VIDEO DISPLAY DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DISPLAYING CONTENT - Patent application

Abstract

To enable more useful recording and reproducing processing.SOLUTION: A video display device includes a tuner that receives first content of a broadcast program transmitted by broadcast waves and program information related to the broadcast program, a communication unit that communicates with a server device via a network and obtains second content corresponding to the broadcast program, a display unit that displays the first or second content, a digital interface unit that connects and communicates with a storage for storing the first content, a storage unit that stores information, and a control unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a video display device and a method for displaying content. [Background technology]

[0002] Recording devices that record digital broadcast programs onto recording media such as optical discs or storage devices such as HDDs (Hard Disc Drives) are becoming widespread. Recording devices enable time-shift viewing of broadcast programs by playing back the recorded broadcast programs.

[0003] The technology described in JP 2008-289057 A (Patent Document 1) records and plays back a broadcast program on a selected channel, and erases the recorded broadcast program when the broadcast ends. The technology described in Patent Document 1 also prohibits erasure of a recorded broadcast program when a user who wants to record a broadcast program operates a designation key while the broadcast program is being played back and the broadcast ends. This makes it possible to record a broadcast program from the beginning of the program that has already started. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP2008-289057A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the technology described in Patent Document 1, after the entire broadcast program being viewed is recorded, unnecessary broadcast programs are erased. Therefore, in the technology described in Patent Document 1, programs that the user does not want to record are also recorded, resulting in unnecessary processing.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a video display device that enables more useful recording and playback processes. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] As a means for solving the above problems, the technology described in the claims is used.

[0008] As an example, a video display device includes a tuner that receives a first content of a broadcast program transmitted by broadcast waves and program information related to the broadcast program, a communication unit that communicates with a server device via a network and acquires a second content corresponding to the broadcast program, a display unit that displays the first content or the second content, a digital interface unit that connects and communicates with a storage for storing the first content, a storage unit that stores information, and a control unit, in which the control unit outputs the first content via the digital interface unit and stores it in the storage connected to the digital interface unit, and when a user performs an operation to play back the first content, plays back the first content stored in the storage via the digital interface unit. and a first control for reading out the second content via the interface unit and displaying it on the display unit; and for acquiring program identification information for identifying a broadcast program and address information on a network of a server device in which the second content is stored based on program information received by the tuner and storing them in a memory unit, and when a user performs an operation to play the second content, a second control for accessing the server device in which the second content is stored via a communication unit using the address information stored in the memory unit, acquiring the second content from the server device via the communication unit using the program identification information stored in the memory unit, and displaying the second content acquired from the server device on the display unit, and the second content can be played back after the broadcast of the first content has ended. Effect of the Invention

[0009] The effects obtained by the representative inventions among those disclosed in this application will be briefly described as follows.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide a video display device that enables more useful recording and playback processes. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a system configuration diagram of a communication system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2A] 1 is a block diagram of a broadcast receiving device according to an embodiment. [Figure 2B] 2 is a software configuration diagram of a broadcast receiving device according to an embodiment. FIG. [Figure 2C] FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a data format of a reservation information table according to an embodiment. [Figure 2D] 4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a data format of a recorded program information table according to an embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a broadcast station server according to an embodiment. [Figure 4A] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a service provider server according to an embodiment. [Figure 4B] FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a data format of a content information table according to the embodiment. [Diagram 5] 11 is a sequence diagram showing an operation of a broadcast receiving device according to an embodiment during a recording reservation process. FIG. [Figure 6] 4 is a screen display diagram of an electronic program guide display screen of the broadcast receiving device according to the embodiment. FIG. [Figure 7] 11 is a screen display diagram of a program detail information display screen of the broadcast receiving device according to the embodiment. FIG. [Figure 8] 11 is a sequence diagram showing an operation during reservation recording processing of the broadcast receiving device according to the embodiment. FIG. [Figure 9] 4 is an operational sequence diagram of a broadcast receiving device according to an embodiment of the present invention during playback of a recorded program. [Figure 10] 4 is a screen display diagram of a recorded program list display screen of the broadcast receiving device according to the embodiment. FIG. [Figure 11] 4 is an operational sequence diagram of a recording reservation process and a reservation recording process of the broadcast receiving device according to the embodiment. FIG. [Figure 12]4 is an operational sequence diagram of a broadcast receiving device according to an embodiment of the present invention during playback of a recorded program. [Figure 13] 4 is an operational sequence diagram of a broadcast receiving device according to an embodiment of the present invention during playback of a recorded program. [Figure 14A] 2 is a software configuration diagram of a broadcast receiving device according to an embodiment. FIG. [Figure 14B] 10 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a data format of an authentication information table according to an embodiment. FIG. [Figure 15A] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a service provider server according to an embodiment. [Figure 15B] 11 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a data format of a user information table according to an embodiment. FIG. [Figure 16] 11 is a sequence diagram showing an operation during reservation recording processing of the broadcast receiving device according to the embodiment. FIG. [Figure 17] 4 is an operational sequence diagram of a broadcast receiving device according to an embodiment of the present invention during playback of a recorded program. [Figure 18] 4 is an operational sequence diagram of a broadcast receiving device according to an embodiment of the present invention during playback of a recorded program. [Figure 19] 11 is a screen display diagram of a content distribution confirmation screen of the broadcast receiving device according to the embodiment. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] Hereinafter, examples of embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0013] Example 1 First, an example of a digital broadcasting service that can be received by the broadcasting receiving device of this embodiment will be described.

[0014] For example, in one example of BS / terrestrial digital broadcasting that can be received by the broadcast receiving device of this embodiment, a plurality of transport streams (TS) can be multiplexed and transmitted on one transponder (frequency channel). A TS is a series of TS packets of a predetermined length, which are obtained by dividing a data sequence such as a video / audio elementary stream (ES) or program specific information (PSI) / service information (SI) and the like, and adding a TS header.

[0015] PSI is a unique information table defined in the MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group)-2 system standard that identifies which program each ES included in a TS belongs to. PSI is composed of a PAT (Program Association Table), PMT (Program Map Table), CAT (Conditional Access Table), etc. The PAT defines the list of programs included in a TS by the PID (Packet Identifier) ​​of the PMT. The PMT defines the PIDs of the components of each program, etc. The CAT includes information related to conditional access.

[0016] Moreover, SI is an extension of PSI to include program information, etc., and includes information on the Electronic Program Guide (EPG) defined by the Association of Radio Industries and Businesses (ARIB) in ARIB STD-B10. SI is composed of BIT (Broadcaster Information Table), SDT (Service Description Table), EIT (Event Information Table), TOT (Time Offset Table), etc. BIT includes broadcast station identification information, series information, SI transmission information of broadcast stations, etc. SDT includes information such as a network ID for identifying a network, a TS ID for identifying a TS, and a service ID (so-called channel number) for identifying individual services (so-called channels) within the network. EIT includes a service ID for identifying individual services within the network, and information on events such as the name, broadcast date and time, and broadcast contents of each event (so-called program). TOT includes information on the current date and time.

[0017] The TS also includes PCR (Program Clock Reference) information that serves as a reference for playback timing in a decoder, and a subset of Broadcast Markup Language (BML) documents based on the BML specifications defined in ARIB STD-B24.

[0018] In the broadcast receiving device of this embodiment, by receiving and decoding a TS composed of the video / audio ES and various information, it is possible to provide the user with broadcast programs, EPGs, data broadcast screens produced using BML, etc.

[0019] The broadcast receiving device of the present embodiment is compatible with a broadcasting and communication cooperation system that combines a digital broadcasting service with a function using a broadband network, acquisition of additional content via a broadband network, computation processing in a server device, presentation processing in cooperation with a mobile terminal device, and the like, with the digital broadcasting service. In order to realize the broadcasting and communication cooperation system, the broadcast receiving device of the present embodiment is capable of executing applications written in HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) or the like. In addition, the broadcasting and communication cooperation system compatible with the present broadcasting receiving device uses an extended BML specification, application control information (Application Information Table: AIT) in the broadcasting and communication cooperation system, and extended PSI / SI information required when transmitting an application by broadcast waves. The AIT is information for providing or disseminating various information required to start an application, such as the acquisition destination of the application, and control information for controlling the start / end of the application.

[0020] The above explanation is based on the digital broadcasting service in Japan, but the application of the broadcast receiving device of this embodiment, including the broadcast and communication cooperation system, is not limited to Japan.

[0021] Next, a specific configuration example of the embodiment of this embodiment will be described.

[0022] [System Configuration] 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an example of a communication system including a broadcast receiving device of this embodiment. The communication system of this embodiment is composed of a broadcast receiving device 100, an antenna 100A, a broadband network 200 such as the Internet, a router device 200R, a radio tower 300T of a broadcast station, a broadcast station server 300, a service provider server 400, and other application servers 500.

[0023] The broadcast receiving device 100 is a television receiver having a function corresponding to the broadcast communication cooperation system in addition to an existing digital broadcast receiving function. The broadcast receiving device 100 receives broadcast waves transmitted from a radio tower 300T via an antenna 100A. The broadcast receiving device 100 can also connect to the Internet 200 via a router device 200R, and can transmit and receive data by communicating with each server device on the Internet 200. The router device 200R is connected to the Internet 200 by wired communication, and is also connected to the broadcast receiving device 100 by wireless communication or wired communication.

[0024] The radio tower 300T transmits broadcast waves including digital broadcast signals, AIT, control information related to application presentation, and the like from the broadcasting equipment of the broadcasting station. The control information related to application presentation is control information related to the superimposition of a broadcast program and an application on a television receiver and whether or not an application can be presented. The broadcasting station is also assumed to have a broadcasting station server 300. The broadcasting station server 300 is assumed to store broadcast programs (program contents, etc.) and metadata of each broadcast program, such as the program title, program ID, program summary, cast, broadcast date and time, and to provide the program contents, etc. and each metadata to a service provider based on a contract. The program contents, etc. and each metadata may be provided to the service provider through an API (Application Programming Interface) provided in the broadcasting station server 300.

