH-TOT of a broadcasting system. [Figure 11B] It is a diagram showing the format of the JST_time parameter of a broadcasting system. [Figure 12] It is a diagram showing a method for calculating the current date from MJD of a broadcast receiving apparatus according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 13A] It is a diagram showing the configuration of the NTP format of a broadcasting system. [Figure 13B] It is a diagram showing the data structure of the MPU timestamp descriptor of a broadcasting system. [Figure 13C] It is a diagram showing the data structure of the time information in the TMCC extended information area of a broadcasting system. [Figure 14] It is an operation sequence diagram during channel scanning of a broadcast receiving apparatus according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 15A] It is a diagram showing the data structure of TLV-NIT of a broadcasting system. [Figure 15B] It is a diagram showing the data structure of the satellite distribution system descriptor of a broadcasting system. [Figure 15C] It is a diagram showing the data structure of the service list descriptor of a broadcasting system. [Figure 15D] It is a diagram showing the data structure of AMT of a broadcasting system. [Figure 16] It is an operation sequence diagram during station selection of a broadcast receiving apparatus according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 17] It is a diagram showing the data structure of MPT of a broadcasting system. [Figure 18] It is a diagram showing the data structure of LCT of a broadcasting system. [Figure 19A]This figure shows an example of assigning layouts to layout numbers based on LCT. [Figure 19B] This figure shows an example of assigning layouts to layout numbers based on LCT. [Figure 19C] This figure shows an example of assigning layouts to layout numbers based on LCT. [Figure 19D] This figure shows an example of assigning layouts to layout numbers based on LCT. [Figure 20A] This diagram illustrates the operation of exception handling for screen layout control based on LCT. [Figure 20B] This diagram illustrates the operation of exception handling for screen layout control based on LCT. [Figure 21] This diagram shows the data structure of the MH-EIT broadcasting system. [Figure 22A] This is a screen display diagram of the EPG screen of the broadcast receiving device according to Example 1. [Figure 22B] This is a screen display diagram of the EPG screen of the broadcast receiving device according to Example 1. [Figure 22C] This is a screen display diagram of the EPG screen of the broadcast receiving device according to Example 1. [Figure 23] This is a screen display diagram of the broadcast receiving device according to Example 1 when an emergency warning broadcast is displayed. [Figure 24] This is a block diagram of the broadcast receiving device according to Example 2. [Figure 25] This diagram illustrates the inconsistency in the current time display when broadcasting services are switched. [Figure 26A] This diagram illustrates the operation of the selection control for the current time information reference source according to Example 2. [Figure 26B] This is an operation sequence diagram of the current time information update process according to Example 2. [Figure 27A] This is a screen display diagram of the EPG screen of the broadcast receiving device according to Example 2. [Figure 27B] This is a screen display diagram of the EPG screen of the broadcast receiving device according to Example 2. [Figure 28] This is a system configuration diagram of the broadcasting and communication system according to Example 3. [Figure 29A] This is a block diagram of the broadcast receiving device according to Example 3. [Figure 29B] This is a software configuration diagram of the broadcast receiving device according to Example 3. [Figure 30] This is an interface configuration diagram of the broadcast receiving device and monitoring device according to Example 3. [Figure 31] This is a diagram illustrating the package configuration of broadcasting services. [Figure 32A] This is a screen display diagram illustrating the recording reservation setting screen of the broadcast receiving device according to Example 3. [Figure 32B] This is a screen display diagram illustrating the menu configuration of the broadcast receiving device according to Example 3. [Figure 33A] This diagram shows the data structure of the MH-AIT broadcasting system. [Figure 33B] This is a list of parameters and descriptors for the MH-AIT broadcasting system. [Figure 34] This is a screen display diagram illustrating the recorded program list screen of the broadcast receiving device according to Example 3. [Figure 35A] This diagram illustrates the output format of the broadcast receiving device according to Example 4. [Figure 35B] This diagram illustrates the output format of the broadcast receiving device according to Example 4. [Figure 35C] This diagram illustrates the output format of the broadcast receiving device according to Example 4. [Figure 35D] This diagram illustrates the output format of the broadcast receiving device according to Example 4. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Hereinafter, examples of embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. (Example 1)

[0011] [System Configuration] Figure 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an example of a broadcast communication system including the broadcast receiving device of this embodiment. The broadcast communication system of this embodiment consists of a broadcast receiving device 100 and an antenna 100a, a broadband network such as the Internet 200 and a router device 200r and an access point 200a, a broadcasting station's radio tower 300t and a broadcasting satellite (or communication satellite) 300s, a broadcasting station server 300, a service provider server 400, other application servers 500, a mobile telephone communication server 600 and a base station 600b of the mobile telephone communication network, and a mobile information terminal 700.

[0012] The broadcast receiving device 100 receives broadcast waves transmitted from the radio tower 300t via the broadcast satellite (or communication satellite) 300s and antenna 100a. Alternatively, it may receive the broadcast waves transmitted from the radio tower 300t directly from antenna 100a without going through the broadcast satellite (or communication satellite) 300s. The broadcast receiving device 100 can also connect to the internet 200 via the router device 200r, and can transmit and receive data by communicating with various server devices and other communication equipment on the internet 200.

[0013] The router device 200r is connected to the internet 200 by wired communication, and is also connected to the broadcast receiving device 100 by wired or wireless communication, and to the personal information terminal 700 by wireless communication. The wireless communication may use a method such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark). This makes it possible for the broadcast receiving device 100 and the personal information terminal 700 to mutually send and receive data via the router device 200r. However, communication between the broadcast receiving device 100 and the personal information terminal 700 may be performed directly using a method such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) or NFC (Near Field Communication) without going through the router device 200r.

[0014] The radio tower 300t is broadcasting equipment of the broadcasting station and transmits broadcast waves containing encoded data for broadcast programs, subtitle information, other applications, general-purpose data, etc. The broadcasting satellite (or communication satellite) 300s is a relay that receives broadcast waves transmitted from the radio tower 300t of the broadcasting station, performs frequency conversion as appropriate, and then retransmits the broadcast waves to the antenna 100a connected to the broadcasting receiving device 100. The broadcasting station also has a broadcasting station server 300. The broadcasting station server 300 stores broadcast programs (video content, etc.) and metadata for each broadcast program, such as the program title, program ID, program summary, cast information, broadcast date and time, etc., and is capable of providing the video content and metadata to service providers based on a contract. The provision of the video content and metadata to service providers may be done through an API (Application Programming Interface) provided by the broadcasting station server 300.

[0015] The service provider server 400 is a server device provided by the service provider and is capable of providing various services linked to broadcast programs distributed by the broadcasting station. The service provider server 400 also stores, manages, and distributes video content and metadata provided by the broadcasting station server 300, as well as various content and applications linked to broadcast programs. It also has the function of searching for and providing a list of available content and applications in response to inquiries from television receivers, etc. The storage, management, and distribution of the content and metadata and the storage, management, and distribution of the applications may be performed by different server devices. The broadcasting station and the service provider may be the same or different. Multiple service provider servers 400 may be provided for each different service. Furthermore, the functions of the service provider server 400 may also be provided by the broadcasting station server 300.

[0016] Other application servers 500 are known server devices that store, manage, and distribute other common applications, operating programs, content, data, etc. There may be multiple other application servers 500 on the Internet 200.

[0017] The mobile telephone communication server 600 is connected to the Internet 200, and on the other hand, it is connected to the personal information terminal 700 via the base station 600b. The mobile telephone communication server 600 manages the telephone communication (calls) and data transmission / reception of the personal information terminal 700 via the mobile telephone communication network, and enables data transmission and reception through communication between the personal information terminal 700 and various server devices and other communication equipment on the Internet 200. Communication between the base station 600b and the personal information terminal 700 may be carried out using W-CDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access) (registered trademark), GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) (registered trademark), LTE (Long Term Evolution), or other communication methods.

[0018] The personal information terminal 700 shall have the functions of telephone communication (calls) and data transmission / reception via a mobile telephone communication network, as well as wireless communication functions such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark). The personal information terminal 700 can connect to the Internet 200 via a router device 200r and an access point 200a, or via a base station 600b and a mobile telephone communication server 600 of the mobile telephone communication network, and can transmit and receive data by communicating with various server devices and other communication devices on the Internet 200. The access point 200a is connected to the Internet 200 by wired communication and to the personal information terminal 700 by wireless communication. The wireless communication may use a method such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark). Communication between the personal information terminal 700 and the broadcast receiving device 100 may be performed via the access point 200a and the Internet 200 and the router device 200r, or via the base station 600b and the mobile telephone communication server 600 and the Internet 200 and the router device 200r.

[0019] [Overview of the MMT method] The broadcast receiving device 100 shown in Figure 1 is a television receiver that supports MMT (MPEG Media Transport) as a media transport method for transmitting video, audio, and other data, instead of TS (Transport Stream) (hereinafter referred to as MPEG2-TS) defined in the MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group)-2 system, which is widely used in conventional digital broadcasting systems. A television receiver that supports both MPEG2-TS and MMT is also acceptable.

[0020] MPEG2-TS is characterized by multiplexing video, audio, and other components that make up a program into a single stream along with control signals and a clock. Because it treats everything, including the clock, as a single stream, it is suitable for transmitting one piece of content over a single transmission path with guaranteed transmission quality, and has been adopted in many conventional digital broadcasting systems. On the other hand, due to the limitations of MPEG2-TS in the face of recent environmental changes related to content distribution, such as the diversification of content, the diversification of equipment that uses content, the diversification of transmission paths for content distribution, and the diversification of content storage environments, MMT (Media Transport Method) was newly formulated as a media transport method.

[0021] Figure 2A shows an example of the encoded signal in the MMT of this embodiment. As shown in the figure, the MMT of this embodiment has an MFU (Media Fragment Unit), an MPU (Media Processing Unit), an MMTP (MMT Protocol) payload, and an MMTP packet as elements constituting the encoded signal. The MFU is the format used when transmitting video, audio, etc., and may be configured in units of NAL (Network Abstraction Layer) units or access units. The MPU may consist of MPU metadata containing information about the overall configuration of the MPU, movie fragment metadata containing information about the encoded media data, and sample data which is the encoded media data. It is also assumed that the MFU can be extracted from the sample data. Furthermore, in the case of media such as video components and audio components, the presentation time and decoding time may be specified on an MPU or access unit basis. Figure 2B shows an example of the configuration of the MPU.

[0022] An MMTP packet consists of a header and an MMTP payload, and transmits control information for the MFU and MMT. The MMTP payload shall have a payload header corresponding to the contents (data units) stored in the payload. Figure 2C shows an example of the overview from configuring an MFU from video / audio signals to storing it in the MMTP payload and then configuring an MMTP packet. For video signals encoded using inter-frame prediction, it is desirable to configure the MPU in units of GOP (Group Of Pictures). Also, if the size of the MFU to be transmitted is small, one MFU may be stored in one payload, or multiple MFUs may be stored in one payload. Also, if the size of the MFU to be transmitted is large, one MFU may be divided and stored in multiple payloads. Furthermore, MMTP packets may be protected using technologies such as AL-FEC (Application Layer Forward Error Correction) or ARQ (Automatic Repeat Request) to recover packet loss on the transmission path.

[0023] In the broadcast system of this embodiment, MPEG-H HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding) is used as the video encoding method, and MPEG-4 AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) or MPEG-4 ALS (Audio Lossless Coding) is used as the audio encoding method. The encoded data of video and audio of broadcast programs encoded using the above methods shall be in MFU or MPU format, further packaged in an MMTP payload and transmitted as MMTP packets via IP (Internet Protocol) packets. Data content related to broadcast programs may also be in MFU or MPU format, further packaged in an MMTP payload and transmitted as MMTP packets via IP packets. Four types of data content transmission methods are provided: a subtitle / text superimposition transmission method used for streaming data synchronized with the broadcast, an application transmission method used for asynchronous data transmission from the broadcast, an event message transmission method used for synchronous / asynchronous message notification to applications running on a television receiver, and a general-purpose data transmission method for transmitting other general-purpose data synchronously / asynchronously.

[0024] For the transmission of MMTP packets, UDP / IP (User Datagram Protocol / Internet Protocol) is used on the broadcast transmission line, and UDP / IP or TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) is used on the communication line. Furthermore, in the broadcast transmission line, the TLV (Type Length Value) multiplexing method is used for the efficient transmission of IP packets. An example of the protocol stack of the broadcast system in this embodiment is shown in Figure 3. In the figure, (A) is an example of the protocol stack on the broadcast transmission line, and (B) is an example of the protocol stack on the communication line.

[0025] In this embodiment of the broadcasting system, a mechanism is provided for transmitting two types of control information: MMT-SI (MMT-Signaling Information) and TLV-SI (TLV-Signaling Information). MMT-SI is control information that indicates the structure of the broadcast program, etc. It shall be in the format of an MMT control message, placed on an MMTP payload, packaged into an MMTP packet, and transmitted as an IP packet. TLV-SI is control information related to the multiplexing of IP packets and shall provide information for channel selection and information on the correspondence between IP addresses and services.

[0026] Furthermore, broadcast systems using MMT will also transmit time information to provide absolute time. While MPEG2-TS indicated the display time of components based on a different clock for each TS, MMT will indicate the display time of components based on Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). These mechanisms enable terminal devices to synchronously display components transmitted from different transmission points via different transmission paths. To provide UTC, IP packets in NTP (Network Time Protocol) format will be used.

[0027] [Control information for broadcast systems using MMT] In the broadcast system to which the broadcast receiver 100 of this embodiment corresponds, as described above, as control information, TLV-SI related to the TLV multiplexing method for multiplexing IP packets and MMT-SI related to MMT which is a media transport method are prepared. TLV-SI provides information for the broadcast receiver 100 to demultiplex the IP packets multiplexed on the broadcast transmission path. TLV-SI is composed of a "table" and a "descriptor". The "table" is transmitted in section format, and the "descriptor" is arranged within the "table". MMT-SI is transmission control information indicating information related to the configuration of MMT packages and broadcast services. MMT-SI is composed of three layers: a "message" storing a "table" and a "descriptor", a "table" having elements and attributes indicating specific information, and a "descriptor" indicating more detailed information. An example of the hierarchical configuration of the control information used in the broadcast system of this embodiment is shown in FIG. 4.

[0028] FIG. 5A shows a list of the "tables" used in the TLV-SI of the broadcast system to which the broadcast receiver 100 of this embodiment corresponds. In this embodiment, the following are used as the "tables" of TLV-SI.

[0029] (1) TLV-NIT The Network Information Table for TLV (TLV-NIT) represents information regarding the physical configuration of the TLV stream transmitted by the network and the characteristics of the network itself.

[0030] (2) AMT The Address Map Table (AMT) provides a list of multicast groups of the IP packets constituting each service transmitted in the network.

[0031] (3) Table set by the operator In addition, it is possible to prepare a table independently set by a service provider or the like.

[0032] <Descriptor used in TLV-SI> Fig. 5B shows a list of "descriptors" arranged in the TLV-SI of the broadcast system corresponding to the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of this embodiment. In this embodiment, the following shall be used as the "descriptors" of TLV-SI.

[0033] (1) Service list descriptor The service list descriptor provides a list of services based on service identification and service format type.

[0034] (2) Satellite distribution system descriptor The satellite distribution system descriptor indicates the physical conditions of the satellite transmission path.

[0035] (3) System management descriptor The system management descriptor is used to distinguish between broadcast and non-broadcast.

[0036] (4) Network name descriptor The network name descriptor describes the network name using character codes.

[0037] (5) Descriptor set by the operator [[ID=�6]]In addition, it is possible to prepare a descriptor independently set by a service provider or the like.

[0038] <Message used in MMT-SI> Fig. 6A shows a list of "messages" used in the MMT-SI of the broadcast system corresponding to the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of this embodiment. In this embodiment, the following shall be used as the "messages" of MMT-SI.

[0039] (1) PA message The Package Access (PA) message is used to transmit various tables.

[0040] (2) M2 Section Message The M2 section message is used to transmit the section extension format of MPEG-2 Systems.

[0041] (3) CA Message[[ID=e8]] The CA message is used to transmit a table for identifying the restricted reception method.

[0042] (4) M2 Short Section Message The M2 short section message is used to transmit the short section format of MPEG-2 Systems.

[0043] (5) Data Transmission Message The data transmission message is a message that stores a table related to data transmission.

[0044] (6) Message Set by Operator In addition, it is possible to prepare messages independently set by service providers and the like.

[0045] <Tables Used in MMT-SI> Figure 6B shows a list of the 'tables' used in the MMT-SI of the broadcast system corresponding to the broadcast receiver 100 of this embodiment. The table is control information having elements and attributes indicating specific information, and is to be stored in a message and transmitted in an MMTP packet. Note that the message storing the table may be determined according to the table. In this embodiment, the following are used as the 'tables' of MMT-SI.

[0046] (1) MPT The MMT package table (MMT Package Table: MPT) provides information constituting a package such as a list of assets and the positions of assets on the network. MPT may be stored in a PA message.

[0047] (2) PLT The Package List Table (PLT) lists the IP data flows and packet IDs that transmit PA messages for MMT packages provided as broadcast services, as well as the IP data flows that transmit IP services. The PLT may be stored in the PA message.

[0048] (3) LCT The Layout Configuration Table (LCT) is used to associate layout information for presentation with layout numbers. The LCT may be stored in the PA message.

[0049] (4) ECM An Entitlement Control Message (ECM) is common information consisting of program information and control information, and it delivers key information for descrambling, etc. The ECM may be stored in an M2 section message.

[0050] (5) EMM An Entitlement Management Message (EMM) transmits individual information, including contract information for each subscriber and key information for decrypting the ECM (Common Information). The EMM may be stored in an M2 section message.

[0051] (6)CAT(MH) The CA table (Conditional Access Table: CAT)(MH) is used to store descriptors for identifying the restricted access scheme. The CAT(MH) may be stored in the CA message.

[0052] (7) DCM A Download Control Message (DCM) transmits key-related information, including a key for decrypting the transmission path encryption used for downloading. The DCM may be stored in an M2 section message.

[0053] (8) DMM The Download Management Message (DMM) transmits key-related information, including the download key used to decrypt the DCM. The DMM may be stored in an M2 section message.

[0054] (9) MH-EIT The MH-Event Information Table (MH-EIT) contains time-series information about events included in each service. The MH-EIT may be stored in an M2 section message.

[0055] (10) MH-AIT The MH-Application Information Table (MH-AIT) stores all information about the application and the startup status required for the application. The MH-AIT may be stored in an M2 section message.

[0056] (11) MH-BIT The MH-Broadcaster Information Table (MH-BIT) is used to display information about broadcasters present on the network. The MH-BIT may be stored in an M2 section message.

[0057] (12) MH-SDTT The MH-Software Download Trigger Table (MH-SDTT) is used for download notification information. The MH-SDTT may be stored in an M2 section message.

[0058] (13) MH-SDT The MH-Service Description Table (MH-SDT) has subtables representing services included in a specific TLV stream and transmits information about the programming channel, such as the channel name and the broadcaster's name. The MH-SDT may be stored in an M2 section message.

[0059] (14) MH-TOT The MH-Time Offset Table (MH-TOT) transmits JST time and date (modified Julian day) information. The MH-TOT may be stored in an M2 short-section message.

[0060] (15) MH-CDT The MH-Common Data Table (MH-CDT) is used to transmit common data to be stored in non-volatile memory in section format to all receivers that receive it. The MH-CDT may be stored in an M2 section message.

[0061] (16) DDM Table The Data Directory Management Table (DDM table) provides the directory structure of the files that make up an application, in order to separate the application's file structure from the configuration for file transmission. The DDM table may be stored in the data transmission message.

[0062] (17) DAM Table The Data Asset Management Table (DAM table) provides the configuration of the MPUs within the asset and version information for each MPU. The DAM table may be stored in the data transmission message.

[0063] (18) DCC Table The Data Content Configuration Table (DCC Table) provides configuration information of files as data content in order to achieve flexible and effective cache control. The DCC Table may be stored in a data transmission message.

[0064] (19) EMT The Event Message Table (EMT) is used to transmit information related to event messages. The EMT may be stored in the M2 section message.

[0065] (20) Tables set by the operator In addition, it is possible to prepare tables independently set by service providers and the like.

[0066] <Descriptors used in MMT-SI> Figures 6C and 6D show a list of "descriptors" arranged in the MMT-SI of the broadcast system corresponding to the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of this embodiment. A descriptor is control information that provides more detailed information and is assumed to be arranged in a table. Note that the table in which the descriptor is arranged may be determined according to the descriptor. In this embodiment, the following are used as the "descriptors" of MMT-SI.

[0067] (1) Asset Group Descriptor The Asset Group Descriptor provides the group relationship of assets and the priority within the group. The Asset Group Descriptor may be arranged in MPT.

[0068] (2) Event Package Descriptor The Event Package Descriptor provides the correspondence between events representing programs and packages. The Event Package Descriptor may be arranged in MH-EIT transmitted in the M2 section message.

[0069] (3) Background Color Specification Descriptor The background color descriptor provides the background color for the backmost element in the layout specification. The background color descriptor may be placed in the LCT.

[0070] (4) MPU presentation area specification descriptor The MPU presentation area descriptor provides a location for presenting the MPU. The MPU presentation area descriptor may be placed in the MPT.

[0071] (5) MPU timestamp descriptor The MPU timestamp descriptor indicates the presentation time of the first access unit in the presentation order on the MPU. The MPU timestamp descriptor may be placed in the MPT.

[0072] (6) Dependency descriptors A dependency descriptor provides the asset IDs of the dependent assets. Dependency descriptors may be placed in the MPT.

[0073] (7) Access control descriptor The access control descriptor provides information for identifying the restricted access scheme. The access control descriptor may be located in MPT or CAT(MH).

[0074] (8) Scrambled descriptor The scrambling scheme descriptor provides information for identifying the encryption target and the type of encryption algorithm used during scrambling. The scrambling scheme descriptor may be located in MPT or CAT(MH).

[0075] (9) Message authentication method descriptor The message authentication method descriptor provides information for identifying the message authentication method when performing message authentication. The message authentication method descriptor may be located in MPT or CAT(MH).

[0076] (10) Emergency Information Descriptor (MH) The Emergency Information Descriptor (MH) is used when broadcasting an emergency warning. The Emergency Information Descriptor (MH) may be placed in the MPT.

[0077] (11) MH-MPEG-4 audio descriptor The MH-MPEG-4 audio descriptor is used to describe basic information for identifying the encoding parameters of an audio stream according to ISO / IEC 14496-3 (MPEG-4 audio). The MH-MPEG-4 audio descriptor may be placed in the MPT.

[0078] (12) MH-MPEG-4 audio extension descriptor The MH-MPEG-4 audio extension descriptor is used to describe the profile, level, and encoding scheme-specific settings of an MPEG-4 audio stream. The MH-MPEG-4 audio extension descriptor may be placed in the MPT.

[0079] (13) MH-HEVC video descriptor The MH-HEVC video descriptor is used to describe the basic encoding parameters of a video stream (HEVC stream) as defined in ITU-T Recommendation H.265|ISO / IEC 23008-2. The MH-HEVC video descriptor may be placed in the MPT.

[0080] (14) MH-link descriptor The MH-Link descriptor identifies a service that is provided when a viewer requests additional information related to a specific item listed in the program scheduling information system. The MH-Link descriptor may be placed in the MPT, MH-EIT, MH-SDT, etc.

[0081] (15) MH-Event Group Descriptor MH-Event Group Descriptors are used to indicate that a group of events is grouped together when there is a relationship between multiple events. MH-Event Group Descriptors may be placed in MH-EIT.

[0082] (16) MH-Service List Descriptor The MH-Service List Descriptor provides a list of services categorized by service identifier and service type. The MH-Service List Descriptor may be placed in the MH-BIT.

[0083] (17) MH-Short Event Descriptor MH-Short Event Descriptors represent the event name and a short description of the event in text format. MH-Short Event Descriptors may be placed in MH-EIT.

[0084] (18) MH-Extended Event Descriptor MH-extended event descriptors are used in addition to MH-short event descriptors to provide a detailed description of the event. MH-extended event descriptors may be placed in MH-EIT.

[0085] (19) Video component descriptor Video component descriptors specify parameters and descriptions related to video components and are also used to represent elementary streams in text format. Video component descriptors may be placed in MPT or MH-EIT.

[0086] (20) MH-stream identifier descriptor The MH-Stream Identifier descriptor is used to label the component streams of a service, allowing them to reference the description indicated by the video component descriptor in the MH-EIT. The MH-Stream Identifier descriptor may be located in the MPT.

[0087] (21) MH-Content descriptor The MH-Content descriptor indicates the genre of the event. The MH-Content descriptor may be placed in MH-EIT.

[0088] (22) MH-Paternal Rate Descriptor The MH-Parental Rate descriptor represents age-based viewing restrictions and is used to extend them to other restriction conditions. The MH-Parental Rate descriptor may be placed in the MPT or MH-EIT.

[0089] (23) MH-Audio Component Descriptor The MH-Speech component descriptor specifies each parameter of the speech elementary stream and is also used to represent the elementary stream in text format. The MH-Speech component descriptor may be located in either the MPT or MH-EIT.

[0090] (24) MH-Target Area Descriptor The MH-Target Region descriptor is used to describe the region targeted by a program or a portion of the streams that make up a program. The MH-Target Region descriptor may be placed in the MPT.

[0091] (25) MH-series descriptor The MH-series descriptor is used to identify a series program. The MH-series descriptor may be placed in the MH-EIT.

[0092] (26) MH-SI transmission parameter descriptor The MH-SI transmission parameter descriptor is used to specify the transmission parameters of the SI. The MH-SI transmission parameter descriptor may be placed in the MH-BIT.

