Application startup method

Abstract

To provide a digital broadcast receiver capable of executing a function with higher added value.SOLUTION: A broadcast receiving device receives broadcast waves of a digital broadcast service, controls operations including starting and ending applications on the basis of application control information, and selects control related to operations including starting and ending multiple types of applications on the basis of a user operation. When a request is made to start a second application (broadcast managed application) while a first application (non-broadcast application or general application) is being executed, the broadcast receiving device controls at least one of ending or continuing the first application and starting or not starting the second application according to the control selection by the user.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 28

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an application startup method.

Background Art

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

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] As a feature of data broadcasting, in a TV receiver compatible with digital broadcast services, it is possible to receive data broadcasts alone and acquire / display various information. On the other hand, since data broadcasting has a limited amount of data that can be transmitted due to radio wave band limitations, it is difficult to obtain high-definition screen displays and high-functional effects. For this reason, there has been a problem that it is difficult to execute useful functions with high added value on current digital broadcast receivers.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a digital broadcast receiver capable of executing functions with higher added value.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] As a means for solving the above problems, the technology described in the claims is used. For example, the technology described in claim 1 is used.

Advantages of the Invention

[0007] By using the technology of the present invention, a digital broadcast receiver capable of executing a function with higher added value can be provided.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

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Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, examples of embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Example

[0010] First, an example of a digital broadcast service receivable by the broadcast receiver of the present embodiment will be described. For example, in an example of BS / terrestrial digital broadcast receivable by the broadcast receiver of the present embodiment, a plurality of transport streams (TS) can be multiplexed and transmitted in one transponder (frequency channel). A TS is a continuous series of TS packets of a predetermined length obtained by dividing data sequences such as video / audio elementary streams (ES) and program specific information (PSI) / service information (SI) and adding a TS header.

[0011] PSI is a proprietary information table defined by the MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group)-2 system standard for identifying to which program each ES included in the TS belongs. PSI is composed of a PAT (Program Association Table), a PMT (Program Map Table), a CAT (Conditional Access Table), etc. The PAT defines a list of programs included in the TS by the PID (Packet Identifier) of the PMT. The PMT defines the PID of the constituent elements of each program, etc. The CAT contains information regarding limited reception.

[0012] In addition, SI extends PSI and includes program information and the like, and has information regarding the Electronic Program Guide (EPG) defined in ARIB STD-B10 by the Association of Radio Industries and Businesses (ARIB). SI is composed of a Broadcaster Information Table (BIT), a Service Description Table (SDT), an Event Information Table (EIT), a Time Offset Table (TOT), and the like. BIT includes broadcaster identification information, network information, SI transmission information of the broadcaster, and the like. 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 regarding events, such as the name, broadcast date and time, and broadcast content of each event (so-called program). TOT includes information regarding the current date and time.

[0013] In addition, TS includes Program Clock Reference (PCR) information that serves as a reference for the playback timing in a decoder, and BML documents that are subset-based on the BML (Broadcast Markup Language) specification defined in ARIB STD-B24.

[0014] In the broadcast receiving apparatus of this embodiment, by receiving and decoding a TS composed of the video / audio ES and various types of information, etc., it is possible to provide the user with a broadcast program, an EPG, a data broadcast screen produced using BML, and the like.

[0015] In addition, the broadcast receiving apparatus of this embodiment can cooperate with a function that uses a broadband network for digital broadcast services, and combines obtaining additional content via the broadband network, arithmetic processing in the server apparatus, presentation processing by cooperation with a mobile terminal device, etc. with the digital broadcast service, and is compatible with a broadcast communication cooperation system. In order to realize the broadcast communication cooperation system, it is assumed that the broadcast receiving apparatus of this embodiment can execute an application described in HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) or the like. Further, in the broadcast communication cooperation system with which the present broadcast receiving apparatus is compatible, an extended BML specification, application control information (Application Information Table: AIT) in the broadcast communication cooperation system, and extended PSI / SI information necessary for transmitting an application by a broadcast wave are used. Note that AIT is information for providing or notifying various types of information necessary for starting an application such as the acquisition destination of the application and control information for controlling the start / end of the application, etc.

[0016] The above description is based on the digital broadcast service in Japan, but it is not limited to application only in Japan, including the broadcast communication cooperation system with which the broadcast receiving apparatus of this embodiment is compatible.

[0017] Next, a specific configuration example of the embodiment in this embodiment will be described.

[0018] [System Configuration] FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an example of the communication system of this embodiment that realizes a broadcast communication cooperation system. The communication system of this embodiment includes a broadcast receiving apparatus 100, an antenna 100a, a broadband network 200 such as the Internet and a router apparatus 210, a radio tower 300t of a broadcast station, a broadcast station server 300, a service provider server 400, other application servers 500, a mobile phone communication server 600 and a base station 600b of a mobile phone communication network, and a portable information terminal 700.

[0019] The broadcast receiving device 100 is a television receiver that has a function corresponding to the broadcast communication cooperation system in addition to the existing digital broadcast receiving function. The broadcast receiving device 100 receives the broadcast wave transmitted from the radio tower 300t via the antenna 100a. Also, the broadcast receiving device 100 can be connected to the Internet 200 via the router device 210, and can transmit and receive data by communicating with each server device on the Internet 200.

[0020] The router device 210 is connected to the Internet 200 by wireless communication or wired communication, and is connected to the broadcast receiving device 100 by wireless communication or wired communication and to the portable information terminal 700 by wireless communication. Thereby, each server device on the Internet 200, the broadcast receiving device 100, and the portable information terminal 700 can mutually transmit and receive data via the router device 210. Note that the communication between the broadcast receiving device 100 and the portable information terminal 700 may directly communicate by a method such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) or NFC (Near Field Communication) without going through the router device 210.

[0021] The radio tower 300t transmits a broadcast wave including a digital broadcast signal, AIT, control information regarding application presentation, etc. from the broadcast facilities of the broadcasting station. Note that the control information regarding application presentation is control information regarding the overlay of a broadcast program and an application on the television receiver and the availability of presenting the application. Also, it is assumed that the broadcasting station includes a broadcasting station server 300. The broadcasting station server 300 stores broadcast programs (video content, etc.) and metadata such as the program title, program ID, program summary, cast, broadcast date and time, etc. of each broadcast program, and can provide the video content and each metadata to the service provider based on a contract. Note that the provision of the video content and each metadata to the service provider may be performed through an API (Application Programming Interface) provided in the broadcasting station server 300.

[0022] The service provider server 400 is a server device prepared for the service provider to provide services through the broadcast communication cooperation system. The service provider server 400 stores, manages, and distributes video content and metadata provided by the broadcast station server 300, as well as content and applications produced for the broadcast communication cooperation system. It also has a function of searching for available applications and providing a list in response to inquiries from the television receiver. Note that the storage, management, and distribution of the content and metadata, and the storage, management, and distribution of the applications may be performed by different server devices. The broadcast station and the service provider may be the same or different operators. Multiple service provider servers 400 may be prepared for different services. Also, the functions of the service provider server 400 may be incorporated into the broadcast station server 300.

[0023] The other application server 500 is a known server device that stores, manages, and distributes general applications, operation programs, content, and data other than those related to the broadcast communication cooperation system.

[0024] The mobile phone communication server 600 is connected to the Internet 200 and, on the other hand, is connected to the mobile information terminal 700 via the base station 600b. The mobile phone communication server 600 manages telephone communication (call) and data transmission / reception via the mobile phone communication network of the mobile information terminal 700, enabling data transmission / reception through communication between the mobile information terminal 700 and each server device on the Internet 200. Note that the communication between the mobile information terminal 700 and the broadcast receiving device 100 may also be performed via the base station 600b, the mobile phone communication server 600, the Internet 200, and the router device 210.

[0025] [Hardware Configuration of Broadcast Receiving Device] FIG. 2A is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100. The broadcast receiving apparatus 100 includes a main control unit 101, a system bus 102, a ROM 103, a RAM 104, a storage unit 110, a LAN communication unit 121, an expansion interface unit 124, a digital interface unit 125, a tuner / demodulation unit 131, a first separation unit 132, a first video decoding unit 133, a first audio decoding unit 134, a first subtitle decoding unit 135, a data broadcast reception processing unit 141, a data broadcast engine 142, a streaming reception processing unit 151, a second separation unit 152, a second video decoding unit 153, a second audio decoding unit 154, a second subtitle decoding unit 155, an application control unit 161, an application engine 162, a video superimposing unit 171, an audio selection unit 172, a video display unit 173, a speaker 174, a video output unit 175, an audio output unit 176, a presentation synchronization control unit 181, and a terminal cooperation control unit 191.

[0026] The main control unit 101 is a microprocessor unit that controls the entire broadcast receiving apparatus 100 according to a predetermined operation program. The system bus 102 is a data communication path for performing data transmission and reception between the main control unit 101 and each operation block in the broadcast receiving apparatus 100.

[0027] The ROM (Read Only Memory) 103 is a memory in which basic operation programs such as an operating system and other operation programs are stored. For example, a rewritable ROM such as an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM) or a flash ROM is used. The RAM (Random Access Memory) 104 serves as a work area when executing basic operation programs and other operation programs. The ROM 103 and the RAM 104 may be integrally configured with the main control unit 101. Further, the ROM 103 may not have an independent configuration as shown in FIG. 2A, and may use a part of the storage area in the storage unit 110.

[0028] The storage unit 110 stores the operation program and operation setting values of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100, personal information of the user of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100, and the like. Further, it can store operation programs downloaded from the network and various data created by the operation programs. It can also store contents such as moving images, still images, and audio obtained from a broadcast wave or downloaded from the network. A part of the storage unit 110 may replace all or part of the functions of the ROM 103. Further, the storage unit 110 needs to retain the stored information even when no external power is supplied to the broadcast receiving apparatus 100. Therefore, for example, semiconductor element memories such as flash ROMs and SSDs (Solid State Drives), magnetic disk drives such as HDDs (Hard Disc Drives), and the like are used.

[0029] It is assumed that each of the operation programs stored in the ROM 103 and the storage unit 110 can be updated and functionally expanded by a download process from each server apparatus on the Internet 200.

[0030] The LAN (Local Area Network) communication unit 121 is connected to the Internet 200 via a router device 210 and transmits and receives data to and from each server apparatus on the Internet 200. The connection to the router device 210 may be a wired connection or a wireless connection such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark). The LAN communication unit 121 is assumed to include an encoding circuit, a decoding circuit, and the like. Further, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 may further include other communication units such as a Bluetooth (registered trademark) communication unit, an NFC communication unit, and an infrared communication unit.

[0031] The tuner / demodulator unit 131 receives broadcast waves from the radio tower 300t via the antenna 100a and tunes (selects a channel) to the channel of the service desired by the user based on the control of the main control unit 101. Further, the tuner / demodulator unit 131 demodulates the received broadcast signal to obtain a TS. Note that in the example shown in FIG. 2A, a configuration in which there is one tuner / demodulator unit is illustrated, but for the purpose of simultaneous display of multiple screens, recording of back programs, etc., the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 may be configured to mount a plurality of tuner / demodulator units. Also, based on the control of the main control unit 101, control of access restriction to the demodulated TS and the like may be performed.

[0032] The first separation unit 132 inputs the TS output from the tuner / demodulator unit 131 and separates and outputs it to each data sequence such as a video data sequence, an audio data sequence, a subtitle data sequence, a program information data sequence, an AIT data sequence, and a BML data sequence. These data sequences may be in, for example, the ES format. The first video decoder 133 decodes the video data sequence input from the first separation unit 132 and outputs video information. The first audio decoder 134 decodes the audio data sequence input from the first separation unit 132 and outputs audio information. The first subtitle decoder 135 decodes the subtitle data sequence input from the first separation unit 132 and outputs subtitle information.

[0033] The data broadcast reception processing unit 141 decodes the BML data sequence input from the first separation unit 132 and reproduces the BML document. The data broadcast engine 142 is a BML browser that executes the BML document, and executes the BML document reproduced by the data broadcast reception processing unit 141 to output data broadcast screen information.

[0034] The streaming reception processing unit 151 accesses video content and the like placed in each server device on the Internet 200 via the LAN communication unit 121 based on the control of the main control unit 101, and obtains a program stream (PS) of the video content and the like. Also, based on the control of the main control unit 101, control of DRM (Digital Rights Management) processing for the obtained PS and the like may be performed.

[0035] The second separation unit 152 inputs the PS output from the streaming reception processing unit 151, and separates and outputs it into each data stream such as a video data stream, an audio data stream, and a subtitle data stream. These data streams may be in, for example, the ES format. Since the second video decoding unit 153, the second audio decoding unit 154, and the second subtitle decoding unit 155 perform the same processing as the first video decoding unit 133, the first audio decoding unit 134, and the first subtitle decoding unit 135 respectively, the description thereof is omitted.

[0036] Note that the first separation unit 132 and the second separation unit 152, the first video decoding unit 133 and the second video decoding unit 153, the first audio decoding unit 134 and the second audio decoding unit 154, and the first subtitle decoding unit 135 and the second subtitle decoding unit 155 may be used interchangeably.