[0025] The service provider server 400 is a server device prepared by a service provider to provide services by the broadcasting and communication cooperation system, services of content distribution, and the like. The service provider server 400 stores, manages, and distributes program contents and metadata provided by the broadcasting station server 300, and contents and applications created for the broadcasting and communication cooperation system. In addition, the service provider server 400 also has a function of searching for and providing a list of available applications in response to an inquiry from a television receiver. The storage, management, and distribution of the program contents 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 providers. A plurality of service provider servers 400 may be prepared for each different service. In addition, the broadcasting station server 300 may have the function of the service provider server 400.

[0026] The other application server 500 is a known server device that stores, manages, and distributes general applications, operating programs, contents, and data other than those related to the broadcasting and communication cooperation system. There may be a plurality of other application servers 500 on the Internet 200.

[0027] [Hardware configuration of broadcast receiving device] 2A is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the broadcast receiving device 100. The broadcast receiving device 100 is composed 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 extension interface unit 124, a tuner / demodulation unit 131, a separation unit 132, a video decoding unit 133, an audio decoding unit 134, a subtitle decoding unit 135, a data broadcast reception processing unit 141, a data broadcast engine 142, an application control unit 143, an application engine 144, a content processing unit 151, a video superimposition unit 161, an audio selection unit 162, a video display unit 163, and a speaker 164.

[0028] The main control unit 101 is a microprocessor unit that controls the entire broadcast receiving device 100 in accordance with a predetermined operation program. The system bus 102 is a data communication path for transmitting and receiving data between the main control unit 101 and each operation block in the broadcast receiving device 100.

[0029] ROM (Read Only Memory) 103 is a memory in which basic operation programs such as an operating system and other operation programs are stored, and a rewritable ROM such as an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM) or a flash ROM is used. RAM (Random Access Memory) 104 serves as a work area when the basic operation programs and other operation programs are executed. ROM 103 and RAM 104 may be integrated with main control unit 101. ROM 103 may use a part of the storage area in storage unit 110 instead of being an independent configuration as shown in FIG. 2A.

[0030] The storage unit 110 stores the operation program and operation setting values ​​of the broadcast receiving device 100, personal information of the user of the broadcast receiving device 100, etc. It can also store operation programs downloaded from a network and various data created by the operation programs. It can also store content such as moving images, still images, and audio acquired from broadcast waves or downloaded from a network. A part of the storage unit 110 may replace all or part of the functions of the ROM 103. The storage unit 110 needs to hold the stored information even when power is not supplied from the outside to the broadcast receiving device 100. Therefore, for example, devices such as flash ROM, semiconductor element memories such as SSD (Solid State Drive), and magnetic disk drives such as HDD (Hard Disk Drive) are used.

[0031] It is assumed that the operation programs stored in the ROM 103 and the storage unit 110 can be updated and their functions expanded by downloading from each server device on the Internet 200 .

[0032] The LAN (Local Area Network) communication unit 121 is connected to the Internet 200 via the router device 200R, and transmits and receives data to and from each server device on the Internet 200. 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 includes an encoding circuit, a decoding circuit, and the like. The broadcast receiving device 100 may further include other communication units such as a BlueTooth (registered trademark) communication unit, an NFC communication unit, an infrared communication unit, and the like.

[0033] The tuner / demodulator 131 receives broadcast waves from the radio tower 300T via the antenna 100A, and tunes (selects) a channel of a service desired by the user under the control of the main controller 101. Furthermore, the tuner / demodulator 131 demodulates the received broadcast signal to acquire a TS. Note that, although the example shown in FIG. 2A illustrates a configuration with one tuner / demodulator, the broadcast receiving device 100 may be configured to include multiple tuner / demodulators for the purpose of simultaneous display of multiple screens, recording of a different program, etc. Also, under the control of the main controller 101, control of access restriction to the demodulated TS may be performed.

[0034] The separation unit 132 inputs the TS output from the tuner / demodulation unit 131, separates it into each data string such as a video data string, an audio data string, a subtitle data string, a program information data string, an AIT data string, a BML data string, and outputs it. These data strings may be in ES format, for example. The video decoding unit 133 decodes the video data string input from the separation unit 132 and outputs video information. The audio decoding unit 134 decodes the audio data string input from the separation unit 132 and outputs audio information. The subtitle decoding unit 135 decodes the subtitle data string input from the separation unit 132 and outputs subtitle information.

[0035] The data broadcasting reception processing unit 141 decodes the BML data string input from the separation unit 132 and reproduces the BML document. The data broadcasting engine 142 is a BML browser that executes the BML document, and executes the BML document reproduced by the data broadcasting reception processing unit 141 to output data broadcasting screen information. The application control unit 143 works on the application engine 144 with respect to an application created for the broadcasting and communication cooperation system based on the AIT data string input from the separation unit 132 or the AIT file acquired from each server device on the Internet 200, and controls and manages the life cycle and events for each application. Also, depending on the state of the application and the instruction of the AIT, it appropriately controls the function constraints of the application. The application engine 144 is an HTML browser that acquires and executes the application created for the broadcasting and communication cooperation system based on the control of the application control unit 143.

[0036] The content processing unit 151 accesses video content and the like stored in each server device on the Internet 200 via the LAN communication unit 121 under the control of the main control unit 101, and acquires a program stream (PS) of the video content and the like. The acquired PS may be further supplied to the separation unit 132, where it may be subjected to the same processing as that of the TS output from the tuner / demodulation unit 131. Furthermore, the content processing unit 151 may control DRM (Digital Rights Management) processing on the acquired PS under the control of the main control unit 101. Furthermore, the content processing unit 151 is assumed to have a transcoding function. That is, it is possible to supply the PS acquired from each server device on the Internet 200 via the LAN communication unit 121 to the separation unit 132 after subjecting it to transcoding processing. Alternatively, it is possible to subject the TS or ES output from the separation unit 132 to transcoding processing and store it in the storage unit 110.

[0037] The video superimposing unit 161 inputs the video information output from the video decoding unit 133, the subtitle information output from the subtitle decoding unit 135, the data broadcast screen information output from the data broadcast engine 142, and the application execution screen information output from the application engine 144, and performs processing such as selection and / or superimposition. The video superimposing unit 161 includes a video RAM (not shown), and the video display unit 163 and the like are driven based on the video information input to the video RAM. Furthermore, the video superimposing unit 161 performs scaling processing and superimposition processing of EPG screen information created by interpreting the program information data string output from the separation unit 132, as necessary, based on the control of the main control unit 101. The audio selection unit 162 inputs the audio information output from the audio decoding unit 134 and the application execution audio information output from the application engine 144, and performs appropriate selection processing based on the control of the main control unit 101. The video display unit 163 is a display device such as a liquid crystal panel, and provides the video information selected and / or superimposed by the video superimposition unit 161 to the user of the broadcast receiving device 100. The speaker 164 provides the audio information output from the audio selection unit 162 to the user of the broadcast receiving device 100.

[0038] The expansion interface unit 124 is a group of interfaces for expanding the functions of the broadcast receiving device 100, and in this embodiment, is configured with a video / audio interface, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface, a memory interface, etc. The video / audio interface inputs video data / audio data from an external video / audio output device, outputs video data / audio data to an external video / audio input device, etc. The USB interface connects to a PC or the like to transmit and receive various data. By connecting an HDD, it may be possible to record broadcast programs and various contents in place of the storage unit 110. It may also be possible to connect a keyboard or other USB devices. The memory interface connects a memory card or other memory medium to transmit and receive data.

[0039] The broadcast receiving device 100 may be a television receiver, an optical disk drive recorder such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) recorder, a magnetic disk drive recorder such as a HDD recorder, a STB (Set Top Box), etc. It may also be a PC (Personal Computer), a tablet terminal, a game machine, etc. equipped with a digital broadcast receiving function and a broadcast communication linkage function. It is not necessary to have the broadcast communication linkage function. When the broadcast receiving device 100 is a DVD recorder, a HDD recorder, an STB, etc., it may be equipped with a video output unit and an audio output unit instead of the video display unit 163 and the speaker 164. By connecting an external monitor and an external speaker to the video output unit and the audio output unit, it is possible to perform the same operation as the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment.

[0040] [Software configuration of broadcast receiving device] 2B is a software configuration diagram of the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment, and shows the software configuration in the ROM 103, the RAM 104, and the storage unit 110. In this embodiment, a basic operation program 1001 and other operation programs are stored in the ROM 103, and a receiving function program 1002, a reservation management program 1003, a program recording program 1004, and other operation programs are stored in the storage unit 110. The storage unit 110 is also assumed to include a reservation information storage area 1200 for storing information on the recording reservation and viewing reservation of broadcast programs, a recorded content storage area 1300 for storing information on recorded programs, and various information storage areas for storing various other information.

[0041] A basic operation program 1001 stored in ROM 103 is loaded into RAM 104, and the main control unit 101 executes the loaded basic operation program to constitute a basic operation execution unit 1101. A receiving function program 1002, a reservation management program 1003, and a program recording program 1004 stored in the storage unit 110 are loaded into RAM 104, and the main control unit 101 executes each of the loaded operation programs to constitute a receiving function execution unit 1102, a reservation management execution unit 1103, and a program recording execution unit 1104. The RAM 104 also includes a temporary storage area for temporarily holding data created when each operation program is executed, as necessary.

[0042] In the following, for the sake of simplicity, the process of controlling each operation block by the main control unit 101 expanding the basic operation program 1001 stored in the ROM 103 into the RAM 104 and executing it will be described as the basic operation execution unit 1101 controlling each operation block. Similar descriptions will be used for the other operation programs.