[0093] (27) MH-Broadcaster Name Descriptor The MH-BroadcasterNameDescriptor describes the name of the broadcaster. The MH-BroadcasterNameDescriptor may be placed in the MH-BIT.

[0094] (28) MH-Service Descriptor The MH-service descriptor represents the programming channel name and the operator name, along with the service type, using character codes. The MH-service descriptor may be placed in the MH-SDT.

[0095] (29) IP data flow descriptor An IP dataflow descriptor provides information about the IP dataflows that make up a service. IP dataflow descriptors may be placed in MH-SDT.

[0096] (30) MH-CA activation descriptor The MH-CA startup descriptor contains startup information for launching the CAS program on the CAS infrastructure. The MH-CA startup descriptor may be located in MPT or CAT(CA).

[0097] (31) MH-Type descriptor The MH-Type descriptor indicates the file type transmitted using the application transmission method. The MH-Type descriptor may be placed in the DAM table.

[0098] (32) MH-Info descriptor MH-Info descriptors describe information about MPUs or items. MH-Info descriptors may be placed in the DAM table.

[0099] (33) MH-Expire descriptor The MH-Expire descriptor describes the expiration date of an item. The MH-Expire descriptor may be placed in the DAM table.

[0100] (34) MH-Compression Type descriptor The MH-Compression Type descriptor indicates that the item being transmitted is compressed, and it shows the compression algorithm and the number of bytes in the item before compression. The MH-Compression Type descriptor may be placed in the DAM table.

[0101] (35) MH-Data Encoding Scheme Descriptor The MH-data encoding scheme descriptor is used to identify the data encoding scheme. The MH-data encoding scheme descriptor may be placed in the MPT.

[0102] (36) UTC-NPT reference descriptor UTC-NPT reference descriptors are used to communicate the relationship between NPT (Normal Play Time) and UTC. UTC-NPT reference descriptors may be placed in the EMT.

[0103] (37) Event message descriptor Event message descriptors convey general information about event messages. Event message descriptors may be placed in the EMT (Event Message Table).

[0104] (38) MH-Local Time Offset Descriptor The MH-Local Time Offset descriptor is used to introduce a fixed offset between the actual time (e.g., UTC+9 hours) and the time displayed to human systems during daylight saving time. The MH-Local Time Offset descriptor may be located in MH-TOT.

[0105] (39) MH-Component Group Descriptor MH-Component Group Descriptors define and identify combinations of components within an event. MH-Component Group Descriptors may be located in MH-EIT.

[0106] (40) MH-Logo transmission descriptor The MH-logo transmission descriptor is used to describe a simplified logo string, pointing to a CDT-formatted logo, etc. The MH-logo transmission descriptor may be placed in the MH-SDT.

[0107] (41) MPU extended timestamp descriptor The MPU extended timestamp descriptor provides the decryption time of the access unit within the MPU. The MPU extended timestamp descriptor may be placed in the MPT.

[0108] (42) MPU Downloadable Content Descriptor The MPU download content descriptor is used to describe the attribute information of content downloaded using the MPU. The MPU download content descriptor may be placed in MH-SDTT.

[0109] (43) MH-Network Downloadable Content Descriptor The MH-Network Download Content Descriptor is used to describe the attribute information of content downloaded over a network. The MH-Network Download Content Descriptor may be located in MH-SDTT.

[0110] (44) MH-Application Descriptor The MH-Application Descriptor describes the information of an application. The MH-Application Descriptor may be placed in MH-AIT.

[0111] (45) MH-Transmission Protocol Descriptor The MH-Transmission Protocol descriptor is used to specify a transmission protocol for broadcasting, communications, etc., and to indicate the location information of applications that depend on that transmission protocol. The MH-Transmission Protocol descriptor may be placed in MH-AIT.

[0112] (46) MH-Simplified Application Location Descriptor The MH-Simplified Application Location Descriptor is used to specify the details of where to retrieve the application. The MH-Simplified Application Location Descriptor may be placed in MH-AIT.

[0113] (47) MH-Application Boundary Authority Descriptor The MH-Application Boundary Permission Descriptor is used to set application boundaries and configure access permissions for broadcast resources on a per-domain (URL) basis. The MH-Application Boundary Permission Descriptor may be located in MH-AIT.

[0114] (48) MH-Activation Priority Information Descriptor The MH-Startup Priority Information Descriptor is used to specify the startup priority of an application. The MH-Startup Priority Information Descriptor may be placed in MH-AIT.

[0115] (49) MH-Cache Information Descriptor The MH-Cache Information Descriptor is used for cache control when the application is expected to be reused, by caching and retaining the resources that make up the application. The MH-Cache Information Descriptor may be placed in MH-AIT.

[0116] (50) MH-Probabilistic Application Delay Descriptor The MH-Probabilistic Application Delay Descriptor is used to delay the timing of application control by a probabilistically defined delay amount, assuming load balancing of server access for application retrieval. The MH-Probabilistic Application Delay Descriptor may be placed in MH-AIT.

[0117] (51) Linked PU descriptor The linked PU descriptor describes other presentation units that may be accessed from the present presentation unit (PU). The linked PU descriptor may be placed in the DCC table.

[0118] (52) Lock cache specifier descriptor The lock cache descriptor specifies the files to be cached and locked in the presentation unit. The lock cache descriptor may be placed in the DCC table.

[0119] (53) Unlock cache specified descriptor The unlock cache descriptor specifies which files to unlock from among the files locked in the presentation unit. The unlock cache descriptor may be placed in the DCC table.

[0120] (54) Descriptors set by the operator In addition, it is possible to prepare descriptors independently set by service providers and the like.

[0121] <Relationship between Data Transmission and Each Control Information in MMT Method> Here, with reference to FIG. 6E, the relationship between data transmission and a representative table in the broadcast system corresponding to the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of the present embodiment will be described.

[0122] In the broadcast system corresponding to the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, data can be transmitted through a plurality of paths, such as a TLV stream via a broadcast transmission path or an IP data flow via a communication line. The TLV stream includes TLV-SIs such as TLV-NIT and AMT, and an IP data flow which is a data flow of IP packets. The IP data flow includes a video asset including a series of video MPUs and an audio asset including a series of audio MPUs. Similarly, the IP data flow may include a subtitle asset including a series of subtitle MPUs, a character super asset including a series of character super MPUs, a data asset including a series of data MPUs, and the like. These various assets are associated in units of "packages" by an MPT (MMT package table) stored in a PA message and transmitted. Specifically, the association is made by describing a package ID (corresponding to the 'MMT_package_id_byte' parameter shown in FIG. 17 described later) and an asset ID of each asset included in the package (corresponding to the 'asset_id_byte' parameter shown in FIG. 17 described later) in the MPT. [[ID=​​The assets constituting a package can consist only of assets within the TLV stream, but as shown in Figure 6E, it can also include assets transmitted via the IP data flow of the communication line. This can be achieved by including the location information of each asset included in the package (corresponding to 'MMT_general_location_info()' shown in Figure 17 below) within the MPT, allowing the broadcast receiving device 100 in this embodiment to understand the reference destination of each asset. Specifically, by changing the value of the 'MMT_general_location_infonolocation_type' parameter placed in the location information, (1) Data that is multiplexed on the same IP data flow as MPT (location_type=0x00) (2) Data multiplexed in IPv4 data flow (location_type=0x01) (3) Data that is multiplexed in IPv6 data flow (location_type=0x02) (4) Data multiplexed in the broadcast MPEG2-TS (Location_type=0x03) (5) Data multiplexed in MPEG2-TS format within the IP data flow (location_type=0x04) (6) Data located at the specified URL (Location_type=0x05) This makes it possible to configure the broadcast receiving device 100 so that it can access various types of data transmitted through various transmission paths.

[0124] Of the aforementioned references, (1) is, for example, an IP data flow received via the digital broadcast signal received by the tuner / demodulation unit 131 of the broadcast receiving device 100 shown in Figure 7A later. When MPT is also transmitted in the IP data flow on the communication line side, the reference in (1) may also be the IP data flow received by the LAN communication unit 121 via the communication line later. Also, (2), (3), (5), and (6) above are IP data flows received by the LAN communication unit 121 via the communication line later. Furthermore, (4) above can be used, for example, in the case of a broadcast receiving device that has both a receiving function for receiving digital broadcast signals using the MMT method and a receiving function for receiving digital broadcast signals using the MPEG2-TS method, such as the broadcast receiving device 800 of Embodiment 2 shown in Figure 24 later, when referring to data multiplexed in MPEG2-TS received by the receiving function for receiving digital broadcast signals using the MPEG2-TS method based on the MPT location information ('MMT_general_location_info()') included in the digital broadcast signal using the MMT method.

[0125] Although the data constituting a "package" is specified in this way, in the broadcasting system to which the broadcasting receiving device 100 of this embodiment corresponds, the series of data in the "package" unit is treated as a "service" unit of digital broadcasting.

[0126] Furthermore, the MPT contains presentation time information for each MPU specified by the MPT (corresponding to the 'mpu_presentation_time' parameter shown in Figure 13B below), and using this presentation time information, it becomes possible to synchronize the presentation (display, output, etc.) of multiple MPUs specified by the MPT, based on a clock based on NTP, which is UTC notation time information. The control of presentation of various data using this NTP-based clock will be described later.

[0127] In the data transmission method of this embodiment shown in Figure 6E, there is also the concept of an "event." An "event" is a concept that represents a so-called "program" handled by the MH-EIT, which is included in the M2 section message. Specifically, in the "package" pointed to by the event package descriptor stored in the MH-EIT, the data included in the concept of the "event" is a series of data contained within a period of time (corresponding to the "duration" parameter shown in Figure 21 below) from the disclosure time (corresponding to the "start_time" parameter shown in Figure 21 below) stored in the MH-EIT. The MH-EIT can be used in the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment for various processing on an "event" basis (for example, program guide generation processing, control of recording and viewing reservations, copyright management processing such as temporary storage, etc.).

[0128] [Hardware configuration of broadcast receiving equipment] Figure 7A is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the broadcast receiving device 100. The broadcast receiving device 100 consists of a main control unit 101, a system bus 102, a ROM 103, a RAM 104, a storage unit 110, a LAN communication unit 121, an expansion interface unit 124, a digital interface unit 125, a tuner / demodulation unit 131, a separation unit 132, a video decoder 141, a video color gamut conversion unit 142, an audio decoder 143, a character super decoder 144, a subtitle decoder 145, a subtitle synthesis unit 146, a subtitle color gamut conversion unit 147, a data decoder 151, a cache unit 152, an application control unit 153, a browser unit 154, an application color gamut conversion unit 155, a sound source unit 156, a video synthesis unit 161, a monitor unit 162, a video output unit 163, an audio synthesis unit 164, a speaker unit 165, an audio output unit 166, and an operation input unit 170.

[0129] The main control unit 101 is a microprocessor unit that controls the entire broadcast receiving device 100 according to a predetermined operating program. The system bus 102 is a data communication path for sending and receiving data between the main control unit 101 and each operating block within the broadcast receiving device 100.

[0130] ROM (Read Only Memory) 103 is a non-volatile memory that stores basic operating programs such as the operating system and other operational programs. For example, a rewritable ROM such as EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM) or flash ROM may be used. ROM 103 may also store operational setting values ​​necessary for the operation of the broadcast receiving device 100. RAM (Random Access Memory) 104 serves as the work area when executing basic operating programs and other operational programs. ROM 103 and RAM 104 may be integrated with the main control unit 101. Furthermore, ROM 103 may not have an independent configuration as shown in Figure 7A, but may use a portion of the storage area within the storage unit 110.

[0131] The storage unit 110 stores the operating program and settings of the broadcast receiving device 100, as well as the personal information of the broadcast receiving device 100 user. It can also store operating programs downloaded via the Internet 200 and various data created by said operating programs. Furthermore, it can store content such as video, still images, and audio acquired from broadcast waves or downloaded via the Internet 200. A portion of the storage unit 110 may replace all or part of the functions of the ROM 103. In addition, the storage unit 110 needs to retain the stored information even when the broadcast receiving device 100 is not supplied with power from an external source. Therefore, devices such as flash ROM, SSD (Solid State Drive) or other non-volatile semiconductor memory, or HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or other magnetic disk drives are used.

[0132] Furthermore, the aforementioned operating programs stored in the ROM 103 and the storage unit 110 can be added, updated, and have their functions expanded through download processing from various server devices on the Internet 200.

[0133] The LAN (Local Area Network) communication unit 121 is connected to the Internet 200 via the router device 200r and transmits and receives data with various server devices and other communication devices on the Internet 200. It also acquires the MMT data sequence (or a part thereof) of the program transmitted via the communication line. The connection to the router device 200r may be a wired connection or a wireless connection such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark). The LAN communication unit 121 shall be equipped with encoding circuits, decoding circuits, etc. Furthermore, the broadcast receiving device 100 may also be equipped with other communication units such as a Bluetooth (registered trademark) communication unit, an NFC communication unit, or an infrared communication unit.

[0134] The tuner / demodulator 131 receives broadcast waves transmitted from the radio tower 300t via the antenna 100a and tunes (selects) to the channel of the service desired by the user based on the control of the main control unit 101. Furthermore, the tuner / demodulator 131 demodulates the received broadcast signal to obtain the MMT data sequence. In the example shown in Figure 7A, a configuration with one tuner / demodulator is illustrated, but the broadcast receiving device 100 may be configured to have multiple tuners / demodulators for purposes such as simultaneous display of multiple screens or recording of programs while watching another program.

[0135] The separation unit 132 is an MMT decoder and, based on the control signals in the input MMT data sequence, distributes real-time presentation elements such as video data sequences, audio data sequences, character superimposition data sequences, and subtitle data sequences to the video decoder 141, audio decoder 143, character superimposition decoder 144, and subtitle decoder 145, respectively. The data input to the separation unit 132 may be MMT data sequences transmitted via a broadcast transmission line and demodulated by the tuner / demodulation unit 131, or MMT data sequences transmitted via a communication line and received by the LAN communication unit 121. The separation unit 132 also plays back multimedia applications and their constituent file data and temporarily stores them in the cache unit 152. Furthermore, the separation unit 132 extracts general-purpose data for use in players that present data other than video, audio, and subtitles, or for streaming data to applications, and outputs it to the data decoder 151. In addition, the separation unit 132 may perform error correction and access restriction control of the input MMT data sequence based on the control of the main control unit 101.

[0136] The video decoder 141 decodes the video data sequence input from the separation unit 132 and outputs video information. The video color gamut conversion unit 142 performs color space conversion processing on the video information decoded by the video decoder 141 as needed for video synthesis processing in the video synthesis unit 161. The audio decoder 143 decodes the audio data sequence input from the separation unit 132 and outputs audio information. The video decoder 141 and audio decoder 143 may also be input to streaming data, such as MPEG-DASH (MPEG-Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP) format, obtained from the Internet 200 via the LAN communication unit 121. In addition, multiple video decoders 141, video color gamut conversion units 142, audio decoders 143, etc., may be provided to simultaneously decode multiple types of video data sequences and audio data sequences.

[0137] The character super decoder 144 decodes the character super data sequence input from the separation unit 132 and outputs character super information. The subtitle decoder 145 decodes the subtitle data sequence input from the separation unit 132 and outputs subtitle information. The character super information output from the character super decoder 144 and the subtitle information output from the subtitle decoder 145 are combined in the subtitle combination unit 146, and further, the subtitle color gamut conversion unit 147 performs color space conversion processing as needed for the video combination processing in the video combination unit 161. In this embodiment, among the services centered on text information that are presented simultaneously with the video of a broadcast program, those related to the content of the video are called subtitles, and all others are called character supers. When they are not distinguished, they are collectively referred to as subtitles.

[0138] The browser unit 154 presents multimedia application files and their constituent file data obtained from a server device on the Internet 200 via the cache unit 152 or the LAN communication unit 121, in accordance with instructions from the application control unit 153, which interprets control information contained in the MMT data sequence and control information obtained from the server device on the Internet 200 via the LAN communication unit 121. The multimedia application files may be HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) documents, BML (Broadcast Markup Language) documents, etc. The application information output from the browser unit 154 is further subjected to color space conversion processing as necessary by the application color gamut conversion unit 155 for video synthesis processing in the video synthesis unit 161. The browser unit 154 also plays application audio information by interacting with the sound source unit 156.

[0139] The video synthesis unit 161 receives video information output from the video color gamut conversion unit 142, subtitle information output from the subtitle color gamut conversion unit 147, and application information output from the application color gamut conversion unit 155, and performs appropriate selection and / or superposition processing. The video synthesis unit 161 is equipped with video RAM (not shown), and the monitor unit 162, etc., are driven based on the video information input to the video RAM. The video synthesis unit 161 also performs scaling processing and superposition processing of EPG (Electronic Program Guide) screen information created based on information such as MH-EIT included in MMT-SI, as needed, based on the control of the main control unit 101. The monitor unit 162 is a display device such as an LCD panel, and provides the video information selected and / or superimposed by the video synthesis unit 161 to the user of the broadcast receiving device 100. The video output unit 163 is a video output interface that outputs the video information selected and / or superimposed by the video synthesis unit 161.

[0140] The display function of the broadcast receiving device 100 in this embodiment is equipped with a logical plane structure in order to display content as intended by the multimedia service provider. Figure 7B shows an example of the configuration of the logical plane structure provided by the display function of the broadcast receiving device 100 in this embodiment. In this logical plane structure, a character superplane for displaying character superimposition is placed at the front, and a subtitle plane for displaying subtitles is placed on the next layer. A multimedia plane for displaying broadcast video, multimedia applications, or composite video thereof is placed on the third layer, and a background plane is placed at the back. The subtitle synthesis unit 146 and the video synthesis unit 161 draw character superimposition information onto the character superplane, draw subtitle information onto the subtitle plane, and draw video information, application information, etc. onto the multimedia plane. In addition, the background color is drawn on the background plane based on the LCT included in MMT-SI. The third layer of multimedia planes can be provided in multiple quantities depending on the number of video decoders 141. However, even if there are multiple multimedia planes, application information etc. output from the application color gamut conversion unit 155 will only be output to the frontmost multimedia plane.

[0141] The speech synthesis unit 164 receives the audio information output from the audio decoder 143 and the application audio information played back by the sound source unit 156, and performs appropriate processing such as selection and / or mixing. The speaker unit 165 provides the audio information selected and / or mixed by the speech synthesis unit 164 to the user of the broadcast receiving device 100. The audio output unit 166 is an audio output interface that outputs the audio information selected and / or mixed by the speech synthesis unit 164.

[0142] The expansion interface unit 124 is a group of interfaces for expanding the functions of the broadcast receiving device 100. In this embodiment, it consists of an analog video / audio interface, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface, a memory interface, and the like. The analog video / audio interface handles input of analog video / audio signals from external video / audio output devices and output of analog video / audio signals to external video / audio input devices. The USB interface connects to a PC or the like to send and receive data. An HDD may be connected to record broadcast programs and content. A keyboard or other USB device may also be connected. The memory interface connects to a memory card or other memory medium to send and receive data.

[0143] The digital interface unit 125 is an interface for outputting or inputting encoded digital video data and / or digital audio data. The digital interface unit 125 is capable of directly outputting MMT data sequences obtained by demodulation by the tuner / demodulation unit 131, MMT data sequences obtained via the LAN communication unit 121, or mixed data of the aforementioned MMT data sequences. Alternatively, the digital interface unit 125 may be controlled to input the MMT data sequences input to the separation unit 132. Output of digital content stored in the storage unit 110, or storage of digital content in the storage unit 110, may also be performed via the digital interface unit 125.

[0144] The digital interface unit 125 may be a DVI terminal, HDMI® terminal, DisplayPort® terminal, etc., and may output or input data in a format compliant with the DVI specification, HDMI specification, DisplayPort specification, etc. It may also output or input data in a serial data format compliant with the IEEE1394 specification, etc. It may also be configured as an IP interface that outputs digital interface data via hardware such as Ethernet® or wireless LAN. In this case, the digital interface unit 125 and the LAN communication unit 121 may share their hardware configurations.

[0145] The operation input unit 170 is an instruction input unit that inputs operation instructions to the broadcast receiving device 100. In this embodiment, it consists of a remote control receiver that receives commands transmitted from a remote control (not shown) and an operation key with a row of button switches. Either one or the other may be used. The operation input unit 170 may also be replaced by a touch panel placed on top of the monitor unit 162. It may also be replaced by a keyboard connected to the expansion interface unit 124. The remote control (not shown) may be replaced by a portable information terminal 700 equipped with a remote control command transmission function.

[0146] As mentioned above, if the broadcast receiving device 100 is a television receiver or the like, the video output unit 163 and the audio output unit 166 are not essential components of the present invention. In addition, the broadcast receiving device 100 may be an optical disc drive recorder such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) recorder, a magnetic disc drive recorder such as an HDD recorder, an STB (Set Top Box), etc. It may also be a PC (Personal Computer), tablet terminal, navigation device, game console, etc. equipped with digital broadcast receiving function and broadcast communication linkage function. If the broadcast receiving device 100 is a DVD recorder, HDD recorder, STB, etc., the monitor unit 162 and the speaker unit 165 do not need to be provided. By connecting an external monitor and external speakers to the video output unit 163 and the audio output unit 166 or the digital interface unit 125, the same operation as the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment can be achieved.

[0147] [System configuration for clock synchronization / presentation synchronization of broadcast receiving equipment] Figure 7C shows an example of the clock synchronization / presentation synchronization system configuration in the broadcast system to which the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment corresponds. In the broadcast system of this embodiment, UTC is transmitted from the broadcast transmission system to the receiver (such as the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment) in a 64-bit NTP timestamp format. In the NTP timestamp format, 32 bits represent "seconds or more" of UTC, and 32 bits represent "less than seconds". However, in reality, it is difficult to reproduce 1 second with 32-bit precision. For this reason, a system clock of "2 to the power of 24" Hz (approximately 16.8 MHz), as shown in the figure, may be used as the system clock for synchronizing the video system and the system clock for operating the NTP format clock. Considering that the system clock in conventional broadcast systems was 27 MHz and that the hardware configuration of the receiver can be easily constructed, it is desirable to adopt a power of 2 frequency of "2 to the power of 2" to "2 to the power of 28" as the system clock.

[0148] Furthermore, if the system clock on the broadcast transmission system side or the receiver side is set to a power of 2 frequency of approximately 2^24 to 2^28 as described above, the lower 8 to 4 bits of the NTP timestamp format transmitted from the broadcast transmission system side to the receiver side, which are not referenced by the system clock or the PLL (Phase Locked Loop) system for regenerating the NTP format clock, may be fixed to 0 or 1. That is, if the system clock is 2 to the power of n Hz (n=24 in the example in Figure 7C), the lower 32-n bits of the NTP timestamp format may be fixed to 0 or 1. Alternatively, the receiver side may process the lower 32-n bits of the NTP timestamp format by ignoring them.

[0149] On the broadcast transmission system side, upon obtaining NTP-formatted time information from an external source, a PLL system is configured using a 32+n bit counter with a VCO (Voltage Controlled Oscillator) at 2 to the power of n Hz to realize a transmission system clock that synchronizes with the externally provided time information. Furthermore, the entire signal processing system is operated in synchronization with the 2 to the power of n Hz system clock. In addition, the output of the transmission system clock is periodically transmitted to the receiver side via the broadcast transmission line as NTP-length time information.

[0150] On the receiver side, time information in NTP format is received via the broadcast transmission line, and the receiver system clock is regenerated by a PLL system based on a VCO of 2 to the power of n Hz, similar to the broadcast transmission system side. As a result, the receiver system clock becomes synchronized with the broadcast transmission system side. Furthermore, by operating the receiver's signal processing system in synchronization with the system clock of 2 to the power of n Hz, clock synchronization between the broadcast transmission system side and the receiver side is achieved, enabling stable signal reproduction. In addition, the decoding time and presentation time for each presentation unit of the video / audio signal are set on the broadcast transmission system side based on the aforementioned NTP format time information. Here, the MPT stored in the PA message transmitted in the broadcast signal contains the MPU timestamp descriptor shown in Figure 13B below. In the MPU timestamp descriptor in Figure 13B, the 'mpu_sequence_number' parameter indicates the sequence number of the MPU that describes the timestamp, and the 'mpu_presentation_time' parameter indicates the MPU presentation time in 64-bit NTP timestamp format. Therefore, the receiver can refer to the MPU timestamp descriptor stored in the MPT and control the presentation (display, output, etc.) timing for each MPU of video signals, audio signals, subtitles, text overlays, etc.

[0151] Furthermore, when considering the control of the decoding timing and presentation timing for each presentation unit of the aforementioned video / audio signals, synchronization of the video / audio signals can be ensured even with a clock of approximately 2 to the power of 16 Hz (approximately 65.5 kHz). In this case, it is not necessary to refer to the lower 16 bits of the NTP timestamp format described in the MPU timestamp descriptor, etc. That is, if a clock of 2 to the power of m Hz generated by dividing the system clock is used to control the decoding timing and presentation timing, it is not necessary to refer to the lower 32-m bits of the NTP timestamp format described in the MPU timestamp descriptor, etc. Therefore, the lower 32-m bits of the NTP timestamp format described in the MPU timestamp descriptor, etc. may be fixed to 0 or 1.

[0152] [Software configuration of broadcast receiving equipment] Figure 7D is a software configuration diagram of the broadcast receiving device 100 in this embodiment, showing the software configuration in the ROM 103, RAM 104, and storage unit 110. In this embodiment, the ROM 103 stores the basic operation program 1001 and other operation programs, and the storage unit 110 stores the reception function program 1002 and other operation programs. The storage unit 110 also includes a content storage area 1200 for storing content such as video, still images, and audio, an authentication information storage area 1300 for storing authentication information necessary when accessing external mobile terminal devices and server devices, and various information storage areas for storing other various information.