[0037] The application control unit 161 acts on the application engine 162 regarding the application produced for the broadcast communication cooperation system based on the AIT data stream input from the first separation unit or the AIT file acquired from each server device on the Internet 200, and controls and manages the life cycle and events in units of applications. Also, depending on the state of the application and the instructions of the AIT, the control of the function constraints of the application is appropriately performed. The application engine 162 is an HTML browser that acquires and executes the application produced for the broadcast communication cooperation system based on the control of the application control unit 161.

[0038] The video superimposing unit 171 inputs the video information output from the first video decoding unit 133, the subtitle information output from the first subtitle decoding unit 135, the data broadcast screen information output from the data broadcast engine 142, the video information output from the second video decoding unit 153, the subtitle information output from the second subtitle decoding unit 155, and the application execution screen information output from the application engine 162, and performs processes such as selection and / or superimposition. The video superimposing unit 171 includes a video RAM (not shown), and the video display unit 173 etc. are driven based on the video information input to the video RAM. Also, based on the control of the main control unit 101, the video superimposing unit 171 performs, as necessary, scaling processing and superimposing processing of EPG screen information created based on the program information data string output from the first separation unit 132 etc.

[0039] The audio selection unit 172 inputs the audio information output from the first audio decoding unit 134, the audio information output from the second audio decoding unit 154, and the application execution audio information output from the application engine 162, and appropriately selects and outputs the audio information according to the control of the main control unit 101.

[0040] The video display unit 173 is a display device such as a liquid crystal panel, and provides the video information that has been subjected to selection and / or superimposition processing by the video superimposing unit 171 to the user of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100. The speaker 174 provides the audio information output from the audio selection unit 172 to the user of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100. The video output unit 175 is a video output interface that outputs the video information that has been subjected to selection and / or superimposition processing by the video superimposing unit 171. The audio output unit 176 is an audio output interface that outputs the audio information output from the audio selection unit 172. As described above, when the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 is a television receiver etc., the video output unit 175 and the audio output unit 176 are not essential components of the present invention.

[0041] The prompt synchronization control unit 181 controls the prompt synchronization on the video display unit 173 and the speaker 174, or on the video output unit 175 and the audio output unit 176, of video information, audio information, etc. obtained by decoding the TS acquired from the broadcast wave, video information, audio information, etc. obtained by decoding the PS acquired from each server device on the Internet 200, and application execution screen information and application execution audio information output from the application engine 162, based on, for example, PCR information or the like.

[0042] When the terminal cooperation control unit 191 cooperates with an external mobile terminal device, it manages and controls the discovery and authentication of the cooperation device (mobile terminal device), the connection between the broadcast receiving device 100 and the cooperation device, the cooperation of applications, and the like.

[0043] The extended interface unit 124 is a group of interfaces for expanding the functions of the broadcast receiving device 100. In this embodiment, it is assumed to be composed of an analog video / audio interface, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface, a memory interface, and the like. The analog video / audio interface inputs an analog video signal / audio signal from an external video / audio output device, outputs an analog video signal / audio signal to an external video / audio input device, and the like. The USB interface connects to a PC or the like to perform data transmission and reception. An HDD may be connected to record broadcast programs and contents. Also, a keyboard and other USB devices may be connected. The memory interface connects a memory card and other memory media to perform data transmission and reception.

[0044] The digital interface unit 125 is an interface for outputting and / or inputting encoded digital video data and / or digital audio data. Assume that the digital interface unit 125 can directly output the TS obtained by the tuner / demodulator unit 131 and the PS obtained by the streaming reception processing unit 151. Also, it may be controlled to input the TS and PS input from the digital interface unit 125 to the first separation unit 132 and the second separation unit 152. The output of the digital content stored in the storage unit 110, or the storage of digital content in the storage unit 110, may be performed via the digital interface unit 125. The digital interface unit 125 may be a DVI terminal, an HDMI terminal, etc., and data may be output or input in a format compliant with DVI specifications, HDMI specifications, etc. It may also be output or input in the form of serial data compliant with IEEE1394 specifications, etc.

[0045] The broadcast receiving device 100 may be, in addition to a television receiver, an optical disc drive recorder such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) recorder, a magnetic disc drive recorder such as an HDD recorder, an STB (Set Top Box), etc. It may also be a PC (Personal Computer), a tablet terminal, a game machine, etc. equipped with a digital broadcast receiving function and a broadcast communication cooperation function. When the broadcast receiving device 100 is a DVD recorder, an HDD recorder, an STB, etc., the video display unit 173 and the speaker 174 may not be provided. By connecting an external monitor and an external speaker to the video output unit 175 and the audio output unit 176, the same operation as the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment becomes possible.

[0046] [Software Configuration of Broadcast Receiving Device] Figure 2B is a software configuration diagram of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, showing the software configuration in the ROM 103, the RAM 104, and the storage unit 110. In the present embodiment, the basic operation program 1001 and other operation programs are stored in the ROM 103, and the receiver function program 1002, the BML browser program 1003, the HTML browser program 1004, and other operation programs are stored in the storage unit 110. Further, the storage unit 110 includes a content storage area 1011 for storing contents such as videos, still images, and audio, an authentication information storage area 1012 for storing authentication information and the like used when cooperating with an external portable terminal device, and various information storage areas for storing various other information.

[0047] The basic operation program 1001 stored in the ROM 103 is expanded in the RAM 104, and further, the main control unit 101 executes the expanded basic operation program, thereby constituting the basic operation execution unit 1101. Also, the receiver function program 1002, the BML browser program 1003, and the HTML browser program 1004 stored in the storage unit 110 are each expanded in the RAM 104, and further, the main control unit 101 executes the expanded operation programs, thereby constituting the receiver function execution unit 1102, the BML browser engine 1103, and the HTML browser engine 1104. Also, the RAM 104 is provided with a temporary storage area for temporarily holding data created when each operation program is executed, as necessary.

[0048] In the following, for the sake of simplicity of explanation, the process of controlling each operation block by the main control unit 101 expanding and executing the basic operation program 1001 stored in the ROM 103 in the RAM 104 will be described as being performed by the basic operation execution unit 1101 for controlling each operation block. The same description will be made for other operation programs.

[0049] The reception function execution unit 1102 controls each operation block of the broadcast reception apparatus 100 to implement a broadcast reception function and a broadcast communication cooperation function. In particular, the broadcast program playback unit 1102a mainly controls the tuner / demodulation unit 131, the first separation unit 132, the first video decoding unit 133, the first audio decoding unit 134, the first subtitle decoding unit 135, the data broadcast reception processing unit 141, and the data broadcast engine 142. Note that the data broadcast engine 142 may be replaced by the BML browser engine 1103 deployed on the RAM 104. Further, the communication content playback unit 1102b mainly controls the streaming reception processing unit 151, the second separation unit 152, the second video decoding unit 153, the second audio decoding unit 154, and the second subtitle decoding unit 155. The cooperation application control unit 1102c mainly controls the application control unit 161 and the application engine 162. Note that the application engine 162 may be replaced by the HTML browser engine 1104 deployed on the RAM 104. The terminal cooperation management unit 1102d mainly controls the terminal cooperation control unit 191.

[0050] Each of the above operation programs may be stored in the ROM 103 and / or the storage unit 110 in advance at the time of product shipment. After product shipment, it may be acquired from another application server 500 or the like on the Internet 200 via the LAN communication unit 121. Further, each of the above operation programs stored in a memory card, an optical disk, or the like may be acquired via the expansion interface unit 124 or the like.

[0051] [Configuration of Broadcast Station Server] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the broadcast station server 300. The broadcast station server 300 includes a main control unit 301, a system bus 302, a RAM 304, and a storage unit 310, and a LAN communication unit 321.

[0052] The main control unit 301 is a microprocessor unit that controls the entire broadcast station server 300 according to a predetermined operation program. The system bus 302 is a data communication path for performing data transmission and reception 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.

[0053] The storage unit 310 stores the basic operation program 3001 and the content management / delivery program 3002, and further includes a video content storage area 3011 and a metadata storage area 3012. The video content storage area 3011 stores video content and the like of each broadcast program broadcast by the broadcast station. The metadata storage area 3012 stores metadata such as the program title, program ID, program summary, cast, broadcast date, etc. of each of the above-mentioned broadcast programs.

[0054] Also, the basic operation program 3001 and the content management / delivery program 3002 stored in the storage unit 310 are respectively expanded into the RAM 304, and further, by the main control unit 301 executing the expanded basic operation program and content management / delivery program, a basic operation execution unit 3101 and a content management / delivery execution unit 3102 are configured.

[0055] In the following, for the sake of simplicity, the process of the main control unit 301 expanding and executing the basic operation program 3001 stored in the storage unit 310 in the RAM 304 to control each operation block will be described as the basic operation execution unit 3101 performing the control of each operation block. The same description will be made for other operation programs.

[0056] The content management / delivery execution unit 3102 manages the video content and other data and each metadata stored in the video content storage area 3011 and the metadata storage area 3012, and controls the provision of the video content and other data and each metadata to the service provider based on the contract. Further, when providing the video content and other data and each metadata to the service provider, the content management / delivery execution unit 3102 also performs authentication processing and the like of the service provider server 400 based on the contract as necessary.

[0057] The LAN communication unit 321 is connected to the Internet 200 and communicates with the service provider server 400 and the like on the Internet 200. The LAN communication unit 321 is assumed to include an encoding circuit, a decoding circuit, and the like.

[0058] [Configuration of Service Provider Server] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the service provider server 400. The service provider server 400 includes a main control unit 401, a system bus 402, a RAM 404, and 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 according to a predetermined operation program. The system bus 402 is a data communication path for performing data transmission and reception 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 the basic operation program 4001, the content management / delivery program 4002, and the application management / distribution program 4003, and further includes a video content storage area 4011, a metadata storage area 4012, and an application storage area 4013. The video content storage area 4011 and the metadata storage area 4012 store the video content and the like provided from the broadcasting station server 300, each metadata, the content produced by the service provider, and the metadata related to the content. The application storage area 4013 stores applications necessary for realizing each service of the broadcast communication cooperation system for distribution in response to requests from each television receiver.

[0061] Also, the basic operation program 4001, the content management / delivery program 4002, and the application management / distribution program 4003 stored in the storage unit 410 are respectively expanded in the RAM 404, and further, the main control unit 401 executes the expanded basic operation program, content management / delivery program, and application management / distribution program, thereby constituting a basic operation execution unit 4101, a content management / delivery execution unit 4102, and an application management / distribution execution unit 4103.

[0062] In the following, for the sake of simplicity, the process in which the main control unit 401 expands and executes the basic operation program 4001 stored in the storage unit 410 in the RAM 404 to control each operation block is described as if the basic operation execution unit 4101 controls each operation block. The same description is made for other operation programs.

[0063] The content management / delivery execution unit 4102 acquires video content and the like and each metadata from the broadcasting station server 300, manages the video content and the like and each metadata stored in the video content storage area 4011 and the metadata storage area 4012, and controls the distribution of the video content and the like and each metadata to each television receiver. Further, the application management / distribution execution unit 4103 manages each application stored in the application storage area 4013 and controls the distribution of each application in response to requests from each television receiver. Furthermore, when distributing each application to each television receiver, the application management / distribution execution unit 4103 also performs authentication processing and the like of each television receiver as necessary.

[0064] The LAN communication unit 421 is connected to the Internet 200 and communicates with the broadcasting station server 300 on the Internet 200, the broadcasting reception device 100, and the portable information terminal 700 via the router device 210. The LAN communication unit 421 is assumed to include an encoding circuit, a decoding circuit, and the like.

[0065] [Hardware Configuration of Portable Information Terminal] FIG. 5A is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the portable information terminal 700. The portable information terminal 700 includes a main control unit 701, a system bus 702, a ROM 703, a RAM 704, a storage unit 710, a communication processing unit 720, an expansion interface unit 724, an operation unit 730, an image processing unit 740, an audio processing unit 750, and a sensor unit 760.

[0066] The main control unit 701 is a microprocessor unit that controls the entire portable information terminal 700. The system bus 702 is a data communication path for performing data transmission and reception between the main control unit 701 and each operation block in the portable information terminal 700.

[0067] The ROM 703 is a memory that stores basic operation programs such as an operating system and other operation programs, and a rewritable ROM such as an EEPROM or a flash ROM is used, for example. The RAM 704 serves as a work area when executing basic operation programs and other operation programs. The ROM 703 and the RAM 704 may be integrally configured with the main control unit 701. Further, the ROM 703 may use a partial storage area in the storage unit 710 instead of having an independent configuration as shown in FIG. 5A.

[0068] The storage unit 710 stores operation programs and operation setting values of the portable information terminal 700, personal information of the user of the portable information terminal 700, and the like. Further, it can store operation programs downloaded from the network and various data created by the operation programs. It can also store contents such as videos, still images, and audio downloaded from the network. A part of the storage area of the storage unit 710 may be used to replace all or part of the functions of the ROM 703. Further, the storage unit 710 needs to retain the stored information even when no external power is supplied to the portable information terminal 700. Therefore, for example, devices such as flash ROMs, SSDs, and HDDs are used.