[0043] The receiving function execution unit 1102 controls each operation block of the broadcast receiving device 100 to realize the broadcast receiving function, the broadcast communication cooperation function, etc. In particular, the broadcast program playback unit 1102a mainly controls the tuner / demodulation unit 131, the separation unit 132, the video decoding unit 133, the audio decoding unit 134, the subtitle decoding unit 135, the data broadcast reception processing unit 141, and the data broadcast engine 142. The broadcast communication cooperation unit 1102b mainly controls the application control unit 143 and the application engine 144. The terminal cooperation management unit 1102c controls cooperation with a mobile information terminal during broadcast communication cooperation processing.

[0044] The reservation management execution unit 1103 manages information related to the processing of reservation for recording and reservation for viewing of broadcast programs, etc., using a reservation information table stored in the reservation information storage area 1200. The program recording execution unit 1104 controls the operation of reservation recording based on the reservation information table stored in the reservation information storage area 1200 and the operation of manual recording while viewing a broadcast program. In addition, the program recording execution unit 1104 manages information related to recorded programs, etc., using a recorded program information table stored in the recorded content storage area 1300.

[0045] The operation programs may be stored in the ROM 103 and / or the storage unit 110 beforehand at the time of product shipment. After product shipment, the operation programs may be acquired from another application server 500 or the like on the Internet 200 via the LAN communication unit 121. Moreover, the operation programs may be stored in a memory card, an optical disk, or the like and acquired via the extended interface unit 124 or the like.

[0046] 2C is a conceptual diagram for explaining an example of the data format of a reservation information table stored in reservation information storage area 1200. The reservation information table is made up of information such as serial number 1201, broadcast date information 1202, broadcast time information 1203, broadcast channel information 1204, broadcast program title information 1205, repeat flag 1206, recording / viewing mode 1207, and recording destination information 1208. Other information may also be included.

[0047] The serial number 1201 is used to manage each reservation information stored in the reservation information table. The broadcast date information 1202, the broadcast time information 1203, the broadcast channel information 1204, and the broadcast program title information 1205 are information on the broadcast date and time, the channel, and the program title of the broadcast program to be reserved. The repeat flag 1206 is a flag indicating whether the recording process or the viewing process of the broadcast program to be reserved is repeated every week or every day. The recording / viewing mode 1207 is mode setting information indicating whether the process to be performed based on each reservation information is a reservation recording process or a reservation viewing process, and in which recording mode the reservation recording process is performed when the reservation recording process is performed. The recording destination information 1208 is information on which storage (for example, the storage unit 110 or a USB HDD connected to the expansion I / F) to record information on the broadcast program to be recorded when the reservation recording process is performed.

[0048] 2D is a conceptual diagram explaining an example of the data format of the recorded program information table stored in the recorded content storage area 1300. The recorded program information table is made up of serial number 1301, recording date information 1302, recording time information 1303, recording channel information 1304, recorded program title information 1305, recording mode 1306, recorded program identification information 1307, recorded program content storage destination information 1308, and resume information 1309. Other information may also be included.

[0049] The serial number 1301 is used to manage each piece of recorded program information stored in the recorded program information table. In this embodiment, the recording date information 1302 and the recording time information 1303 are information on the date and time when the recording process of the recorded program was performed. The recording channel information 1304 and the recorded program title information 1305 are information on the broadcast channel and the program title of the recorded program. The recording mode 1306 is mode setting information indicating in which recording mode the recording process of each recorded program was performed. The recorded program identification information 1307 is a unique identification number for identifying the content related to the recorded program in a content server on a network. The recorded program content storage destination information 1308 is information indicating the storage destination of the content related to the recorded program. The recorded program content storage destination information 1308 may be identification information such as an IP (Internet Protocol) address for identifying the content server on the network where the content related to the recorded program is stored. Directory information and a file name for specifying the storage location of the content related to the recorded program in the content server may be added. The information may be identification information capable of identifying the storage when the content related to the recorded program is stored in the storage of the broadcast receiving device 100. The resume information 1309 is information regarding the stop position when the playback process of the content related to the recorded program is temporarily stopped.

[0050] [Broadcasting server configuration] 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the broadcast station server 300. The broadcast station server 300 is made up of a main control unit 301, a system bus 302, a RAM 304, a storage unit 310, a LAN communication unit 321, and a digital broadcast signal transmission unit 360.

[0051] The main control unit 301 is a microprocessor unit that controls the entire broadcast station server 300 in accordance with a predetermined operation program. The system bus 302 is a data communication path for transmitting and receiving data between the main control unit 301 and each operation block in the broadcast station server 300. The RAM 304 serves as a work area when each operation program is executed.

[0052] The storage unit 310 stores a basic operation program 3001, a broadcast content management / distribution program 3002, and a broadcast content sending program 3003, and further includes a broadcast content storage area 3200 and a metadata storage area 3300. The broadcast content storage area 3200 stores program content and the like of each broadcast program broadcast by a broadcast station. The metadata storage area 3300 stores metadata such as the program title, program ID, program summary, cast, broadcast date and time, etc., of each broadcast program.

[0053] In addition, the basic operation program 3001, broadcast content management / distribution program 3002, and broadcast content transmission program 3003 stored in the storage unit 310 are each expanded into RAM 304, and the main control unit 301 executes each of the expanded programs to form a basic operation execution unit 3101, a broadcast content management / distribution execution unit 3102, and a broadcast content transmission execution unit 3103.

[0054] In the following, for ease of explanation, the process in which the main control unit 301 loads the basic operation program 3001 stored in the storage unit 310 into the RAM 304 and executes it to control each operation block will be described as being performed by the basic operation execution unit 3101. Similar descriptions will be used for the other operation programs.

[0055] The broadcast content management / distribution execution unit 3102 manages the program contents and each 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 contents and each metadata of each broadcast program to the service provider based on a contract. Furthermore, when providing the program contents and each metadata of each broadcast program to the service provider, the broadcast content management / distribution execution unit 3102 may perform authentication processing of the service provider server 400 based on the contract as necessary.

[0056] The broadcast content transmission execution unit 3103 performs time schedule management when transmitting the program contents of the broadcast programs stored in the broadcast content storage area 3200 from the radio tower 300T via the digital broadcast signal transmission unit 360.

[0057] The LAN communication unit 321 is connected to the Internet 200, and communicates with a service provider server 400 on the Internet 200, etc. The LAN communication unit 321 is equipped with an encoding circuit, a decoding circuit, etc. The digital broadcast signal transmission unit 360 modulates a TS composed of video data strings, audio data strings, program information data strings, AIT data strings, etc. related to program contents of each broadcast program stored in the broadcast content storage area 3200, and transmits the TS as a digital broadcast wave via the radio tower 300T.

[0058] [Service provider server configuration] 4A is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the service provider server 400. The service provider server 400 is composed of a main control unit 401, a system bus 402, a RAM 404, a storage unit 410, and a LAN communication unit 421.

[0059] The main control unit 401 is a microprocessor unit that controls the entire service provider server 400 in accordance with a predetermined operation program. The system bus 402 is a data communication path for transmitting and receiving data between the main control unit 401 and each operation block in the service provider server 400. The RAM 404 serves as a work area when each operation program is executed.

[0060] The storage unit 410 stores a basic operation program 4001, a video content management / distribution program 4002, and an application management / distribution program 4004, and further includes a metadata storage area 4200, a video content storage area 4300, and an application storage area 4400. The metadata storage area 4200 stores each piece of metadata provided by the broadcast station server 300, metadata related to video content produced by the service provider, and the like. The video content storage area 4300 stores program content of a broadcast program provided by the broadcast station server 300 as video content. It also stores the video content and the like produced by the service provider. The application storage area 4400 stores applications required to realize each service of the broadcast communication cooperation system for distribution in response to requests from each television receiver.

[0061] In addition, the basic operation program 4001, video content management / distribution program 4002, and application management / distribution program 4004 stored in the storage unit 410 are each expanded into RAM 404, and the main control unit 401 further executes the expanded basic operation program, video content management / distribution program, and application management / distribution program, thereby forming a basic operation execution unit 4101, a video content management / distribution execution unit 4102, and an application management / distribution execution unit 4104.

[0062] In the following, for ease of explanation, the process in which the main control unit 401 loads the basic operation program 4001 stored in the storage unit 410 into the RAM 404 and executes it to control each operation block will be described as the basic operation execution unit 4101 controlling each operation block. Similar descriptions will be used for the other operation programs.

[0063] The video content management / distribution execution unit 4102 acquires program contents and metadata of broadcast programs from the broadcast station server 300, manages the video contents and metadata stored in the video content storage area 4300 and the metadata storage area 4200, and controls the distribution of the video contents and metadata to each television receiver. The application management / distribution execution unit 4104 manages the applications stored in the application storage area 4400, and controls the distribution of the applications in response to requests from each television receiver. Furthermore, the application management / distribution execution unit 4104 may perform authentication processing of each television receiver as necessary when distributing the applications to each television receiver.

[0064] The LAN communication unit 421 is connected to the Internet 200, and communicates with the broadcast receiving device 100 via the broadcast station server 300 on the Internet 200 and the router device 200R. The LAN communication unit 421 includes an encoding circuit, a decoding circuit, and the like.

[0065] 4B is a conceptual diagram explaining an example of the data format of a content information table stored in the metadata storage area 4200. The content information table is made up of information such as program identification information 4201, content storage location information 4202, content name 4203, content title information 4204, content genre information 4205, content broadcast date information 4206, content broadcast time information 4207, and content summary information 4208. Other information may also be included.