[0153] The basic operation program 1001 stored in ROM 103 is loaded into RAM 104, and the main control unit 101 then executes the loaded basic operation program to constitute the basic operation execution unit 1101. Similarly, the receiving function program 1002 stored in storage unit 110 is loaded into RAM 104, and the main control unit 101 then executes the loaded receiving function program to constitute the receiving function execution unit 1102. The RAM 104 also includes a temporary storage area that temporarily holds data created during the execution of each operation program as needed.

[0154] For the sake of simplicity, in the following explanation, the process by which the main control unit 101 controls each operation block by loading the basic operation program 1001 stored in the ROM 103 into the RAM 104 and executing it will be described as if the basic operation execution unit 1101 controls each operation block. The same description will be applied to other operation programs.

[0155] The receiving function execution unit 1102 controls each operating block of the broadcast receiving device 100 in order to reproduce video, audio, and other components transmitted in the broadcasting system of this embodiment. In particular, the transport processing unit 1102a mainly controls the MMT decoder function of the separation unit 132 and distributes the video data sequence, audio data sequence, etc., separated from the MMT data sequence to the corresponding decoding processing unit. The AV decoding processing unit 1102b mainly controls the video decoder 141, audio decoder 143, etc. The application processing unit 1102c mainly controls the cache unit 152, application control unit 153, browser unit 154, and sound source unit 156. The character superimposition processing unit 1102d mainly controls the character superimposition decoder 144. The subtitle processing unit 1102e mainly controls the subtitle decoder 151. The general-purpose data processing unit 1102f mainly controls the data decoder 151. The EPG generation unit 1102g interprets the description content of MH-EIT and other components included in MMT-SI and generates an EPG screen. The presentation processing unit 1102h mainly controls the video color gamut conversion unit 142, the subtitle synthesis unit 146, the subtitle color gamut conversion unit 147, the application color gamut conversion unit 155, the video synthesis unit 161, and the audio synthesis unit 164 based on the logical plane structure.

[0156] Each of the aforementioned operating programs may be pre-stored in the ROM 103 and / or storage unit 110 at the time of product shipment. Alternatively, they may be acquired after product shipment from other application servers 500 on the Internet 200 via the LAN communication unit 121. Furthermore, each of the aforementioned operating programs stored on a memory card, optical disc, etc., may be acquired via the expansion interface unit 124, etc.

[0157] [Broadcaster Server Configuration] Figure 8 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the broadcasting station server 300. The broadcasting station server 300 consists of a main control unit 301, a system bus 302, RAM 304, a storage unit 310, a LAN communication unit 321, and a digital broadcasting signal transmission unit 360.

[0158] The main control unit 301 is a microprocessor unit that controls the entire broadcasting station server 300 according to a predetermined operating program. The system bus 302 is a data communication path for sending and receiving data between the main control unit 301 and each operating block within the broadcasting station server 300. The RAM 304 serves as the work area when each operating program is executed.

[0159] The storage unit 310 stores the basic operation program 3001, the broadcast content management / distribution program 3002, and the broadcast content transmission program 3003, and further includes a broadcast content storage area 3200 and a metadata storage area 3300. The broadcast content storage area 3200 stores the program content of each broadcast program broadcast by the broadcasting station. The metadata storage area 3300 stores metadata such as the program title, program ID, program summary, cast, broadcast date and time, and copy control information related to each program content for each broadcast program.

[0160] Furthermore, the basic operation program 3001, the broadcast content management / distribution program 3002, and the broadcast content transmission program 3003 stored in the storage unit 310 are each loaded into the RAM 304, and the main control unit 301 then executes each of the loaded programs to form the basic operation execution unit 3101, the broadcast content management / distribution execution unit 3102, and the broadcast content transmission execution unit 3103.

[0161] For the sake of simplicity, in the following explanation, the process in which the main control unit 301 controls each operation block by loading the basic operation program 3001 stored in the storage unit 310 into the RAM 304 and executing it will be described as if the basic operation execution unit 3101 controls each operation block. The same description will be applied to other operation programs.

[0162] The broadcast content management / distribution execution unit 3102 manages the program content and metadata of each broadcast program stored in the broadcast content storage area 3200 and the metadata storage area 3300, and controls the provision of the program content and metadata of each broadcast program to service providers based on the contract. Furthermore, when providing the program content and metadata of each broadcast program to the service provider, the broadcast content management / distribution execution unit 3102 may, if necessary, perform authentication processing of the service provider server 400 based on the contract.

[0163] The broadcast content transmission execution unit 3103 manages the time schedule when transmitting the program content of broadcast programs stored in the broadcast content storage area 3200 and the MMT data sequence, which includes the program title, program ID, and copy control information of the program content of broadcast programs stored in the metadata storage area 3300, from the radio tower 300t via the digital broadcast signal transmission unit 360.

[0164] The LAN communication unit 321 is connected to the Internet 200 and communicates with service provider servers 400 and the like on the Internet 200. The LAN communication unit 321 is equipped with encoding circuits, decoding circuits, and the like. The digital broadcast signal transmission unit 360 modulates the MMT data sequence, which consists of video data sequences, audio data sequences, program information data sequences, etc., of the program content of each broadcast program stored in the broadcast content storage area 3200, and transmits it as a digital broadcast wave via the radio tower 300t.

[0165] [Service provider server configuration] Figure 9 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the service provider server 400. The service provider server 400 consists of a main control unit 401, a system bus 402, RAM 404, a storage unit 410, and a LAN communication unit 421.

[0166] The main control unit 401 is a microprocessor unit that controls the entire service provider server 400 according to a predetermined operating program. The system bus 402 is a data communication path for sending and receiving data between the main control unit 401 and each operating block within the service provider server 400. The RAM 404 serves as the work area when each operating program is executed.

[0167] The storage unit 410 stores the basic operation program 4001, the video content management / distribution program 4002, and the application management / distribution program 4004, and further includes a video content storage area 4200, a metadata storage area 4300, an application storage area 4400, and a user information storage area 4500. The video content storage area 4200 stores the program content of broadcast programs provided by the broadcasting station server 300 as video content. It also stores video content produced by the service provider. The metadata storage area 4300 stores various metadata provided by the broadcasting station server 300, as well as metadata related to video content produced by the service provider. The application storage area 4400 stores various applications for realizing services linked to broadcast programs, which are distributed in response to requests from each television receiver. The user information storage area 4500 stores information (personal information, authentication information, etc.) about users who are permitted to access the service provider server 400.

[0168] Furthermore, the basic operation program 4001, the video content management / distribution program 4002, and the application management / distribution program 4004 stored in the storage unit 410 are each deployed to the RAM 404, and the main control unit 401 then executes the deployed basic operation program, the video content management / distribution program, and the application management / distribution program, thereby forming the basic operation execution unit 4101, the video content management / distribution execution unit 4102, and the application management / distribution execution unit 4104.

[0169] For the sake of simplicity, in the following explanation, the process in which the main control unit 401 controls each operation block by loading the basic operation program 4001 stored in the storage unit 410 into the RAM 404 and executing it will be described as if the basic operation execution unit 4101 controls each operation block. The same description will be applied to other operation programs.

[0170] The video content management / distribution execution unit 4102 acquires program content and metadata of broadcast programs from the broadcasting station server 300, manages the video content and metadata stored in the video content storage area 4200 and the metadata storage area 4300, and controls the distribution of the video content and metadata to each television receiver. Furthermore, when distributing the video content and metadata to each television receiver, the video content management / distribution execution unit 4102 may perform authentication processing for each television receiver as necessary. In addition, the application management / distribution execution unit 4104 manages the applications stored in the application storage area 4400 and controls the distribution of each application to each television receiver in response to requests. Furthermore, when distributing the applications to each television receiver, the application management / distribution execution unit 4104 may perform authentication processing for each television receiver as necessary.

[0171] The LAN communication unit 421 is connected to the internet 200 and communicates with the broadcast station server 300 on the internet 200 and with the broadcast receiving device 100 via the router device 200r. The LAN communication unit 421 is equipped with encoding circuits, decoding circuits, etc.

[0172] [Hardware configuration of mobile devices] Figure 10A is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of a portable information terminal 700. The portable information terminal 700 consists of a main control unit 701, a system bus 702, a ROM 703, a RAM 704, a storage unit 710, a communication processing unit 720, an expansion interface unit 724, an operation unit 730, an image processing unit 740, a voice processing unit 750, and a sensor unit 760.

[0173] The main control unit 701 is a microprocessor unit that controls the entire portable information terminal 700 according to a predetermined operating program. The system bus 702 is a data communication path for sending and receiving data between the main control unit 701 and each operating block within the portable information terminal 700.

[0174] ROM 703 is a memory that stores basic operating programs such as the operating system and other operational programs, and a rewritable ROM such as EEPROM or flash ROM is used. RAM 704 is the work area when the basic operating programs and other operational programs are executed. ROM 703 and RAM 704 may be integrated with the main control unit 701. Also, ROM 703 may not have an independent configuration as shown in Figure 10A, but may use a portion of the storage area within the storage unit 710.

[0175] The storage unit 710 stores the operating program and settings of the personal information terminal 700, as well as the personal information of the personal information terminal 700 user. It can also store operating programs downloaded via the Internet 200 and various data created by said operating programs. Furthermore, it can store content such as videos, still images, and audio downloaded via the Internet 200. A portion of the storage unit 710 may replace all or part of the functions of the ROM 703. In addition, the storage unit 710 needs to retain the stored information even when the personal information terminal 700 is not supplied with external power. Therefore, devices such as flash ROM, SSDs or other non-volatile semiconductor memory, and HDDs or other magnetic disk drives are used.

[0176] Furthermore, the aforementioned operating programs stored in ROM 703 and storage unit 710 can be added, updated, and have their functions expanded through download processes from server devices on the Internet 200.

[0177] The communication processing unit 720 consists of a LAN communication unit 721, a mobile telephone network communication unit 722, and an NFC communication unit 723. The LAN communication unit 721 is connected to the Internet 200 via a router device 200r or access point 200a and transmits and receives data with various server devices and other communication devices on the Internet 200. The connection with the router device 200r or access point 200a shall be made by wireless connection such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark). The mobile telephone network communication unit 722 performs telephone communication (calls) and data transmission and reception via wireless communication with a base station 600b of the mobile telephone communication network. The NFC communication unit 723 performs wireless communication when in proximity to a corresponding reader / writer. The LAN communication unit 721, mobile telephone network communication unit 722, and NFC communication unit 723 shall each be equipped with a coding circuit, a decoding circuit, an antenna, etc. Furthermore, the communication processing unit 720 may also be equipped with other communication units such as a Bluetooth (registered trademark) communication unit or an infrared communication unit.

[0178] The expansion interface section 724 is a group of interfaces for extending the functionality of the portable information terminal 700, and in this embodiment, it consists of a video / audio interface, a USB interface, a memory interface, etc. The video / audio interface handles the input of video / audio signals from an external video / audio output device, the output of video / audio signals to an external video / audio input device, etc. The USB interface connects to a PC or the like to send and receive data. It may also be used to connect a keyboard or other USB devices. The memory interface connects to a memory card or other memory medium to send and receive data.

[0179] The operation unit 730 is an instruction input unit that inputs operation instructions for the portable information terminal 700. In this embodiment, it consists of a touch panel 730t superimposed on the display unit 741 and an operation key 730k arranged in a row of button switches. Either one or the other may be used. The portable information terminal 700 may also be operated using a keyboard or the like connected to the expansion interface unit 724. The portable information terminal 700 may also be operated using a separate terminal device connected by wired or wireless communication. That is, the portable information terminal 700 may be operated from the broadcast receiving device 100. Furthermore, the touch panel function may be provided by the display unit 741.

[0180] The image processing unit 740 consists of a display unit 741, an image signal processing unit 742, a first image input unit 743, and a second image input unit 744. The display unit 741 is a display device such as a liquid crystal panel, and provides image data processed by the image signal processing unit 742 to the user of the portable information terminal 700. The image signal processing unit 742 includes video RAM (not shown), and the display unit 741 is driven based on the image data input to the video RAM. The image signal processing unit 742 also has functions to perform format conversion, menu and other OSD (On Screen Display) signal superposition processing as needed. The first image input unit 743 and the second image input unit 744 are camera units that input image data of the surroundings and objects by converting light input from a lens into electrical signals using electronic devices such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) sensor.

[0181] The audio processing unit 750 consists of an audio output unit 751, an audio signal processing unit 752, and an audio input unit 753. The audio output unit 751 is a speaker and provides the audio signal processed by the audio signal processing unit 752 to the user of the portable information terminal 700. The audio input unit 753 is a microphone and inputs the user's voice and other audio data by converting it into audio data.

[0182] The sensor unit 760 is a group of sensors for detecting the state of the portable information terminal 700. In this embodiment, it consists of a GPS receiver 761, a gyro sensor 762, a geomagnetic sensor 763, an acceleration sensor 764, an illuminance sensor 765, and a proximity sensor 766. These sensors enable the detection of the position, tilt, direction, movement, ambient brightness, proximity of surrounding objects, etc., of the portable information terminal 700. The portable information terminal 700 may also be equipped with other sensors, such as a barometric pressure sensor.

[0183] The personal digital assistant 700 may be a mobile phone, smartphone, tablet, etc. It may also be a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) or a notebook PC. It may also be a digital still camera, a video camera capable of recording video, a portable game console, a navigation device, or other portable digital device.

[0184] Note that the example configuration of the portable information terminal 700 shown in Figure 10A includes many components that are not essential to this embodiment, such as the sensor unit 760, but the effectiveness of this embodiment will not be impaired even if these components are not included. Furthermore, additional components not shown, such as a digital broadcasting reception function or an electronic money payment function, may also be added.

[0185] [Software configuration of mobile devices] Figure 10B is a software configuration diagram of the portable information terminal 700 of this embodiment, showing the software configuration in the ROM 703, RAM 704, and storage unit 710. In this embodiment, the ROM 703 stores the basic operation program 7001 and other operation programs, and the storage unit 710 stores the cooperation control program 7002 and other operation programs. The storage unit 710 also includes a content storage area 7200 for storing content such as video, still images, and audio, an authentication information storage area 7300 for storing authentication information necessary when accessing television receivers and various server devices, and various information storage areas for storing other types of information.

[0186] The basic operation program 7001 stored in ROM 703 is loaded into RAM 704, and the main control unit 701 then executes the loaded basic operation program to constitute the basic operation execution unit 7101. Similarly, the cooperation control program 7002 stored in storage unit 710 is loaded into RAM 704, and the main control unit 701 then executes the loaded cooperation control program to constitute the cooperation control execution unit 7102. The RAM 704 also includes a temporary storage area that temporarily holds data created during the execution of each operation program as needed.

[0187] For the sake of simplicity, in the following explanation, the process in which the main control unit 701 controls each operation block by loading the basic operation program 7001 stored in the ROM 703 into the RAM 704 and executing it will be described as if the basic operation execution unit 7101 controls each operation block. The same description will be applied to other operation programs.

[0188] The collaborative control execution unit 7102 manages device authentication and connection, transmission and reception of various data, etc., when the mobile information terminal 700 performs collaborative operations with the television receiver. The collaborative control execution unit 7102 also includes a browser engine function for executing applications that work in conjunction with the television receiver.

[0189] Each of the aforementioned operating programs may be pre-stored in the ROM 703 and / or storage unit 710 at the time of product shipment. Alternatively, they may be acquired after product shipment from other application servers 500 on the Internet 200 via the LAN communication unit 721 or the mobile telephone network communication unit 722. Furthermore, each of the aforementioned operating programs stored on a memory card, optical disc, etc., may be acquired via the expansion interface unit 724, etc.

[0190] [Time management for broadcast receiving equipment] The broadcast receiving device of this embodiment is equipped with two types of time management functions. The first time management function is an NTP-based time management function, as already explained using Figure 7C. The second time management function is an MH-TOT-based time management function, which manages the time based on time information transmitted by MH-TOT as explained in Figure 6B.

[0191] Figure 13A shows an example of the structure of time information transmitted via NTP. Figure 13B also shows an example of the data structure of the MPU timestamp descriptor. The 'reference_timestamp' parameter and the 'transmit_timestamp' parameter in the NTP format are 64-bit NTP-length time data, and the 'mpu_presentation_time' parameter in the MPU timestamp descriptor is also 64-bit NTP timestamp-length time data. The NTP-length time data and the NTP timestamp-length time data represent 'seconds or more' in UTC with 32 bits and 'less than seconds' with 32 bits. In other words, NTP-formatted time information can transmit time information down to 'less than seconds'. Furthermore, since NTP-formatted time information is in UTC notation, unlike clock management in conventional digital broadcasting, it can be matched with NTP included in signals received on the communication line path (for example, the communication line that can be received by the LAN communication unit 121 in Figure 7A), as shown in Figure 3(B).

[0192] In contrast, the information transmitted by MH-TOT is as follows. The broadcast receiving device 100 is capable of obtaining the current date and Japan Standard Time via MH-TOT. Figure 11A shows an example of the data structure of MH-TOT. The broadcast receiving device 100 can obtain the current date and time from the 'JST_time' parameter of the MH-TOT. As shown in Figure 11B, the 'JST_time' parameter includes the lower 16 bits of encoded data of the current date using Modified Julian Date (MJD) and 24 bits of information representing Japan Standard Time (JST) using six 4-bit binary-coded decimal (BCD) numbers. The current date can be calculated by performing a predetermined operation on the 16-bit encoded data of the MJD. Six 4-bit binary-coded decimal numbers represent the 'hours' in two decimal digits using two 4-bit binary-coded decimal numbers, the 'minutes' in two decimal digits using the next two 4-bit binary-coded decimal numbers, and the 'seconds' in two decimal digits using the last two 4-bit binary-coded decimal numbers.

[0193] Therefore, the difference between time based on NTP and time based on MH-TOT is that NTP, as mentioned above, transmits time information in UTC notation that can reach "less than a second," while the information transmitted by MH-TOT is information in JST notation that reaches "seconds."

[0194] The broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment can achieve more accurate synchronization processing by using a time management function based on NTP, which is time information in UTC notation, for the synchronization processing of decoding and displaying video, audio, subtitles, text overlays, and other display data, which are the content of the broadcast signal. Furthermore, by referring to information in UTC notation instead of the clock notation of the broadcasting station, it is also possible to perform synchronization processing of decoding and displaying video, audio, subtitles, text overlays, or other data, which are the content of the broadcast signal received via the broadcast signal, and video, audio, subtitles, text overlays, or other data, which are acquired via the communication line path.

[0195] Furthermore, the broadcast receiving device of this embodiment can use the time management function based on "JST_time," which contains 24 bits of information represented by six 4-bit binary-coded decimal numbers of MH-TOT, for the process of presenting the current time to the user or for each process that handles the MH-event information table (MH-EIT) as explained in Figure 6B. Generally, in the process of presenting the current time to the user in a broadcast receiving device, precision down to the second is rarely required. Also, each time piece of information described in the MH-event information table (MH-EIT) is stored as 24 bits of information represented by six 4-bit binary-coded decimal numbers, with two decimal digits each for "hours," "minutes," and "seconds," similar to the EIT of conventional digital broadcasts transmitted using the MPEG2-TS method. For this reason, the time management function based on MH-TOT in the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment is easily compatible with processes that use MH-EIT. Specifically, processes that use MH-EIT include the program guide generation process (described later), the control of recording and viewing reservations, and copyright management processes such as temporary storage. In most of these processes, accuracy to the second is rarely required; accuracy to the second is usually sufficient.

[0196] Furthermore, the process of generating the program guide, controlling recording and viewing reservations, and copyright management processes such as temporary storage are functions that are also included in receivers of conventional digital broadcasting systems using the MPEG2-TS method. Therefore, in the broadcasting system of this embodiment, if the process of generating the program guide, controlling recording and viewing reservations, and copyright management processes such as temporary storage is configured to be compatible with the time management process of conventional MPEG2-TS digital broadcasting systems, then when configuring a broadcasting receiver that has both the reception function of conventional MPEG2-TS digital broadcasting and the reception function of MMT digital broadcasting, it becomes unnecessary to design separate processing algorithms for these processes (processes such as generating the program guide, controlling recording and viewing reservations, and copyright management processes such as temporary storage), and costs can be reduced.

[0197] Furthermore, even for receivers that do not have the ability to receive digital broadcasts using the conventional MPEG2-TS method and only have the ability to receive digital broadcasts using the MMT method, it is possible to develop them at a lower cost by reusing algorithms for functions already installed in receivers of conventional MPEG2-TS digital broadcasting systems, rather than having to completely create new algorithms for processing such as program guide generation, control of recording and viewing reservations, and copyright management processing such as temporary storage.

[0198] Therefore, by configuring the time management function based on the MH-TOT's 'JST_time' parameter to be used for these processes (such as program guide generation, control of recording and viewing reservations, and copyright management processes such as temporary storage), it becomes possible to provide MMT-type digital broadcasting receiving equipment at a lower cost by improving compatibility with conventional broadcasting systems.

[0199] As described above, the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment is equipped with a time management function that uses two types of time information with different accuracies. One type of time information is time information with a notation consistent with conventional digital broadcasting systems, and the other type of time information has a higher resolution than the first type of time information. By using the latter type of time information for synchronization processing of each content data of the broadcast signal, more advanced information presentation processing than conventional broadcasting systems can be achieved, and by using the former type of time information for program guide generation processing, control of recording and viewing reservations, and copyright management processing such as temporary storage, the broadcast receiving device can be provided at a low cost.

[0200] Therefore, by incorporating the two types of time management functions described above, the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment can achieve both more advanced information presentation processing and lower costs.

[0201] [The first variation of time management] Next, a first modified example of time management in the broadcasting system of this embodiment will be described below.

[0202] In the first modified example, in order to improve the accuracy of the time management function based on NTP, as already explained using Figure 7C, information regarding the assumed delay time in time information transmission from the time management server (not shown) or broadcasting station server 300 to the broadcast receiving device 100 may be included in the broadcast signal and transmitted, and the broadcast receiving device 100 may be configured to use the information regarding the assumed delay time to correct the system clock of the NTP-based time management function.

[0203] In this case, the information regarding the assumed delay time may be configured to be transmitted not within the TLV multiplexed stream shown in Figure 3(A), but within the TMCC (Transmission and Multiplexing Configuration Control) area outside the TLV multiplexed stream. If transmitted within the TMCC area, the broadcast receiving device 100 can extract the information regarding the assumed delay time without going through the separation process (demaxing process) of the TLV multiplexed stream. That is, it is possible to acquire information that is less affected by the delay caused by the separation process in the broadcast receiving device 100, and therefore, a highly accurate system clock correction process can be performed. An example of the data structure of the time information transmitted by the TMCC signal will be explained using Figure 13C. The time information may be stored in the TMCC extended information area and transmitted, for example. In the time information of the TMCC extended information area in Figure 13C, the 'delta' parameter represents the assumed value of the transmission delay from the time management server that distributes UTC or the server device that creates the TMCC signal to a general broadcast receiving device as a 32-bit signed fixed-point number. The upper 16 bits represent the integer part, and the lower 16 bits represent the decimal part. The 'transmit_timestamp' parameter is the transmission timestamp, which describes the time when this TMCC signal is sent from the server device in NTP timestamp length format. The upper 32 bits represent the integer part, and the lower 32 bits represent the decimal part.

[0204] In this first modified example, the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment can correct the system clock of the NTP-based time management function used for synchronizing each content data of the broadcast signal with greater precision by using the information regarding the assumed delay time (for example, the aforementioned 'delta' parameter and / or 'transmit_timestamp' parameter) described in the time information stored in the TMCC extended information area and transmitted.

[0205] [A second variation of time management] Next, a second modified example of time management in the broadcasting system of this embodiment will be described below.

[0206] As described above, the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment has a time management function that acquires the current date and Japan Standard Time from the information transmitted by MH-TOT and manages the time. The current date and Japan Standard Time acquired from the information transmitted by MH-TOT are superimposed on video information and application information, etc., by the video synthesis unit 161 of the broadcast receiving device 100, and can be output to the monitor unit 162 and the video output unit 163 to be provided to the user. As described above, MH-TOT has the data structure shown in Figure 11A, and the broadcast receiving device 100 can acquire the current date and current time from the 'JST_time' parameter of the MH-TOT.

[0207] However, the aforementioned 'JST_time' parameter uses only the lower 16 bits of the MJD encoded data, resulting in an overflow at 'April 22, 2038', and the aforementioned predetermined calculation alone cannot represent dates after 'April 23, 2038'. Therefore, in the second modification of this embodiment, the calculation method is switched depending on whether the MJD value is greater than or equal to a predetermined value or less than a predetermined value, thereby controlling the representation to include dates after 'April 23, 2038'.

[0208] FIG. 12 shows an example of a first calculation method used when the value of MJD is greater than or equal to a predetermined value and a second calculation method used when the value of MJD is less than the predetermined value. For example, when the predetermined value is '32768 (0x8000)', if MJD is '32768' or more, the current date is calculated using the first calculation method, and if MJD is less than '32768', the current date is calculated using the second calculation method. Note that the case where MJD is less than '32768' is equivalent to the case where the most significant bit of the 16-bit data of MJD is '0'. Thereby, in the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, it becomes possible to represent dates after 'April 23, 2038'. However, the predetermined value can be arbitrarily set, and it may be set to '1-6384 (0x4000)', '49152 (0xC000)', etc. The switching condition of the calculation method may be that the upper 2 bits of the 16-bit data of MJD are '00', or the upper 2 bits of the 16-bit data of MJD are not '11'. Note that when the above-described means is used with the predetermined value being '32768', dates before 'September 4, 1948' cannot be represented, but there is no particular problem in practical use as a television receiver.