[0069] It is assumed that each of the operation programs stored in the ROM 703 and the storage unit 710 can be updated and functionally expanded by a download process from each server device on the Internet 200.

[0070] The communication processing unit 720 is composed of a LAN communication unit 721, a mobile phone network communication unit 722, and an NFC communication unit 723. The LAN communication unit 721 is connected to the Internet 200 via a router device 210 and performs data transmission and reception with each server device on the Internet 200. Assume that the connection to the router device 210 is made by wireless connection such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark). The mobile phone network communication unit 722 performs telephone communication (call) and data transmission and reception through wireless communication with a base station 600b of the mobile phone communication network. The NFC communication unit 723 performs wireless communication when in proximity to a corresponding reader / writer. The LAN communication unit 721, the mobile phone network communication unit 722, and the NFC communication unit 723 are each assumed to be equipped with a coding circuit, a decoding circuit, an antenna, etc. Also, the communication processing unit 720 may further include other communication units such as a Bluetooth (registered trademark) communication unit and an infrared communication unit.

[0071] The extended interface unit 724 is a group of interfaces for expanding the functions of the mobile information terminal 700. In this embodiment, it is assumed to be composed of a video / audio interface, a USB interface, a memory interface, etc. The video / audio interface performs functions such as input of video signals / audio signals from external video / audio output devices and output of video signals / audio signals to external video / audio input devices. The USB interface connects to a PC or the like to perform data transmission and reception. Also, it may be possible to connect a keyboard or other USB devices. The memory interface connects a memory card or other memory media to perform data transmission and reception.

[0072] The operation unit 730 is an instruction input unit for inputting operation instructions to the mobile information terminal 700. In this embodiment, it is assumed to be composed of a touch panel 730t arranged overlapping the display unit 741 and operation keys 730k arranged with button switches. Only one of them may be used. The operation of the mobile information terminal 700 may be performed using a keyboard or the like connected to the extended interface unit 724. The operation of the mobile information terminal 700 may be performed using a separate mobile terminal device connected by wired communication or wireless communication. Also, the touch panel function may be provided by the display unit 741.

[0073] The image processing unit 740 is composed of a display unit 741, an image signal processing unit 742, a first image input unit 743, and a second image input unit 744. The display unit 741 is a display device such as a liquid crystal panel, etc., and provides the image data processed by the image signal processing unit 742 to the user of the portable information terminal 700. The image signal processing unit 742 includes a video RAM (not shown), and the display unit 741 is driven based on the image data input to the video RAM. Also, the image signal processing unit 742 shall have functions such as format conversion and superposition processing of menus and other OSD (On Screen Display) signals as required. The first image input unit 743 and the second image input unit 744 are camera units that input image data of the surroundings or an object by converting the light input from a lens into an electrical signal using an electronic device such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) sensor.

[0074] The audio processing unit 750 is composed of an audio output unit 751, an audio signal processing unit 752, and an audio input unit 753. The audio output unit 751 is a speaker, and provides the audio signal processed by the audio signal processing unit 752 to the user of the portable information terminal 700. The audio input unit 753 is a microphone, and converts the user's voice, etc. into audio data and inputs it.

[0075] The sensor unit 760 is a group of sensors for detecting the state of the portable information terminal 700. In this embodiment, it is composed of a GPS receiver 761, a gyro sensor 762, a geomagnetic sensor 763, an acceleration sensor 764, an illuminance sensor 765, and a proximity sensor 766. With these sensor groups, it becomes possible to detect the position, inclination, azimuth, movement, and ambient brightness of the portable information terminal 700, the proximity status of surrounding objects, etc. Also, the portable information terminal 700 may further include other sensors such as a barometric pressure sensor.

[0076] The mobile information terminal 700 may be a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, etc. It may also be a PDA (Personal Digital Assistants) or a notebook PC. Further, it may be a digital still camera, a video camera capable of video shooting, a portable game machine, or other portable digital devices.

[0077] Note that the configuration example of the mobile information terminal 700 shown in FIG. 5A includes many components that are not essential to this embodiment, such as the sensor unit 760. However, even if these components are not provided, the effects of this embodiment will not be impaired. Further, configurations not shown, such as a digital broadcast reception function and an electronic money settlement function, may be added.

[0078] [Software Configuration of Mobile Information Terminal] FIG. 5B is a software configuration diagram of the mobile information terminal 700 of this embodiment, showing the software configurations in the ROM 703, the RAM 704, and the storage unit 710. In this embodiment, the basic operation program 7001 and other operation programs are stored in the ROM 703, and the cooperation control program 7002, the HTML browser program 7003, and other operation programs are stored in the storage unit 710. Further, the storage unit 710 is assumed to include a content storage area 7011 for storing contents such as videos, still images, and voices, an authentication information storage area 7012 for storing authentication information used during cooperation operations with a television receiver, and other various information storage areas for storing various other information.

[0079] The basic operation program 7001 stored in the ROM 703 is expanded into the RAM 704, and further, by the main control unit 701 executing the expanded basic operation program, the basic operation execution unit 7101 is configured. Also, the cooperation control program 7002 and the HTML browser program 7003 stored in the storage unit 710 are each expanded into the RAM 704, and further, by the main control unit 701 executing each of the expanded operation programs, the cooperation control execution unit 7102 and the HTML browser engine 7103 are configured. Also, the RAM 704 is provided with a temporary storage area for temporarily holding data created when each operation program is executed, as necessary.

[0080] Note that hereinafter, for the sake of simplicity of explanation, the process of the main control unit 701 expanding and executing the basic operation program 7001 stored in the ROM 703 in the RAM 704 to control each operation block will be described as the basic operation execution unit 7101 performing the control of each operation block. The same description will be made for other operation programs.

[0081] The cooperation control execution unit 7102 manages device authentication and connection, transmission and reception of each data, etc. when the mobile information terminal 700 performs a cooperation operation with the television receiver. The HTML browser engine 7103 is an HTML browser that executes an application created for the broadcast communication cooperation system on the mobile information terminal 700.

[0082] Each of the above operation programs may be stored in the ROM 703 and / or the storage unit 710 in advance at the time of product shipment. After product shipment, it may be acquired from other application servers 500 on the Internet 200 etc. via the LAN communication unit 721 or the mobile phone network communication unit 722. Also, each of the above operation programs stored in a memory card, an optical disk, etc. may be acquired via the expansion interface unit 724 etc.

[0083] [Overview of Application Control Information (AIT)] The application control information (AIT) in this embodiment is information that aims to notify the presence of an application (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a broadcast cooperation application) that cooperates with a broadcast service to a television receiver or the like (in this embodiment, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100) in the broadcast communication cooperation function supported by the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 and to instruct its control. Note that the broadcast cooperation application may be classified into (1) a broadcast managed application that operates only in a broadcast reception state based on a control signal such as start / end included in a broadcast signal and is permitted to access a broadcast resource based on the control signal, (2) a non-broadcast managed application that is not controlled by a broadcast signal for start / end or the like and is permitted to access a broadcast resource based on means such as application authentication, and (3) other general applications that are not permitted to access a broadcast resource.

[0084] As a transmission method of AIT, either a method of transmitting AIT in a section format or an XML (eXtensible Markup Language) format by a broadcast wave using a data carousel (DC) method or the like, or a method of distributing the AIT file in the section format or the XML format from a server apparatus on the Internet 200 by http (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) or https (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) or the like may be used. Other methods may also be adopted.

[0085] FIG. 6 is a data configuration diagram showing an example of the data configuration of AIT. AIT mainly includes each information such as an application type 901, an application identifier 902, an application control code 903, an application profile 904, application acquisition destination information 905, an application boundary and access right setting 906, a start priority 907, cache information 908, a server access dispersion parameter 909, and the like. Further, other information may be included.

[0086] The application type 901 defines the description method of the application. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the description method of the said application is HTML. The application identifier 902 is identification information composed of an organization identifier for identifying the operator and an application identifier numbered for each operator to identify the application unit. Note that the application unit is a set of an HTML document and its reference resources, with the HTML document existing at the location specified by the application acquisition destination information 905 as the entry document. The application control code 903 defines the operation control for the target application, and one of (1) automatic startup, (2) operable, (3) termination, (4) prefetch is described. The application profile 904 is a value indicating the functions of the TV receiver required by the application, and indicates a combination of the functions that the TV receiver has as options. By referring to this value, it is determined whether the said application can be used.

[0087] The application acquisition destination information 905 is information for specifying the acquisition destination of the application, and is location information for acquiring the HTML document that is first referred to when the application is started. Since the application is assumed to be transmitted by broadcast and placed in a server device on the communication network, the location information specified by the application acquisition destination information 905 is also defined to correspond to both the case of broadcast acquisition and the case of communication acquisition. The application boundary and access restriction setting 906 is information indicating the operable range as a broadcast managed application as a set of one or more regions (URL: Uniform Resource Locator). Also, the access restriction to the broadcast resources for each region is set in units of functions. The application boundary and access restriction setting 906 specifies the range of document transition to prevent unexpected transitions to documents due to the chain of document transitions from the entry document at the time of application startup and access to inappropriate broadcast resources. Also, within the range of the said document transition, the access authority to specific broadcast resources in units of regions can be set.

[0088] The startup priority 907 defines which of data broadcasting by a broadcast service and a broadcast managed application by an HTML document should be started preferentially when they coexist. It is assumed that it is possible to unconditionally specify data broadcasting as the highest priority on the PMT, to specify the startup priority order of a specific application type on the PMT, and to specify the startup priority of the target application with the startup priority 907. The cache information 908 is information used for cache control when holding application resources in preparation for reuse of an application. With this information, it becomes possible to cache application resources assumed to be reused even after the application ends. The server access dispersion parameter 909 is a parameter set for dispersing access for the purpose of reducing the load on a server where access concentrates, such as the acquisition destination of an application. The television receiver may operate to probabilistically delay the application of the application control code according to the setting of this parameter.

[0089] Hereinafter, the operation of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of this embodiment will be described.

[0090] [Operation sequence at application startup] First, the startup process of the broadcast-linked application based on the AIT transmitted by a broadcast wave in the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of this embodiment will be described. In the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of this embodiment, it is possible to define which of data broadcasting by a broadcast service and a broadcast-linked application should be started preferentially when they coexist, based on information on the PMT and information such as the application control code 903 and the startup priority 907 of the AIT.

[0091] FIG. 7A is an operation sequence diagram showing an example of the operation sequence of the broadcast-linked application when it is defined to start preferentially. This figure shows a series of processes until the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 appropriately checks the PMT and the AIT and starts a predetermined broadcast-linked application.

[0092] When the tuner / demodulation unit 131 of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 performs a channel selection process for a channel desired by the user to acquire a TS, next, the main control unit 101 acquires the PMT data sequence separated by the first separation unit 132 (S101) and checks the activation priority described in the PMT. When it is confirmed in the process of S101 that the activation priority of the broadcast cooperation application is high (S102), the application control unit 161 acquires the AIT data sequence separated by the first separation unit 132 (S103) and checks the application control code 903 of the acquired AIT data sequence (S104). In the process of S104, when the application control code 903 is "automatic startup", further, the application profile 904 of the acquired AIT data sequence is checked (S105). When it is confirmed that the execution of the broadcast cooperation application designated in the AIT is possible, based on the information described in the application acquisition destination information 905, a transmission request for the broadcast cooperation application is transmitted to a predetermined service provider server 400 via the LAN communication unit 121 (S106).

[0093] The service provider server 400 that has received the transmission request for the broadcast cooperation application, based on the control of the application management / distribution execution unit 4103, performs an authentication process for the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 as necessary, and then distributes a predetermined broadcast cooperation application stored in the application storage area 4013 via the LAN communication unit 421 (S107). Note that a known method may be used for the authentication process, and a detailed description thereof is omitted. Next, the application engine 162 of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 activates the predetermined broadcast cooperation application distributed from the service provider server 400 received via the LAN communication unit 121 based on the control of the application control unit 161 (S108).

[0094] FIG. 7B is an operation sequence diagram showing an example of an operation sequence of a broadcast cooperation application when it is defined to prioritize data broadcasting by a broadcast service. The figure shows a series of processes until the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 appropriately checks the PMT and AIT and activates a predetermined broadcast cooperation application.

[0095] When the tuner / demodulation unit 131 of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 performs a channel selection process for a channel desired by the user to acquire a TS, next, the main control unit 101 acquires the PMT data sequence separated by the first separation unit 132 (S201) and checks the activation priority described in the PMT. When it is confirmed in the process of S201 that the activation priority of data broadcast by the broadcast service is high (S202), the data broadcast reception processing unit 141 acquires the BML data sequence separated by the first separation unit 132 and reproduces the BML document (S203). When automatic activation of data broadcast is set by the BML document and when the user makes a start request for data broadcast using an operation terminal (such as the portable information terminal 700, remote control, etc.) (S204), the data broadcast engine 142 generates data broadcast screen information by executing the reproduced BML document and displays it on the video display unit 173 (S205).