[0066] The program identification information 4201 is a unique identification number for identifying each video content on the service provider server 400. The content storage location information 4202 is directory information that specifies the storage location of each video content in the video content storage area 4300. When the content storage location information 4202 is "NULL", it indicates that the corresponding video content is not stored in the video content storage area 4300, or that even if it is stored in the video content storage area 4300, it is not subject to distribution. The content name 4203 is the file name of each video content. The content title information 4204, the content genre information 4205, the content broadcast date information 4206, the content broadcast time information 4207, and the content summary information 4208 are information regarding the title, genre, broadcast date and time, and program summary of each video content.

[0067] The operation of the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment will be described below.

[0068] [Operation sequence when scheduling a recording] First, a description will be given of the operation of the broadcast program recording reservation process using EPG in the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment. Fig. 5 is an operational sequence diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the recording reservation process in the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment.

[0069] When performing a recording reservation process with the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment, the user first operates a remote control (not shown) to instruct the broadcast receiving device 100 to turn on the power (S501). The broadcast receiving device 100, which has received the power-on instruction from the remote control, performs start-up and initialization processes under the control of the basic operation execution unit 1101 (S502). Note that if the broadcast receiving device 100 has already started up, the processes of S501 to S502 are not necessary. After completing the start-up and initialization processes, the broadcast program playback unit 1102a of the reception function execution unit 1102 next receives digital broadcast waves and performs processes such as tuning (selecting) to a specific channel with the tuner / demodulation unit 131 and demodulating the modulated signal (S503). Furthermore, the separation unit 132 separates each data string, the video decoding unit 133 and the audio decoding unit 134 decode the video data string and the audio data string, etc., and the video signal and audio signal of the broadcast program are output from the video display unit 163 and the speaker 164 via the video superimposition unit 161 and the audio selection unit 162 (S504).

[0070] Furthermore, the broadcast program playback unit 1102a acquires the program information data string separated by the separation unit 132 (S505). When the user operates the remote control to instruct EPG display (S506), the broadcast program playback unit 1102a interprets the acquired program information data string to create EPG information, and further displays the EPG display screen on the video display unit 163 (S507).

[0071] 6 is a screen display diagram for explaining an example of the EPG display screen displayed in the process of S507. The EPG display screen 163a is a broadcast schedule of broadcast programs in a digital broadcast service, and in this embodiment, in a matrix shape with the vertical axis indicating time and the horizontal axis indicating service ID (channel), it displays program information 163a1 of each broadcast program broadcast on each channel in each time period. An operation guide 163a2 is displayed at the bottom of the EPG display screen 163a. ​​It is possible to move a program selection cursor 163a3 by operating the cursor keys on a remote control (not shown). Furthermore, it is possible to display detailed information of a broadcast program selected by the program selection cursor 163a3 by pressing the enter key on the remote control.

[0072] When the user operates the cursor keys and the decision key on the remote control to select a desired broadcast program on the EPG display screen 163a displayed in the processing of S507 in Figure 5 (S508), the reservation management execution unit 1103, based on the control of the receiving function execution unit 1102, displays a program detail information display screen for the selected desired broadcast program on the video display unit 163 (S509).

[0073] 7 is a screen display diagram for explaining an example of the program detail information display screen displayed in the process of S509. The program detail information display screen 163b is composed of a program information display area 163b1 that displays information such as the program title, program summary, and cast of the selected predetermined broadcast program, a sub-window area 163b2 that displays the video of the currently viewed broadcast program, a reservation setting key 163b3 that allows various settings regarding the process of recording reservation and the process of viewing reservation, and an operation selection key 163b4 that allows selection of whether to perform the process of recording reservation or the process of viewing reservation for the selected predetermined broadcast program.

[0074] By operating the cursor keys and the decision key on the remote control (not shown) to select the "recording destination" key of the reservation setting keys 163b3, a storage for storing information about the broadcast program to be recorded can be selected. By selecting the "save program" key, it is possible to set whether or not to save the content related to the broadcast program to be recorded in the storage of the broadcast receiving device 100. By selecting the "recording mode" key, it is possible to set which recording mode is used to record the broadcast program to be recorded. By selecting the "weekly / daily" key, it is possible to set whether the reservation recording or reservation viewing process of the target broadcast program is repeated every week or every day. In addition, by operating the cursor keys and the decision key on the remote control to select one of the operation selection keys 163b4, it is possible to execute the reservation of the recording process or the reservation of the viewing process for the selected specific broadcast program.

[0075] When the user operates the cursor keys and the decision key of the remote controller to select the "recording reservation" key of the operation selection keys 163b4 on the program detail information display screen 163b displayed in the process of S509 in Fig. 5 (S510), the reservation management execution unit 1103 stores information on the setting contents of each item set on the program detail information display screen 163b in the reservation information table of the reservation information storage area 1200 (S511). Specifically, for example, setting information according to the setting contents of the "recording destination" key and the "save program" key of the reservation setting keys 163b3 is stored in the recording destination information 1208 of the reservation information table. The contents set with the "recording mode" key are stored in the recording / viewing mode 1207. The contents set with the "weekly / daily" key are stored in the repeat flag 1206.

[0076] When the process of S511 is completed, the display of the program detail information display screen 163b is terminated, and the broadcast program playback unit 1102a displays the video of the broadcast program being viewed on the video display unit 163 (S512). With the above operations, the recording reservation process of the broadcast receiving device 100 is completed.

[0077] [Scheduled recording operation sequence] Next, a description will be given of the operation of the reservation recording process based on the reservation information table stored in the reservation information storage area 1200 in the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment. Fig. 8 is an operational sequence diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the reservation recording process in the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment.

[0078] While the broadcast receiving device 100 is in operation or on standby, the program recording execution unit 1104 appropriately checks the time information of the built-in clock (not shown) and the reservation information table of the reservation information storage area 1200 under the control of the basic operation execution unit 1101 (S801). When the broadcast start date and time of the broadcast program to be scheduled for recording stored in the reservation information table approaches, the basic operation execution unit 1101 performs a startup process and an initialization process of the broadcast receiving device 100 (S802). Note that if the broadcast receiving device 100 is already in operation, the process of S802 is not necessary. After the startup process and the initialization process are completed, the broadcast program playback unit 1102a of the receiving function execution unit 1102 next receives the digital broadcast wave (S803), and further performs a process of tuning (selecting) the channel of the broadcast program to be scheduled for recording in the tuner / demodulation unit 131 and a process of demodulating the modulated signal (S804). The process of S804 may be performed by appropriately selecting an available tuner when the broadcast receiving device 100 is already operating and selecting an arbitrary broadcast program that is not the target of scheduled recording. Also, the video of the broadcast program that is the target of scheduled recording does not have to be displayed on the video display unit 163.

[0079] When the tuning process to the channel of the broadcast program to be recorded is completed, the program recording execution unit 1104 acquires program-related information, such as program identification information and program content storage destination information, related to the broadcast program to be recorded, superimposed on the digital broadcast wave, based on the control of the receiving function execution unit 1102 (S806). The program identification information and program content storage destination information may be included in the PSI or SI. They may be included in the AIT used for the broadcast communication cooperation function. They may be included in a BML data string used for data broadcasting. They may be included in the digital broadcast wave and transmitted together with the program content of the broadcast program by other methods. Or, they may be acquired by accessing a specified server device specified by the AIT of the broadcast communication cooperation function.

[0080] The program-related information, i.e., the program identification information and program content storage destination information, related to the broadcast program to be recorded and obtained in the process of S806, together with the information written in the reservation information table of the reservation information storage area 1200 referred to in the process of S801, are stored in the recorded program information table of the recorded content storage area 1300 under the control of the program recording execution unit 1104 (S807). Specifically, for example, the obtained program identification information is stored in the recorded program identification information 1307 of the recorded program information table. The obtained program content storage destination information is stored in the recorded program content storage destination information 1308. In addition, the broadcast date information 1202, the broadcast time information 1203, the broadcast channel information 1204, the broadcast program title information 1205, and the recording / viewing mode 1207 of the reservation information table of the reservation information storage area 1200 are stored in the recording date information 1302, the recording time information 1303, the recording channel information 1304, the recorded program title information 1305, and the recording mode 1306 of the recorded program information table.

[0081] After completing the process of S807, the reservation management execution unit 1103 deletes the reservation information stored in the reservation information table of the reservation information storage area 1200 (S808). With the above operations, the reservation recording process of the broadcast receiving device 100 is completed.

[0082] The above-mentioned series of processes are an example of the process when the "Save Program" key is set to "No" in the reservation setting key 163b3 on the program detail information display screen 163b, that is, an example of the case where the program content related to the broadcast program to be recorded by reservation is not stored in the storage of the broadcast receiving device 100. When the "Save Program" key is set to "Yes", in the process of S807, the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment may process the program content (TS or ES) output from the separation unit 132 to be stored directly or in a storage specified by the "Recording Destination" key of the reservation setting key 163b3 (for example, the recorded content storage area 1300 of the storage unit 110 or a HDD connected to the extended I / F unit 124) after the program content is transcoded in the content processing unit 151 according to the setting of the "Recording Mode" key of the reservation setting key 163b3.

[0083] In addition, whether or not to store the program content of the broadcast program that is the subject of the scheduled recording in the storage of the broadcast receiving device 100 may be switched depending on the setting of the "Save Program" key of the reservation setting key 163b3 on the program detail information display screen 163b as described above, but may also be automatically switched depending on whether or not the program identification information and the program related information of the program content storage destination information related to the broadcast program that is the subject of the scheduled recording are superimposed on the digital broadcast wave. That is, for example, when the program identification information and the program related information of the program content storage destination information related to the broadcast program that is the subject of the scheduled recording are superimposed on the digital broadcast wave, the program content of the broadcast program that is the subject of the scheduled recording is not stored in the storage of the broadcast receiving device 100. In addition, when the program identification information and the program related information of the program content storage destination information related to the broadcast program that is the subject of the scheduled recording are not superimposed on the digital broadcast wave, the program content of the broadcast program that is the subject of the scheduled recording is stored in the storage of the broadcast receiving device 100.