[0209] Alternatively, instead of switching between the first calculation method and the second calculation method according to the comparison result between MJD and the predetermined value, the first calculation method and the second calculation method may be switched according to a flag obtained by replacing part or all of the'reserved' parameter in the MH-TOT data structure shown in FIG. 11A or a newly added flag. For example, if the most significant bit of the 16-bit encoded data of MJD is '0', the flag may be set to '1' if MJD indicates after 'April 23, 2038', and set to '0' if MJD does not indicate after 'April 23, 2038'. Then, when the flag is '1', the second calculation method shown in FIG. 12 may be used, and when the flag is '0', the first calculation method may be used. Or, a descriptor having the same meaning as the flag may be newly prepared and arranged in MH-TOT.

[0210] Also, in the broadcast system of this embodiment, as described above, the absolute time in the NTP format is transmitted, and the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of this embodiment has a time management function based on the NTP. Further, in the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of this embodiment, by referring to the NTP timestamp etc. described in the MPU timestamp descriptor set for each MPU unit, the decoding timing and presentation timing for each presentation unit of the video / audio signal are controlled. As described above, the time information in the NTP format has the configuration shown in FIG. 13A. Also, the MPU timestamp descriptor has the configuration shown in FIG. 13B.

[0211] Therefore, in the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of this embodiment, it may be possible to refer to the'reference_timestamp' parameter, the 'transmit_timestamp' parameter, or the'mpu_presentation_time' parameter etc., and select which of the first calculation method and the second calculation method to use according to the value of the referred time data etc. That is, for example, when the most significant bit of the 64-bit long NTP long format time data is '0', the second calculation method may be used, and when it is not '0', the first calculation method may be used, and so on.

[0212] By any of the above methods, in the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of this embodiment, it is possible to represent a date after 'April 23, 2038'.

[0213] [Station Selection Process (Initial Scan) of Broadcast Receiving Apparatus] The AMT of the broadcast system of this embodiment provides a list of IP multicast groups for receiving the IP packets transmitted in the TLV multiplexing method over the communication line as indistinguishable as possible from the IP packets transmitted over the communication line. For one service identification, it is possible to list a plurality of IP multicast groups. Also, in order to efficiently describe consecutive IP addresses, it is possible to use an address mask.

[0214] In the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment, a list of services acquired from TLV-NIT can be stored in non-volatile memory such as ROM 103 or storage unit 110 during channel scanning for initial setup or during rescanning for setting changes. Furthermore, a list of IP multicast groups corresponding to each of the services can be stored in the non-volatile memory as IP-related information, associated with each of the services. By storing the list of services and IP-related information in non-volatile memory and making them constantly accessible, it becomes unnecessary to reacquire TLV-NIT or AMT when switching channels, etc., enabling efficient acquisition of broadcast content.

[0215] Figure 14 shows an example of the operation sequence during channel scanning (rescanning) in the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment.

[0216] When a channel scan is initiated, the receiving function execution unit 1102 instructs the tuner / demodulator 131 to set an initial frequency value and tune to the said frequency value (S101). If the tuner / demodulator 131 successfully locks to the set frequency value (S102: Yes), the receiving function execution unit 1102 then acquires the TLV-NIT from the received signal (S103).

[0217] If the TLV-NIT obtained in the processing of S103 is valid data (S104: Yes), the receiving function execution unit 1102 obtains information such as the TLV stream ID and original network ID from the obtained TLV-NIT (S105). Figure 15A shows an example of the data structure of the TLV-NIT. The TLV stream ID information can be obtained from the 'tlv_stream_id' parameter, and the original network ID information can be obtained from the 'original_network_id' parameter. Furthermore, distribution system information regarding the physical conditions of the broadcast transmission path corresponding to each TLV stream ID / original network ID is obtained from the distribution system descriptor (S106), and a list of service IDs is obtained from the service list descriptor (S107). Figure 15B shows an example of the data structure of the satellite distribution system descriptor. Figure 15C shows an example of the data structure of the service list descriptor. If the TLV-NIT has multiple different data such as TLV stream ID, original network ID, distribution system information, and a list of service IDs, the process from S105 to S107 is repeated. Next, the receiving function execution unit 1102 creates a service list based on the data such as TLV stream ID, original network ID, distribution system information, and a list of service IDs obtained in the process from S105 to S107, and stores the created service list in the ROM 103 or storage unit 110, etc. (updating it during a rescan) (S108).

[0218] Next, the receiving function execution unit 1102 acquires the AMT from the received signal (S109), and further acquires a list of IP multicast groups related to each service ID stored in the service list (S110). Figure 15D shows an example of the data structure of the AMT. If the AMT has a list of IP multicast groups related to multiple service IDs, the process in S110 is repeated. If there are multiple AMTs that have lists of IP multicast groups related to different service IDs, the processes in S109 to S110 are repeated. Next, the receiving function execution unit 1102 stores the list of IP multicast groups acquired in the process of S110 as IP-related information, associated with the service ID, in the ROM 103 or storage unit 110, etc. (updated during rescan) (S111).

[0219] If the tuner / demodulator 131 fails to lock to the set frequency value during the S102 process (S102: No), or if the TLV-NIT obtained during the S103 process is not valid data (S104: No), then the S105-S111 processes will not be performed.

[0220] After completing the process in S111, the receiving function execution unit 1102 terminates processing if the frequency value set in the tuner / demodulation unit 131 is the final frequency value of the channel scan range (S112: Yes). On the other hand, if the set frequency value is not the final frequency value of the channel scan range (S112: No), it increases the frequency value set in the tuner / demodulation unit 131 (S113) and repeats the processing in S102 to S111. Note that if a single TLV-NIT can obtain service IDs for all services constituting the broadcast network, and can also obtain an AMT containing a list of IP multicast groups related to the service IDs, then processing in S112 to S113 is unnecessary.

[0221] Through the series of processes described above, the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment can, during channel scanning for initial setup or during rescanning for setting changes, create / update a list of services constituting the broadcast network (service list), and at the same time create / update a list of IP multicast groups corresponding to each of the services (IP-related information), and further store this information in non-volatile memory such as the ROM 103 or storage unit 110.

[0222] Furthermore, the rescan for the aforementioned setting change may be performed automatically when a change in the information within the table is detected by referring to the 'version_number' parameter of TLV-NIT or AMT. Alternatively, when a change in the 'version_number' parameter of either TLV-NIT or AMT is detected, only the information related to the table in which the parameter change was detected may be automatically updated. However, when the above-mentioned automatic update is performed, it is desirable to notify the user that an automatic rescan has been performed. In addition, the user may be notified that a change has occurred in the information within the table and given the user the option of whether or not to perform the rescan.

[0223] [Channel selection process (channel switching) for broadcast receivers] Figure 16 shows an example of the operation sequence when selecting a station (switching channels) in the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment.

[0224] When a user operates a remote control (not shown in the diagram) or the like to instruct a channel change, the receiving function execution unit 1102 interprets the command transmitted from the remote control and specifies the service ID of the target service (S201). Next, the receiving function execution unit 1102 starts acquiring the AMT from the received signal of the tuner / demodulation unit 131. If the AMT is successfully acquired within a predetermined time (S202: Yes), information regarding a list of IP multicast groups corresponding to the service ID is obtained from the acquired AMT (S204). On the other hand, if the AMT is not successfully acquired within a predetermined time (S202: No), information regarding a list of IP multicast groups corresponding to the service ID is obtained by referring to IP-related information stored in the ROM 103 or storage unit 110, etc. (S203) (S204). Note that the decision process in S202 may be omitted, and the system may always refer to IP-related information stored in the ROM 103 or storage unit 110, etc.

[0225] Next, the receiving function execution unit 1102 starts acquiring the TLV-NIT from the received signal of the tuner / demodulation unit 131. If the acquisition of the TLV-NIT is successful within a predetermined time (S205: Yes), the distribution system information for acquiring the IP data flow corresponding to the service ID is acquired from the acquired TLV-NIT (S207). On the other hand, if the acquisition of the TLV-NIT is not successful within a predetermined time (S205: No), the distribution system information for acquiring the IP data flow corresponding to the service ID is acquired by referring to the service list stored in the ROM 103 or storage unit 110, etc. (S206) (S207). Note that the decision process in S205 may be omitted, and the system may always refer to the service list stored in the ROM 103 or storage unit 110, etc. After obtaining distribution system information in the S207 process, the receiving function execution unit 1102 then controls the tuner / demodulation unit 131 using the frequency value indicated by the obtained distribution system information, receives the IP data flow corresponding to the service ID (S208), extracts the MMT data sequence from the received IP data flow, and outputs it to the separation unit 132.

[0226] In the separation unit 132, the transport processing unit 1102a obtains an MMTP packet with a packet ID of '0' from the input MMT data sequence (S209), and further obtains the MPT contained in the obtained MMTP packet (S210). Next, the transport processing unit 1102a refers to the 'MMT_package_id_byte' parameter of the obtained MPT and checks whether the lower 16 bits of the 'MMT_package_id_byte' parameter are the same value as the service ID. In an example of the MPT data structure shown in Figure 17, if the lower 16 bits of the 'MMT_package_id_byte' parameter are the same value as the service ID (S211: Yes), it is determined that the MMTP packet with a packet ID of '0' is an MMTP packet containing program data corresponding to the service ID, and the acquisition of the MFU is performed based on the information held by the obtained MPT (S216).

[0227] On the other hand, if the lower 16 bits of the 'MMT_package_id_byte' parameter are not the same as the service ID (S211: No), the transport processing unit 1102a determines that the MMTP packet with packet ID '0' is not an MMTP packet containing program data corresponding to the service ID. In this case, the transport processing unit 1102a obtains the PLT again (S212) and, by checking the obtained PLT, confirms the packet ID (let's call it x) of the MMTP packet transmitting the MPT having the 'MMT_package_id_byte' parameter corresponding to the service ID (S213). Furthermore, the transport processing unit 1102a obtains the MMTP packet with packet ID 'x' from the input MMT data sequence (S214) and obtains the MPT contained in the obtained MMTP packet (S215). Furthermore, based on the information contained in the obtained MPT, it obtains the MFU (S216).

[0228] Note that, instead of performing the processes of S209 to S211, the processes of S212 to S215 may always be performed. In this case, when the data of the program corresponding to the service ID is stored in an MMTP packet other than the packet ID '0', the processing time can be shortened.

[0229] When the MFU is acquired in the process of S216, the transport processing unit 1102a extracts encoded video data, encoded audio data, etc. from the acquired MFU and outputs them to the video decoder 141, the audio decoder 143, etc. Hereinafter, video / audio decoding processing based on the control of the AV decoding processing unit 1102b and presentation processing based on the control of the presentation processing unit 1102h are performed. However, since each of the above processes is well-known, detailed description thereof is omitted.

[0230] Through the above series of processes, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of the present embodiment can execute a channel selection (channel switching) operation. In particular, as described using FIGS. 14 and 16, at the time of channel scanning during initial setting or at the time of re-scanning for setting change, a service list and IP-related information are created and stored in a non-volatile memory such as the ROM 103 or the storage unit 110 so as to be always referable. When performing channel selection (channel switching), by referring to the service list and IP-related information stored in the non-volatile memory such as the ROM 103 or the storage unit 110, it is possible to improve the efficiency of the operation at the time of channel selection (channel switching). That is, compared with the case of re-acquiring AMT and TLV-NIT at the time of channel selection (channel switching), it is possible to shorten the time from the start to the end of channel selection (channel switching).

[0231] [Screen Layout Control of Broadcast Receiving Apparatus] In the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, it is assumed that screen layout control based on the description of the LCT is possible. FIG. 18 shows an example of the data structure of the LCT.

[0232] In the diagram, the 'left_top_pos_x' and 'right_down_pos_x' parameters, in particular, represent the horizontal positions of the top left and bottom right of the region as a percentage of the total number of pixels in the horizontal direction, with the left side of the full-screen display set to '0' and the right side to '100'. The 'left_top_pos_y' and 'right_down_pos_y' parameters represent the vertical positions of the top left and bottom right of the region as a percentage of the total number of pixels in the vertical direction, with the top side of the full-screen display set to '0' and the bottom side to '100'. The 'layer_order' parameter indicates the relative position in the depth direction of the region.

[0233] Examples of assigning layouts to layout numbers based on the settings of the aforementioned parameters are shown in Figures 19A to 19D, along with the settings for each parameter.

[0234] Figure 19A shows the default layout settings for the broadcast receiving device 100 in this embodiment, which is an example of setting only one area on the entire screen. Figure 19B shows an example where the entire screen is divided into three areas, and each area is named "Area 0", "Area 1", and "Area 2". For example, if the total number of pixels on the entire screen is 7680 horizontally and 4320 vertically, then "Area 0" is set to the range (0,0)-(6143,3455) because the "left_top_pos_x" parameter is "0", the "left_top_pos_y" parameter is "0", the "right_down_pos_x" parameter is "80", and the "right_down_pos_y" parameter is "80". Similarly, "Area 1" is set to the range (6144,0)-(7679,4319), and "Area 2" is set to the range (0,3456)-(6143,4319).

[0235] Figure 19C shows an example of setting three regions, similar to Figure 19B. Region 0 is set to the range (0,0)-(7679,4319), while Region 1 and Region 2 are set to the same range as described above and are placed in front of Region 0 according to the setting of the layer_order parameter. Figure 19D shows an example where Region 0 is set on device 0 (the default device: in this embodiment, the broadcast receiver 100) and Region 1 is set on device 1 (in this embodiment, the mobile information terminal 700).

[0236] As described above, in the broadcasting system of this embodiment, by using LCT, it becomes possible to control the screen layout so that multimedia services are displayed on the receiver as intended by the service provider.

[0237] Furthermore, any decimal fractions that occur when dividing the screen according to the settings of parameters such as 'left_top_pos_x' can be rounded up or down. Rounding to the nearest integer (or rounding to zero in binary) is also acceptable. For example, if the total number of pixels in the entire screen is 7680 pixels / 4320 vertical pixels, and the 'left_top_pos_x' parameter of 'area 0' is '0', the 'left_top_pos_y' parameter is '0', the 'right_down_pos_x' parameter is '51', and the 'right_down_pos_y' parameter is '51', then 'area 0' can be set to the range (0,0)-(3916,2203) by rounding up, or to the range (0,0)-(3915,2202) by rounding down. In addition, rounding up / down may be performed in units of 8 pixels or 16 pixels, taking into account macroblocks during video compression. The above process makes it possible to efficiently perform region setting based on LCT and resolution conversion processing of multimedia content within the region.

[0238] [Exception handling for screen layout control of broadcast receiving devices] In the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment, even when the screen layout area is controlled by the aforementioned LCT, if the user instructs the display of the EPG screen, etc., it is possible to perform screen layout control that ignores the contents of the LCT as an exception. Figure 20A shows an example of the operation of the exception handling for screen layout control based on the LCT.

[0239] In this embodiment, when the LCT description performs screen layout control similar to that in Figure 19B, and the broadcast program video is displayed in "Area 0," and broadcast content such as program linkage data linked to the broadcast program is displayed in "Area 1" and "Area 2," and the user instructs the display of the EPG screen using a remote control (not shown in the figure), the broadcast receiver 100 in this embodiment will, as shown in Figure 20A(A), return the screen layout settings to the default settings (i.e., the same screen layout control as in Figure 19A) regardless of the contents of the LCT description, and control the display of the EPG screen to fill the entire screen. Furthermore, when the user instructs the end of the EPG screen display, the screen layout control according to the contents of the LCT description will be re-executed.

[0240] By performing the aforementioned control, it is possible to display the EPG screen larger and improve readability compared to the case where the EPG screen is displayed while maintaining screen layout area control, as shown in Figure 20A(B).

[0241] Furthermore, the exception handling for screen layout control described above is not only applied when displaying the EPG screen, but may also be applied when displaying various setting screens of the broadcast receiving device 100 as sub-screens or in dual-screen mode, as shown in Figure 20B.

[0242] In the case of the recording settings screen shown in Figure (A), the display area for broadcast content is changed from the entire screen to only the sub-screen portion in the lower right corner of the screen. Similarly, in the case of the dual-screen display shown in Figure (B), the display area for broadcast content is changed from the entire screen to only the split-screen portion in the middle left of the screen. In either case, the display area for displaying broadcast content is narrower compared to when the entire screen is used, so it is not visually desirable to maintain area control of the screen layout within the display area (i.e., to divide the area and display multiple broadcast contents simultaneously). Therefore, in the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment, in the above situation, only the broadcast content of "Area 0" is selected and displayed in the display area. Alternatively, depending on the previous area selection status, broadcast content from "Area 1" or "Area 2" may be selected and displayed.

[0243] By performing the aforementioned control, it becomes possible to improve the readability of broadcast content compared to displaying various broadcast content while maintaining screen layout area control. The same applies to sub-window display in the recorded program list screen and browser display of internet content, etc.

[0244] [EPG display on broadcast receiving device] In this embodiment of the broadcasting system, time-series information regarding events (so-called programs) included in each service constituting the broadcasting network is transmitted via MH-EIT. Figure 21 shows an example of the data structure of the MH-EIT in this embodiment. The MH-EIT is identified into two classes by a table ID (corresponding to the 'talbe_id' parameter in the figure) and is capable of displaying information on the current / next event of its TLV stream and schedule information for each event in its TLV stream. The broadcasting receiver 100 in this embodiment can create an EPG screen by referring to the MH-EIT, etc., and identifying it by a service ID (corresponding to the 'service_id' parameter in the figure), thereby obtaining information such as the start time and broadcast time of each event. The created EPG can then be superimposed on video information, etc., by the video synthesis unit 161 and displayed on the monitor unit 162.

[0245] Figure 22A shows an example of the EPG screen in the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment. The EPG screen 162a is a matrix shape with the vertical axis representing time and the horizontal axis representing service ID (channel), and displays detailed information of broadcast programs broadcast on each channel during each time period. The detailed information 162a1 for each broadcast program mainly consists of a title area 162a2 and a detailed description area 162a3.

[0246] The title area 162a2 displays the program title of the broadcast program and symbols, etc., that represent the attributes of the broadcast program. The symbols, etc., that represent the attributes of the broadcast program may be, for example, symbols / characters indicating that it is a new program, or symbols / characters indicating that it is a rebroadcast program. Alternatively, it may be a symbol representing "data" that signifies that it supports data broadcasting by the broadcast service. It may also be a symbol representing "NetWork" 162a4 that signifies that content and applications related to the broadcast program can be obtained from the network. Furthermore, the symbols, etc., that represent the attributes of the broadcast program may be replaced by differentiating the background color of the detailed information 162a1 from others, or by surrounding the display area of ​​the detailed information 162a1 with a thick border.

[0247] Furthermore, even if the control information (messages, tables, descriptors, etc.) in the broadcasting system of this embodiment indicates that content and applications related to the broadcast program can be obtained from the network, if there is no LAN cable connected to the LAN communication unit 121 of the broadcasting receiver 100, or if there is no access to the server devices on the network, the system may be controlled not to display the symbol 162a4 representing "NetWork".

[0248] Furthermore, if the broadcast program is a distributed program delivered via the Internet 200 and cannot be obtained solely from the broadcast wave, and if, as described above, the broadcast receiving device 100 is unable to access the server devices on the network, the detailed information 162b1 displayed on the EPG screen 162b may be grayed out, as shown in Figure 22B. In other words, the detailed information of a distributed program that cannot be viewed is not displayed. Alternatively, the background color of the detailed information 162b1 may be differentiated from the others to serve as an alternative to the graying-out process. If the detailed information 162b1 is selected by operating a remote control (not shown in the figure), the user may be notified by a pop-up or the like that the broadcast receiving device 100 is unable to access the server devices on the network, or that the distributed program associated with the detailed information 162b1 cannot be viewed.

[0249] Through the aforementioned controls, the broadcast receiving device 100 can provide the user with program information for each broadcast program in a more natural format, depending on the network connection status.

[0250] Figure 22C shows another example of the EPG screen in the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment. In the figure, "M1 TV", "M2 Broadcast", "M3 Channel", "M4 TV", "TV M5", etc. are the names of broadcasting stations for each channel, and in particular, the "M2 Broadcast" station is assumed to simultaneously provide broadcast programs distributed via broadcast waves and distributed programs distributed via the Internet 200 (information 162c1 in the frame indicated as "Internet Broadcast" in the figure).

[0251] As shown in the figure, if there is a channel that only has broadcast programs distributed via the Internet 200, under normal circumstances, the system is controlled to display information for all channels (including information 162c1) as shown in the EPG screen 162c of the figure (A). On the other hand, if the broadcast receiving device 100 is unable to access each server device on the network, the system may be controlled not to display information for "M2 broadcast (net broadcast)" channels that only have broadcast programs distributed via the Internet 200 (information 162c1 in the figure (A)), as shown in the EPG screen 162d of the figure (B).

[0252] Through the aforementioned controls, users of the broadcast receiving device 100 will no longer need to check information about channels they cannot view.

[0253] [Emergency warning broadcast display on broadcast receiving device] The broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment is capable of receiving an emergency warning broadcast when the emergency warning broadcast activation control signal bit of the TMCC signal included in the transmission data including the TLV stream changes from '0' to '1'.

[0254] The aforementioned emergency warning broadcast may be provided as a full-screen application or as text information via text overlay. When the emergency warning broadcast is provided as text information via text overlay, it is preferable to display the text information via text overlay regardless of the state of the broadcast receiving device 100 immediately before receiving the emergency warning broadcast. That is, as shown in Figure 23, if a user is watching a regular broadcast program and the program screen 162e of the broadcast program is displayed on the monitor unit 162 when an emergency warning broadcast is received, the text information 162e1 from the emergency warning broadcast is superimposed on the program screen 162e. Similarly, if a user instructs the display of the EPG screen and the EPG screen 162f is displayed on the monitor unit 162 when an emergency warning broadcast is received, the system is controlled to superimpose the text information 162f1 from the emergency warning broadcast onto the EPG screen 162f.

[0255] Through the aforementioned control, the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment can prevent users from missing important text information based on an emergency warning broadcast, even when the user has selected and is displaying the EPG screen, various settings screens, recorded program list screen, internet browser, etc.

[0256] [Various exception handling] In this embodiment, if the broadcast receiving device 100 cannot acquire data outside the TLV stream within the same package, it may perform exception handling such as the following.

[0257] As explained in Figure 6E, in the broadcasting system to which the broadcasting receiver 100 of this embodiment corresponds, data acquired within the TLV stream and data acquired via routes other than the TLV stream can be included in the same package based on location information stored in the MPT (corresponding to 'MMT_general_location_info()' in Figure 17). However, data transmission routes other than the TLV stream, which the location information points to (for example, IPv4 data flow, IPv6 data flow, broadcast MPEG2-TS, etc.), are receiving functions separate from the TLV / MMT stream receiving function. Therefore, even when the broadcasting receiver 100 is operating, there may be situations in which data cannot be acquired from these transmission routes, such as when the receiving function of these transmission routes is not operating, when the receiving function itself is operating but relay devices, etc., are not operating, when there is no wired or wireless connection to these transmission routes, or when the broadcasting receiver 100 is installed in an environment where these transmission routes cannot be connected in the first place.

[0258] Under these circumstances, if the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment receives an event indicating that the location information stored in the MPT should be associated with including data acquired within the TLV stream and data acquired via a route other than the TLV stream in the same package, it may perform the following actions, for example.

[0259] For example, if the LCT has set up multiple areas on the screen, as shown in Figures 19B and 19C, and the video contained in the TLV stream is displayed in 'Area 0', and data acquired through transmission paths other than the TLV stream is displayed in 'Area 1' and 'Area 2', and if the data from transmission paths other than the TLV stream that should be displayed in 'Area 1' and 'Area 2' cannot be acquired, the display of the multi-area layout specified by the LCT may be prohibited. Specifically, even if the LCT is received, the default layout display shown in Figure 19A should remain with the video of the content received in the TLV stream displayed in 'Area 0', and it should not switch to a multi-area layout display like those in Figures 19B and 19C. Furthermore, even if a command to change from the default layout to the layout shown by the LCT is input to the operation input unit 170 in Figure 7A, it may remain in the default layout display shown in Figure 19A, or switch to another data broadcasting screen, so as not to switch to a multi-area layout display like those in Figures 19B and 19C.

[0260] If the LCT has set up multiple areas on the screen as shown in Figures 19B and 19C, and the video contained in the TLV stream is displayed in 'Area 0', and data acquired through transmission paths other than the TLV stream is displayed in 'Area 1' and 'Area 2', then another example of operation in the case where data from transmission paths other than the TLV stream that should be displayed in 'Area 1' and 'Area 2' cannot be acquired is to first display the display frames for the multiple areas shown in Figures 19B and 19C indicated by the LCT, display the background color or a predetermined still image in 'Area 1' and 'Area 2', and if data from transmission paths other than the TLV stream indicated by the MPT location information cannot be acquired even after a predetermined time has elapsed, the display may be switched back to the default layout display state shown in Figure 19A. In this case, it is preferable that the program video contained in the TLV stream continues to be displayed in 'Area 0' even when the layout is changed in Figures 19A, 19B, and 19C, as this will allow the user's program video itself to continue.