[0096] After the process of S205 or simultaneously with the process of S205, the application control unit 161 acquires the AIT data sequence separated by the first separation unit 132 (S206) and checks the application profile 904 of the acquired AIT data sequence (S207). When it is confirmed in the process of S207 that the execution of the broadcast-linked application specified in the AIT is possible, an entry button to the executable broadcast-linked application is displayed on the data broadcast screen. The entry button may be always displayed, and the color scheme may be changed from an inactive color to an active color only when the execution of the broadcast-linked application is possible. By changing the shape, the inactive state and the active state of the entry button may be switched.

[0097] When the user selects the entry button using the operation terminal (S208), the data broadcast engine 142 ends the process of executing the BML document to generate data broadcast screen information (S209). Subsequently, the application control unit 161 acquires the AIT data sequence separated by the first separation unit 132 (S210), and checks the application acquisition destination information 905 of the acquired AIT data sequence. Further, based on the information described in the application acquisition destination information 905 confirmed in S210, a transmission request for the broadcast cooperation application is transmitted to the predetermined service provider server 400 via the LAN communication unit 121 (S211).

[0098] Upon receiving the transmission request for the broadcast cooperation application, the service provider server 400 performs authentication processing of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 as necessary based on the control of the application management / distribution execution unit 4103, and then distributes a predetermined broadcast cooperation application stored in the application storage area 4013 via the LAN communication unit 421 (S212). Next, the application engine 162 of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 starts the predetermined broadcast cooperation application distributed from the service provider server 400 received via the LAN communication unit 121 under the control of the application control unit 161 (S213).

[0099] FIG. 7C is an operation sequence diagram showing an example of the operation sequence of the broadcast cooperation application when no priority activation is defined. The figure shows a series of processes until the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 appropriately checks the PMT and AIT and starts a predetermined broadcast cooperation application.

[0100] When the tuner / demodulation unit 131 of the broadcast reception apparatus 100 performs a channel selection process for a channel desired by the user to acquire a TS, next, the main control unit 101 acquires the PMT data sequence separated by the first separation unit 132 (S301), and checks the activation priority described in the PMT. When it is confirmed that the activation priority of the broadcast cooperation application is high in the process of S301 (S302), the application control unit 161 acquires the AIT data sequence separated by the first separation unit 132 (S303), and checks the application control code 903 of the acquired AIT data sequence (S304). In the process of S304, when the application control code 903 is "activatable" instead of "auto-start", neither the data broadcast by the broadcast service nor the broadcast cooperation application is started, and the display of the broadcast program is continued.

[0101] When the user makes a request to start data broadcasting using the operation terminal in the state after the process of S304 (S305), similar to the processes after S205 in FIG. 7B, acquisition of the BML data sequence, reproduction of the BML document, generation of data broadcast screen information, etc. are performed (however, not shown). On the other hand, when the user makes a request to start the broadcast cooperation application launcher using the operation terminal in the state after the process of S304 (S306), the application control unit 161 acquires the AIT data sequence separated by the first separation unit 132 (S307), and checks the application profile 904 of the acquired AIT data sequence (S308). Further, the application control unit 161 displays a list of executable broadcast cooperation applications on the video display unit 173 as the broadcast cooperation application launcher (S309).

[0102] When the user selects a predetermined broadcast cooperation application from the broadcast cooperation app launcher displayed in S309 using the operation terminal (S310), the application control unit 161 acquires the AIT data string separated by the first separation unit 132 (S311), and checks the application acquisition destination information 905 of the acquired AIT data string. Further, based on the information described in the application acquisition destination information 905 confirmed in S311, a transmission request for the broadcast cooperation application is transmitted to a predetermined service provider server 400 via the LAN communication unit 121 (S312).

[0103] Upon receiving the transmission request for the broadcast cooperation application, the service provider server 400, based on the control of the application management / distribution execution unit 4103, performs authentication processing of the broadcast receiving device 100 as necessary, and then distributes a predetermined broadcast cooperation application stored in the application storage area 4013 via the LAN communication unit 421 (S313). Next, the application engine 162 of the broadcast receiving device 100 activates the predetermined broadcast cooperation application distributed from the service provider server 400 received via the LAN communication unit 121 based on the control of the application control unit 161 (S314).

[0104] In the activation sequence of the broadcast cooperation application described with reference to FIGS. 7A to 7C, examples of acquiring AIT from the broadcast wave are all described. However, the AIT file may be acquired from a predetermined server device specified by information description in the PMT or the like. Further, the acquisition of the broadcast cooperation application may be performed from the broadcast wave instead of from a server device (service provider server 400) on the network. That is, when the location information described in the application acquisition destination information 905 of AIT indicates the broadcast wave, the application control unit 161 regenerates an HTML document from the HTML data string transmitted by the data carousel method or the like and separated and output by the first separation unit 132, and the application engine 162 may execute the regenerated HTML document (broadcast cooperation application).

[0105] In addition, when there is no information specifying the startup priority in the case where data broadcasting by a broadcast service and a broadcast-linked application coexist on the PMT, the startup priority may be confirmed based only on information such as the application control code 903 and startup priority 907 of the AIT. Similarly, when the acquisition of the information on the PMT fails, the startup priority may be confirmed based only on information such as the application control code 903 and startup priority 907 of the AIT. That is, regardless of the information on the PMT, the AIT is periodically confirmed. When there is a broadcast-linked application specified as "automatic startup" in the application control code 903 of the AIT, the startup of the broadcast-linked application is prioritized. When there is no broadcast-linked application specified as "automatic startup" in the application control code 903 of the AIT, the startup of data broadcasting by the broadcast service may be prioritized.

[0106] Also, when there is no response from the service provider server 400 for a predetermined time or longer when a delivery request for the broadcast-linked application is made in S106, S211, and S312, a message such as "Please wait a moment" may be displayed on the video display unit 173. Alternatively, in this case, a message asking the user to stop the execution of the broadcast-linked application may be displayed.

[0107] Also, it goes without saying that the startup sequence of the broadcast-linked application is not limited to the above three patterns and may be started by a different sequence.

[0108] [Operation Sequence at the Time of Linking with the Portable Information Terminal] In the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of this embodiment, it is assumed that the functions of the broadcast communication cooperation service can be extended by the cooperation operation between the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 and the portable information terminal 700. For example, by installing an application (cooperation control application) prepared by the manufacturer of the television receiver, the portable information terminal 700 can be used as a high-function remote control of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100. Also, a broadcast cooperation application can be executed on the portable information terminal 700, and for example, a service linked to the broadcast program being displayed on the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 can also be displayed on the portable information terminal 700. Note that in order to perform function expansion by the cooperation operation between the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 and the portable information terminal 700, it is desirable that the cooperation control application is activated on the portable information terminal 700, and the broadcast cooperation application operating on the portable information terminal 700 is controlled by the cooperation control application and operates accordingly.

[0109] FIG. 8A is an operation sequence diagram showing an example of the operation sequence when the cooperation control application is activated on the portable information terminal 700. This figure shows a series of processes (first time) until the portable information terminal 700 performs an authentication process with the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 and the cooperation operation becomes possible. Note that the cooperation control application is installed in advance in the storage unit 710 of the portable information terminal 700 as the cooperation control program 7002.

[0110] When the user instructs to start the cooperation control application on the portable information terminal 700 (S401), the cooperation control execution unit 7102 of the portable information terminal 700 searches for a TV receiver capable of communication (cooperation operation) on the network (S402), and displays the search result as a list of TV receivers on the display unit 741. If a TV receiver capable of communication cannot be found, it displays to that effect and ends the process. When the user selects an arbitrary TV receiver (the broadcast receiving device 100 of the present embodiment) from the list of TV receivers, the cooperation control execution unit 7102 displays a login screen for connecting to the broadcast receiving device 100 on the display unit 741. When the user inputs authentication information (login name, password, etc. specified by the broadcast receiving device 100) into the login screen via the operation unit 730 (S403), the cooperation control execution unit 7102 stores the input authentication information in the authentication information storage area 7012 and simultaneously transmits it to the broadcast receiving device 100 (S404). Note that the transmission process of the authentication information to the broadcast receiving device 100 may be performed via the LAN communication unit 721 and the router device 210, or may be directly performed on the broadcast receiving device 100 via the NFC communication unit 723.

[0111] The terminal cooperation control unit 191 of the broadcast receiving device 100 that has received the authentication information via the LAN communication unit 121 checks whether the received authentication information is correct by referring to the authentication information storage area 1012 (S405). If it is confirmed by the process of S405 that the received authentication information is correct, the information of the portable information terminal 700 is stored in the authentication information storage area 1012 and the portable information terminal 700 is authenticated (S406). The portable information terminal 700 that has obtained the authentication of the broadcast receiving device 100 displays the basic screen of the cooperation control application (for example, a high-function remote control screen) on the display unit 741 (S407). If it is not confirmed in S405 that the received authentication information is correct, the terminal cooperation control unit 191 of the broadcast receiving device 100 returns an error to the portable information terminal 700. Through the above process, the cooperation operation between the broadcast receiving device 100 and the portable information terminal 700 becomes possible.

[0112] FIG. 8B is an operation sequence diagram showing an example of an operation sequence when the cooperation control application is launched on the portable information terminal 700. This figure shows a series of processes (after the second time) until the portable information terminal 700 performs an authentication process with the broadcast receiving device 100 and the cooperation operation becomes possible.

[0113] When the user instructs to start the cooperation control application on the portable information terminal 700 (S501), the cooperation control execution unit 7102 of the portable information terminal 700 searches for a communicable television receiver on the network and displays the search result on the display unit 741 as a list of television receivers. If a communicable television receiver cannot be found, it displays to that effect and ends the process. When the user selects an arbitrary television receiver (the broadcast receiving device 100 of this embodiment) from the list of television receivers (S502), and the selected broadcast receiving device 100 is a device that has been connected (cooperated) in the past, the cooperation control execution unit 7102 reads the authentication information of the broadcast receiving device 100 from the authentication information storage area 7012 and transmits it to the broadcast receiving device 100 (S503).

[0114] The terminal cooperation control unit 191 of the broadcast receiving device 100 that has received the authentication information via the LAN communication unit 121 refers to the authentication information storage area 1012 to confirm whether the received authentication information is correct (S504). If it is confirmed by the process of S504 that the received authentication information is correct, the portable information terminal 700 is authenticated (S505). The portable information terminal 700 that has obtained the authentication of the broadcast receiving device 100 displays the basic screen of the cooperation control application on the display unit 741 (S506). Through the above processes, the cooperation operation between the broadcast receiving device 100 and the portable information terminal 700 becomes possible.

[0115] Note that following the processes of FIGS. 8A to 8B, when starting the broadcast cooperation application in the broadcast receiving device 100, the processes of FIGS. 7A to 7C may be performed after the processes of FIGS. 8A to 8B.

[0116] FIG. 8C is an operation sequence diagram showing an example of the operation sequence when the cooperation control application is started on the portable information terminal 700. This figure shows a series of processes (from the second time onwards) until the portable information terminal 700 performs authentication processing with the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 and the cooperation operation becomes possible. However, this figure shows an example in the case where the start of the cooperation control application on the portable information terminal 700 is requested by the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 that executes the start sequence of the broadcast cooperation application.

[0117] When the tuner / demodulation unit 131 of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 performs a channel selection process for a channel desired by the user to acquire a TS, next, the main control unit 101 acquires the PMT data sequence separated by the first separation unit 132 (S601), and checks the activation priority described in the PMT. When it is confirmed in the process of S601 that the activation priority of the broadcast cooperation application is high (S602), the application control unit 161 acquires the AIT data sequence separated by the first separation unit 132 (S603), and checks the application control code 903 of the acquired AIT data sequence (S604). In the process of S604, when the application control code 903 is "automatic start", further, the application profile 904 of the acquired AIT data sequence is checked (S605). In the process of S605, when it is confirmed that the execution of the broadcast cooperation application designated in the AIT is possible and it is determined that cooperation control of the portable terminal device is necessary, the terminal cooperation control unit 191 refers to the authentication information storage area 1012, selects the portable information terminal 700 as the portable terminal device, and transmits a cooperation control application start request to the selected portable information terminal 700 (S606).

[0118] Note that the selection of the portable information terminal 700 by referring to the authentication information storage area 1012 may be made based on the latest information in the authentication information storage area 1012 or the information with the highest usage frequency in the authentication information storage area 1012.

[0119] Also, in the process of S606, if a mobile terminal device that should send a cooperation control application startup request cannot be found, a message indicating that may be displayed on the video display unit 173. Or, in this case, a message asking the user to stop the execution of the broadcast cooperation application may be displayed.

[0120] The main control unit 701 of the mobile information terminal 700 activates the cooperation control application (cooperation control execution unit 7102) in response to the cooperation control application startup request received via the LAN communication unit 721 (S607). Furthermore, the cooperation control execution unit 7102 reads the authentication information of the broadcast receiving device 100 from the authentication information storage area 7012 and transmits it to the broadcast receiving device 100 (S608).