[0084] In this case, it is preferable to visually check whether or not the program-related information, such as the program identification information and the program content storage destination information, of each broadcast program is superimposed on the digital broadcast wave in the program information 163a1 of the EPG display screen 163a. ​​For example, the program information 163a1 of a broadcast program in which the program-related information, such as the program identification information and the program content storage destination information, is superimposed on the digital broadcast wave clearly indicates this by adding characters, symbols, or illustrations, by using a different background color, or the like.

[0085] Also, in S803, the broadcast program reproducing unit 1102a may receive broadcast waves only for a predetermined period (for example, one minute after the start of the program). Also, if the program identification information 1307 and the program storage destination information 1308 relating to the broadcast program to be recorded by timer are transmitted at predetermined intervals (for example, 15 seconds), the broadcast program reproducing unit 1102a may receive digital broadcasts only for that interval (for example, 15 seconds) in S803. This allows the tuner to be released quickly.

[0086] Furthermore, when reservation information for a plurality of broadcast programs whose broadcast times 1203 overlap is stored in the reservation information table, in S803, the airwaves of each broadcast program may be received in a circular manner.

[0087] Furthermore, the processes of S801 and S808 are not necessary when recording is performed manually while watching a broadcast program, rather than by reservation recording based on the reservation information table stored in the reservation information storage area 1200. While watching the broadcast program selected in the process of S804, the user may operate a remote control (not shown) to instruct manual recording (S805), and thereafter, the processes of S806 to S807 may be executed.

[0088] [Operation sequence when playing recorded programs] Next, a description will be given of the operation of the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment in playing back recorded programs based on the recorded program information table stored in the recorded content storage area 1300. Fig. 9 is an operational sequence diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment in playing back recorded programs.

[0089] When performing a recorded program playback process on the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment, the user first operates a remote control (not shown) to instruct the broadcast receiving device 100 to power on (S901). Upon receiving the power on instruction from the remote control, the broadcast receiving device 100 performs start-up and initialization processes under the control of the basic operation execution unit 1101 (S902). Note that if the broadcast receiving device 100 is already running, the processes of S901 to S902 are not necessary. After the start-up and initialization processes, the user operates the remote control to instruct displaying a list of recorded programs (S903), and the receiving function execution unit 1102 displays a recorded program list display screen on the video display unit 163 (S904).

[0090] 10 is a screen display diagram for explaining an example of the recorded program list display screen displayed in the process of S904. The recorded program list display screen 163c displays a list of recorded program information 163c1 of each recorded program stored in the recorded program information table of the recorded content storage area 1300 and an operation guide 163c6. The recorded program information 163c1 is mainly composed of a thumbnail section 163c2 and a program summary section 163c3 that displays information such as the recorded program title, recording date and time, recording channel, recording mode, and recording time. Furthermore, the recorded program information 163c1 appropriately includes an unviewed mark 163c4 indicating whether each recorded program has not been viewed or not and a cloud mark 163c5 indicating whether program content related to each recorded program is stored in the storage of the broadcast receiving device 100 or not. The cloud mark 163c5 is displayed when the program content for each recorded program is not stored in the storage of the broadcast receiving device 100; that is, when the "Save Program" key is set to "No" in the reservation setting key 163b3 on the program detail information display screen 163b and the reservation recording process is performed.

[0091] It is possible to move the program selection cursor 163c7 by operating the cursor keys on a remote control (not shown). Furthermore, it is possible to start the playback process of the recorded program selected by the program selection cursor 163c7 by pressing the enter key on the remote control.

[0092] When the user operates the cursor keys and the decision key on the remote control to select a desired recorded program on the recorded program list display screen 163c displayed in the processing of S904 in Figure 9 (S905), the receiving function execution unit 1102 reads out the recorded program identification information 1307, recorded program content storage destination information 1308, and recording mode 1306 of the desired recorded program from the recorded program information table stored in the recorded content memory area 1300 (S906).

[0093] The receiving function execution unit 1102 interprets the recorded program content storage destination information 1308 read in the process of S906, and extracts information (e.g., IP address information, etc.) for identifying the content server (in this embodiment, the service provider server 400) in which the video content related to the predetermined recorded program is stored on the network. Furthermore, the receiving function execution unit 1102 transmits the recorded program identification information 1307, the recorded program content storage destination information 1308, and the recording mode 1306 related to the predetermined recorded program via the LAN communication unit 121 to the service provider server 400 identified by the extracted IP address information, and requests the transmission of the video content related to the predetermined recorded program (S907). Note that if the recorded program content storage destination information 1308 has only IP address information, it is not necessary to transmit the recorded program content storage destination information 1308 in the process of S907.

[0094] The basic operation execution unit 4101 of the service provider server 400 transmits the recorded program identification information 1307, the recorded content storage destination information 1308, and the recording mode 1306 related to the predetermined recorded program received via the LAN communication unit 421 to the video content management / distribution execution unit 4102. The video content management / distribution execution unit 4102 refers to the content information table stored in the metadata storage area 4200 based on the received recorded program identification information 1307. Furthermore, the video content related to the predetermined recorded program is selected by acquiring the content storage location information 4202 and the content name 4203 corresponding to the program identification information 4201 that matches the received recorded program identification information 1307 (S908). Instead of acquiring the content storage location information 4202 and the content name 4203, the directory information and the file name acquired by interpreting the received recorded content storage destination information 1308 may be used.

[0095] Next, the video content management / distribution execution unit 4102 refers to the video content storage area 4300 based on the content storage location information 4202 and the content name 4203 acquired in the process of S908, and reads out the video content related to the predetermined recorded program. Furthermore, the video content management / distribution execution unit 4102 performs a transcode process on the read out video content according to the received recording mode 1306 (S909), and transmits the video content to the broadcast receiving device 100 via the LAN communication unit 421 (S910). Note that instead of the transcode process in S909, a plurality of video contents with different bit rates may be prepared in advance in the video content storage area 4300, and a video content with a predetermined bit rate may be selected according to the received recording mode 1306. Also, if there is sufficient margin in the communication band between the service provider server 400 and the broadcast receiving device 100, the transcode process in S909 may not be performed. The presence or absence of the transcode process may be switched depending on the network status between the service provider server 400 and the broadcast receiving device 100.

[0096] The broadcast receiving device 100 receives the video content related to the predetermined recorded program transmitted from the service provider server 400, and transmits the received video content to the separation unit 132 via the LAN communication unit 121 under the control of the receiving function execution unit 1102. Furthermore, under the control of the broadcast program playback unit 1102a, the separation unit 132 separates each data string, the video decoder 133 and the audio decoder 134 decode the video data string and the audio data string, and so on, and outputs the video signal and audio signal of the broadcast program from the video display unit 163 and the speaker 164 via the video superimposition unit 161 and the audio selection unit 162 (S911). The above operations realize the recorded program playback process of the broadcast receiving device 100.

[0097] As described above, the operations of the recording reservation process, the reservation recording process, and the recorded program playback process have been described above. In the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment, when recording a broadcast program, it is not necessary to store the program content related to the broadcast program in the storage of the broadcast receiving device 100 individually, and the content related to the recorded broadcast program is operated to be acquired from a content server on the network each time it is played back. However, unlike a known VOD (Video On Demand) system in which a user accesses a content server by himself to search / select desired content, in the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment, the user does not need to be aware of the existence of a content server, and the recording and playback processes of broadcast programs can be performed with the same ease of use as a conventional VTR (Video Tape Recorder). Furthermore, in the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment, the recorded program information table that manages the information of the recorded programs does not require a large storage area, and therefore it is possible to manage / store a large number of recorded programs. Or, it is possible to manage it in a small-capacity storage. In other words, it is possible to provide a broadcast receiving device that enables more useful recording and playback processes.

[0098] Example 2 The following describes the second embodiment of the present invention. The configuration and effects of the second embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment unless otherwise specified. Therefore, the following mainly describes the differences between the second embodiment and the first embodiment, and omits descriptions of common points as much as possible to avoid duplication.

[0099] In the digital broadcasting service of this embodiment, the program information data string contains the program identification information of the broadcast program that is the subject of the scheduled recording and the program related information of the program content storage destination information. In this case, if the "Save Program" key is set to "No" in the reservation setting key 163b3 on the program detail information display screen 163b shown in Fig. 7, that is, if the program content of the broadcast program that is the subject of the scheduled recording is not stored separately in the storage of the broadcast receiving device 100, the scheduled recording process of the broadcast program that is the subject of the scheduled recording can be performed at the time when the program information data string is acquired from the digital broadcast wave.

[0100] [Recording schedule and operation sequence during scheduled recording] FIG. 11 is an operational sequence diagram illustrating an example of a series of operations in the recording reservation process and the reservation recording process of the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment.

[0101] In the figure, the processing of S1101 to S1109 is the same as the processing of S501 to S509 in the operation sequence diagram shown in Fig. 5, so the description will be omitted. As described above, the program information data string acquired in the processing of S1105 includes program related information such as program identification information and program content storage destination information for each broadcast program of the digital broadcast service. When the user operates the cursor keys and the decision key of the remote control (not shown) to select the "recording reservation" key of the operation selection keys 163b4 on the program detailed information display screen 163b displayed in the processing of S1109 (S1110), the program recording execution unit 1104 acquires program related information such as program identification information and program content storage destination information for the broadcast program to be scheduled for recording from the program information data string under the control of the receiving function execution unit 1102 (S1111).