[0261] Furthermore, if data from transmission paths other than the TLV stream that should be displayed in "Area 1" and "Area 2" cannot be acquired, and the video of the content received within the TLV stream is displayed in "Area 0" of the default layout display shown in Figure 19A, it is possible that the operation of various communication functions and various receiving functions of the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment may start, or the communication environment and communication status of the various communication functions, or the reception environment and reception status of the various receiving functions may change, resulting in a situation where data from transmission paths other than the TLV stream that should be displayed in "Area 1" and "Area 2" can be acquired. In this case, the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment may immediately switch from the default layout display shown in Figure 19A to a multi-area layout as shown in Figures 19B and 19C shown by LCT, and switch to displaying the video of the content received within the TLV stream in "Area 0" and the data acquired from transmission paths other than the TLV stream in "Area 1" and "Area 2". Alternatively, the layout change may not be performed immediately, but rather after an instruction to change from the default layout to the layout indicated by the LCT is input from the operation input unit 170.

[0262] [Copyright protection feature] In the digital broadcasting system to which the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment corresponds, the MPT may be configured to transmit copy control information, for example, indicating the copy control status of the content referenced by the MPT, such as "unlimited copying allowed" (which may be divided into two types: "unlimited copying allowed and encryption processing required during storage and output" and "unlimited copying allowed and no encryption processing required during storage and output"), "only one generation of copying allowed", "a predetermined number of copies allowed" (for example, 9 copies allowed + 1 move allowed is the so-called "Dubbing 10"), or "copy prohibited". In this case, the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment may be configured to control the storage of the content in the storage unit 110, recording to a removable recording medium, output to an external device, copying to an external device, moving to an external device, etc., according to the copy control information. Note that the storage processing may include not only the storage unit 110 inside the broadcast receiving device 100, but also records that have undergone protection processing such as encryption so that they can be played back only by the broadcast receiving device 100. Specifically, the targets of the storage process include external recording devices and other equipment that have been made capable of recording and playback using only the broadcast receiving device 100.

[0263] A specific example of processing based on the copy control information is described below.

[0264] First, if the copy control information included in the MPT indicates "unlimited copying allowed," the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment may perform storage in the storage unit 110, recording to a removable recording medium, output to an external device, copying to an external device, and moving to an external device without restriction. However, if there are two distinct conditions, "unlimited copying allowed and encryption processing required during storage and output" and "unlimited copying allowed and encryption processing not required during storage and output," then in the case of "unlimited copying allowed and encryption processing required during storage and output," storage in the storage unit 110, recording to a removable recording medium, output to an external device, copying to an external device, and moving to an external device can be performed an unlimited number of times, but encryption processing must be applied to all of them.

[0265] Furthermore, if the copy control information included in the MPT indicates "only one generation can be copied," the broadcast receiving device 100 in this embodiment will enable encrypted storage in the storage unit 110. However, when outputting the stored content to an external device for viewing, it will be output encrypted along with copy control information indicating "copy prohibited." However, so-called move processing to an external device (a process in which the content is copied to an external device and the content in the storage unit 110 of the broadcast receiving device 100 is rendered unplayable by erasure processing, etc.) is permitted.

[0266] Furthermore, if the copy control information included in the MPT indicates "copyable a predetermined number of times," the broadcast receiving device 100 in this embodiment will enable encrypted storage in the storage unit 110. However, when outputting the stored content to an external device for viewing, it will be encrypted and output along with copy control information indicating "copy prohibited." However, it is possible to enable a predetermined number of copies and moves to the external device. In the case of the so-called "Dubbing 10" provision, it is possible to perform 9 copies and 1 move to the external device.

[0267] Furthermore, if the copy control information included in the MPT indicates "copy prohibited," the broadcast receiving device 100 in this embodiment prohibits copying to the storage unit 110. However, if the broadcast receiving device 100 is configured to have a "temporary storage" mode that allows retention in the storage unit 110 only for a predetermined time or a predetermined time specified by control information included in the broadcast signal (for example, by the MH-Expire descriptor shown in Figure 6D), then even if the copy control information included in the MPT indicates "copy prohibited," temporary retention of the content in the storage unit 110 is possible. When outputting content with copy control information of "copy prohibited" included in the MPT for viewing on an external device, it shall be encrypted and output along with the copy control information of "copy prohibited."

[0268] Furthermore, output for viewing to the aforementioned external devices can be performed via the video output unit 163 and audio output unit 166 in Figure 7A, or via the digital I / F unit 125 or LAN communication unit 121, etc. Copying or moving to the aforementioned external devices can be performed via the digital I / F unit 125 or LAN communication unit 121, etc. in Figure 7A.

[0269] According to the process described above, appropriate content protection can be achieved in accordance with the copy control information associated with the content.

[0270] Furthermore, the copying process of content with copy control information indicating copy restrictions such as "copyable only once," "copyable a predetermined number of times," or "copy prohibited" to external devices via the LAN communication unit 121 is permitted only if the IP address of the external device, which is the destination of the packet transmitted from the broadcast receiving device 100, is within the same subnet as the IP address of the broadcast receiving device 100. If the IP address of the external device is outside the same subnet as the IP address of the broadcast receiving device 100, copying may be prohibited. Content with copy control information indicating "unlimited copying and encryption processing required during storage and output" may be treated similarly.

[0271] Similarly, the process of moving content that indicates copy restrictions such as "only one generation can be copied," "a predetermined number of copies can be made," or "unlimited copies are allowed, but encryption processing is required during storage and output" to an external device via the LAN communication unit 121 after it has been stored in the storage unit 110 may be limited to cases where the IP address of the external device, which is the destination of the packet transmitted from the broadcast receiving device 100, is within the same subnet as the IP address of the broadcast receiving device 100. If the IP address of the external device is outside the same subnet as the IP address of the broadcast receiving device 100, this process may be prohibited.

[0272] As a general rule, video and audio output for viewing content stored in the storage unit 110 of the broadcast receiving device 100 is only permitted if the IP address of the external device to which the transmitted packets from the broadcast receiving device 100 are destined is within the same subnet as the IP address of the broadcast receiving device 100. Output is prohibited if the IP address of the external device is outside the same subnet as the IP address of the broadcast receiving device 100. However, if the external device has been connected within the same subnet as the IP address of the broadcast receiving device 100 within a predetermined period and has been registered (paired) as a device that can be viewed even outside the same subnet as the IP address of the broadcast receiving device 100, the broadcast receiving device 100 may be configured to allow video and audio output for viewing content stored in the storage unit 110 to the external device, even if the IP address of the external device is outside the same subnet as the IP address of the broadcast receiving device 100. In this case, the video and audio output for viewing shall be performed with the content encrypted.

[0273] As described above, by performing different processing depending on whether the external device is on the same subnet as the IP address of the broadcast receiving device 100 or outside the same subnet, it is possible to achieve both user convenience and content protection.

[0274] Next, as explained in Figure 6E, in the digital broadcasting system to which the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment is compatible, due to location information in the MPT (MMT_general_location_info() in Figure 17), data acquired via a different route (IPv4, IPv6, MPEG2-TS, URL, etc.) than the data acquired via the TLV stream of the broadcast route may be included in the same package and event as the data acquired via the TLV stream. In this case, we will explain content protection when copy control information is included in the MPT.

[0275] First, if the MPT includes copy control information, data included in the same package and event in the location information may be controlled according to the copy control information included in the TLV stream, even if the data was acquired via a different route (IPv4, IPv6, MPEG2-TS, URL, etc.) than the data acquired via the TLV stream on the broadcast route. Depending on this copy control information, the copy control status of the specified content can be set as follows, as mentioned above: "unlimited copying allowed" (which may be divided into two types: "unlimited copying allowed and encryption processing required during storage and output" and "unlimited copying allowed and encryption processing not required during storage and output"), "only one generation allowed", "a predetermined number of copies allowed" (for example, 9 copies allowed + 1 move allowed is the so-called "Dubbing 10"), "copy prohibited", etc.

[0276] Here, if the location information indicates the location of data that includes MPEG2-TS data transmitted in other digital broadcast signals, then that MPEG2-TS data is also broadcast in other digital broadcast signals, associated with copy control information. The question then becomes: how and according to which information should copy control of that MPEG2-TS data be performed (i.e., according to the copy control information contained in the TLV / MMT stream, or according to the copy control information contained in the MPEG2-TS data)?

[0277] In the digital broadcasting system of this embodiment, as a solution to this problem, the broadcast receiving device 100 can perform one of the following multiple solutions.

[0278] <Example of operation 1> In the first operational example, when the MPT contains copy control information and the location information includes data in the same package and event that contains MPEG2-TS data transmitted by other digital broadcast signals, the copy control state indicated by the copy control information contained in the TLV stream takes precedence over the copy control state indicated by the copy control information contained in the MPEG2-TS.

[0279] For example, if the copy control status indicated by the copy control information included in the TLV stream is "copyable for one generation" and the copy control status indicated by the copy control information included in the MPEG2-TS is "copyable for a predetermined number of times", then even if the data is acquired via a different route (digital broadcasting in MPEG2-TS transmission format) than the data acquired in the TLV stream, copy control may be applied to it as "copyable for one generation" content. For example, if the copy control status indicated by the copy control information included in the TLV stream is "copyable without limit" and the copy control status indicated by the copy control information included in the MPEG2-TS is "copyable for a predetermined number of times", then even if the data is acquired via a different route (digital broadcasting in MPEG2-TS transmission format) than the data acquired in the TLV stream, copy control may be applied to it as "copyable without limit" content.

[0280] In this operation, data acquired through routes other than the TLV stream can also be put into a copy state that the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment can manage in the corresponding broadcasting system.

[0281] <Example of operation 2> In the second example of operation, if the MPT contains copy control information and the location information includes data in the same package and event that contains MPEG2-TS data transmitted by other digital broadcast signals, the copy control state indicated by the copy control information contained in the TLV stream is compared with the copy control state indicated by the copy control information contained in the MPEG2-TS. If the copy control state indicated by the copy control information contained in the MPEG2-TS is stricter than the copy control state indicated by the copy control information contained in the TLV stream, the system operates to exclude the MPEG2-TS data from the content to be processed when performing storage processing in the storage unit 110, recording processing on a removable recording medium, or output processing from the digital interface.

[0282] In this operation, for data acquired via a path other than the TLV stream, the duplication of copy control states on the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment can be resolved while respecting the original copy control information set in the broadcasting system that transmits the data.

[0283] Furthermore, if the results of this comparison show that the copy control status indicated by the copy control information contained in the MPEG2-TS is the same as, or less restrictive than, the copy control status indicated by the copy control information contained in the TLV stream, then copy control should be applied to the MPEG2-TS data contained in the same package and event at the same location information, as if it were content with the copy control status indicated by the copy control information contained in the TLV stream.

[0284] In this operation, for data acquired via a path other than the TLV stream, the duplication of copy control states on the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment can be resolved while respecting the original copy control information set in the broadcasting system that transmits the data.

[0285] In the above description, the copyright protection function of the broadcast receiving device 100 in this embodiment was described as being performed based on copy control information included in the MPT. However, the table in which copy control information is placed is not limited to the MPT. In addition to the MPT, the information may be placed and transmitted in the MH-Service Description Table (MH-SDT) or MH-Event Information Table (MH-EIT) described in Figure 6B, or in other tables, and the broadcast receiving device 100 may perform copyright protection processing according to these.

[0286] According to the embodiment described above, a broadcast receiver compatible with MMT digital broadcasting can be provided. (Example 2)

[0287] The following describes Embodiment 2 of the present invention. Unless otherwise specified, the configuration, processing, and effects in this embodiment are the same as those in Embodiment 1. Therefore, the following description will mainly focus on the differences between this embodiment and Embodiment 1, and will omit explanations of common points as much as possible to avoid duplication. Furthermore, the broadcast receiving device in this embodiment is assumed to be a television receiver that supports both the MMT and MPEG2-TS media transport methods, and the following description will proceed accordingly.

[0288] [Hardware configuration of broadcast receiving equipment] Figure 24 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the broadcast receiving device 800. The broadcast receiving device 800 consists of a main control unit 801, a system bus 802, a ROM 803, a RAM 804, a storage unit 810, a LAN communication unit 821, an expansion interface unit 824, a digital interface unit 825, a first tuner / demodulation unit 831, a second tuner / demodulation unit 832, an MMT decoding processing unit 841, an MPEG2-TS decoding processing unit 842, a video synthesis unit 861, a monitor unit 862, a video output unit 863, a sound synthesis unit 864, a speaker unit 865, a sound output unit 866, and an operation input unit 870.

[0289] The main control unit 801, system bus 802, ROM 803, RAM 804, storage unit 810, expansion interface unit 824, digital interface unit 825, monitor unit 862, video output unit 863, speaker unit 865, audio output unit 866, operation input unit 870, etc., have the same functions as the main control unit 101, system bus 102, ROM 103, RAM 104, storage unit 110, expansion interface unit 124, digital interface unit 125, monitor unit 162, video output unit 163, speaker unit 165, audio output unit 166, operation input unit 170, etc., in the broadcast receiving device 100 of Embodiment 1, and a detailed explanation is omitted.

[0290] The first tuner / demodulator 831 receives broadcast waves from a broadcast service employing MMT as the media transport method via an antenna (not shown) and tunes (selects) to the channel of the service desired by the user based on the control of the main control unit 801. Furthermore, the first tuner / demodulator 831 demodulates the received broadcast signal to obtain an MMT data sequence and outputs it to the MMT decoding processing unit 841. The second tuner / demodulator 832 receives broadcast waves from a broadcast service employing MPEG2-TS as the media transport method via an antenna (not shown) and tunes (selects) to the channel of the service desired by the user based on the control of the main control unit 801. Furthermore, the second tuner / demodulator 832 demodulates the received broadcast signal to obtain an MPEG2-TS data sequence and outputs it to the MPEG2-TS decoding processing unit 842.

[0291] The MMT decoding processing unit 841 receives the MMT data sequence output from the first tuner / demodulation unit 831 and performs separation and decoding processes for real-time presentation elements such as video data sequences, audio data sequences, character superimposition data sequences, and subtitle data sequences based on the control signals contained in the MMT data sequence. The MMT decoding processing unit 841 has functions equivalent to the separation unit 132, video decoder 141, video color gamut conversion unit 142, audio decoder 143, character superimposition decoder 144, subtitle decoder 145, subtitle synthesis unit 146, subtitle color gamut conversion unit 147, data decoder 151, cache unit 152, application control unit 153, browser unit 154, application color gamut conversion unit 155, sound source unit 156, etc., in the broadcast receiving device 100 of Embodiment 1.

[0292] The MPEG2-TS decoding processing unit 842 receives the MPEG2-TS data sequence output from the second tuner / demodulation unit 832 and performs separation and decoding processes for real-time presentation elements such as video data sequences, audio data sequences, character superimposition data sequences, and subtitle data sequences based on the control signals contained in the MPEG2-TS data sequence. The MPEG2-TS decoding processing unit 842 has the same functionality as the IRD (Integrated Receiver Decoder) unit of a conventional television receiver that receives broadcast waves of broadcast services employing MPEG2-TS as the media transport method, and a detailed explanation is omitted.

[0293] The video synthesis unit 861 receives video information, subtitle information, and application information output from the MMT decoding processing unit 841, and video information, subtitle information, and application information output from the MPEG2-TS decoding processing unit 842, and performs appropriate selection and / or superposition processing. The video synthesis unit 861 is equipped with video RAM (not shown), and the monitor unit 862, etc., are driven based on the video information, etc., input to the video RAM. The video synthesis unit 861 also performs scaling processing, EPG screen information superposition processing, etc., as needed, based on the control of the main control unit 801. The audio synthesis unit 164 receives audio information output from the MMT decoding processing unit 841 and audio information output from the MPEG2-TS decoding processing unit 842, and performs appropriate selection and / or mix processing.

[0294] The LAN communication unit 821 is connected to the Internet 200 via the router device 200r and transmits and receives data with various server devices and other communication devices on the Internet 200. It also acquires the MMT data sequence (or a part thereof) and the MPEG2-TS data sequence (or a part thereof) of the program transmitted via the communication line and outputs them to the MMT decoding processing unit 841 and the MPEG2-TS decoding processing unit 842 as appropriate.

[0295] [Time display on broadcast receiving device] In this embodiment, the broadcast receiving device 800 is capable of displaying the current date and time on the EPG screen and various setting screens. The information regarding the current date and time is transmitted via MH-TOT, etc., in broadcast services that employ MMT as the media transport method, and via TOT (Time Offset Table), etc., provided by the SI (Service Information) specified in the MPEG-2 system, in broadcast services that employ MPEG2-TS as the media transport method. The broadcast receiving device 800 can acquire the information regarding the current date and time by referring to the MH-TOT or TOT.

[0296] Furthermore, generally speaking, if the video synthesis unit 861 primarily selects video information output from the MMT decoding processing unit 841, it is sufficient to control it to superimpose the current date and time information obtained from the MH-TOT onto the video information, and if the video synthesis unit 861 primarily selects video information output from the MPEG2-TS decoding processing unit 842, it is sufficient to control it to superimpose the current date and time information obtained from the TOT onto the video information.

[0297] However, there are differences in encoding / decoding processes and transmission paths between broadcast services that employ MMT as the media transport method and those that employ MPEG2-TS as the media transport method. Therefore, inconsistencies may occur, particularly in the display of the current time, when selecting a broadcast service that employs MMT as the media transport method versus a broadcast service that employs MPEG2-TS as the media transport method. For example, as shown in Figure 25, when switching the screen display from EPG screen 162g, which displays channel information for a broadcast service that employs MMT as the media transport method, to EPG screen 162h, which displays channel information for a broadcast service that employs MPEG2-TS as the media transport method, the display of the current time changes from current time display 162g1 to current time display 162h1, which may cause users to experience a visual sense of unease.

[0298] In the broadcast receiving device 800 of this embodiment, in order to prevent the user from experiencing visual discomfort, even when the video synthesis unit 861 primarily selects video information output from the MMT decoding processing unit 841, it is controlled to superimpose information regarding the current date and time obtained from the TOT onto the video information. That is, it is controlled to superimpose current time information provided by a broadcast service using MPEG2-TS as the media transport method onto the content of a broadcast service using MMT as the media transport method.

[0299] By performing the aforementioned control, the broadcast receiving device 800 of this embodiment will always display current time information obtained by referring to the TOT when displaying the current time. Therefore, even when switching between a broadcast service employing MMT as the media transport method and a broadcast service employing MPEG2-TS as the media transport method, it is possible to prevent users from experiencing visual discomfort due to inconsistencies in the display of the current time.

[0300] Figure 26A shows an example of the selection control of the current time information source according to the reception status of each broadcast service in the broadcast receiving device 800 of this embodiment. In the broadcast receiving device 800 of this embodiment, when it is possible to receive a broadcast service that employs MPEG2-TS as the media transport method, it is always controlled to obtain the current time information by referring to the TOT, and only when it is not possible to receive a broadcast service that employs MPEG2-TS as the media transport method, and when it is possible to receive a broadcast service that employs MMT as the media transport method, it is controlled to obtain the current time information by referring to the MH-TOT.

[0301] Conversely to the control described above, the same effect can be obtained by controlling the system to superimpose current time information provided by a broadcasting service using MMT as the media transport method onto the content of a broadcasting service using MPEG2-TS as the media transport method.

[0302] As mentioned above, in both cases—when controlling the system to superimpose current time information provided by a broadcasting service using MPEG2-TS as the media transport method onto content from a broadcasting service using MMT as the media transport method, and when controlling the system to superimpose current time information provided by a broadcasting service using MMT as the media transport method onto content from a broadcasting service using MPEG2-TS as the media transport method—it is possible to correct the current time information by referring to the 'delta' parameter of the time information in the TMCC extended information area, similar to the explanation in [Time Management of Broadcasting Receiving Device] in Example 1.

[0303] Furthermore, in both cases—whether a broadcast service employs MMT as its media transport method or a broadcast service employing MPEG2-TS as its media transport method—there is a possibility that the MH-TOT or TOT transmitted by each broadcast service constituting the network may contain errors due to malfunctions or transmission errors in the transmitting system. In this embodiment, the broadcast receiving device 800 has a function to update the time information of its built-in clock by obtaining an MH-TOT or TOT from another broadcast service on the same network, or from any broadcast service on another network, and referring to the current time information, as a countermeasure against such errors in the MH-TOT or TOT.

[0304] Figure 26B shows an example of the current time information update process in the broadcast receiving device 800 of this embodiment when receiving a broadcast service that employs MPEG2-TS as the media transport method. Note that the same process as shown in the figure is also possible when receiving a broadcast service that employs MMT as the media transport method.

[0305] In the broadcast receiving device 800 of this embodiment, when updating the time information of the built-in clock, first, the receiving function execution unit 1102 obtains the TOT from the MPEG2-TS data sequence of the broadcast service currently being received (a broadcast service employing MPEG2-TS as the media transport method) (S301), and then obtains the current time information by referring to the obtained TOT (S302). Next, the receiving function execution unit 1102 performs a process to compare the current time information obtained in the S302 process with the time information of the built-in clock.

[0306] If, as a result of the comparison process, the difference between the current time information obtained in the S302 process and the internal clock time information is within a predetermined value (for example, within 3 minutes) (S303: Yes), the receiving function execution unit 1102 updates the internal clock time information using the current time information obtained in the S302 process (S306). On the other hand, if, as a result of the comparison process, the difference between the current time information obtained in the S302 process and the internal clock time information is not within a predetermined value (S303: No), or if the TOT obtained in S301 has a flag indicating that there is an error in the data, the receiving function execution unit 1102 obtains a TOT from the MPEG2-TS data sequence of another broadcasting service within the same network, or obtains an MH-TOT from the MMT data sequence of any broadcasting service on another network (a broadcasting service that employs MMT as the media transport method) (S304), and further obtains the current time information from the obtained TOT or MH-TOT (S305). The receiving function execution unit 1102 can then perform the comparison process in S303 again using the current time information obtained in the S305 process.

[0307] Through the above process, if the broadcast receiving device 800 of this embodiment determines that the MH-TOT or TOT obtained from the service being received is incorrect, it can obtain the MH-TOT or TOT from another broadcasting service on the same network, or from any broadcasting service on another network, and refer to the current time information to perform the time information update process for the built-in clock.

[0308] Furthermore, if, during initial setup after factory shipment, the current time information that falls within a predetermined range from the internal clock's time information cannot be obtained through repeated processing of S304 to S305, the internal clock's time information can be reset using the current time information obtained in processing S302. In this way, it is possible to handle cases where there is an error in the internal clock's time information of the broadcast receiving device 800 in this embodiment.

[0309] [EPG display on broadcast receiving device] Event schedule information for broadcast services employing MMT as the media transport method is transmitted via MH-EIT, etc. On the other hand, event schedule information for broadcast services employing MPEG2-TS as the media transport method is transmitted via EIT (Event Information Table), etc., provided by the SI specified in the MPEG-2 system. Therefore, generally speaking, when displaying video information, etc., provided by a broadcast service employing MMT as the media transport method, the event schedule information (MH-EIT) of the broadcast service employing MMT can be obtained, and when displaying video information, etc., provided by a broadcast service employing MPEG2-TS as the media transport method, the event schedule information (EIT) of the broadcast service employing MPEG2-TS can be obtained.

[0310] However, the broadcast receiving device 800 of this embodiment is capable of acquiring both the MH-EIT and the EIT, whether it is displaying video information provided by a broadcast service that employs MMT as the media transport method, or whether it is displaying video information provided by a broadcast service that employs MPEG2-TS as the media transport method, thereby improving usability for the user.

[0311] Figure 27A shows an example of an EPG screen in the broadcast receiving device 800 of this embodiment. In the figure, EPG screen 162i is an EPG screen created based on the MH-EIT of a broadcast service that employs MMT as the media transport method, and 'M1 TV', 'M2 Broadcast', 'M3 Channel', 'M4 TV', 'TV M5', etc. are the names of broadcasting stations of broadcasting services that employ MMT as the media transport method. EPG screen 162j is an EPG screen created based on the EIT of a broadcasting service that employs MPEG2-TS as the media transport method, and 'T6 TV', 'T7 Broadcast', 'T8 Channel', 'T9 TV', 'TV TA', etc. are the names of broadcasting stations of broadcasting services that employ MPEG2-TS as the media transport method.

[0312] For example, when a user is watching a broadcast program provided by a broadcast service that employs MMT as the media transport method, and operates a remote control (not shown) to instruct it to display the EPG screen, the initial EPG screen (not shown) is displayed. The initial EPG screen is an EPG screen created based on MH-EIT of a broadcast service that employs MMT as the media transport method, and displays detailed information about broadcast programs on each channel from 17:00 (around the current time) on October 7, 2014 (today). Next, if the user wishes to check the detailed information about broadcast programs on each channel from 20:00 on October 9, 2014, and operates a remote control (not shown) to instruct it to update the EPG screen, EPG screen 162i is displayed.

[0313] Furthermore, if a user wishes to check detailed information about broadcast programs provided by a broadcast service that employs MPEG2-TS as the media transport method, and instructs the network to switch using a remote control (not shown in the diagram), the EPG screen 162j will be displayed. In this case, the broadcast receiving device 800 of this embodiment is controlled to display detailed information about broadcast programs for each channel at the same time and date as the previously displayed EPG screen 162i (i.e., from 8 PM on October 9, 2014), rather than the initial EPG screen created based on the EIT of a broadcast service employing MPEG2-TS as the media transport method (i.e., detailed information about broadcast programs for each channel from 5 PM on October 7, 2014).

[0314] The aforementioned control allows users to easily and continuously check detailed information about broadcast programs on multiple networks using different media transport systems at the same time on the same day. In other words, the usability of the broadcast receiving device 800 is improved.