[0121] The terminal cooperation control unit 191 of the broadcast receiving device 100 that has received the authentication information via the LAN communication unit 121 checks whether the received authentication information is correct by referring to the authentication information storage area 1012 (S609). If it is confirmed by the process of S609 that the received authentication information is correct, the mobile information terminal 700 is authenticated (S610). The mobile information terminal 700 that has obtained the authentication of the broadcast receiving device 100 displays the basic screen of the cooperation control application on the display unit 741 (S611). Through the above processes, the cooperation operation between the broadcast receiving device 100 and the mobile information terminal 700 becomes possible.

[0122] In addition, when the broadcast cooperation application is executed on both the broadcast receiving device 100 and the mobile information terminal 700 following the above-described processes, the processes shown in FIG. 9 may be performed. FIG. 9 is an operation sequence diagram showing an example of the startup sequence of the broadcast cooperation application of the broadcast receiving device 100 and the mobile information terminal 700.

[0123] That is, after the processes of S601 to S611 in FIG. 8C, the application control unit 161 of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 acquires the AIT data sequence separated by the first separation unit 132 (S612), and checks the application acquisition destination information 905 of the acquired AIT data sequence. Further, based on the information described in the application acquisition destination information 905 checked in S612, a transmission request for the broadcast cooperation application (TV side) is transmitted to a predetermined service provider server 400 via the LAN communication unit 121 (S613).

[0124] Upon receiving the transmission request for the broadcast cooperation application (TV side), the service provider server 400 performs authentication processing of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 as necessary based on the control of the application management / distribution execution unit 4103, and then distributes a predetermined broadcast cooperation application (TV side) stored in the application storage area 4013 via the LAN communication unit 421 (S614). The application engine 162 of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 activates the predetermined broadcast cooperation application (TV side) distributed from the service provider server 400 received via the LAN communication unit 121 based on the control of the application control unit 161 (S615).

[0125] Next, the terminal cooperation control unit 191 of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 transmits acquisition destination URL information and the like of the broadcast cooperation application (terminal side) to be executed on the portable information terminal 700, which is acquired from the AIT or the broadcast cooperation application (TV side) executed in S615, to the portable information terminal 700 (S616). Based on the acquisition destination URL information and the like of the broadcast cooperation application (terminal side) received via the LAN communication unit 721, the cooperation control execution unit 7102 of the portable information terminal 700 transmits a transmission request for the broadcast cooperation application (terminal side) to a predetermined service provider server 400 via the LAN communication unit 721 (S617).

[0126] Upon receiving the transmission request from the broadcast cooperation app (on the terminal side), the service provider server 400 performs the authentication process for the mobile information terminal 700 as necessary under the control of the application management / distribution execution unit 4103, and then distributes the predetermined broadcast cooperation app (on the terminal side) stored in the application storage area 4013 via the LAN communication unit 421 (S618). The HTML browser engine 7103 of the mobile information terminal 700 activates the predetermined broadcast cooperation app (on the terminal side) distributed from the service provider server 400 received via the LAN communication unit 721 (S619).

[0127] Note that the ability to obtain the AIT file from a predetermined server device, the ability to obtain the broadcast cooperation app from a broadcast wave rather than from a server device on the network, etc. are the same as the operation sequences in FIGS. 7A to 7C. When obtaining the broadcast cooperation app from a broadcast wave, the broadcast receiving device 100 may obtain the broadcast cooperation app (on the terminal side) to be executed by the mobile information terminal 700 from the broadcast wave and transfer the obtained broadcast cooperation app (on the terminal side) to the mobile information terminal 700 via the communication unit 121. Alternatively, the broadcast receiving device 100 may obtain the broadcast cooperation app (on the terminal side) to be executed by the mobile information terminal 700 from the broadcast wave and store it in the storage unit 110, and in the process of S616 in FIG. 9, the location information of the storage unit 110 of the broadcast receiving device 100 may be transmitted as the URL information to be transmitted to the mobile information terminal 700. The broadcast receiving device 100 may obtain the broadcast cooperation app (on the TV side) from the broadcast wave, and the mobile information terminal 700 may obtain the broadcast cooperation app (on the terminal side) from a server device on the network. The acquisition of the broadcast cooperation app (on the terminal side) may be directly performed from the broadcast wave using the digital broadcast receiving function of the mobile information terminal 700.

[0128] Also, the operation sequences in FIGS. 7A to 7C, FIGS. 8A to 8C, and FIG. 9 can be partially combined as appropriate, and furthermore, some operation steps can be appropriately reordered, simultaneously operated, etc. with other operation steps.

[0129] [Basic Screen of the Linkage Control App for Mobile Information Terminals] FIG. 10A is a screen display diagram showing an example of the basic screen of the linkage control app displayed by the processes of S407 in FIG. 8A, S506 in FIG. 8B, S611 in FIG. 8C, etc. In the present embodiment, the basic screen 741a of the linkage control app is assumed to have a function as a high-function remote control corresponding to the broadcast receiving device 100.

[0130] As shown in FIG. 10A, the basic screen 741a of the linkage control app is composed of a power key 741a1, a network selection key (terrestrial digital, BS, CS) 741a2, numeric keys (1 to 12) 741a3, a volume UP / DOWN key 741a4, a channel UP / DOWN key 741a5, an input switching key 741a6, a program guide key 741a7, a data key 741a8, a linkage app key 741a9, a menu key 741aa, a back key 741ab, cursor keys (up, down, left, right) 741ac, a decision key 741ad, and color keys (blue, red, green, yellow) 741ae. Other operation keys may be further displayed.

[0131] It is convenient to use if each of the above operation keys has the same key layout / operation as the dedicated remote control attached to the broadcast receiving device 100. Also, the power key 741a1, the network selection key 741a2, the numeric keys 741a3, etc. have the same functions as the respective operation keys of a known TV remote control, and thus detailed descriptions thereof are omitted. The linkage app key 741a9 is an operation key prepared for the broadcast communication linkage function of the present embodiment.

[0132] Note that in the processes of S204 in FIG. 7B and S305 in FIG. 7C, it is assumed that the data broadcast can be started / ended by selecting the data key 741a8. Also, in the processes of S208 in FIG. 7B and S310 in FIG. 7C, it is assumed that the executable broadcast linkage app can be selected by operating the cursor keys 741ac and the decision key 741ad. Also, in the process of S306 in FIG. 7C, it is assumed that a startup request for the broadcast linkage app launcher can be made by selecting the linkage app key 741a9.

[0133] If a linkage application key 741a9 or other operation keys having a similar function are provided on the basic screen 741a of the linkage control application, each broadcast linkage application used in the broadcast linkage system of this embodiment can be easily selected / activated. Also, the linkage application key 741a9 or other operation keys having a similar function may be provided on a dedicated remote control attached to the broadcast receiving apparatus 100.

[0134] FIG. 10B is a screen display diagram showing an example of the basic screen of the linkage control application displayed by the processes of S407 in FIG. 8A, S506 in FIG. 8B, S611 in FIG. 8C, etc., and is an example different from FIG. 10A.

[0135] The basic screen 741b of the linkage control application is composed of a linkage control in - progress message 741b1 and a linkage control application operation screen 741b2. Other objects may be further displayed. The linkage control in - progress message 741b1 is a message display for allowing the user of the portable information terminal 700 to recognize that the portable information terminal 700 is in a linkage operation with the broadcast receiving apparatus 100. The linkage control application operation screen 741b2 is an area where arbitrary screen displays are performed by the linkage control application, and in this embodiment, detailed description is omitted. For example, the configuration within the linkage control application operation screen 741b2 may be the same as the configuration of the basic screen 741a of the aforementioned linkage control application. A sub - screen of the broadcast program being displayed on the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 may also be displayed.

[0136] As shown in FIG. 10B, by displaying the linkage control in - progress message 741b1, the user of the portable information terminal 700 can easily grasp that the portable information terminal 700 is in a linkage operation with the broadcast receiving apparatus 100. Note that the linkage control in - progress message 741b1 is not limited to character display, and may be symbol display, graphic display, etc. A difference in background color, etc. may also be used as an alternative to the linkage control in - progress message 741b1.

[0137] [Data broadcast screen of the broadcast receiving apparatus] FIG. 11 is a screen display diagram showing an example of a data broadcast screen displayed by the process of S205 in FIG. 7B. In this embodiment, it is assumed that three broadcast-linked applications, namely linked application A, linked application B, and linked application C, are in a state where they can be executed on the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 according to the description of AIT or the like. In this case, an entry button 173a2 for linked application A, an entry button 173a3 for linked application B, and an entry button 173a4 for linked application C are displayed at arbitrary positions on the data broadcast screen 173a.

[0138] In the data broadcast screen 173a as shown in FIG. 11, when the entry buttons 173a2, 173a3, 173a4, etc. are selected using the cursor key 741ac and the decision key 741ad on the basic screen 741a of the link control application, the display of the data broadcast screen 173a ends, and linked application A, linked application B, linked application C, etc. are started under the control of the application control unit 161 and the application engine 162.

[0139] Note that when displaying the data broadcast screen 173a, the frame color, internal color, shape, font, size, blinking state, etc. of each entry button may be appropriately changed according to the type of the broadcast-linked application, the security status, etc. For example, when the linked application A is a broadcast-managed application, the frame color of the entry button 173a2 is set to blue; when the linked application B is a non-broadcast-managed application, the frame color of the entry button 173a3 is set to yellow; when the linked application C is a general application, the frame color of the entry button 173a4 is set to red, and so on. Alternatively, when the linked application A is determined to be reliable in terms of security, the frame color of the entry button 173a2 is set to blue; when the linked application B is determined not to be necessarily reliable in terms of security, the frame color of the entry button 173a3 is set to yellow; when the linked application C is determined to be dangerous in terms of security, the frame color of the entry button 173a4 is set to red, and so on.

[0140] In addition, according to the functions and genres of the broadcast cooperation applications, or according to the expiration dates of the use of each broadcast cooperation application, etc., the frame color, internal color, shape, font, size, blinking status, etc. of each entry button may be appropriately changed. According to whether the broadcast cooperation application has been acquired from the network or not, etc., the frame color, internal color, shape, font, size, blinking status, etc. of each entry button may be appropriately changed. For example, when the cooperation application A has already been acquired from the network (cached in the RAM 104 or the storage 110), the frame color of the entry button 173a2 is set to blue; when the cooperation application B is being acquired, the frame color of the entry button 173a3 is set to yellow; when the cooperation application C has not been acquired, the frame color of the entry button 173a4 is set to red, etc.

[0141] In this way, the user of the broadcast receiving device 100 can easily grasp the types and security status, etc. of the broadcast cooperation applications executable on the broadcast receiving device 100.

[0142] [Broadcast Cooperation Application Launcher Screen of Broadcast Receiving Device] FIG. 12A is a screen display diagram showing an example of a notification screen for making the user recognize that there are executable broadcast cooperation applications in the broadcast receiving device 100 of the present embodiment.

[0143] For example, in the operation sequence shown in FIG. 7C, after the process of S304, without starting either the data broadcast by the broadcast service or the broadcast cooperation application, the display of the broadcast program is continued. On the other hand, in this case, in order to make the user recognize that there are executable broadcast cooperation applications, if an icon 173b0 as shown in FIG. 12A is displayed, the usability of the broadcast receiving device 100 is improved. That is, by displaying the icon 173b0, it is possible to prevent the user from overlooking the existence of the executable broadcast cooperation applications.

[0144] Note that the display position of the icon 173b0 may be any position on the screen, but it is preferably placed where it does not interfere with the viewing of the broadcast program. For example, it can be at the four corners of the screen. Also, the icon 173b0 may be a text display as shown in FIG. 12A, or it may be a symbol, a figure, etc. Further, the icon 173b0 may be always displayed, or it may be displayed for a predetermined time after the power is turned on or after channel switching. Alternatively, it may be displayed simultaneously when program information, channel numbers, etc. are displayed.

[0145] FIG. 12B is a screen display diagram showing an example of the broadcast cooperation application launcher displayed by the process of S306 in FIG. 7C. In this embodiment, it is assumed that three broadcast cooperation applications, namely cooperation application A, cooperation application B, and cooperation application C, are in a state executable on the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 according to the description of AIT. In this case, the broadcast cooperation application launcher 173b1 is displayed at an arbitrary position on the broadcast program screen 173b, and further, an entry button 173b2 for the cooperation application A, an entry button 173b3 for the cooperation application B, an entry button 173b4 for the cooperation application C, and a return button 173b5 are displayed in the broadcast cooperation application launcher 173b1.

[0146] In a state where the broadcast cooperation application launcher 173b1 as shown in FIG. 12B is displayed, when the entry button 173b2, the entry button 173b3, the entry button 173b4, etc. are selected using the cursor key 741ac and the decision key 741ad on the basic screen 741a of the cooperation control application, the cooperation application A, the cooperation application B, the cooperation application C, etc. are started under the control of the application control unit 161 and the application engine 162. When the return button 173b5 is selected, the display of the broadcast cooperation application launcher 173b1 ends.