[0102] Furthermore, the program-related information, i.e., the program identification information and program content storage destination information, related to the broadcast program to be recorded and obtained in the process of S1111 are stored in the recorded program information table of the recorded content storage area 1300 together with information on the settings of each item set on the program detail information display screen 163b under the control of the program recording execution unit 1104 (S1112). Specifically, for example, the obtained program identification information is stored in recorded program identification information 1307 of the recorded program information table. The obtained program content storage destination information is stored in recorded program content storage destination information 1308. In addition, broadcast date and time information, broadcast channel information, and program title information are stored in recording date information 1302, recording time information 1303, recording channel information 1304, and recorded program title information 1305. The contents set by the "recording mode" key of the reservation setting keys 163b3 on the program detail information display screen 163b are stored in recording mode 1306.

[0103] When the process of S1112 is completed, the display of the program detail information display screen 163b is terminated, and the broadcast program playback unit 1102a displays the video of the broadcast program being viewed on the video display unit 163 (S1113). With the above operations, the series of processes of the recording reservation process and the scheduled recording process of the broadcast receiving device 100 is completed. Also, the operation of the recorded program playback process in the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment is the same as the operation sequence diagram shown in Fig. 9, so a description thereof will be omitted.

[0104] In the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment, when a broadcast program is selected using the EPG and a recording reservation is made, the process of recording the selected broadcast program can be simultaneously performed, which is convenient. In addition, there is no need to store the selected broadcast program in the reservation information table in the reservation information storage area 1200, which simplifies the process. In other words, it is possible to provide a broadcast receiving device that enables more useful recording and playback processes.

[0105] Example 3 The following describes the third embodiment of the present invention. The configuration and effects of the third embodiment are the same as those of the second embodiment unless otherwise specified. Therefore, the following mainly describes the differences between the third embodiment and the second embodiment, and omits descriptions of common points as much as possible to avoid duplication.

[0106] In the broadcast receiving device 100 described in the second embodiment, when the broadcast program is selected using the EPG and the recording reservation process is performed, the process of scheduled recording of the selected broadcast program can be executed. This means that the process of scheduled recording of the selected broadcast program is completed after the process of selecting the broadcast program using the EPG and the recording reservation process is completed, and playback of the video content related to the selected broadcast program (i.e., the program content of the recorded program) is possible even before the original broadcast start time of the selected broadcast program. On the other hand, it is not preferable for the service provider providing the broadcast program to view the video content related to the broadcast program before the original broadcast start time of the broadcast program. Therefore, the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment deals with the restriction on the date and time when playback of the recorded program can be started.

[0107] [Operation sequence when playing recorded programs] Fig. 12 is an operational sequence diagram for explaining an example of the operation of the recorded program playback process of the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment. Note that the series of operations of the recording reservation process and the reservation recording process in the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment are the same as those in the operational sequence diagram shown in Fig. 11, so the explanation will be omitted.

[0108] In the figure, the processes of S1201 to S1204 are the same as those of S901 to S904 in the operation sequence diagram shown in Fig. 9, and therefore description thereof will be omitted. When the user operates the cursor keys and the enter key of the remote control (not shown) to select a desired recorded program on the recorded program list display screen 163c displayed in the process of S1204 (S1205), the receiving function execution unit 1102 reads out recording date information 1302, recording time information 1303, recorded program identification information 1307, recorded program content storage destination information 1308, and recording mode 1306 related to the desired recorded program from the recorded program information table stored in the recorded content storage area 1300 (S1206).

[0109] In the digital broadcasting service of this embodiment, the program identification information, program content storage destination information, and playback start possible date and time information of the broadcast program to be recorded are included in the program information data string as program-related information. Also, in the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment, a series of operations of the recording reservation process and the reservation recording process are performed in the same manner as the operation sequence diagram shown in Fig. 11, but in the process of S1112, the program identification information and program content storage destination information of the broadcast program to be recorded are stored in the recorded program identification information 1307 and the recorded program content storage destination information 1308 of the recorded program information table of the recorded content storage area 1300, and further, the playback start possible date and time information of the broadcast program to be recorded is stored in the recorded program information table in the recorded date information 1302 and the recorded time information 1303. That is, the recording date information 1302 and the recording time information 1303 read in the process of S1206 are information on the playback start possible date and time of the video content of the selected predetermined recorded program.

[0110] After the process of S1206, the receiving function execution unit 1102 compares the time information of the built-in clock (not shown) with the recording date information 1302 and recording time information 1303 read in S1206 (S1207). If the current time is before the possible playback start date and time of the video content related to the selected specific recorded program indicated by the recording date information 1302 and recording time information 1303 (S1207: No), the receiving function execution unit 1102 does not perform playback processing of the selected specific recorded program, and displays the video of the broadcast program being viewed by the broadcast program playback unit 1102a on the video display unit 163 (S1208). On the other hand, if the current time is after the possible playback start date and time of the video content related to the selected specific recorded program indicated by the recording date information 1302 and recording time information 1303 (S1207: Yes), the processes of S1209 to S1213 are executed to execute playback processing of the video content related to the selected specific recorded program. Note that the processing in S1209 to S1213 is similar to the processing in S907 to S911 in the operation sequence diagram shown in FIG. 9, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0111] As described above, the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment can also provide the same effects as those of the first and second embodiments. Moreover, the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment can set a limit on the date and time when playback of a recorded program can be started, and can prevent video content related to the broadcast program from being viewed before the original broadcast start time of the broadcast program. In other words, it is possible to provide a broadcast receiving device that enables more useful recording and playback processes.

[0112] The reproduction start possible date and time information may be the original broadcast start time of the broadcast program, the original broadcast end time of the broadcast program, or any other arbitrarily designated time.

[0113] Example 4 The following describes the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The configuration and effects of the fourth embodiment are the same as those of the third embodiment unless otherwise specified. Therefore, the following mainly describes the differences between the fourth embodiment and the third embodiment, and omits as much as possible the description of the common points to avoid duplication.

[0114] [Operation sequence when playing recorded programs] Fig. 13 is an operational sequence diagram for explaining an example of the operation of the recorded program playback process of the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment. Note that the series of operations of the recording reservation process and the scheduled recording process in the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment are performed in the same manner as in the operational sequence diagram shown in Fig. 11. That is, in the process of S1112, the process of storing the playback start date and time information for the broadcast program that is the subject of scheduled recording in the recording date information 1302 and recording time information 1303 of the recorded program information table is not performed.

[0115] In the figure, the processes in S1301 to S1307 are similar to those in S901 to S907 in the operation sequence diagram shown in FIG. 9, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

[0116] The basic operation execution unit 4101 of the service provider server 400 transmits the recorded program identification information 1307, the recorded content storage destination information 1308, and the recording mode 1306 related to the predetermined recorded program received via the LAN communication unit 421 to the video content management / distribution execution unit 4102. The video content management / distribution execution unit 4102 refers to the content information table stored in the metadata storage area 4200 based on the received recorded program identification information 1307. Furthermore, the video content related to the predetermined recorded program is selected by acquiring the content storage location information 4202 and the content name 4203 corresponding to the program identification information 4201 that matches the received recorded program identification information 1307 (S1308). Instead of acquiring the content storage location information 4202 and the content name 4203, the directory information and the file name acquired by interpreting the received recorded content storage destination information 1308 may be used.

[0117] The video content management / distribution execution unit 4102 further acquires content broadcast date information 4206 and content broadcast time information 4207, and compares the time information of an internal clock (not shown) with the acquired content broadcast date information 4206 and content broadcast time information 4207 (S1309). The content broadcast date information 4206 and content broadcast time information 4207 in the content information table stored in the metadata storage area 4200 are information related to the original broadcast date and time of the corresponding video content, and are information related to restrictions on the date and time when playback of the video content can be started.

[0118] In the process of S1309, if the current time is before the date and time when playback of the selected video content indicated by the content broadcast date information 4206 and the content broadcast time information 4207 is possible (S1309: No), the video content management / distribution execution unit 4102 transmits an error to the broadcast receiving device 100 (S1310). The broadcast receiving device 100, which has received the error from the service provider server 400 (S1311), notifies the user, under the control of the reception function control unit 1102, that playback processing of the video content related to the predetermined recorded program cannot be executed. Furthermore, the broadcast program playback unit 1102a displays the video of the broadcast program being viewed on the video display unit 163 (S1312), and the series of procedures is terminated. The notification process may be configured to clearly indicate to the user the time when playback of the video content related to the predetermined recorded program is possible.

[0119] On the other hand, if the current time is after the possible playback start date and time of the selected video content indicated by content broadcast date information 4206 and content broadcast time information 4207 (S1309: Yes), the processing of S1313 to S1315 is executed to play back the video content related to the selected recorded program. Note that the processing of S1313 to S1315 is similar to the processing of S909 to S911 in the operation sequence diagram shown in Fig. 9, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0120] As described above, the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment can also achieve the same effects as those of the third embodiment. In the digital broadcast service of this embodiment, it is not necessary to include playback start possible date and time information in the program data string, and the broadcast receiving device 100 does not need to perform processing for restrictions on the playback start possible date and time of a recorded program. In other words, it is possible to provide a broadcast receiving device that enables more useful recording and playback processing.

[0121] Example 5 The following describes the fifth embodiment of the present invention. The configuration and effects of the fifth embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment unless otherwise specified. Therefore, the following mainly describes the differences between the fifth embodiment and the first embodiment, and omits as much as possible the description of the common points to avoid duplication.

[0122] In this embodiment, the broadcast receiving device 100 will be described with respect to an example in which authentication processing is performed between the broadcast receiving device 100 and a content server that stores video content related to the broadcast program (or recorded program) to be recorded during the operation of the scheduled recording process and the operation of the recorded program playback process.

[0123] [Software configuration of broadcast receiving device] 14A is a software configuration diagram of the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment, and shows the software configuration in the ROM 103, the RAM 104, and the storage unit 110. In the software configuration diagram of the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment, compared to the software configuration diagram (FIG. 2B) of the broadcast receiving device 100 described in the first embodiment, an authentication information storage area 1400 that stores login information and the like when the broadcast receiving device 100 accesses each content server is added to the storage unit 110.