[0315] Figure 27B shows a different example of the EPG screen in the broadcast receiving device 800 of this embodiment. EPG screen 162k shows the state after scrolling in the channel direction (horizontally) from the state in which EPG screen 162i shown in Figure 27A is displayed, by operating a remote control (not shown). That is, in the example shown in Figure 27B, by scrolling the EPG screen in the channel direction (horizontally), channel information created based on MH-EIT of broadcast services employing MMT as the media transport method and channel information created based on EIT of broadcast services employing MPEG2-TS as the media transport method are seamlessly displayed on the same time axis.

[0316] Therefore, even if a user wishes to check channel information created based on the EIT of a broadcasting service using MPEG2-TS as the media transport method while checking channel information created based on the MH-EIT of a broadcasting service using MMT as the media transport method, it is not necessary to instruct the user to switch networks using the remote control (not shown in the diagram). Furthermore, the user can simultaneously check detailed information about broadcast programs on multiple networks with different media transport methods for the same day and time. In other words, the usability of the broadcasting receiver 800 is improved. (Example 3)

[0317] The following describes Embodiment 3 of the present invention. Unless otherwise specified, the configuration and effects in this embodiment are the same as those in Embodiment 1. Therefore, the following will mainly describe the differences between this embodiment and Embodiment 1, and will omit explanations of common points as much as possible to avoid duplication.

[0318] [System Configuration] Figure 28 is a system configuration diagram showing an example of a broadcast communication system including the broadcast receiving device of this embodiment. The broadcast communication system of this embodiment consists of a broadcast receiving device 40100 and an antenna 40100a, a connecting cable 40200, a monitoring device 40300, a broadband network such as the Internet 200 and a router device 200r, a broadcasting station's radio tower 300t and a broadcasting satellite (or communication satellite) 300s, a broadcasting station server 300, a service provider server 400, and other application servers 500. Although not shown in the diagram, the system may further include an access point 200a, a mobile telephone communication server 600 and a base station 600b of the mobile telephone communication network, and a personal information terminal 700, connected in a similar manner to the system configuration diagram of the broadcast communication system of Embodiment 1 (see Figure 1). In that case, the personal information terminal 700 may be able to communicate directly with the broadcast receiving device 40100 without going through the router device 200r, etc.

[0319] The broadcast receiving device 40100 receives broadcast waves transmitted from the radio tower 300t via the broadcast satellite (or communication satellite) 300s and antenna 40100a. Alternatively, it may receive broadcast waves transmitted from the radio tower 300t directly from antenna 40100a without going through the broadcast satellite (or communication satellite) 300s. The broadcast receiving device 40100 can also connect to the internet 200 via the router device 200r, and can transmit and receive data by communicating with various server devices and other communication equipment on the internet 200.

[0320] The connection cable 40200 is a communication cable connecting the broadcast receiving device 40100 and the monitoring device 40300, and transmitted encoded video / audio data output from the broadcast receiving device 40100. The monitoring device 40300 is a video display device that provides video and audio information obtained by applying predetermined signal processing to the encoded video / audio data received via the connection cable 40200 to the user via a display device such as an LCD panel and a speaker. The monitoring device 40300 may also be connectable to the Internet 200 via the router device 200r, and may be capable of sending and receiving data by communicating with various server devices and other communication devices on the Internet 200. Furthermore, the monitoring device 40300 may be capable of receiving broadcast waves transmitted from the radio tower 300t via the antenna 40300a (not shown in the figure).

[0321] [Hardware configuration of broadcast receiving equipment] Figure 29A is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the broadcast receiving device 40100. The broadcast receiving device 40100 consists of a main control unit 101, a system bus 102, a ROM 103, a RAM 104, a storage unit 110, a LAN communication unit 121, an expansion interface unit 124, a digital interface unit 40125, a tuner / demodulation unit 131, a separation unit 132, a video decoder 141, a video color gamut conversion unit 142, an audio decoder 143, a character super decoder 144, a subtitle decoder 145, a subtitle synthesis unit 146, a subtitle color gamut conversion unit 147, a data decoder 151, a cache unit 152, an application control unit 153, a browser unit 154, an application color gamut conversion unit 155, a sound source unit 156, a video synthesis unit 161, a video output unit 163, an audio synthesis unit 164, an audio output unit 166, an operation input unit 170, and a transcoding processing unit 40181.

[0322] The broadcast receiving device 40100 in this embodiment is an optical disc drive recorder such as a DVD recorder or BD recorder, a magnetic disc drive recorder such as an HDD recorder, an STB, etc. That is, compared to the broadcast receiving device 100 of Embodiment 1, the monitor unit 162 and the speaker 165 may be omitted.

[0323] The digital interface unit 40125 is an interface for outputting or inputting encoded digital video data and / or digital audio data. The digital interface unit 40125 is capable of directly outputting MMT data sequences obtained by demodulation by the tuner / demodulation unit 131, MMT data sequences obtained via the LAN communication unit 121, or mixed data of the aforementioned MMT data sequences. It may also be controlled to input the MMT data sequences input from the digital interface unit 40125 to the separation unit 132. Output of digital content stored in the storage unit 110, or storage of digital content in the storage unit 110, may also be performed via the digital interface unit 40125. Furthermore, the digital interface unit 40125 may be controlled to output video data and audio data output from the video synthesis unit 161 and audio synthesis unit 164 in a format compliant with DVI, HDMI, DisplayPort, etc., using a DVI terminal, HDMI® terminal, DisplayPort® terminal, etc.

[0324] As a variation of the hardware configuration, the functions of the digital interface unit 40125 may be integrated into the LAN communication unit 121. In that case, the various processes of the digital interface unit 40125 described in the following embodiments will be performed by the LAN communication unit 121. Furthermore, the broadcast receiving device 40100 will perform various processes on the information acquired from a server on the network via the LAN communication unit 121, and then output digital data to external devices connected to the network via the LAN communication unit 121.

[0325] The transcoding processing unit 40181 is a signal processing unit that performs transcoding calculations to convert the encoding format, bitrate, media transport method, etc., of each component constituting the content. For example, the transcoding processing unit 40181 can convert the MMT data sequence of broadcast program content, which includes video components in MPEG-H HEVC format, output from the separation unit 132, into the MPEG2-TS data sequence of program content, which includes video components in MPEG-2 or MPEG-4 AVC (Advanced Video Coding) format. It can also perform processing to change only the bitrate without changing the encoding format or media transport method of the components. The program content that has undergone the transcoding calculation can be stored in the storage unit 110 as recorded content, or it can be output from the digital interface unit 40125, etc., and supplied to an external monitoring device, etc.

[0326] [Software configuration of broadcast receiving equipment] Figure 29B is a software configuration diagram of the broadcast receiving device 40100 of this embodiment, showing the software configuration in the ROM 103, RAM 104, and storage unit 110. Compared to the software configuration diagram of the broadcast receiving device 100 of Embodiment 1 (see Figure 7D), a server function program 41003, a transcoding processing program 41004, and a recording / playback processing program 41005 are added to the storage unit 110. Furthermore, the storage unit 110 includes a server data storage area 41400 for storing various data (applications, content, other data, etc.) used for services provided to external devices connected via a network. Note that the server data storage area 41400 may be shared with the content storage area 1200.

[0327] The server function program 41003, the transcoding processing program 41004, and the recording / playback processing program 41005 stored in the storage unit 110 are each loaded into the RAM 104, and the main control unit 101 then executes the loaded server function program, the transcoding processing program, and the recording / playback processing program, thereby configuring the server function execution unit 41103, the transcoding processing execution unit 41104, and the recording / playback processing execution unit 41105.

[0328] The server function execution unit 41103 manages various data (applications, content, other data, etc.) stored in the server data storage area 41400, controls the process of distributing the various data in response to requests from external devices, and performs authentication processing of the external devices as needed. In other words, with the server function execution unit 41103 and the server data storage area 41400, the broadcast receiving device 40100 also functions as a general server device. The transcoding processing execution unit 41104 mainly controls the transcoding calculation processing in the transcoding processing unit 40181. The recording and playback processing execution unit 41105 mainly controls the recording process of broadcast program content to the content storage area 1200 and the playback process of recorded content from the content storage area 1200.

[0329] Furthermore, the receiving function execution unit 1102 deployed in RAM 104 further includes an output control unit 41102i. The output control unit 41102i of the receiving function execution unit 1102 controls the processing related to data output from the video output unit 163, the audio output unit 166, and the digital interface unit 40125.

[0330] In the following explanation, we will describe an example of a process in which received content is recorded, then played back, and output. However, the output content or the control information related to the content may be changed or rewritten from the time the content is received. This change or rewriting process may be performed when the content is received, when the content is recorded, when the content is played back, or when the content is output. When the content or the control information related to the content is changed or rewritten when the content is received, the transcoding processing execution unit 41104 should perform the process. When the content or the control information related to the content is changed or rewritten when the content is recorded or played back, the transcoding processing execution unit 41104 or the recording / playback processing execution unit 41105 should perform the process. When the content or the control information related to the content is changed or rewritten when the content is output, the transcoding processing execution unit 41104 or the output control unit 41102i should perform the process.

[0331] Note that the software configuration shown in Figure 29B is merely an example, and this embodiment does not necessarily require the inclusion of all the programs and execution units shown.

[0332] [Interface configuration between broadcast receiving equipment and monitoring equipment] Figure 30 is a system configuration diagram showing an example of the interface configuration between the broadcast receiving device 40100 and the monitoring device 40300. In this embodiment, the case in which the connection terminals of the digital interface unit 40125 on the broadcast receiving device 40100 side (not shown) and the connection terminals of the digital interface unit on the monitoring device 40300 side (not shown) are connected by a connection cable 40200 will be described. Note that the monitoring device 40300 may have the same configuration as the broadcast receiving device 100 shown in Figure 7A. In this case, the digital interface unit 125 corresponds to the digital interface unit on the monitoring device 40300 side, and the connection cable 40200 is connected to its connection terminals.

[0333] The connection cable 40200, as shown in Figure 30, consists of n pairs of differential transmission lanes, CH1 to CHn, and DDC (Display Data Channel) lines, HPD (Hot Plug Detect) lines, CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) lines, and communication lines (TX / RX lines in the figure), etc., as standardized by VESA (Video Electronics Standard Association). The differential transmission lanes may also be referred to as differential transmission lines.

[0334] The aforementioned n pairs of differential transmission lanes may consist of one pair of clock lanes and (n-1) pairs of data lanes. For example, if n=4, there may be one pair of clock lanes and three pairs of data lanes, or if n=2, there may be one pair of clock lanes and one pair of data lanes. Furthermore, all of the aforementioned n pairs of differential transmission lanes may be data lanes that transmit data superimposed with a clock signal. For example, if n=4, there may be four pairs of data lanes. Note that the clock lanes and data lanes may also be referred to as clock lines and data lines, respectively.

[0335] Digital video (R / G / B / Vsync / Hsync, Y / Pb(Cb) / Pr(Cr), etc.) / audio signals and other control signals may be output in a predetermined format from the video synthesis unit 161 and the audio synthesis unit 164 via the transmission processing unit 40125b of the digital interface unit 40125 on the broadcast receiving device 40100 side to the data lane. The predetermined format may conform to specifications such as HDMI (registered trademark), and a detailed explanation is omitted. The digital video / audio signals and other control signals are received by the reception processing unit 40325b of the digital interface unit on the monitor device 40300 side, and necessary processing such as image quality adjustment and volume adjustment is appropriately performed by the video processing unit and audio processing unit (not shown), and then output from the display unit and speaker of the monitor device 40300.

[0336] The communication line may consist of one transmit line and one receive line, or two transmit lines and two receive lines. Alternatively, it may consist of one transmit / receive line, two transmit / receive lines, or four transmit / receive lines. The one transmit line and one receive line, or two transmit lines and two receive lines, may each consist of one pair of transmit lines and one pair of receive lines, or two pairs of transmit lines and two pairs of receive lines, respectively, which transmit and receive data by differential transmission. Furthermore, the one transmit / receive line, two transmit / receive lines, or four transmit / receive lines may each consist of one pair of transmit / receive lines, two pairs of transmit / receive lines, or four pairs of transmit / receive lines, respectively, which transmit and receive data by differential transmission. In this embodiment, "transmit" and "receive" refer to "transmit" and "receive" as viewed from the broadcast receiving device 40100 side.

[0337] The aforementioned communication line shall have the same performance / function as the LAN cable connected to the LAN communication unit 121, and the transmission control unit 40125a of the digital interface unit 40125 on the broadcast receiving device 40100 side and the reception control unit 40325a of the digital interface unit on the monitoring device 40300 side shall each have the same network communication function as the LAN communication unit 121. In other words, the aforementioned communication line of the connection cable 40200 can be considered as a narrow-area network connecting the broadcast receiving device 40100 and the monitoring device 40300.

[0338] Furthermore, although not shown in the illustration, the connection cable 40200 may also include power lines, GND lines, and spare lines. The n pairs of differential transmission lanes and communication lines may be shielded by the GND line. All or part of the spare lines, DDC lines, HPD lines, and CEC lines may be used as part of the communication line. For example, the spare lines and HPD lines may constitute one transmit line and one receive line, or one pair of transmit / receive lines, of the communication line. The CEC lines, etc., may be omitted. The DDC line may be used as an I2C (I-squared-C) communication line between the main control unit 101 of the broadcast receiving device 40100 and the main control unit of the monitoring device 40300 (not shown).

[0339] The transmission processing unit 40125b of the digital interface unit 40125 on the broadcast receiving device 40100 side communicates with the reception processing unit 40325b of the digital interface unit on the monitor device 40300 side via the DDC line, and is also capable of reading EDID (Extended Display Identification Data) from the EDID storage unit 40325c. That is, the broadcast receiving device 40100 can understand the display performance of the monitor device 40300 by acquiring the EDID. In this embodiment, the display performance refers to items such as the input resolution and frame rate that the monitor device 40300 can handle, video standards, support for 3D video display, and support for network communication via the communication line. In this embodiment, the following explanation will use the process of acquiring the EDID as an example of a means for the broadcast receiving device 40100 to understand the display performance of the monitor device 40300. However, the information acquired is not limited to EDID. For example, performance identification information, which is different from EDID and identifies the display performance and functions of the monitor device 40300, may be acquired. Alternatively, the display performance of the monitor device 40300 may be determined by means other than acquiring the aforementioned performance identification information.

[0340] Furthermore, the transmission control unit 40125a of the digital interface unit 40125 on the broadcast receiving device 40100 side controls the transmission processing unit 40125b and is also capable of detecting, via the HPD line, that the monitor device 40300 has been connected and that the monitor device 40300 has been powered on. In addition, the transmission control unit 40125a of the digital interface unit 40125 on the broadcast receiving device 40100 side is also capable of performing processes such as powering on the monitor device 40300 via the CEC line. Furthermore, the reception control unit 40325a of the digital interface unit on the monitor device 40300 side also controls the reception processing unit 40325b.

[0341] Furthermore, the differential transmission lane may also be referred to as a unidirectional transmission signal line that transmits data only in a single direction, from the broadcast receiving device 40100 to the monitoring device 40300. Similarly, the DDC line, the CEC line, and the communication line may also be referred to as bidirectional transmission signal lines that enable data transmission from the broadcast receiving device 40100 to the monitoring device 40300 and from the monitoring device 40300 to the broadcast receiving device 40100.

[0342] Note that the configuration of the connection cable 40200 shown in Figure 30, the internal configuration of the digital interface unit 40125 of the broadcast receiving device 40100, and the internal configuration of the digital interface unit of the monitoring device 40300 are merely examples, and different configurations are acceptable.

[0343] Furthermore, although the digital interface between the broadcast receiving device 40100 and the monitoring device 40300 described above was explained using a wired interface example with a connection cable 40200, it may also be configured as a wireless interface.

[0344] [Program recording process] In the MMT broadcasting system of this embodiment, it is possible to transmit each asset constituting the package via multiple paths. For example, as shown in Figure 31, it is possible to transmit video asset A, audio asset A, and data asset A via an IP data flow transmitted through a broadcast transmission path, and to transmit video asset B, audio asset B, and data asset B via an IP data flow distributed through a communication line. Each of the aforementioned IP data flows may further include other assets such as subtitle assets and text superimposition assets.

[0345] Furthermore, the package is a sequence of multiple events, and each event corresponds to a so-called "program." Each program has its start time, broadcast time, etc., defined by the MH-EIT shown in Figure 21. Also, the asset configuration of each program may differ, even if they are programs in the same package. For example, one program may consist only of video asset A and audio asset A, while another program may consist of video asset A, audio asset A, audio asset B, and data asset B, and so on.

[0346] The broadcast receiving device 40100 of this embodiment is capable of recording programs that do not have "copy prohibited" copy control information (see [copyright protection function] in Embodiment 1) to an external recording medium connected to the storage unit 110 or the expansion interface unit 124. The process of recording a program to the storage unit 110 or the external recording medium (hereinafter collectively referred to as storage) as described above may also be called a recording process. Even if a program has "copy prohibited" copy control information, copying may be exceptionally permitted if other control information specifies that temporary storage is allowed, etc.

[0347] The recording process basically performs the same control as the channel selection process described using Figure 16, and each asset acquired in the S216 process is associated with program information that can identify the program to be recorded, based on the control of the recording / playback processing execution unit 41105, and recorded in storage. In addition, each control information by MMT-SI is also recorded in storage in association with the program information as appropriate. The acquisition of each asset can be performed from the IP data flow included in the TLV stream transmitted via the broadcast transmission line, or from the IP data flow distributed via the communication line, based on the MPT description acquired in the S210 process or the S215 process. The acquisition and recording of each asset from the IP data flow included in the TLV stream transmitted via the broadcast transmission line and the acquisition and recording from the IP data flow distributed via the communication line may be performed at the same time or at different times.

[0348] Furthermore, the recording process of each acquired asset to storage may be performed on an asset-by-asset basis, on an IP data flow basis, or on a package basis. In any case, it is sufficient that the assets are associated with the program information and managed on the storage. The management process may be performed by the recording and playback processing execution unit 41105 creating management information for the management and recording it in the content storage area 1200 or various information storage areas of the storage (accumulation) unit 110.

[0349] <Settings for recording programs> Of the assets that make up a program, those included in the IP data flow transmitted via the broadcast transmission line (hereinafter referred to as broadcast transmission line assets) can only be acquired during the broadcast of the program. On the other hand, of the assets that make up the program, those included in the IP data flow distributed via a communication line (hereinafter referred to as communication line assets) may be acquired even when the program is not being broadcast. This is because the communication line assets are data stored and distributed by the broadcast station server 300 and the service provider server 400 (hereinafter collectively referred to as server devices). Therefore, as long as the communication line assets are not deleted from the server devices, the broadcast receiving device 40100 may be able to acquire the communication line assets at any time by accessing the server devices via the Internet 200.

[0350] Furthermore, when viewing a program in real time, it is desirable to acquire the assets via the broadcast transmission line and the assets via the communication line simultaneously during the broadcast of the program, regardless of whether or not the program is being recorded. However, if only the program is being recorded and not simultaneously viewed, the acquisition of the assets via the broadcast transmission line and recording to storage will be performed during the broadcast of the program, but the acquisition of the assets via the communication line and recording to storage will not be performed during the broadcast of the program. In other words, when recording a program, the acquisition of the assets via the communication line and recording to storage can be performed at a different timing than during the broadcast of the program. For example, when recording a program, only the acquisition of the assets via the broadcast transmission line and recording to storage will be performed, and the acquisition of the assets via the communication line and recording to storage will not be performed. Furthermore, when playing back a program that has been recorded, control may be implemented to acquire the assets via the communication line again.

[0351] To perform the aforementioned control, the broadcast receiving device 40100 of this embodiment allows the user to select, through settings, whether or not to record the assets via the communication line related to the program being recorded to storage when recording the program. Specifically, if the user selects to record the assets via the communication line to storage in the program recording settings, the broadcast receiving device 40100 acquires both the assets via the broadcast transmission line and the assets via the communication line and records them to storage when recording the program. Note that the recording process does not necessarily need to be performed simultaneously. On the other hand, if the user selects not to record the assets via the communication line to storage in the program recording settings, the broadcast receiving device 40100 acquires only the assets via the broadcast transmission line and records them to storage when recording the program.

[0352] Furthermore, the setting mentioned above regarding whether or not to record assets to storage via the communication line when recording a program may be set for each program to be recorded, or the same setting may be used for all programs to be recorded. For example, an item for making the above selection may be provided on the recording reservation setting screen, or a message prompting the user to make the above selection may be displayed when the "Record" key on the remote control is pressed. In this way, the above setting can be set for each program to be recorded. Alternatively, for example, the setting value related to the above selection, set by menu operation, may be stored in the ROM 103 or storage unit 110, and when recording a program, control may be performed based on the stored setting value. In this way, the same setting can be used for all programs to be recorded.

[0353] Figure 32A is a screen display diagram showing an example of the recording reservation setting screen in the broadcast receiving device 40100 of this embodiment. If "Record" is selected for the "Communication Asset" item in the figure, the storage of the asset via the communication line will be recorded when the program recording process is performed. If "Do not record" is selected for the same item, the storage of the asset via the communication line will not be recorded when the program recording process is performed. Furthermore, if "Record" is selected for the same item, the "Recording Method" item will be enabled. If "Only during program broadcast" is selected for the "Recording Method" item, the storage of the asset via the communication line will be recorded only when the program to be recorded is being broadcast. If "Also possible outside of program broadcast" is selected for the same item, the storage of the asset via the communication line may be recorded at times other than when the program to be recorded is being broadcast, or it may be recorded when the program to be recorded is being broadcast. When making the above settings by menu operation, a menu configuration as shown in Figure 32B may be used. Note that the names of each item and the menu configuration are merely examples, and different names and menu configurations may be used.

[0354] <Recording process for assets via communication line> Next, we will explain the process of acquiring assets via the communication line and recording them to storage when the user selects to record assets via the communication line to storage in the program recording settings.

[0355] Each program in the broadcasting system of this embodiment can be uniquely identified by parameters such as 'original_network_id', 'tlv_stream_id', 'service_id', and 'event_id', as shown in the example of the MH-EIT data structure in Figure 21. Furthermore, by referring to the AMT and TLV-NIT using these parameters, it is possible to obtain information about the TLV stream, including the broadcast transmission path assets that constitute the package of each program. In addition, by referring to the PLT and MPT included in the TLV stream, it is possible to obtain information about the IP data flow, including the communication line assets that constitute the package of each program. That is, based on the information obtained, the broadcasting receiver 40100 of this embodiment can obtain broadcast transmission path assets from the IP data flow transmitted in the TLV stream, and communication line assets by accessing the server device that is the source of the IP data flow that distributes the communication line assets.

[0356] In this embodiment, the broadcast receiving device 40100 can only perform the process of acquiring assets via the broadcast transmission line and recording them to storage during the broadcast of the program to be recorded. However, there are three possible timings for acquiring assets via the communication line from the server device and recording them to storage: (A-1) before the broadcast of the program to be recorded begins, (A-2) during the broadcast of the program to be recorded, and (A-3) after the broadcast of the program to be recorded ends. However, the process of acquiring assets via the communication line from the server device and recording them to storage at timing (A-1) is basically only possible when performing recording by scheduled recording. On the other hand, the process of acquiring assets via the communication line from the server device and recording them to storage at timings (A-2) and (A-3) is possible both in the case of scheduled recording and in the case of recording where a recording instruction is given for a program being watched (hereinafter referred to as normal recording).

[0357] Hereinafter, regarding the recording process of the communication line - via asset performed at each of the timings of (A - 1), (A - 2), and (A - 3), an explanation will be given.

[0358] <A - 1: Recording Process of Communication Line - via Asset Before Program Broadcast Start> In the case of the recording process by reserved recording, the program to be the target of the recording process has already been selected before the start of the broadcast of the program. That is, in the broadcast receiving device 40100, parameters such as the 'original_network_id','tlv_stream_id','service_id', 'event_id', etc. of the program to be the target of the recording process are known. Therefore, if the broadcast receiving device 40100 can obtain the source address, etc. of the server device that stores the communication line - via asset of the program to be the target of the recording process by referring to AMT, TLV - NIT, PLT, or MPT using the above - mentioned parameters, it may access the server device based on the source address.

[0359] On the other hand, since the program to be the target of the recording process is before the start of the broadcast, if it is not possible to obtain the source address, etc. of the server device that stores the communication line - via asset of the program to be the target of the recording process, the broadcast receiving device 40100 may alternatively obtain the source address, etc. of the server device that stores the communication line - via asset of a program having the same parameters as the program to be the target of the recording process such as 'original_network_id','service_id', etc. but having a different 'event_id' from the program to be the target of the recording process. Furthermore, access to the server device is performed based on the source address obtained as an alternative. That is, if the parameters such as 'original_network_id','service_id', etc. are the same, even if the 'event_id' parameter is different, it is considered highly likely that the communication line - via asset is stored in the same server device.

[0360] In either of the above cases, after accessing the server device, if it is possible to obtain the assets of the program to be recorded via the communication line based on the 'event_id' parameter, the system controls the acquisition of the assets via the communication line and recording them to storage. On the other hand, if it is not possible to obtain the assets of the program to be recorded via the communication line, the system determines that it is not possible to acquire the assets of the program to be recorded via the communication line and record them to storage before the program broadcast begins. In this case, the timing of the acquisition of the assets of the program to be recorded via the communication line and recording them to storage may be changed to be performed during the broadcast of the program to be recorded.