[0147] In addition, when displaying the broadcast cooperation app launcher 173b1 on the broadcast program screen 173b, depending on the type and security status of the broadcast cooperation app, the functions and genres of the broadcast cooperation app, the acquisition status from the network of the broadcast app, etc., it is possible to appropriately change the frame color, internal color, shape, font, size, blinking status, etc. of each entry button, which is the same as the case of displaying the entry buttons of each broadcast cooperation app on the data broadcast screen 173a of FIG. 11.

[0148] Also, when there is no broadcast cooperation app that can be executed by the broadcast receiving device 100, the broadcast cooperation app launcher 173b1 may not be displayed. Or, in this case, a message such as "There is no available application" may be displayed inside the broadcast cooperation app launcher 173b1.

[0149] [Broadcast Cooperation App Execution Screen of Broadcast Receiving Device] FIG. 13A is a screen display diagram showing an example of the broadcast cooperation app execution screen displayed in the processes of S108 in FIG. 7A, S213 in FIG. 7B, S314 in FIG. 7C, S615 in FIG. 9, etc. The broadcast cooperation app of this embodiment has graphics performance and effect performance by HTML description, and it is assumed that it can be overlaid and displayed with the broadcast program screen on the video display unit 173. For example, as shown in FIG. 13A, a broadcast cooperation app unit 173c1 that displays information such as weather forecasts and news at an arbitrary position on the broadcast program screen 173c is overlaid and displayed. The broadcast cooperation app unit 173c1 is composed of a first main object 173c2, a second main object 173c3, a third main object 173c4, a background object 173c5, etc. Other objects may be further displayed.

[0150] With the broadcast cooperation app section 173c1 being overlaid and displayed on the broadcast program screen 173c, by selecting the data key 741a8 of the basic screen 741a of the cooperation control app, it shall be possible to end the execution of the said broadcast cooperation app and shift to the data broadcast screen. Also, by selecting the cooperation app key 741a9 of the basic screen 741a of the cooperation control app, it shall be possible to end the execution of the said broadcast cooperation app and return to the display of only the broadcast program screen 173c. The said processing may be realized by different operation keys.

[0151] Also, with the broadcast cooperation app section 173c1 being overlaid and displayed on the broadcast program screen 173c, by operating each operation key of the basic screen 741a of the cooperation control app, it shall be possible to change the transparency of the broadcast cooperation app section 173c1. The said transparency change processing may be performed collectively for the entire broadcast cooperation app section 173c1, or may be performed individually for the first main object 173c2, the second main object 173c3, the third main object 173c4, and the background object 173c5 respectively. It may also be performed for each predetermined group (for example, a plurality of objects existing in the same graphics layer).

[0152] When performing the transmittance change process, for example, an object is selected using the cursor key 741ac on the basic screen 741a of the cooperation control application, and the transmittance of the object is increased using the "blue" key of the color key 741ae, or decreased using the "yellow" key. The transmittance change process may be performed using different operation keys. If the entire broadcast cooperation application unit 173c1 is set to a transmittance of 100%, the broadcast cooperation application unit 173c1 can be temporarily hidden. For example, when an emergency broadcast is distributed via a broadcast wave, it is also possible to set the entire broadcast cooperation application unit to a transmittance of 100% and display only the broadcast program screen of the emergency broadcast on the video display unit 173. Alternatively, a CM detection unit (not shown) may detect that the broadcast program has become a CM video from the main video and control to set the entire broadcast cooperation application unit 173c1 to a transmittance of 100% (or a transmittance that allows clear confirmation of the broadcast program video).

[0153] By performing the above-described process, when it is desired to check the broadcast program screen in the background during the execution of the broadcast cooperation application, it is possible to check the broadcast program screen without terminating the broadcast cooperation application.

[0154] FIG. 13B is a screen display diagram showing an example different from the above of the broadcast cooperation application execution screen displayed in the processes of S108 in FIG. 7A, S213 in FIG. 7B, S314 in FIG. 7C, S615 in FIG. 9, etc. In the example shown in FIG. 13B, a broadcast cooperation application unit 173c6 for introducing recommended programs is overlaid and displayed at an arbitrary position on the broadcast program screen 173c. The broadcast cooperation application unit 173c6 displays first recommended program information 173c7, second recommended program information 173c8, third recommended program information 173c9, etc. Even more recommended program information may be displayed by scrolling, page switching, etc.

[0155] Each of the recommended program information may be information of a program recommended in relation to the currently displayed broadcast program (broadcast program screen 173c), or may be information of a program recommended based on the user's viewing history, or may be information of a program that is a topic on the Internet or the like. It may also be information of a recommended program sent by a friend of the user of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 to the user. Further, the recommended program may be a program transmitted by a broadcast wave of a digital broadcast service, or may be a VOD (Video On Demand) program or the like distributed from each server apparatus on the Internet 200. It may also be an information screen such as a homepage prepared in a server apparatus on the Internet 200.

[0156] With the broadcast cooperation application unit 173c6 being overlaid and displayed on the broadcast program screen 173c, by using the cursor key 741ac and the decision key 741ad of the basic screen 741a of the cooperation control application, the first recommended program information 173c7, the second recommended program information 173c8, the third recommended program information 173c9, etc. are selected, and each program video recommended by the first recommended program information 173c7, the second recommended program information 173c8, the third recommended program information 173c9, etc. is displayed on the display unit 173.

[0157] FIG. 13C is a screen display diagram showing an example when a program video recommended by the broadcast cooperation app unit 173c6 that introduces recommended programs is displayed. For example, when the first recommended program information 173c7 of the broadcast cooperation app unit 173c6 is selected using the cursor key 741ac and the enter key 741ad on the basic screen 741a of the cooperation control app, the program video 173ca of the program recommended by the first recommended program information 173c7 is displayed on the display unit 173. The program video 173ca may be pausable or time-specified jumpable by the operation of the user's operation terminal. Also, when displaying the program video 173ca, the original broadcast program screen 173c may be displayed at an arbitrary position in the PIP (Picture In Picture) format. In this case, by operating the user's operation terminal, it is possible to change which of the program video 173ca of the recommended program and the original broadcast program screen 173c is the main screen. It may also be possible to adjust the size of the window of the original broadcast program screen 173c by operating the user's operation terminal.

[0158] Also, if an icon display 173cb indicating that the program video 173ca of the recommended program is a video displayed by selecting any of the recommended program information displayed on the broadcast cooperation app unit 173c6 is displayed at an arbitrary position on the screen, the convenience for the user can be improved. Also, needless to say, on the broadcast cooperation app execution screen shown in FIG. 13B, the transparency of the broadcast cooperation app unit 173c6 may be changed in the same manner as described above.

[0159] FIG. 13D is a screen display diagram showing a different example of the broadcast cooperation application execution screen displayed in the processes of S108 in FIG. 7A, S213 in FIG. 7B, S314 in FIG. 7C, S615 in FIG. 9, etc. from the foregoing. In the example shown in FIG. 13D, a broadcast cooperation application unit 173cc serving as a portal of a SNS (Social Networking Service) service is overlaid and displayed at an arbitrary position on the broadcast program screen 173c. On the broadcast cooperation application unit 173cc, an entry button 173cd for the first SNS service, an entry button 173ce for the second SNS service, an entry button 173cf for the third SNS service, etc. are displayed. More entry buttons for SNS services may be displayed by scrolling, page switching, or the like.

[0160] In a state where the broadcast cooperation application unit 173cc is overlaid and displayed on the broadcast program screen 173c, by using the cursor key 741ac and the determination key 741ad on the basic screen 741a of the cooperation control application, the entry button 173cd for the first SNS service, the entry button 173ce for the second SNS service, the entry button 173cf for the third SNS service, etc. are selected, and the functions assigned to the respective entry buttons such as a chat function, a bulletin board function, and an Internet telephone function are enabled. Thereby, it becomes possible to enjoy the currently displayed broadcast program (broadcast program screen 173c) while exchanging information with others. At the same time, the basic screen 741a of the cooperation control application on the mobile information terminal 700 may be changed to a character input screen such as a software keyboard or a voice input screen for performing chat or bulletin board writing by voice input.

[0161] In addition, as a broadcast cooperation application executable on the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, in addition to the above-described examples, by using the cooperation function between the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 and the portable information terminal 700, furthermore, in synchronization with the broadcast timing of the CM, a related CM application may be presented to both the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 and the portable information terminal 700. Alternatively, in a paid service available on the broadcast receiving apparatus 100, the broadcast cooperation application may check whether the user of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 has subscribed to the paid service, and change the display of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 and / or the portable information terminal 700 according to the result. In the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, regardless of which broadcast cooperation application is executed, the effects described with reference to FIGS. 13A and 13B and the like can be enjoyed.

[0162] [Error Display Screen of Broadcast Receiver] FIG. 14 is a screen display diagram showing an example of an error display screen when it is determined that the execution of the broadcast cooperation application is not possible by checking the application profile 904 of the acquired AIT data sequence in the processes of S105 in FIG. 7A, S207 in FIG. 7B, S308 in FIG. 7C, S605 in FIG. 8C, etc., when there is a shortage in the description of the AIT, or when the acquisition of the AIT fails.

[0163] In the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of this embodiment, when it is determined that the execution of the broadcast cooperation application is not possible, the reason why the execution of the broadcast cooperation application, such as the confirmation result of the application profile 904, is displayed in the error message 173d1. For example, if a predetermined optional function is lacking on the TV receiver side as a result of the confirmation of the application profile 904, this fact is displayed in the error message 173d1. It may also display an error code and a guide (URL, etc.) to the homepage of the TV receiver manufacturer where the description of the error code is written. Alternatively, when the broadcast cooperation application is acquired from the network, it is natural to check the network connection status in advance. At this time, for example, if the acquisition of the broadcast cooperation application is not possible due to improper connection of the LAN cable or the like, this fact is displayed in the error message 173d1. Also, even if the network connection is established but the acquisition of the broadcast cooperation application cannot be correctly performed due to a poor error situation, the error message 173d1 may be displayed. The error message 173d1 may be displayed when the acquisition of the broadcast cooperation application is being executed and the broadcast cooperation application has not yet reached a state where it can be executed. Also, the error message 173d1 may be displayed when the reception status of the broadcast wave is not stable and, although information such as AIT could be received initially, the reception of information such as AIT becomes impossible midway. In such a case, if the broadcast cooperation application acquired from each server device is cached as it is, it can be used as it is after the reception status of the broadcast wave is restored.

[0164] Also, as a result of checking the application profile 904, when a predetermined optional function is lacking on the TV receiver side, a message may be displayed in the error message 173d1 to recommend checking or updating the latest firmware for the TV receiver. Alternatively, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 may automatically check or update the latest firmware. Alternatively, when the broadcast cooperation application can be executed by adding paid optional hardware or optional software to the TV receiver, a guide to the paid optional hardware or optional software may be displayed. Note that the error message 173d1 may be displayed not on the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 but on the mobile information terminal 700.

[0165] [Broadcast Cooperation Application Execution Screen of Mobile Information Terminal] FIG. 15 is a screen display diagram showing an example of the broadcast cooperation application (terminal side) execution screen displayed in the process of S619 in FIG. 9. The broadcast cooperation application execution screen 741c shown in FIG. 15 includes a main window 741c1, a sub-window 741c2, a selection marker 741c3, cursor keys 741c4, 741c5, an explanation display section 741c6, and an end button 741c7. Other objects may be further added.

[0166] In this embodiment, it is assumed that the broadcast cooperation application (terminal side) executed on the portable information terminal 700 is an application for checking the details of the broadcast program being displayed on the broadcast receiver 100. Also, the same video as the broadcast program screen displayed on the broadcast receiver 100 is displayed on the main window 741c1, and an enlarged video of the position specified by the selection marker 741c3 is displayed on the sub-window 741c2. By selecting the cursor keys 741c4 and 741c5, it is assumed that the position of the selection marker 741c3 can be changed. In the commentary display section 714c6, commentary subtitle text regarding the broadcast program being displayed on the main window 741c1, comments posted by other users regarding the broadcast program, etc. are displayed. The end button 741c7 is a button for ending the operation of the broadcast cooperation application (terminal side).

[0167] By operating the broadcast cooperation application (terminal side) on the portable information terminal 700, it becomes possible to expand the functions of the broadcast communication cooperation service through the cooperation operation between the broadcast receiver 100 and the portable information terminal 700.

[0168] [EPG Screen of Broadcast Receiver] FIG. 16A is a screen display diagram showing an example of an electronic program guide (EPG) display screen in the broadcast receiver 100 of this embodiment. The EPG display screen 173e is a broadcast program delivery schedule in the digital broadcast service of this embodiment created by the main control unit 101 based on the program information data string output from the first separation unit 132. It is assumed that by selecting the program guide key 741a7 on the basic screen 741a of the cooperation control application, the EPG display screen 173e is displayed on the video display unit 173.