[0124] 14B is a conceptual diagram for explaining an example of the data format of an authentication information table stored in authentication information storage area 1400. The authentication information table is made up of information such as serial number 1401, service name information 1402, connection destination information 1403, login name information 1404, password information 1405, and credit card information 1406. Other information may also be included.

[0125] The serial number 1401 is used to manage each piece of authentication information stored in the authentication information table. The service name information 1402 is information on the service name of the content distribution service to be accessed by the broadcast receiving device 100. The connection destination information 1403 is identification information, such as an IP address, for identifying the server device that executes the content distribution service on the network. The login name information 1404 and the password information 1405 are a login name and a password used when the broadcast receiving device 100 accesses the server device that executes the content distribution service. The credit card information 1406 is information on a credit card owned by the user of the broadcast receiving device 100.

[0126] [Service provider server configuration] Fig. 15A is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the service provider server 400. The service provider server 400 of this embodiment is also composed of a main control unit 401, a system bus 402, a RAM 404, a storage unit 410, and a LAN communication unit 421. Compared to the internal configuration (Fig. 4A) of the service provider server 400 described in the first embodiment, a user information storage area 4500 for storing information on users who are permitted to access the service provider server 400 is added to the storage unit 410.

[0127] 15B is a conceptual diagram for explaining an example of the data format of a user information table stored in a user information storage area 4500. The user information table is made up of information such as a serial number 4501, user name information 4502, user associated information 4503, password information 4504, and expiration date information 4505. Other information may also be included.

[0128] The serial number 4501 is used to manage each piece of user information stored in the user information table. The user name information 4502 is identification information for identifying a user who is permitted to access the service provider server 400. The user associated information 4503 is associated information (address, telephone number, etc.) regarding each of the users. The password information 4504 is a password registered by each of the users to access the service provider server 400. The expiration date information 4505 is information regarding the expiration date of each user's access permission to the service provider server 400.

[0129] The operation of the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment will be described below.

[0130] [Scheduled recording operation sequence] Fig. 16 is an operational sequence diagram for explaining an example of the operation of the reservation recording process of the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment. Note that in the diagram, the processes of S1601 to S1606 are similar to the processes of S801 to S806 in the operational sequence diagram shown in Fig. 8, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

[0131] When the program identification information and the program-related information of the program content storage destination information related to the broadcast program to be scheduled for recording are acquired in the process of S1606, the receiving function execution unit 1102 interprets the acquired program content storage destination information and extracts information (e.g., IP address information, etc.) for identifying the content server (service provider server 400 in this embodiment) in which the video content related to the broadcast program to be scheduled for recording is stored on the network. Furthermore, the receiving function execution unit 1102 refers to the authentication information table in the authentication information storage area 1400 and acquires the login name 1404 and password 1405 corresponding to the service provider server 400. Thereafter, the receiving function execution unit 1102 transmits the acquired login name 1404 and password 1405 to the service provider server 400 and requests user authentication (S1607). The login name and password to be transmitted to the service provider server 400 may be appropriately input by operating a remote control or the like (not shown).

[0132] The basic operation execution unit 4101 of the service provider server 400 transmits the login name 1404 and password 1405 received via the LAN communication unit 421 to the video content management / distribution execution unit 4102. The video content management / distribution execution unit 4102 refers to the user information table stored in the user information storage area 4500 based on the received login name 1404. Furthermore, the video content management / distribution execution unit 4102 compares the password information 4504 corresponding to the user name information 4502 that matches the received login name 1404 with the received password information 1405, and further checks the expiration date information 4505 to perform user authentication processing (S1608). In the processing of S1608, if the received password information 1405 and the password information 4504 match, the user authentication is successful, and if the received password information 1405 and the password information 4504 do not match, if the information stored in the expiration date information 4505 indicates an expiration date, or if a user name that matches the received login name 1404 does not exist in the user information table, the user authentication is unsuccessful. The authentication result in the processing of S1608 is transmitted by the video content management / distribution execution unit 4102 to the broadcast receiving device 100 via the LAN communication unit 421.

[0133] The broadcast receiving device 100, which has received the authentication result from the service provider server 400 (S1609), checks the received authentication result under the control of the program recording execution unit 1104 (S1610). If the user authentication process in the service provider server 400 is successful (S1610: Yes), the program recording execution unit 1104 stores the program-related information of the program identification information and program content storage destination information related to the broadcast program to be recorded, which are acquired in the process of S1606, together with the information stored in the reservation information table of the reservation information storage area 1200 referred to in the process of S1601, in the recorded program information table of the recorded content storage area 1300 (S1611). After completing the process of S1611, the reservation management execution unit 1103 deletes the reservation information stored in the reservation information table of the reservation information storage area 1200 (S1612).

[0134] On the other hand, if the user authentication process in the service provider server 400 fails (S1610: No), the process of S1611 is not performed, and the reservation management execution unit 1103 deletes the reservation information stored in the reservation information table in the reservation information storage area 1200 (S1612). Alternatively, the program content (TS or ES) of the broadcast program to be recorded by reservation output from the separation unit 132 may be stored in the recorded content storage area 1300 of the storage unit 110 or in a HDD connected to the extended I / F unit 124, either directly or after being transcoded.

[0135] [Operation sequence when playing recorded programs] Fig. 17 is an operational sequence diagram for explaining an example of the operation of the recorded program playback process of the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment. Note that, in the diagram, the processes of S1701 to S1706 are similar to the processes of S901 to S906 in the operational sequence diagram shown in Fig. 9, and therefore the explanation thereof will be omitted.

[0136] After reading the recorded program identification information 1307, the recorded program content storage destination information 1308, and the recording mode 1306 related to the predetermined recorded program selected in the process of S1705 from the recorded program information table stored in the recorded content memory area 1300 in the process of S1706, the receiving function execution unit 1102 interprets the read recorded program content storage destination information 1308 and extracts information (e.g., IP address information, etc.) for identifying the content server (the service provider server 400 in this embodiment) in which the video content related to the recorded program is stored on the network. Furthermore, the receiving function execution unit 1102 refers to the authentication information table in the authentication information memory area 1400 and acquires the login name 1404 and password 1405 corresponding to the service provider server 400. Thereafter, the receiving function execution unit 1102 transmits the acquired login name 1404 and password 1405 to the service provider server 400 and requests user authentication (S1707). The login name and password to be transmitted to the service provider server 400 may be appropriately input by operating a remote control or the like (not shown).

[0137] The process of S1708 in the service provider server 400 is similar to the process of S1608 in the operation sequence diagram shown in FIG. 16, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0138] Having received the authentication result from the service provider server 400 (S1709), the broadcast receiving device 100 checks the received authentication result under the control of the receiving function execution unit 1102 (S1710). If the user authentication process in the service provider server 400 is successful (S1710: Yes), the broadcast receiving device 100 executes the processes of S1711 to S1715. Note that the processes of S1711 to S1715 are similar to the processes of S907 to S911 in the operation sequence diagram shown in Fig. 9, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted. Through the above operations, the broadcast receiving device 100 realizes the recorded program playback process for the specified recorded program.

[0139] On the other hand, if the user authentication process at the service provider server 400 fails (S1710: No), the processes of S1711 to S1715 are not performed, i.e., the recorded program playback process for the specified recorded program is not performed, and the broadcast program playback unit 1102a displays the video of the broadcast program being viewed on the video display unit 163 (S1716).

[0140] As described above, in the reservation recording process and the recorded program playback process, the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment is capable of performing authentication processing with the service provider server 400 that stores video content related to the broadcast program to be recorded (or the recorded program) during the reservation recording process and the recorded program playback process. In other words, only the broadcast receiving device 100 owned by a user who has signed a contract in advance with a service provider that provides broadcast programs is able to obtain the video content provided by the service provider.

[0141] In the process of S1607 in the operation sequence diagram shown in FIG. 16 or in the process of S1707 in the operation sequence diagram shown in FIG. 17, the credit card information 1406 may be transmitted at the same time as the login name 1404 and the password 1405, and charging may be performed at the same time as the user authentication process for the reservation recording process or the recorded program playback process. For example, the user may be charged according to the video content related to the broadcast program that is the subject of the reservation recording process during the reservation recording process, and may be able to view the video content without charging during the recorded program playback process for the video content. Alternatively, the user may not be charged during the reservation recording process for the broadcast program that is the subject of the reservation recording, and may be charged each time the recorded program playback process for the video content related to the broadcast program is performed. In addition, the amount of the charging process may be appropriately changed depending on the length of the playback time, image quality, popularity, etc. of the video content.

[0142] Example 6 The following describes the sixth embodiment of the present invention. The configuration and effects of the sixth embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment unless otherwise specified. Therefore, the following mainly describes the differences between the sixth embodiment and the first embodiment, and omits as much as possible the description of the common points to avoid duplication.

[0143] In the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment, the operation of the reservation recording process is performed in the same manner as the operation sequence diagram shown in Fig. 8. However, in the process of S807, the program identification information of the broadcast program to be the subject of reservation recording and the program related information of the program content storage destination information obtained in the process of S806 are stored in the recorded program information table of the recorded content storage area 1300, and at the same time, the program content (TS or ES) of the broadcast program to be the subject of reservation recording is stored in the recorded content storage area 1300. The program content of the broadcast program to be the subject of reservation recording may be transcoded by the content processing unit 151 as necessary based on the setting of the "recording mode" key of the reservation setting key 163b3 on the program detail information display screen 163b. In addition, in the recorded program content storage destination information 1308 of the recorded program information table of the recorded content storage area 1300, in addition to the program content storage destination information obtained in the process of S806, information on the storage location of the program content in the storage of the broadcast receiving device 100 is stored.