[0361] Furthermore, in MH-AIT included in MMT-SI, the application control code related to the program scheduled to be broadcast on the currently selected channel may be specified as "PREFETCH (acquire and retain)," etc. In this case, even if the recording process for the program is not performed by scheduled recording, as an exceptional process, the acquisition of the program's assets via the communication line and recording to storage may be controlled to be performed before the program starts broadcasting. Note that the assets via the communication line acquired and recorded to storage by the aforementioned control may be controlled to be deleted after the program has finished broadcasting if, as a result, neither scheduled recording nor normal recording of the program was performed. Figure 33A shows an example of the data structure of MH-AIT. The "application_control_code" parameter in the figure corresponds to the application control code.

[0362] Also, as described above, when the application control code regarding the program scheduled to be broadcast on the currently selected channel is specified by "PREFETCH (acquire and hold)" or the like, even when the copy control information of the program is specified as "copy prohibited", the acquisition of the communication line via asset of the program and the recording process to the storage may be performed before the start of the broadcast of the program. However, in this case, the recording process to the storage shall be temporary, and it shall be controlled to be deleted or invalidated after the end of the broadcast of the program.

[0363] <A-2: Recording Process of Communication Line via Asset during Program Broadcast> The acquisition during broadcast and the recording process to the storage of the communication line via asset of the program to be subject to the recording process are the same in both the case of the recording process by the reserved recording and the recording process by the normal recording. That is, when it is possible to refer to AMT, TLV-NIT, PLT, or MPT using each parameter such as "original_network_id", "tlv_stream_id", "service_id", "event_id", etc. of the program to be subject to the recording process, and to acquire the transmission source address, etc. of the server device that stores the communication line via asset of the program to be subject to the recording process, access the server device based on the transmission source address. Further, the communication line via asset of the program to be subject to the recording process acquired from the server device may be recorded in the storage. Alternatively, the communication line via asset of the program to be subject to the recording process sent in a push format from the server device may be selected and acquired based on the destination address, etc. and recorded in the storage.

[0364] Note that when it is determined that the acquisition during broadcast of the communication line via asset of the program to be subject to the recording process is not possible due to insufficient processing capacity due to the multitasking status of the broadcast receiving device 40100 or temporary communication performance degradation due to the network status during the broadcast of the program to be subject to the recording process, the acquisition of the communication line via asset of the program to be subject to the recording process and the recording process to the storage may change the processing timing to be performed after the end of the broadcast of the program to be subject to the recording process.

[0365] Also, if the processing capacity and network status of the broadcast receiving apparatus 40100 permit, as an exceptional process, acquisition of an asset via a communication line of a program being viewed without performing recording processing may be performed in advance of the progress of the program, and may be controlled to be temporarily recorded in a storage. In this case, the asset via the communication line recorded in the storage may be controlled to be deleted after the screening of the program ends. In particular, when the copy control information of the program being viewed is specified as "copy prohibited", control shall be such that the deletion process of the asset via the communication line is always executed after the screening of the program ends.

[0366] <A-3: Recording Process of Asset via Communication Line after Program Screening Ends> During the screening of a program targeted for recording processing, access to a server device that stores an asset via a communication line of the program targeted for the recording processing is expected to be concentrated, making it difficult to acquire the asset via the communication line. The broadcast system of the present embodiment enables control based on an MH-probabilistic application delay descriptor in order to avoid the aforementioned situation. However, even when control is performed by referring to the descriptor, it cannot be denied that there is still a possibility that it will be difficult to acquire an asset via a communication line of a program targeted for the recording processing.

[0367] On the other hand, in the case of scheduled recording, it is highly likely that the program to be recorded will not be viewed during or immediately after its broadcast. Also, in the case of normal recording, if the user selects another channel after issuing a recording command and watches a different program from the one that was recorded, it is unlikely that the program that was recorded will be viewed simultaneously. In these cases, the broadcast receiving device 40100 of this embodiment can be controlled to intentionally avoid performing the acquisition of assets of the program to be recorded via the communication line and the recording process to storage during the broadcast of the program, and instead perform it at a predetermined timing after the broadcast of the program has ended. The predetermined timing may be a predetermined time elapsed after the broadcast of the program to be recorded has ended, or it may be a predetermined time set in advance, or it may be a timing based on a separate instruction from the user, or it may be any other arbitrary timing.

[0368] As mentioned above, the acquisition of assets of a program to be recorded via a communication line and the recording process to storage can be performed after the end of the program's broadcast only if the assets of the program to be recorded via a communication line are not deleted from the server device after the end of the program's broadcast. Therefore, in the broadcast receiving device 40100 of this embodiment, first, information regarding the deadline for acquiring assets of the program to be recorded via a communication line from the server device is checked during the broadcast of the program to be recorded, and based on the result, control is performed to determine whether or not to perform the acquisition of assets via a communication line and the recording process to storage after the end of the program's broadcast.

[0369] Figure 33B shows a list of parameters and descriptors placed in the MH-AIT of the broadcasting system in this embodiment. The MH-Application Expiry Date descriptor in the figure contains information about the deadline by which each program's assets can be obtained from the server device via the communication line. The name of the descriptor is just an example, and a different name may be used. In addition, the information may be specified by parameters instead of by descriptors.

[0370] If it is confirmed by referring to the MH-Application Expiry Date Descriptor that it is possible to acquire assets via the communication line and record them to storage after the broadcast of the program has ended, the MH-Simplified Application Location Descriptor is temporarily cached. Furthermore, at a predetermined timing after the broadcast of the program to be recorded has ended, the server device is accessed based on the description in the MH-Simplified Application Location Descriptor to acquire the program's assets via the communication line and record them to storage. The server device may also be accessed based on information obtained by referring to AMT, TLV-NIT, PLT, or MPT using the aforementioned parameters such as 'original_network_id', 'tlv_stream_id', 'service_id', and 'event_id'. On the other hand, if it is confirmed that it is not possible to acquire assets via the communication line and record them to storage after the broadcast of the program has ended, the processing timing can be controlled to acquire the program's assets via the communication line and record them to storage while the program to be recorded is still being broadcast.

[0371] Furthermore, the following section will explain the exceptional processing involved in acquiring assets via communication lines after the program has finished airing.

[0372] For example, in the settings for recording a program, if the user selects not to record the assets via the communication line to storage, then the recording process is performed using either scheduled recording or normal recording. In this case, the broadcast receiver 40100 of this embodiment will only acquire and record the broadcast transmission line assets of the program to be recorded to storage, and will not acquire or record the communication line assets of the program to storage. In this situation, when the user instructs the broadcast receiver 40100 to play back a recorded program, the broadcast receiver 40100 will read the broadcast transmission line assets of the recorded program from storage and acquire the communication line assets of the recorded program again from the server device.

[0373] On the other hand, if the recorded program's communication line-based asset has a specified expiration date for acquisition from the server, once that expiration date has passed, the broadcast receiving device 40100 may be unable to acquire the recorded program's communication line-based asset from the server, even if the user requests playback of the recorded program. To resolve this inconvenience, the broadcast receiving device 40100 in this embodiment has a function that, when the expiration date for acquiring the recorded program's communication line-based asset from the server approaches, acquires the recorded program's communication line-based asset from the server as appropriate, regardless of user instructions.

[0374] Specifically, the contents of the MH-application expiration date descriptor associated with each recorded program stored in storage are referenced at predetermined time intervals. Furthermore, when the deadline for obtaining the communication line-based assets of each recorded program from the server device falls within a predetermined period, the system should be controlled to access the server device, obtain the communication line-based assets of each recorded program, and append them to storage. The predetermined time interval may be, for example, every 24 hours, 12 hours, or 6 hours. The predetermined period may be within 72 hours, 48 ​​hours, or 24 hours.

[0375] By performing the aforementioned processing, even if the user has selected not to record assets via the communication line to storage in the program recording settings, and even if an expiration date has been specified for retrieving the recorded program's assets via the communication line from the server, and even if that expiration date has passed, if the user issues a playback instruction to the broadcast receiving device 40100 for the recorded program, the broadcast receiving device 40100 will be able to read both the broadcast transmission line assets and the communication line assets of the recorded program from storage. In other words, high-quality content playback using both broadcast transmission line assets and communication line assets becomes possible.

[0376] Furthermore, when the recording process described in (A-1) to (A-3) above, particularly the recording process of the broadcast program to be recorded via the communication line, is performed at a time other than the broadcast time of the broadcast program to be recorded, it is effective to include information regarding the deadline for acquiring the communication line-based assets in the MH-EIT. For example, the information regarding the deadline for acquiring the communication line-based assets can be included in the MH-EIT in the form of parameters or descriptors for each event (program), such as either the "start date and time of the period during which the communication line-based assets can be acquired" or the "end date and time of the period during which the communication line-based assets can be acquired." In this way, for example, when performing the process in (A-1) above, it becomes easy to determine whether or not it is possible to acquire the communication line-based assets of the broadcast program to be recorded before the broadcast of the broadcast program to be recorded starts by referring to the MH-EIT. Similarly, in the processes in (A-2) and (A-3) above, it becomes easy to determine whether or not it is possible to acquire the communication line-based assets of the broadcast program to be recorded after the broadcast of the broadcast program has finished airing by referring to the MH-EIT.

[0377] Furthermore, if MH-EIT contains information regarding the deadline for acquiring the asset via the communication line, this information may be displayed when the EPG is displayed. For example, in the detailed information 162a1 shown in Figure 22A, if a symbolic mark 162a4 representing "Network" is displayed in the title area 162a2, and if this program has information regarding the deadline for acquiring the asset via the communication line, then a symbolic mark representing "Expiration" (not shown in the figure) indicating that a deadline has been set for acquiring the asset via the communication line from the server device may also be displayed in the title area 162a2. In addition, information regarding the deadline for acquiring the asset via the communication line (such as "start date and time of the period during which the asset can be acquired via the communication line" or "end date and time of the period during which the asset can be acquired via the communication line") may be displayed in text in the detailed explanation area 162a3.

[0378] By including information regarding the deadline for acquiring assets via the communication line in the MH-EIT, the recording process in the broadcast receiving device 40100 of this embodiment can be performed more efficiently. Furthermore, in the EPG display, users can easily grasp information regarding the deadline for acquiring assets via the communication line.

[0379] [List of recorded programs] Figure 34 is a screen display diagram showing an example of the recorded program list screen in the broadcast receiving device 40100 of this embodiment. For example, when the remote control capable of operating the broadcast receiving device 40100 is used to instruct the display of the recorded program list, the recorded program list screen 162m shown in the figure is displayed. The recorded program list screen 162m displays a list of recorded programs stored in the storage. The display format may be in order of recording date and time, or in order of program title. Subfolders may also be provided for each channel or series. Information for each recorded program may consist of a thumbnail section and a program details section 162m1. The number of recorded programs displayed on the screen may be increased by not displaying the thumbnail section.

[0380] In this embodiment, the program details section 162m1 may consist of a program attribute area 162m2, a program basic information area 162m3, and a program extended information area 162m4.

[0381] The program attribute area 162m2 displays symbols, etc., representing the attributes of each recorded program. These symbols may include, for example, a symbol representing "Non-viewed," meaning the program is unviewed; a symbol representing "Network," meaning the communication line asset for each recorded program can be obtained from the server device; a symbol representing "Obtained," meaning the communication line asset has already been obtained and recorded in storage; or a symbol representing "Expiration," meaning there is an expiration date for obtaining the communication line asset from the server device. Other symbols with different meanings may also be displayed. The display of each symbol is controlled according to the status of each recorded program. Furthermore, each symbol may be replaced with an abbreviation, character, or sentence with the same meaning. These attributes may not normally be displayed in the program attribute area 162m2, but may only be displayed as a pop-up when each recorded program is selected with a selection marker.

[0382] The basic program information area 162m3 shall display basic information for each recorded program, such as the program title, recording date and time, recording duration, and recording mode.

[0383] The program extension information area 162m4 shall display information regarding the deadline for obtaining the assets of each recorded program via the communication line from the server device (referred to as "Data Acquisition Deadline" in the diagram) if each recorded program has a symbol representing "Network" and a symbol representing "Expiration," and information regarding the expiration date of each recorded program (referred to as "Data Expiration Date" in the diagram) if each recorded program has "Obtained." Other information may also be displayed.

[0384] As mentioned above, by displaying symbols representing each of the aforementioned attributes and information regarding each expiration date on the recorded program list screen 162m, users can easily grasp various information about the assets of each recorded program transmitted via the communication line.

[0385] When the recorded program list screen 162m is displayed, operating the 'cursor' key on the remote control allows the selection marker for each recorded program to be moved. Pressing the 'OK' key on the remote control allows playback of the recorded program selected by the selection marker. Pressing the 'red' key on the remote control allows deletion of the recorded program selected by the selection marker. Pressing the 'yellow' key on the remote control allows acquisition of the recorded program's communication line asset from the server device if the selected recorded program has a symbol representing 'Network'. The acquisition process executed when the 'yellow' key on the remote control is the process described as an exceptional process in section 'A-3: Recording of communication line assets after program broadcast ends', and can be considered to be performed regardless of the deadline for acquiring the communication line asset from the server device, and at the user's instruction.

[0386] Furthermore, if the recorded program has a mark symbolizing "Network" and a mark symbolizing "Expiration," and the date indicated in the "Data Acquisition Deadline" has passed, control may be implemented to erase the display of the mark symbolizing "Network" and the mark symbolizing "Expiration." This is because the acquisition process of the recorded program's assets via the communication line becomes impossible due to the expiration date. Also, if the recorded program has a mark symbolizing "Obtained," and the date indicated in the "Data Expiration Date" has passed, control may be implemented to erase the display of the mark symbolizing "Obtained" and delete the communication line assets of the recorded program stored in storage. This is because the playback process of the recorded program's assets via the communication line becomes impossible due to the expiration date.

[0387] Furthermore, if the recorded program's assets transmitted via the communication line, which include data that should be displayed in "Area 1" or "Area 2" with the layout settings shown in Figure 19B according to the LCT description, become unobtainable due to the expiration of the acquisition period from the server device, or if playback processing from storage becomes impossible due to the expiration of the data validity period, the broadcast receiving device 40100 of this embodiment shall control the display to use the default layout settings (i.e., the layout settings shown in Figure 19A), regardless of the contents of the LCT layout setting description. In the default layout setting, "Area 0" shall display video based on the assets transmitted via the broadcast transmission line. This processing may also be performed by patching the LCT layout setting description recorded in association with the recorded program each time playback processing of the recorded program is performed. Alternatively, this may be achieved by rewriting the layout setting description of the LCT recorded in association with the recorded program, triggered by the fact that the asset of the recorded program via the communication line has become unobtainable due to the expiration of the acquisition period from the server device, or by the fact that playback processing from storage has become unavailable due to the expiration of the data validity period. Furthermore, even if both "area 1" and "area 2" are display areas using assets via the communication line, and only one of the areas becomes unobtainable or unplayable, the system may be controlled to perform patch processing or rewriting processing of the layout setting description of the LCT.

[0388] According to the broadcast receiving device 40100 of this embodiment described above, it is possible to efficiently acquire the assets of a program via the communication line during the program recording process. Furthermore, when displaying a list of recorded programs, it is possible to easily inform the user of the acquisition status of the program's assets via the communication line. In other words, it is possible to provide a broadcast receiving device that can perform functions with higher added value. (Example 4)

[0389] Hereinafter, Example 4 of the present invention will be described. Note that the configurations, effects, etc. in this example are the same as those in Example 3 unless otherwise specified. Therefore, hereinafter, the differences between this example and Example 3 will be mainly described, and the common points will be omitted as much as possible to avoid duplication. In this example, mainly the data output process from the broadcast receiving device 40100 to the monitor device 40300 via the connection cable 40200 will be described.

[0390] [Program Output Control] In this example, the broadcast receiving device 40100 is assumed to be an optical disc drive recorder, a magnetic disk drive recorder, a STB, etc. That is, the broadcast receiving device 40100 does not have a monitor unit for video display and a speaker unit for audio output, and outputs video information (video data) and audio information (audio data) from the digital interface unit 40125, and transmits them to the monitor device 40300 via the connection cable 40200. Further, in the monitor device 40300, the video information is displayed and the audio information is output. Note that in the broadcast receiving device 40100, the output formats of the video information (video data) and audio information (audio data) to the monitor device 40300 via the connection cable 40200 can be appropriately controlled. Hereinafter, examples of the output formats of the video information (video data) and audio information (audio data) corresponding to the broadcast receiving device 40100 in this example will be described.

[0391] <B-1: Output 1 of Decoded Video Information and Audio Information> The first example of the output formats of the video information and audio information corresponding to the broadcast receiving device 40100 is a format in which the decoded video information output from the video synthesizing unit 161 and the decoded audio information output from the audio synthesizing unit 164 are output from the digital interface unit 40125 and transmitted to the monitor device 40300 via the data lane of the connection cable 40200.

[0392] In this first example, when the broadcast receiving device 40100 watches a program being broadcast, it acquires each asset included in the IP data flow transmitted via the broadcast transmission line (referred to as broadcast transmission line assets in this embodiment as well) and each asset included in the IP data flow distributed via the communication line (referred to as communication line assets in this embodiment as well), and performs appropriate decoding processing using the video decoder 141, audio decoder 143, character super decoder 144, subtitle decoder 145, data decoder 151, etc. If the communication line assets have already been cached because the application control code is specified as "PREFETCH", the communication line assets may be acquired by reading them from the cache. Furthermore, the decoding of the video information and audio information processed by the video synthesis unit 161 and the audio synthesis unit 164 is controlled to be output to the monitor device 40300 via the digital interface unit 40125.

[0393] Furthermore, when viewing recorded programs stored in the storage unit 110 or an external recording medium (collectively referred to as storage in this embodiment), the broadcast receiving device 40100 can appropriately decode the broadcast transmission line assets and communication line assets read from the storage during playback processing using the video decoder 141, audio decoder 143, character super decoder 144, subtitle decoder 145, data decoder 151, etc., respectively. It should be noted that during the playback processing, the IP data flow including the communication line assets may be acquired again from the broadcast station server 300 or service provider server 400 (collectively referred to as server equipment in this embodiment). Additionally, the decoded video and audio information, synthesized by the video synthesis unit 161 and audio synthesis unit 164, is controlled to be output to the monitor device 40300 via the digital interface unit 40125.

[0394] When performing the playback process, as to which of the communication line - via assets read from the storage and the communication line - via assets included in the IP data flow newly acquired from the server device is to be used for the decoding process, the priority may be determined in advance by menu settings or the like. Alternatively, depending on the version information or expiration date information attached to the communication line - via asset read from the storage, it may be possible to control whether to newly acquire an IP data flow including a communication line - via asset from the server device. Alternatively, the user may be allowed to select each time. For example, first, attempt to acquire an IP data flow including a communication line - via asset from the server device, and use the communication line - via asset read from the storage when the IP data flow including the communication line - via asset cannot be acquired from the server device. Or, first, read the communication line - via asset from the storage, check the version information and expiration date information of the read communication line - via asset, and then newly acquire an IP data flow including a communication line - via asset from the server device as necessary.

[0395] In addition, the transmission of the decoded video information and audio information from the digital interface unit 40125 to the monitor device 40300 is mainly performed via the data lane of the connection cable 40200 and may be transmitted in a predetermined format compliant with, for example, the HDMI (registered trademark) specification. Also, when the program to be viewed is a program whose layout setting is controlled by the description of LCT, as shown in an example in FIG. 35A, the decoded video information output from the digital interface unit 40125 may already have the layout setting applied. Therefore, in the monitor device 40300, it is possible to display video information on the monitor unit with the layout setting intended by the content provider without requiring special processing.

[0396] <B - 2: Output of Decoded Video Information and Audio Information 2> A second example of the output format for video and audio information supported by the broadcast receiving device 40100 is that, for assets via the broadcast transmission line, the decoded video information output from the video synthesis unit 161 and the decoded audio information output from the audio synthesis unit 164 are output directly from the digital interface unit 40125, and for assets via the communication line, the assets via the communication line output from the separation unit 132 are output directly from the digital interface unit 40125. The decoded video and audio information are transmitted to the monitor device 40300 via the data lane of the connection cable 40200, and the assets via the communication line are transmitted via the communication line of the connection cable 40200.

[0397] In this second example, when viewing a program being broadcast, the broadcast receiving device 40100 controls the following: the broadcast transmission line assets included in the IP data flow transmitted via the broadcast transmission line are appropriately decoded by the video decoder 141, audio decoder 143, character super decoder 144, subtitle decoder 145, data decoder 151, etc., and the decoded video and audio information, which has been synthesized by the video synthesis unit 161 and the audio synthesis unit 164, is output to the monitoring device 40300 via the digital interface unit 40125. On the other hand, the communication line assets included in the IP data flow distributed via the communication line are output from the separation unit 132 in the same format as the IP data flow including the communication line assets, and are controlled to be output to the monitoring device 40300 via the digital interface unit 40125. Furthermore, if the application control code is specified as "PREFETCH" and the IP data flow including assets via the communication line has already been cached, the IP data flow read from the cache may be output to the monitoring device 40300 via the digital interface unit 40125.

[0398] Furthermore, when viewing recorded programs stored in storage, the broadcast receiving device 40100 appropriately decodes the broadcast transmission line assets read from storage by the playback process using the video decoder 141, audio decoder 143, character super decoder 144, subtitle decoder 145, data decoder 151, etc. With respect to communication line assets, the communication line assets read from storage by the playback process may be reconfigured into IP data flow format and input to the digital interface unit 40125, or an IP data flow including the communication line assets acquired again from the server device may be input to the digital interface unit 40125. In addition, the decoded video information and audio information processed by the video synthesis unit 161 and the audio synthesis unit 164, along with the IP data flow including the communication line assets, are controlled to be output to the monitor device 40300 via the digital interface unit 40125.

[0399] During the aforementioned playback process, the priority of which of the assets read from storage via the communication line and the assets included in the IP data flow acquired again from the server device via the communication line may be determined using the same method as described in (B-1) above.

[0400] Furthermore, the transmission of the decoded video information and audio information and the IP data flow including the assets via the communication line from the digital interface unit 40125 to the monitor device 40300 may be controlled as shown in Figure 35B, with the decoded video information and audio information mainly transmitted via the data lane of the connection cable 40200, and the IP data flow including the assets via the communication line mainly transmitted via the communication line of the connection cable 40200. In addition, the distribution process of the IP data flow including the assets via the communication line to the monitor device 40300 via the communication line of the connection cable 40200 may be carried out by distributing the IP data flow including the assets via the communication line output from the separation unit 132 to the monitor device 40300 in a push format from the digital interface unit 40125. Alternatively, the IP data flow including the assets via the communication line output from the separation unit 132 may be temporarily stored in the server data storage area 41400 of the storage unit 110, and the stored IP data flow including the assets via the communication line may be distributed from the digital interface unit 40125 in response to a request from the monitoring device 40300. The same processing may be performed in the following description regarding the distribution of the IP data flow including the assets via the communication line to the monitoring device 40300 via the communication line of the connection cable 40200.

[0401] Furthermore, association information, which is various control information for associating the decoded video and audio information with the assets transmitted via the communication line, is transmitted via the data lane of the connection cable 40200. The transmission of the decoded video and audio information via the data lane of the connection cable 40200 may be, for example, in a predetermined format compliant with the HDMI specification. The transmission of the association information via the data lane of the connection cable 40200 may be, for example, performed using a reserve area defined in the HDMI specification. The reserve area may be, for example, an area located in the return time period in the HDMI specification, in which each manufacturer can specify how to use it.

[0402] The association information may include reference location information indicating a reference destination for acquiring assets via the communication line, reference time information for controlling the decoding time and presentation time of assets via the communication line, and layout control information for controlling the layout settings in the monitor display of the program to be viewed. Other information may also be transmitted as association information.

[0403] The aforementioned reference location information is information indicating the reference destination for the monitoring device 40300 to acquire the asset via the communication line. When the monitoring device 40300 is to acquire an IP data flow including the asset via the communication line from the server device, the broadcast receiving device 40100 can simply transfer the MPT location information, etc., included in the IP data flow acquired via the broadcast transmission line to the monitoring device 40300 as reference location information. When the monitoring device 40300 is to acquire an IP data flow including the asset via the communication line distributed from the broadcast receiving device 40100, the broadcast receiving device 40100 can rewrite the contents of the MPT location information, etc., included in the IP data flow acquired via the broadcast transmission line and then send it to the monitoring device 40300 as reference location information. The monitor device 40300 may be configured to send both of the aforementioned reference location information to the monitor device 40300 and then select whether to obtain the IP data flow including the assets via the communication line from the server device or to obtain the IP data flow including the assets via the communication line distributed from the broadcast receiving device 40100.

[0404] Specifically, the rewriting process involves changing the location information related to the communication line-transmitted assets included in the MPT (corresponding to 'MMT_general_location_info()' shown in Figure 17) from 'location_type=0x01', which indicates that the data is multiplexed in an IPv4 data flow, or 'location_type=0x02', which indicates that the data is multiplexed in an IPv6 data flow, to 'location_type=0x05', which indicates that the data is located at a specified URL. Furthermore, the description of the specified URL should be set to point to the server data storage area 41400 managed by the server function execution unit 41103 of the broadcast receiving device 40100. In the rewriting process of the MPT location information, it is preferable to rewrite the description of the reference destination while keeping the same format as the MPT location information transmitted via the broadcast wave, without changing its format. This is because, when the data output from the broadcast receiving device 40100 and received by the monitoring device 40300 is interpreted by the monitoring device 40300, it can be interpreted using the same functionality as the MPT location information transmitted via the broadcast wave. If the monitoring device 40300 has the same broadcast wave reception function as the broadcast receiving device 40100, this function can be applied to the reception and interpretation processing of the digital interface output from the broadcast receiving device 40100, eliminating the need to incorporate its own functions. Therefore, this configuration allows for a reduction in the overall system cost.