[0169] In this embodiment, the EPG display screen 173e is in a matrix shape with the vertical axis representing time display and the horizontal axis representing service ID (channel) display, and displays detailed information of each broadcast program broadcast on each channel in each time zone. As shown in FIG. 16A, the detailed information 173e1 of each broadcast program mainly consists of a title area 173e2 and a detailed explanation area 173e3.

[0170] In the title area 173e2, the program title of each broadcast program and symbols indicating the attributes of each broadcast program are displayed. The symbols indicating the attributes of each broadcast program are, for example, the symbolized mark of "New" which means it is a new program, the symbolized mark of "Replay" which means it is a rebroadcast program, and the like. Alternatively, it may be a symbolized mark of "data" which means it corresponds to data broadcasting by the broadcast service. Also, in the case of a broadcast program for which a broadcast cooperation application executable on the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of this embodiment is prepared, it may be a symbolized mark of "Linkage" indicating that fact. The detailed explanation area 173e3 displays related information such as the program content and performers of each broadcast program, and the URL of the homepage introducing each broadcast program.

[0171] Note that the symbolized mark of "Linkage" or the like displayed in the title area 173e2 may not be displayed even when a broadcast cooperation application is prepared for the broadcast program if, as a result of checking the application profile 904, execution on the information display apparatus 100 is not possible. Also, the symbolized mark of "Linkage" indicating that the broadcast program has a prepared executable broadcast cooperation application, which is displayed in the title area 173e2, may further have its color, shape, font, etc. changed depending on whether or not a cooperation operation with a portable terminal device is possible. When a cooperation operation with a portable terminal device is possible, a symbolized mark of "Mobile" may be displayed together with the symbolized mark of "Linkage".

[0172] In addition, whether or not the symbolized mark of “Linkage” and the symbolized mark of “Mobile” are displayed is determined by acquiring information such as whether the broadcast program is a broadcast program for which a broadcast cooperation application executable on the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of the present embodiment is prepared, which is pre-described in the EIT information including the detailed information of each broadcast program, and whether the executable broadcast cooperation application can perform a cooperation operation with a portable terminal device. Alternatively, the information obtained from the program distribution information of the digital broadcast program prepared in a predetermined server device on the Internet 200 may be added to the electronic program guide created based on the program information data string obtained from the broadcast wave of the digital broadcast service.

[0173] As described above, by displaying on the EPG display screen 173e a symbolized mark of “Linkage” indicating that the broadcast program is a broadcast program for which an executable broadcast cooperation application is prepared and a symbolized mark of “Mobile” indicating that a cooperation operation with a portable terminal device is possible, the user can easily grasp the correspondence status of each broadcast program in the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 to the broadcast communication cooperation service. Needless to say, the symbolized mark of a predetermined character representing the attribute of each broadcast program may be substituted for the character itself, a sentence, or the like. By changing the background color of the detailed information 173e1 of each broadcast program, the correspondence status of each broadcast program to the broadcast communication cooperation service may be indicated. In addition, the symbolized mark of “Linkage”, the symbolized mark of “Mobile”, etc. are usually not displayed in the title area 173e2, and may be pop-up displayed only when each broadcast program is selected by the program selection cursor 173e4.

[0174] The broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of the present embodiment has a function of making a viewing reservation and / or a recording reservation for each broadcast program from the EPG display screen 173e. For example, in a state where the EPG display screen 173e is displayed, the program selection cursor 173e4 on the EPG display screen 173e is moved using the cursor key 741ac on the basic screen 741a of the cooperation control application, and an arbitrary broadcast program is selected by the decision key 741ad, thereby making a viewing reservation and / or a recording reservation for the selected broadcast program.

[0175] In the above-described process, when the broadcast program for which the viewing reservation and / or recording reservation has been made is a broadcast program corresponding to the broadcast communication cooperation service, the acquisition of the broadcast cooperation application prepared for the broadcast program may be started without waiting for the broadcast start time of the broadcast program, triggered by the fact that the viewing reservation and / or recording reservation has been made. That is, information (location information such as a URL) specifying the acquisition destination of the broadcast cooperation application is described in the EIT information including the detailed information of each broadcast program. In this way, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 can grasp the information on the acquisition destination of the broadcast cooperation application prepared for each broadcast program at the time when the broadcast program is selected by the program selection cursor 173e4. Therefore, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 can start acquiring the broadcast cooperation application before the broadcast start time of the broadcast program.

[0176] In addition, when the broadcast program for which the viewing reservation and / or recording reservation has been made is a broadcast program corresponding to the broadcast communication cooperation service and is a broadcast program capable of performing a cooperation operation with a portable terminal device, the broadcast cooperation application (terminal side) prepared for the portable terminal device may also be started to be acquired before the broadcast start time of the broadcast program by the same process as described above. Also, as shown in FIG. 16B, a two-dimensional barcode 173e5 or the like indicating the information on the acquisition destination (location information such as a URL) of the broadcast cooperation application (terminal side) prepared for the portable terminal device may be displayed on the EPG display screen 173e to prompt the user to download the broadcast cooperation application (terminal side) prepared for the portable terminal device.

[0177] In this way, if the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 refers to the acquisition destination information of the broadcast cooperation application included in the EPG information and starts acquiring the broadcast cooperation application before the broadcast start time of the broadcast program, it becomes possible to distribute the load on the service provider server 400 that stores the broadcast cooperation application. Further, even when the communication speed of the network between the service provider server 400 and the information display terminal 100 is insufficient, the broadcast cooperation application can be effectively utilized immediately after the start of the broadcast of the broadcast program.

[0178] FIG. 17 is an operation sequence diagram showing an example of an acquisition sequence of a broadcast cooperation application when a viewing reservation and / or a recording reservation of a broadcast program is made from the EPG display screen 173e.

[0179] During the viewing of a digital broadcast service, the main control unit 101 of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 acquires the program information data string output from the first separation unit 132 (S701). When the user makes a request to start the EPG screen using the operation terminal (S702), the EPG display screen 173e is displayed on the video display unit 173 (S703). When the user selects an arbitrary broadcast program using the operation terminal on the EPG display screen 173e to make a viewing reservation and / or a recording reservation of the broadcast program (S704), the main control unit 101 checks the program information data string acquired from the first separation unit 132 (S705), and further checks the location of the acquisition destination of the broadcast cooperation application linked to the broadcast program for which the viewing reservation and / or the recording reservation has been made (S706).

[0180] After the process of S706, the application control unit 161 transmits a transmission request for the broadcast cooperation application to a predetermined service provider server 400 via the LAN communication unit 121 based on the confirmed URL (S707). The service provider server 400 that has received the transmission request for the broadcast cooperation application performs authentication processing of the broadcast receiving device 100 as necessary based on the control of the application management / distribution execution unit 4103, and then performs distribution of a predetermined broadcast cooperation application stored in the application storage area 4013 via the LAN communication unit 421 (S708). Subsequently, the application control unit 161 caches the predetermined broadcast cooperation application distributed from the service provider server 400 received via the LAN communication unit 121 in the RAM 104 or the storage 110 (S709).

[0181] According to the transmitting and receiving device 100 of the present embodiment described above, it is possible to execute a function with higher added value.

Embodiment

[0182] Hereinafter, Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described. Note that the configurations and effects in this embodiment are the same as those in Embodiment 1 unless otherwise specified. Therefore, hereinafter, the differences between this embodiment and Embodiment 1 will be mainly described, and the description of the common points will be omitted as much as possible to avoid duplication.

[0183] Although the embodiment in which the mobile information terminal cooperation process (hereinafter referred to as terminal cooperation) is also performed in Embodiment 1 has been described, a more detailed embodiment will be described.

[0184] When performing mobile information terminal cooperation, there may be a case where the use of terminal cooperation is restricted only to the mobile information terminal 700 in the same house as the broadcast receiving device 100 (hereinafter this restriction is referred to as the same-house restriction). For example, in an application for using broadcast cooperation (hereinafter referred to as a broadcast cooperation application), when the display screen of the broadcast receiving device 100 and the display screen of the mobile information terminal 700 are closely related, or when it is desired that the user of the mobile information terminal 700 surely views the advertisement video displayed on the broadcast receiving device 100, etc.

[0185] Note that a point that must be considered as a procedure is the determination of whether the target broadcast cooperation application imposes the same-premises restriction. If it is assumed that all broadcast cooperation applications are subject to the same-premises restriction, this determination is unnecessary. However, if there are cases where there is no restriction, the broadcast receiving device 100 needs to acquire control information regarding the presence or absence of the same-premises restriction and change the operation procedure. This control information regarding the presence or absence of the restriction may be acquired from the broadcast signal (for example, described as an item of AIT), or may be acquired from a server designated by the broadcasting station.

[0186] Including the above procedures, in this embodiment, a procedure for ensuring that the portable information terminal 700 exists within the same premises as the broadcast receiving device 100 will be described.

[0187] Normally, devices existing within the same premises exist on the local network connected to the same router device 210. Therefore, by determining that the portable information terminal 700 is connected to the same local network as the broadcast receiving device 100, it can be determined that they exist within the same premises. Note that a known method may be used to determine whether the target device is connected to the local network, and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0188] Also, even for the portable information terminal 700 that is not on the local network, by directly communicating with the broadcast receiving device 100 via NFC, Bluetooth, infrared communication, etc., it can also be determined that it exists within the same premises. In this case, the communication for acquiring the broadcast cooperation application or the like may be the above direct communication or may be by mobile phone communication.

[0189] As described above, there are multiple methods for confirming the existence within the same premises, but which method to use is, for example, described in AIT and read by the broadcast receiving device 100.

[0190] Furthermore, once it is confirmed that the portable information terminal 700 exists within the same house, it may be regarded as remaining within the same house until the program ends, or a certain effective time (e.g., 10 minutes) may be set, and it is regarded as remaining within the same house within the effective time, but if the effective time has passed, it is not regarded as remaining within the same house unless newly confirmed. This effective time may be described in, for example, the AIT and read by the broadcast receiving apparatus 100.

[0191] Furthermore, for example, at an arbitrary point during program progress, an event signal may be set in the broadcast signal, and each time this event signal is received, it may be confirmed that the portable information terminal 700 exists within the same house.

[0192] Furthermore, it is also possible to use a combination of the above two methods.

[0193] Next, the specific procedure for permitting terminal cooperation only for the portable information terminal 700 existing within the same house will be described. In this embodiment, when the portable information terminal 700 acquires the broadcast cooperation application or acquires the information used in the broadcast cooperation application, restrictions are imposed (hereinafter, the broadcast cooperation application and the information used in the broadcast cooperation application, specifically HTML documents, streaming videos, etc., are collectively referred to as broadcast cooperation information). There are two types of methods for acquiring broadcast cooperation information: communication acquisition from the broadcast station server 300 or the operator server 400, and broadcast acquisition from the broadcast wave. In the case of communication acquisition, there are two types: acquisition after the start of broadcast reception and acquisition in advance before the start of broadcast reception. Furthermore, in the case of communication acquisition, there are cases where the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 acquires it once and the portable information terminal 700 acquires it from the broadcast receiving apparatus 100, and cases where the portable information terminal 700 directly acquires it from the broadcast station server 300 or the operator server 400. Although there are various methods, from the perspective of the portable information terminal 700, it can be roughly classified into two cases: acquisition from the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 and acquisition from the broadcast station server 300 or the operator server 400.

[0194] In this embodiment, the case where the portable information terminal 700 acquires broadcast cooperation information from the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 will be described. The case of acquiring from a server will be described in the following embodiment.

[0195] FIG. 18A shows the procedure of this embodiment.

[0196] First, before performing terminal cooperation, on each of the portable information terminal 700 and the broadcast receiving apparatus 100, start a cooperation control application, which is an application for controlling terminal cooperation (S10001, S10002). In this state, a terminal cooperation request is sent from the portable information terminal 700 to the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 (S10003). Next, acquire AIT from the broadcast signal (S10004). From the information of this AIT, it is determined whether the application for the target portable information terminal has a same-household restriction (S10006). If there is a restriction, proceed to the procedure of S10008. At the first stage when there is a terminal cooperation request, proceed to the step of S10009, and determine whether the portable information terminal 700 that has made the terminal cooperation request is in the same household as the broadcast receiver 100 (S10009). As a result of the determination, if it is determined that they are not in the same household, a response of non-permission of cooperation is sent to the cooperation control application on the portable information terminal side, and the process ends (S10011).

[0197] Here, originally, if it is assumed that all broadcast cooperation applications have a same-household restriction, the determination of S10006 is not performed and is skipped. The determination of S10006 is performed when there may be both an application with a same-household restriction and an application without a same-household restriction.