[0144] Furthermore, in the digital broadcasting service of this embodiment, each program content of a broadcast program delivered by broadcast waves transmitted from the radio tower 300T has a resolution of 1920 pixels x 1080 pixels, and the video content related to the broadcast program that can be obtained from the service provider server 400 has a resolution of 7680 pixels x 4320 pixels.

[0145] [Operation sequence when playing recorded programs] Fig. 18 is an operational sequence diagram for explaining an example of the operation of the recorded program playback process of the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment. Note that, in the diagram, the processes of S1801 to S1806 are similar to the processes of S901 to S906 in the operational sequence diagram shown in Fig. 9, and therefore the explanation thereof will be omitted.

[0146] After reading the recorded program identification information 1307, the recorded program content storage destination information 1308, and the recording mode 1306 for the specific recorded program selected in the process of S1805 from the recorded program information table stored in the recorded content storage area 1300 in the process of S1806, the receiving function execution unit 1102 displays a content distribution confirmation screen on the video display unit 163 (S1807). The content distribution confirmation screen is a screen display for confirming to the user whether the recorded program playback process for the specific recorded program selected is to be performed by obtaining the video content (resolution of 7680 pixels x 4320 pixels) from the service provider server 400, or by reading the program content (resolution of 1920 pixels x 1080 pixels) stored in the recorded content storage area 1300.

[0147] 19 is a screen display diagram for explaining an example of the content distribution confirmation screen displayed in the process of S1807. The content distribution confirmation screen 163d is composed of a message box 163d1 that displays a message for confirming with the user whether or not to acquire the video content related to the selected predetermined recorded program from the service provider server 400, and a selection operation key 163d2 for selecting an operation. When the "Yes" key of the selection operation key 163d2 is selected by operating the cursor key and the decision key of the remote control (not shown), the broadcast receiving device 100 executes a process of acquiring the video content from the service provider server 400. When the "No" key of the selection operation key 163d2 is selected by operating the remote control, the broadcast receiving device 100 does not execute a process of acquiring the video content from the service provider server 400.

[0148] When the user operates the cursor keys and enter key on the remote control to select the "No" key of the selection operation key 163d2 on the content distribution confirmation screen 163d displayed in the processing of S1807 in FIG. 18 (S1807: No), the program recording execution unit 1104 reads out the program content (resolution of 1920 pixels x 1080 pixels) of the selected specific recorded program stored in the recorded content memory area 1300 based on the information of the recorded program content storage destination information 1308 in the recorded program information table (S1808). Furthermore, the receiving function execution unit 1102 transmits the read program content (resolution of 1920 pixels x 1080 pixels) to the separation unit 132, which performs separation processing of each data string in the separation unit 132, decoding processing of the video data string and the audio data string in the video decoding unit 133 and the audio decoding unit 134, etc., and outputs the video signal and audio signal of the broadcast program from the video display unit 163 and the speaker 164 via the video superimposition unit 161 and the audio selection unit 162 (S1817).

[0149] On the other hand, when the user operates the cursor keys and enter key on the remote control to select the "Yes" key of the selection operation key 163d2 on the content distribution confirmation screen 163d (S1807: Yes), the processes of S1809 to S1816 are executed, and video content (resolution of 7680 pixels x 4320 pixels) related to the selected predetermined recorded program is acquired from the service provider server 400. Note that the processes of S1809 to S1816 are similar to the processes of S1707 to S1714 in the operation sequence diagram shown in Fig. 17, and therefore detailed description thereof will be omitted. Furthermore, the receiving function execution unit 1102 transmits the acquired video content (resolution of 7680 pixels x 4320 pixels) to the separation unit 132, which performs separation processing of each data string in the separation unit 132, decoding processing of the video data string and the audio data string in the video decoding unit 133 and the audio decoding unit 134, etc., and outputs the video signal and audio signal of the broadcast program from the video display unit 163 and the speaker 164 via the video superimposition unit 161 and the audio selection unit 162 (S1817).

[0150] The above operations realize the recorded program playback process of the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment. That is, according to the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment, when a user watches a specific recorded program, the user can appropriately select between program content with normal image quality stored in the storage of the broadcast receiving device 100 and video content with high image quality acquired from the service provider server 400. That is, it is possible to provide a broadcast receiving device that enables more useful recording and playback processes.

[0151] In the process of S1809, the credit card information 1406 may be sent simultaneously with the login name 1404 and password 1405, and the billing process may be performed simultaneously with the user authentication process. In this way, when the user watches a specific recorded program, the user can play back the recorded program for free for the normal image quality program content stored in the storage of the broadcast receiving device 100, and for a fee for the high image quality video content acquired from the service provider server 400.

[0152] Although the above describes examples of the embodiment of the present invention using Examples 1 to 6, it goes without saying that the configuration for realizing the technology of the present invention is not limited to the above examples, and various modified examples are possible. For example, it is possible to replace a part of the configuration of one example with the configuration of another example, and it is also possible to add the configuration of another example to the configuration of one example. All of these belong to the scope of the present invention. In addition, the numerical values, messages, etc. appearing in the text and figures are merely examples, and the effect of the present invention is not impaired even if different ones are used.

[0153] In the above-mentioned embodiments, the recording process is described as being based on the reservation information table stored in the reservation information storage area 1200, but it goes without saying that the same effect can be obtained even if the recording process is performed manually while watching a broadcast program. After acquiring the video content from the service provider server 400, when the separation unit 132, the video decoding unit 133, etc. perform appropriate signal processing, the acquired video content may be stored again in the recorded content storage area of ​​the storage unit 110 at the same time.

[0154] The functions of the present invention described above may be realized in part or in whole by hardware, for example by designing them as integrated circuits. They may also be realized by software, with a microprocessor unit or the like interpreting and executing an operating program that realizes each function. Hardware and software may also be used in combination.

[0155] The software for controlling the broadcast receiving device 100 may be stored in the ROM 103 and / or storage unit 110 of the broadcast receiving device 100 beforehand at the time of product shipment. It may also be acquired via the LAN communication unit 121 from another application server 500 on the Internet 200 after product shipment. In addition, the software stored in a memory card, optical disk, etc. may be acquired via the expansion interface unit 124, etc.

[0156] In addition, the control lines and information lines shown in the diagram are those considered necessary for explanation, and do not necessarily show all the control lines and information lines on the product. In reality, it can be considered that almost all components are connected to each other. [Explanation of symbols]

[0157] 100...broadcast receiving device, 101...main control unit, 102...system bus, 103...ROM, 104...RAM, 110...storage unit, 121...LAN communication unit, 124...extension interface unit, 131...tuner / demodulation unit, 132...separation unit, 133...video decoding unit, 134...audio decoding unit, 135...subtitle decoding unit, 141...data broadcasting reception processing unit, 142...data broadcasting engine, 143...application control unit, 144...application engine, 151...content processing unit, 161...video superimposition unit, 162...audio selection unit, 163...video display unit, 164...speaker.

Claims

1. a tuner that receives a first content of a broadcast program transmitted by a broadcast wave and program information related to the broadcast program; a communication unit that communicates with a server device via a network and acquires second content corresponding to the broadcast program; a display unit that displays the first content or the second content; a digital interface unit that connects and communicates with a storage for storing the first content; A storage unit that stores information; A video display device including a control unit, The control unit is a first control for outputting the first content via the digital interface unit, storing the first content in the storage connected to the digital interface unit, and reading out the first content stored in the storage via the digital interface unit and displaying the first content on the display unit when a user performs an operation to play back the first content; and Based on the program information received by the tuner, program identification information for identifying the broadcast program and address information on a network of a server device in which the second content is stored are acquired and stored in the storage unit, and when an operation for playing back the second content is performed by the user, accessing a server device in which the second content is stored via the communication unit, using the address information stored in the storage unit; acquiring the second content from the server device via the communication unit by using the program identification information stored in the storage unit; performing a second control to display the second content acquired from the server device on the display unit; The second content can be played back after the broadcast of the first content has ended.

13. A video display device comprising:

2. 2. The image display device according to claim 1, the storage unit stores authentication information required to access the server device, The control unit transmits the authentication information stored in the storage unit to a server device identified by the address information.

13. A video display device comprising:

3. 2. The image display device according to claim 1, the program information further includes a playback start date and time indicating a date and time at which distribution of the second content stored in the server device can be started; the control unit acquires a date and time when the second content can be reproduced from program information related to the broadcast program received by the tuner; When the user performs an operation to play the second content, the control unit compares a current time with the playback start possible date and time, and executes a playback process if the current time is after the playback start possible date and time, and does not execute a playback process if the current time has not reached the playback start possible date and time.

13. A video display device comprising:

4. 4. The image display device according to claim 3, The playback start date and time is different from the broadcast start date and time.

13. A video display device comprising:

5. 2. The image display device according to claim 1, When the user performs an operation to reproduce the second content, the information display displayed on the display unit displays a mark indicating that the second content will be obtained from the server device when the second content is reproduced together with the title of the broadcast program, and further displays a thumbnail image of the second content.

13. A video display device comprising:

6. receiving, by a tuner, a first content of a broadcast program transmitted by a broadcast wave and program information related to the broadcast program; storing the first content in a storage via a digital interface unit, and when a user performs an operation to play back the first content, reading out the first content stored in the storage via the digital interface unit and displaying the first content on a display unit; acquiring program identification information for identifying the broadcast program and address information on a network of a server device in which a second content corresponding to the broadcast program is stored, based on the program information received by the tuner, and storing the program identification information in a storage unit; a step of accessing a server device in which the second content is stored via a communication unit, using the address information stored in the storage unit, when the user performs an operation to play back the second content, obtaining the second content from the server device via the communication unit, using the program identification information stored in the storage unit, and displaying the second content obtained from the server device on the display unit; Do the following: The second content can be played back after the broadcast of the first content has ended.

16. A method for displaying content comprising:

Images