[0405] Furthermore, when the monitoring device 40300 acquires assets via the communication line from an IP data flow distributed in push format from the broadcast receiving device 40100, the IP packet ID of the IP data flow that the monitoring device 40300 should refer to, the asset ID of the assets via the communication line to be acquired, etc., may also be used as the reference location information.

[0406] The reference time information may be transmitted as is from the NTP acquired by the broadcast receiving device 40100, or a predetermined offset value may be added to the value of the NTP before transmission. In the monitoring device 40300, if the IP data flow transmitted from the broadcast receiving device 40100, including the decoded video information and audio information and the assets via the communication line, is a playback of a recorded program stored in storage, it is desirable to control the decoding and presentation processing of the assets via the communication line based on the reference time information transmitted from the broadcast receiving device 40100. For this reason, when the broadcast receiving device 40100 of this embodiment transmits the IP data flow including the decoded video information and audio information and the assets via the communication line to the monitoring device 40300, it shall simultaneously transmit playback program flag information indicating whether the IP data flow including the decoded video information and audio information and the assets via the communication line is from a program currently being broadcast or a playback of a recorded program. The playback program flag information may also be one of the association information.

[0407] The layout control information is information indicating the settings of the LCT when the program is a program whose layout settings are controlled by the LCT description. The monitor device 40300 is capable of controlling the layout settings when the monitor is displayed based on the layout control information.

[0408] The monitoring device 40300 acquires the decoded video information, audio information, and layout control information from the broadcast receiving device 40100. When it acquires the IP data flow, including the assets transmitted via the communication line, from the broadcast receiving device 40100 or the server device, the monitoring device 40300 can display the decoded video and various data transmitted in the IP data flow in the layout intended at the time of broadcast. As mentioned above, even if the broadcast receiving device 40100 performs a rewrite of the location information, the broadcast receiving device 40100 does not need to rewrite the LCT information and outputs it as it was at the time of reception. This is because, in the LCT, only the acquisition destination of the assets for the area where the assets via the communication line were allocated at the time of reception is changed by the rewriting of the location information, and the layout itself does not need to be changed. Therefore, if the monitor device 40300 has the same broadcast wave reception function as the broadcast receiver device 40100, when outputting the decoded video of a program recorded by the broadcast receiver device 40100 and subsequently played back to the monitor device 40300 via the digital interface, if the location information, which has been rewritten with the same format as the MPT location information transmitted via the broadcast wave, and the LCT information, which has not been rewritten with the same description as when it was transmitted via the broadcast wave (it does not need to be rewritten during recording and playback), are transmitted from the broadcast receiver device 40100 to the monitor device 40300 via the digital interface, the control information can be interpreted in the same way as the broadcast wave reception function of the monitor device 40300, making it possible to reproduce the display in the layout intended during broadcasting on the monitor device 40300 more efficiently.

[0409] Furthermore, if the layout setting described in the LCT indicates a layout consisting only of assets transmitted via the broadcast transmission line, the broadcast receiving device 40100 may control the layout setting, synthesize the decoded video information and audio information in the configured layout state, and transmit it to the monitoring device 40300 via the data lane of the connection cable 40200. In this case, the layout control information does not need to be transmitted as association information.

[0410] Also, in the output format of this second example, even when the monitor device 40300 does not support the output format of the second example, only the video information based on the broadcast transmission path asset can be displayed, which is an advantage.

[0411] <B-3: Output 1 of Encoded Video Data and Audio Data> A third example of the output format of the video data and audio data corresponding to the broadcast receiver 40100 is a format in which one IP data flow including a broadcast transmission path asset and a communication line path asset is output from the digital interface unit 40125 and transmitted to the monitor device 40300 via a data lane or a communication line of the connection cable 40200.

[0412] In this third example, when the broadcast receiver 40100 watches a broadcast program, it acquires an IP data flow including a broadcast transmission path asset transmitted via the broadcast transmission path and an IP data flow including a communication line path asset distributed via the communication line, respectively, and outputs each IP data flow as it is from the separation unit 132. Further, in the transcoding processing unit 40181, a process of synthesizing the IP data flow including the broadcast transmission path asset and the IP data flow including the communication line path asset into one IP data flow is performed, and control is performed so that the synthesized IP data flow is output from the digital interface unit 40125 to the monitor device 40300. When the IP data flow including the communication line path asset has been cached because the application control code is specified as 'PREFETCH', the synthesis process in the transcoding processing unit 40181 may be performed using the IP data flow including the broadcast transmission path asset and the IP data flow read from the cache.

[0413] Furthermore, when viewing recorded programs stored in storage, the broadcast receiving device 40100 may reconstruct the broadcast transmission line assets and communication line assets read from storage by the playback process into a single IP data flow format in the transcoding processing unit 40181, and output the reconstructed IP data flow as a combined IP data flow from the digital interface unit 40125. If the recording process to storage is performed on a package basis or on an IP data flow basis, the transcoding processing unit 40181 can perform the synthesis process on the IP data flow including the broadcast transmission line assets and the IP data flow including the communication line assets read from storage by the playback process. In addition, the communication line assets may be acquired again from the server device, and the transcoding processing unit 40181 may perform synthesis processing on the IP data flow including the broadcast transmission line assets read from storage and the IP data flow including the communication line assets acquired again from the server device.

[0414] During the aforementioned regeneration process, the priority of which IP data flow to use for the synthesis process—the IP data flow containing the communication line assets read from storage or the IP data flow containing the communication line assets newly acquired from the server device—may be determined using the same method as described in (B-1) above.

[0415] Furthermore, various control signals (such as MMT-SI) that are placed together with the broadcast transmission line-transmitted assets in the IP data flow transmitted via the broadcast transmission line will basically be placed as is in the synthesized IP data flow obtained as a result of the synthesis process of the IP data flow including the broadcast transmission line-transmitted assets and the IP data flow including the communication line-transmitted assets in the transcoding processing unit 40181. However, the association information that links the broadcast transmission line-transmitted assets and the communication line-transmitted assets will be rewritten as appropriate. Specifically, the rewriting process will involve rewriting the location information related to the communication line-transmitted assets included in the MPT (corresponding to "MMT_general_location_info()" shown in Figure 17) from "location_type=0x01" indicating that the data is multiplexed in the IPv4 data flow or "location_type=0x02" indicating that the data is multiplexed in the IPv6 data flow to "location_type=0x00" indicating that the data is multiplexed in the IP data flow itself.

[0416] The synthesized IP data flow output from the transcoding processing unit 40181 may be transmitted to the monitoring device 40300 via the data lane of the connecting cable 40200, as shown in an example in Figure 35C. Alternatively, it may be distributed to the monitoring device 40300 via the communication line of the connecting cable 40200. In this case, the monitoring device 40300 needs to perform decoding processing for each asset based on the various control information contained in the synthesized IP data flow transmitted from the broadcast receiving device 40100. That is, it is desirable that the monitoring device 40300 has a configuration similar to the broadcast receiving device 100 shown in Figure 7A, and is configured to enable decoding processing of the MMT data sequence.

[0417] When the synthesized IP data flow is output from the digital interface unit 40125 and transmitted to the monitor device 40300 via the data lane of the connection cable 40200, for example, it may be performed by directly storing the synthesized IP data flow in a storage area for video information and audio information in a predetermined format compliant with the HDMI (registered trademark) specification. In this case, it is desirable to transmit information indicating that the data stored in the storage area for the video information and audio information is the synthesized IP data flow, and information indicating that the MMT data sequence and its control information are included in the synthesized IP data flow and that decoding processing of the MMT data sequence is required for program viewing, for example, using a reserved area defined in the HDMI specification.

[0418] <B-4: Output of Encoded Video Data and Audio Data 2> A fourth example of the output format of the video data and audio data corresponding to the broadcast receiving device 40100 is to output an IP data flow including a broadcast transmission path asset and an IP data flow including a communication line path asset from the digital interface unit 40125. As shown in an example in FIG. 35D, for the IP data flow including the broadcast transmission path asset, it is transmitted to the monitor device 40300 via the data lane of the connection cable 40200, and for the IP data flow including the communication line path asset, it is transmitted to the monitor device 40300 via the communication line of the connection cable 40200.

[0419] In this fourth example, when the broadcast receiving device 40100 is viewing a program being broadcast, it acquires an IP data flow including assets transmitted via the broadcast transmission line and an IP data flow including assets distributed via the communication line, and outputs each IP data flow as is from the separation unit 132. Furthermore, it controls the digital interface unit 40125 to transmit the IP data flow including assets transmitted via the broadcast transmission line to the monitoring device 40300 via the data lane of the connection cable 40200, and the digital interface unit 40125 to distribute the IP data flow including assets transmitted via the communication line to the monitoring device 40300 via the communication line of the connection cable 40200. If the application control code is specified as "PREFETCH" and the IP data flow including assets transmitted via the communication line has already been cached, the IP data flow read from the cache should be distributed from the digital interface unit 40125 to the monitoring device 40300 via the communication line of the connection cable 40200.

[0420] Furthermore, when viewing recorded programs stored in storage, the broadcast receiving device 40100 reconstructs the broadcast transmission line assets and communication line assets read from storage by the playback process into IP data flow format using the transcoding processing unit 40181. In addition, the IP data flow reconstructed from the broadcast transmission line assets may be transmitted to the monitoring device 40300 via the data lane of the connecting cable 40200, and the IP data flow reconstructed from the communication line assets may be transmitted via the communication line of the connecting cable 40200. If the recording process to storage is performed on a package basis or on an IP data flow basis, the IP data flow including the broadcast transmission line assets and the IP data flow including the communication line assets read from storage by the playback process may be transmitted to the monitoring device 40300 via the data lane and communication line of the connecting cable 40200, respectively. Alternatively, the assets transmitted via the communication line may be acquired again from the server device, and the IP data flow including the assets transmitted via the communication line output from the separation unit 132 may be distributed to the monitoring device 40300 via the communication line of the connecting cable 40200.

[0421] During the aforementioned playback process, the priority of which IP data flow to deliver to the monitoring device 40300—the IP data flow containing the assets read from storage via the communication line, or the IP data flow containing the assets acquired again from the server device via the communication line—may be determined using the same method as described in (B-1) above.

[0422] Furthermore, various control signals (such as MMT-SI) that are placed together with the broadcast transmission line-transmitted assets in the IP data flow transmitted via the broadcast transmission line are basically placed as they are in the IP data flow that includes the broadcast transmission line-transmitted assets output from the digital interface unit 40125. However, the association information that links the broadcast transmission line-transmitted assets and the communication line-transmitted assets shall be rewritten as appropriate. Specifically, the rewriting process involves changing the location information related to the communication line-transmitted assets included in the MPT (corresponding to "MMT_general_location_info()" shown in Figure 17) from "location_type=0x01" indicating that the data is multiplexed in an IPv4 data flow or "location_type=0x02" indicating that the data is multiplexed in an IPv6 data flow to "location_type=0x05" indicating that the data is located at a specified URL. Furthermore, the specified URL should be set to point to the server data storage area 41400 managed by the server function execution unit 41103 of the broadcast receiving device 40100.

[0423] The rewriting process is performed when the monitoring device 40300 is instructed to acquire the IP data flow including the assets via the communication line distributed from the broadcast receiving device 40100. The rewriting process does not need to be performed when the monitoring device 40300 is instructed to acquire the IP data flow including the assets via the communication line again from the server device.

[0424] Furthermore, when the IP data flow including the assets via the broadcast transmission line is output from the digital interface unit 40125 and transmitted to the monitor device 40300 via the data lane of the connection cable 40200, this may be done, for example, by storing the IP data flow including the assets via the broadcast transmission line directly in a storage area for video information and audio information in a predetermined format compliant with the HDMI (registered trademark) specification. In this case, it is desirable to transmit information indicating that the data stored in the video information and audio information storage area is an IP data flow including the assets via the broadcast transmission line, and information indicating that the IP data flow including the assets via the broadcast transmission line contains MMT data sequences and their control information, and that decoding of the MMT data sequences is necessary for program viewing, for example, using a reserve area specified in the HDMI specification.

[0425] As described above, the broadcast receiving device 40100 of this embodiment can appropriately select the output formats (B-1) to (B-4) described above. Furthermore, it is also possible to appropriately combine the output formats (B-1) to (B-4) described above. For example, in accordance with the output format (B-2), for some assets transmitted via communication lines, the broadcast receiving device 40100 performs decoding processing, then performs synthesis processing with the video and audio information obtained by decoding the assets transmitted via the broadcast transmission line, and transmits them to the monitoring device 40300 via the data lane of the connection cable 40200. For other assets transmitted via communication lines, it may be controlled to distribute them directly to the monitoring device 40300 via the communication line of the connection cable 40200. Furthermore, for example, in accordance with the output format described in (B-4) above, among the assets constituting the broadcast transmission line assets and communication line assets, video assets, audio assets, etc., may be controlled to be transmitted to the monitoring device 40300 as a single IP data flow via the data lane of the connection cable 40200, while data assets, subtitle assets, etc., may be distributed to the monitoring device 40300 as a single IP data flow via the communication line of the connection cable 40200.

[0426] In the broadcast receiving device 40100, the control of how the output format is determined may be performed according to the display performance of the monitoring device 40300 obtained via the DDC line of the connection cable 40200. The display performance may be obtained by means other than those described above. In this embodiment, the display performance refers to items such as the decoding performance of the MMT data sequence in the monitoring device 40300, the ability to handle network communication via the communication line of the connection cable 40200, and the presence or absence of LAN communication functionality for the Internet 200.

[0427] If the output format of video and audio information from the broadcast receiving device 40100 is as described in (B-4), the monitoring device 40300 receives the IP data flow, including the assets transmitted via the broadcast transmission line, from the broadcast receiving device 40100 via the unidirectional transmission data lane of the connection cable 40200 at its digital interface unit, and inputs the received IP data flow to the MMT decoding processing unit. The MMT decoding processing unit refers to the MMT-SI contained in the IP data flow and, based on location information and the like included in the MPT, requests the broadcast receiving device 40100 to transmit the IP data flow, including the assets transmitted via the communication line, via the bidirectional transmission communication line of the connection cable 40200. Based on the control of the server function execution unit 41103, the broadcast receiving device 40100 transmits the IP data flow, including the assets transmitted via the communication line, stored in the server data storage area 41400 of the storage unit 110, to the monitoring device 40300 via the bidirectional transmission communication line of the connection cable 40200. The monitoring device 40300 appropriately decodes the assets received via the communication line through the communication line of the connection cable 40200 and the assets received via the broadcast transmission line through the data lane of the connection cable 40200, and provides video and audio information to the user via the monitoring unit and speaker. The same processing shall be performed when the output format of the video and audio information from the broadcast receiving device 40100 is as described in (B-2) or (B-3).

[0428] In the above explanation, when the output format of video and audio information from the broadcast receiving device 40100 is as described in (B-2) or (B-4) above, the transmission of the IP data flow including the assets via the communication line is performed via the communication line of the connection cable 40200. However, this is merely one example, and for example, the transmission of the IP data flow including the assets via the communication line may also be performed by outputting from the LAN communication unit 121 of the broadcast receiving device 40100, passing it through the router unit 200r, and inputting it to the LAN communication unit of the monitor unit 40300 (not shown in the illustration). Similarly, when the output format of video and audio information from the broadcast receiving device 40100 is as described in (B-3) above, the transmission of the combined IP data flow, which is a combination of the assets via the broadcast transmission path and the assets via the communication line into a single IP data flow, may also be performed by outputting from the LAN communication unit 121 of the broadcast receiving device 40100, passing it through the router unit 200r, and inputting it to the LAN communication unit of the monitor unit 40300 (not shown in the illustration).

[0429] However, when performing the aforementioned transmission processing, the devices to which the IP data flow including the assets via the communication line or the synthesized IP data flow are transmitted shall be limited to devices having an IP address restricted by the same subnet mask as the IP address of the broadcast receiving device 40100. By imposing such restrictions, devices outside the user's control will not be able to acquire the IP data flow including the assets via the communication line or the synthesized IP data flow, etc., without limit, for example, via the Internet 200, which is desirable from the standpoint of copyright management of program content.

[0430] Furthermore, when the location information for an asset via a communication line, included in the MMT data sequence acquired by the broadcast receiving device 40100 via the broadcast transmission line, indicates a URL, that URL indicates an IP address on an external network from the perspective of the broadcast receiving device 40100. On the other hand, the broadcast receiving device 40100 and the monitoring device 40300 are directly connected by the connection cable 40200, meaning they are configured within an area restricted by the same subnet mask. Therefore, the rewriting process of the reference location information described in the explanation of the output format in (B-2) can be said to be a process of rewriting location information that indicates an IP address not within the same subnet mask as the subnet mask to which the IP addresses of the broadcast receiving device 40100 and the monitoring device 40300 belong, to location information that indicates an IP address within the same subnet mask as the subnet mask to which the IP addresses of the broadcast receiving device 40100 and the monitoring device 40300 belong.

[0431] Furthermore, in the output formats of (B-2) or (B-4) described above, the broadcast receiving device 40100 outputs the data contained in the IP data flow acquired via the broadcast transmission line, which is a one-way transmission, and the data contained in the IP data flow acquired via the communication line, which is capable of two-way transmission, via different lines, even though they are the same wired digital interface. By using different lines in this way, the two IP data flows can be output separately without performing any special multiplexing processing to combine them into a single IP data flow. That is, in the example of the output format of (B-4) described above, the IP data flow acquired by the broadcast receiving device 40100 via the broadcast transmission line and the IP data flow acquired via the communication line are output as the first output signal IP data flow and the second output signal IP data flow, respectively, without being multiplexed together, although processing such as rewriting location information is performed. Consequently, there is no need to perform any special multiplexing processing on the first output signal IP data flow and the second output signal IP data flow, and therefore the monitoring device 40300 does not need to be equipped with any separation processing corresponding to this special multiplexing processing. Rather, if the system is configured to output both the first and second output signals as MMT data sequences, then if the monitor device 40300 has an MMT decoder similar to that of the broadcast receiver device 40100, decoding of the first and second output signals will be possible without any special separation processing. This makes the output state highly versatile and beneficial for the system.

[0432] Furthermore, in the example described above, the broadcast receiving device 40100 outputs data included in the IP data flow acquired via the broadcast transmission path, which is a one-way transmission, to the external monitoring device 40300 via the one-way transmission line of the wired digital interface, and outputs data included in the IP data flow acquired via the communication line, which is a two-way transmission, to the external monitoring device 40300 via the two-way transmission line of the wired digital interface. The monitoring device 40300 acquires data acquired by the broadcast receiving device 40100 via the broadcast transmission path, which is a one-way transmission, from the one-way transmission line of the wired digital interface, and acquires data acquired by the broadcast receiving device 40100 via the communication line, which is a two-way transmission, from the two-way transmission line of the wired digital interface, so it has high compatibility with the processing of the broadcast receiving device 40100 in this embodiment. That is, the monitoring device 40300 can be manufactured by largely reusing the processing circuits of the broadcast receiving device 40100, reducing the number of dedicated processing circuits, and therefore enabling low-cost production. Therefore, it becomes possible to provide users with a more suitable system at a lower cost.

[0433] Furthermore, the one-way communication transmission line described in each of the above embodiments may be a single physical line or a group of lines combined together. Similarly, the two-way communication transmission line described in each of the above embodiments may be a single physical line or a group of lines combined together that transmits using a two-way communication protocol.

[0434] Furthermore, the settings for controlling the output format in each of the embodiments described above may have predetermined initial values ​​at the time of shipment. However, it is desirable that these predetermined initial values ​​be configured so that they can be changed to settings according to each user's usage environment through user operation via the operation input unit 170. This is because, even if correct information about the performance of the monitor device 40300 cannot be obtained due to a malfunction in the broadcast receiving device 40100 itself or the software of the monitor device 40300, the system can be configured to allow the user to obtain data output with the output format control they require through manual settings, thereby preventing any disadvantage to the user.

[0435] Although examples of embodiments of the present invention have been described above using Examples 1 to 4, the configurations that realize the technology of the present invention are not limited to the above examples, and various modifications are conceivable. For example, it is possible to replace a part of the configuration of one embodiment with the configuration of another embodiment, and it is also possible to add the configuration of another embodiment to the configuration of one embodiment. All of these fall within the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, the numbers and messages that appear in the text and figures are merely examples, and using different ones will not impair the effects of the present invention.

[0436] The functions of the present invention described above may be implemented in hardware, either partially or entirely, by designing them, for example, using an integrated circuit. Alternatively, they may be implemented in software by having a microprocessor unit or the like interpret and execute an operating program that implements each of these functions. Hardware and software may also be used in combination.

[0437] The software that controls the broadcast receiving device 100 may be pre-stored in the ROM 103 and / or storage unit 110 of the broadcast receiving device 100 at the time of product shipment. Alternatively, it may be acquired after product shipment from other application servers 500 on the Internet 200 via the LAN communication unit 121. Furthermore, the software stored on a memory card or optical disc may be acquired via the expansion interface unit 124.

[0438] Furthermore, the control lines and information lines shown in the diagram are those deemed necessary for explanation and do not necessarily represent all control lines and information lines on the product. In reality, it is safe to assume that almost all components are interconnected. [Explanation of symbols]

[0439] 100, 800, 40100…Broadcast receiving device, 100a, 40100a…Antenna, 101, 801…Main control unit, 102, 802…System bus, 103, 803…ROM, 104, 804…RAM, 110, 810…Storage unit, 121, 821…LAN communication unit, 124, 824…Expansion interface unit, 125, 825, 40125…Digital interface unit, 131, 831, 832…Tuner / demodulation unit, 132…Separation unit, 141…Video decoder, 142…Video color gamut conversion unit, 143…Audio decoder, 144…Character super decoder, 145…Subtitle decoder, 146…Subtitle synthesis unit, 147…Subtitle color gamut conversion unit, 151…Data decoder, 152…Cache unit, 153…Application control unit, 154…Browser unit, 155…Application Color gamut conversion unit, 156... Sound source unit, 161,861... Video synthesis unit, 162,862... Monitor unit, 163,863... Video output unit, 164,864... Voice synthesis unit, 165,865... Speaker unit, 166,866... ​​Voice output unit, 170,870... Operation input unit, 40181... Transcoding processing unit, 841... MMT decoding processing unit, 842... MPEG2-TS decoding processing unit, 200... Internet, 200r... Router device, 200a... Access point, 300t... Radio tower, 300s... Broadcasting satellite (or communication satellite), 300... Broadcasting station server, 400... Service provider server, 500... Other application server, 600... Mobile telephone communication server, 600b... Base station, 700... Mobile information terminal, 40200... Connection cable, 40300... Monitor device.

Claims

[Claim 1] A content protection processing method in a broadcast receiving device of a transmission system that transmits control information related to a broadcast program and broadcast program content from the broadcasting station, and receives the control information and the broadcast program content at the receiving unit of the broadcast receiving device, A receiving step in which the receiving unit of the broadcast receiving device receives the control information and the broadcast program content relating to the broadcast program, A recording reservation step in which, using the EIT containing information about the event from the control information received in the reception step, the broadcast program is scheduled to be recorded, With respect to the broadcast program that was scheduled to be recorded in the recording reservation step, the storage step involves using the copy control information from the control information received in the reception step to store the broadcast program content received by the receiving unit of the broadcast receiving device in the reception step, A video output step which controls the acquisition of video using AIT, which is information about the application among the control information received in the reception step, and outputs the video of the broadcast program content received by the receiving unit of the broadcast receiving device, A viewing output step which outputs the broadcast program content received by the receiving unit of the broadcast receiving device and stored in the storage step to an external device for viewing; A copy processing step which copies the broadcast program content received by the receiving unit of the broadcast receiving device and stored in the storage step to an external device, A move processing step which moves the broadcast program content received by the receiving unit of the broadcast receiving device and stored in the storage step to an external device, Equipped with, In the storage step, if the broadcast program content received by the receiving unit of the broadcast receiving device in the reception step is content that has been transmitted with protection specifying that it can be copied only once, as indicated by the copy control information included in the control information, the broadcast program content is stored in an encrypted state so that it can be played back only by the broadcast receiving device. In the storage step, if the broadcast program content received by the receiving unit of the broadcast receiving device in the reception step is content that has been transmitted with protection allowing a predetermined number of copies in the transmission system, as specified by the copy control information included in the control information, the broadcast program content is stored in a state in which nine copies are possible in the copy processing step and one move is possible in the move processing step. In the storage step, the storage of the broadcast program content received by the receiving unit of the broadcast receiving device can be performed in a storage unit located at the output destination of the IP interface, via an IP interface configured with Ethernet-compatible hardware provided in the broadcast receiving device. The storage of the broadcast program content received by the receiving unit of the broadcast receiving device in the storage unit located at the output destination of the IP interface in the storage step, the output of the broadcast program content stored in the storage step for viewing to an external device in the viewing output step, the copying to an external device in the copy processing step, and the moving to an external device in the move processing step can all be performed via the same IP interface configured with Ethernet-compatible hardware. The control state is changed depending on whether the IP address of the external device is within the same subnet as the IP address of the broadcast receiving device, whether the output for viewing to the external device via the IP interface in the viewing output step, the copy to the external device via the IP interface in the copy processing step, and the move to the external device via the IP interface in the move processing step are possible or prohibited, depending on whether the IP address of the external device is within the same subnet as the IP address of the broadcast receiving device. In the aforementioned viewing output step, the output of the broadcast program content for viewing to the external device can be performed via HDMI, in addition to the output performed via the IP interface, which is configured with Ethernet-compatible hardware. Content protection processing method.

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