[0198] If it is determined that the mobile information terminal 700 is in the same house, or in the case of an application without in-house restrictions, the process proceeds to S10012, and a broadcast cooperation application-related service is performed. In this service (S10012), a broadcast cooperation information distribution request (S10013) from the mobile information terminal 700 is processed, and broadcast cooperation information is distributed to the mobile information terminal 700 (S10018). This broadcast cooperation information includes information received by the broadcast receiving device 100 from a distribution server that is the operator server 300 (S10014, S10015, S10016), information obtained from the broadcast signal (S10017), information stored in the broadcast receiving device 100, and the like. The reception (acquisition) of the broadcast cooperation information by the broadcast receiving device 100 (S10016, S10017) is not limited to the case of a broadcast cooperation information distribution request (S10013) from the mobile information terminal 700, and it may also be the case that the broadcast receiving device 100 autonomously acquires it, or acquires it based on the occurrence of an event from the broadcast signal. And the distribution of the broadcast cooperation information to the mobile information terminal 700 (S10018) may also be spontaneous from the broadcast receiving device 100 side.

[0199] After a series of processes of receiving (acquiring) and distributing the broadcast cooperation information are completed, it is determined whether the broadcast receiving device 100 continues to watch the same program (S10019). If not, a response of non-permission for cooperation is sent to the cooperation control application on the mobile information terminal side, and the process ends (S10020).

[0200] If viewing continues, return to the procedure of S10005. If there is a home restriction, check whether the portable information terminal 700 is in the same home (S10009). However, it is determined whether the preset valid time has elapsed since the previous check or whether a confirmation request (S10007) has occurred from the broadcast signal or the distribution server after the previous check (S10008). If neither condition is satisfied, the check for whether it is in the same home (S10009) is not performed, and via S10010, the process moves to the execution of the next broadcast cooperation application related service (S10012). Here, although it is described that the confirmation request (S10007) from the broadcast signal is obtained from the broadcast cooperation information, here it is described that the event message is also included in the broadcast cooperation information. Further, this confirmation request may be described in the AIT.

[0201] Note that the procedure described above is a loop processing procedure for the broadcast signal, the broadcast receiving device 100, the portable information terminal 700, and the entire distribution server in the section indicated by the arrow of S10022. The confirmation request of S10007 can be at any timing within the loop.

[0202] Furthermore, the authentication information described in the AIT may be incorporated into the authentication key used for authentication (S10015) in the distribution server. Thereby, it can be confirmed that it is a legitimate authentication request. Also, if the authentication information described in the AIT is changed as the program progresses and the distribution server does not perform authentication unless the authentication key incorporates information synchronized with the progress of the program, it can be confirmed that the same program is being continuously viewed. In this case, the information of the AIT shall be appropriately read and updated (S10021). Note that the authentication information incorporated into the broadcast signal may be incorporated not only in the AIT but also as broadcast cooperation information. Furthermore, as a method that will substantially change the authentication information, a method of changing the URL of the distribution server itself according to the progress of the program can also be used.

[0203] In this way, while executing the broadcast cooperation application-related service (S10012), the mobile information terminal 700 checks whether it is in the same house as the broadcast receiving device 100 at each preset effective time, or every time there is a confirmation request from the broadcast signal or the distribution server, so that the execution of the broadcast-related application with the same-house restriction can be appropriately performed. Furthermore, by using the authentication information incorporated in the broadcast signal for authentication in the distribution server, the legitimacy of the distribution request can be ensured. If the authentication information of the broadcast signal is appropriately changed, it is also possible to confirm that the same program is being continuously viewed.

[0204] According to the mobile information terminal cooperation technology according to the present embodiment described above, it is possible to realize the same-house restriction for the mobile information terminal that cooperates with the broadcast receiving device.

Embodiment

[0205] In this embodiment, the case where the mobile information terminal 700 acquires broadcast cooperation information from the distribution server will be described.

[0206] FIG. 18B shows the procedure of this embodiment.

[0207] First, before performing terminal cooperation, in each of the mobile information terminal 700 and the broadcast receiving device 100, a cooperation control application, which is an application for controlling terminal cooperation, is started (S10101, S10102). In this state, a terminal cooperation request is sent from the mobile information terminal 700 to the broadcast receiving device 100 (S10103). Next, the AIT is acquired from the broadcast signal (S10104). Information such as the URL related to the distribution server is acquired from the information of this AIT, and the information is transmitted to the mobile information terminal 700 (S10105). Next, a time confirmation request is sent from the broadcast receiving device 100 to the distribution server (S10106), and based on this request, time information is transmitted from the distribution server to the broadcast receiving device 100 (S10107). Thereby, the subsequent authentication key issuance (S10115) can be performed in accordance with the time of the distribution server, but if the time deviation is not a problem, it may be omitted.

[0208] Thereafter, enter the loop control indicated by the arrow of S10127.

[0209] First, the mobile information terminal 700 issues a request for issuing an authentication key or a request for distributing broadcast cooperation information to the broadcast receiver 100 (S10109). The authentication key is used in the request for distributing broadcast cooperation information to the distribution server in the subsequent stage (S10125). The request for distributing broadcast cooperation in S10109 is a request for distributing information obtained from the broadcast signal and corresponds to the procedure of S10126 in the subsequent stage.

[0210] In any case, when the request of S10109 is issued from the mobile information terminal, it is determined whether it is a broadcast cooperation application with the same-home restriction (S10111). If there is a restriction, proceed to the next procedure S10112. If not, skip the procedure of S10112 and proceed to S10114. If all broadcast cooperation applications have the same-home restriction, the determination of S10111 is not performed and proceed to S10112. In S10112, it is determined whether the mobile information terminal that issued the request is in the same home. If not, end the terminal cooperation (S10113). If it is in the same home, perform the requested procedure, obtain the broadcast cooperation information from the distribution server (S10125) or obtain the broadcast cooperation information from the broadcast signal (S10126). Since obtaining from the broadcast signal in addition to obtaining from the distribution server is also acceptable, the procedure of S10126 is also described.

[0211] First, the procedure for obtaining the broadcast cooperation information from the distribution server (S10125) will be described.

[0212] First, issue the authentication key requested from the information cooperation terminal 700 from the broadcast receiver 100. At this time, assume that the authentication key is valid only within a predetermined time (for example, 10 minutes) including the time information at the time of issuance. The distribution server also confirms the authentication information including whether the authentication key is within the valid time. If the authentication is OK, permit the distribution of the broadcast cooperation information. Thereafter, permit the distribution of the information if it is within the valid time, but stop the distribution when the valid time has passed. For example, when the streaming video has passed the valid time, it cannot be viewed.

[0213] The preset valid time may be held by the distribution server, or the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 may acquire it from the broadcast signal (e.g., AIT) and incorporate the valid time information into the authentication key. The portable information terminal 700 may be notified in advance of the valid time information, and it may be configured to request the issuance of an authentication key before the valid time expires. Alternatively, the valid time may be managed by the broadcast receiving apparatus 100, and before the valid time expires, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 may automatically issue an authentication key to the portable information terminal 700 after confirming that the portable information terminal 700 is within the same household.

[0214] The valid time may be the same within one program, or it may be changed according to the progress of the program. Also, if there is no setting of the valid time, it may be handled such that once authentication is performed, the authentication remains valid during program viewing.

[0215] Furthermore, the authentication information described in AIT may be incorporated into the authentication key used for authentication (S10117) in the distribution server. Thereby, it can be confirmed that it is a legitimate authentication request. Also, if the authentication information described in AIT is changed as the program progresses, and in the distribution server, authentication is not performed unless the authentication key incorporates information synchronized with the progress of the program, it can be confirmed that the same program is being continuously viewed. In this case, the information of AIT is appropriately read and updated (S10124). Note that the authentication information incorporated into the broadcast signal may be described in AIT, or it may be incorporated as broadcast cooperation information. Furthermore, as a method that would substantially change the authentication information, a method of changing the URL of the distribution server itself according to the progress of the program can also be used. Note that in this case, the URL change means that the distribution server is the same but the entry is different, but it is also possible to change to a new distribution server due to a change in the broadcast cooperation application or the like. In this case, the procedures of distribution server information transmission (S10105), time confirmation request (S10106), and time information transmission (S10107) are performed each time there is a change.

[0216] Next, the procedure (S10126) for acquiring broadcast cooperation information from the broadcast signal will be described.

[0217] In this case, after it is confirmed that the portable information terminal 700 is in the same house, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 acquires broadcast cooperation information from the broadcast signal (S10119), and then distributes the information to the portable information terminal 700 (S10120).

[0218] When changing the broadcast cooperation information as the program progresses, a change notification is sent from the broadcast signal (S10110). Using this notification as a trigger, it may be possible to acquire the broadcast cooperation information. In that case, if it is acquired from the distribution server, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 issues an authentication key to the portable information terminal (S10115) and notifies that a change notification has been received. If it is within the valid time, issuing the authentication key may be omitted, and only notifying the change notification may be sufficient. In the case of acquisition from the broadcast signal, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 acquires the information (S10119) and distributes it to the portable information terminal (S10120). In the case of acquisition from the broadcast signal, it is also possible to confirm that the portable information terminal 700 is in the same house for each change notification, or as in the second embodiment, the confirmation may be omitted if it is within the valid time. Here, although the change notification (S10110) from the broadcast signal is described as being acquired from the broadcast cooperation information, here it is described that the event message is also included in the broadcast cooperation information. Furthermore, this change notification may be described in the AIT.

[0219] After the process of receiving (acquiring) and distributing a series of broadcast cooperation information is completed, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 determines whether it is continuing to view the same program (S10121). If not, it responds with non - permission to cooperate to the cooperation control application on the portable information terminal side and ends the process (S10123). If viewing is continuing, it returns to S10108 and continues the loop process S10127.

[0220] In this way, by including time information in the authentication key used for authenticating the distribution server and managing the valid time, it can be periodically confirmed that the portable information terminal 700 is in the same house as the broadcast receiving device 100, and the execution of the broadcast cooperation application with appropriate in-house restrictions can be carried out. Furthermore, by using the authentication information incorporated in the broadcast signal for authentication at the distribution server, the legitimacy of the distribution request can be ensured. If the authentication information of the broadcast signal is appropriately changed, it is also possible to confirm that the same program is being continuously viewed.

[0221] According to the portable information terminal cooperation technology according to the present embodiment described above, even when the portable information terminal that cooperates with the broadcast receiving device acquires broadcast cooperation information from the distribution server, it is possible to realize in-house restrictions.

Embodiment

[0222] In Embodiments 2 and 3, the procedure for realizing in-house restrictions in terminal cooperation was described. However, depending on the broadcast cooperation application, use from outside the house may be permitted. This embodiment will describe such a case. For example, when the program itself such as television shopping is for publicity and promotion, it is desirable for the broadcast business operator that the broadcast cooperation application can be used regardless of whether it is inside or outside the house. In the case of such a program, once registered in the broadcast receiving device 100, the use of the broadcast cooperation application may be permitted regardless of whether the portable information terminal 700 is inside the house. In this case, the convenience is further enhanced if there is a broadcast cooperation application that makes the broadcast video itself into streaming data and distributes it from the broadcast receiving device 100 to the portable information terminal 700 via the Internet. For copyright protection, the streaming data may be encrypted by the broadcast receiving device 100. Whether the broadcast cooperation application permits use from outside the house, including the distribution of broadcast video outside the house, is described in the data (such as AIT) in the broadcast signal.

[0223] The specific procedure is shown in Fig. 18C. Since some of the procedures are common to those in Embodiments 2 and 3, the description of the overlapping parts with Embodiments 2 and 3 will be omitted. When there is a terminal cooperation request (S10203) from outside the house, if the application allows outdoor use, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 checks whether the requester is a registered portable information terminal (S10205) and then permits the cooperation. Here, if necessary, for copyright protection of the broadcast video and broadcast cooperation information, authentication may be performed between the portable information terminal 700 and the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 (S10207). In that case, the authentication may be authentication in the distribution server (S10207). Information on whether copyright protection is required and information on the copyright protection authentication method are obtained from the broadcast signal (for example, assume it is described in AIT), and corresponding control is performed. If these pieces of information are not stored in the broadcast signal, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 follows a predetermined method. For example, a predetermined copyright protection process may be performed. Also, if these pieces of information are not stored in the broadcast signal, it may be predetermined in the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 not to perform the copyright protection process.

[0224] Specific examples of authentication for copyright protection are shown below. Each of the following authentications may be performed alone. Or, a combination of a plurality of the authentications exemplified below may be performed. Also, a combination of the authentications exemplified below and other authentication processes not exemplified below may be performed.

[0225] [Authentication by ID and Password] When registering the portable information terminal 700 with the broadcast receiving apparatus 100, an ID and a password are issued, and the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 permits the cooperation by confirming this ID and password.

[0226] [Use of Encryption Key] In addition to the authentication by the above ID and password, an encryption key for decrypting encrypted video data and the like is transmitted from the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 to the portable information terminal. This encryption key may also be obtained from the broadcast signal (for example, described in AIT).

[0227] [Use of the Distribution Server] A method of issuing an encryption key for decrypting encrypted video data and the like from a distribution server. The mobile information terminal 700 transmits an ID and a password to the distribution server to obtain the encryption key. In this case, the location information (specifically, the URL) of the distribution server is obtained from the broadcast signal (for example, described in AIT), and by transmitting this location information from the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 to the mobile information terminal 700, the security is further enhanced. Since the mobile information terminal 700 cannot decrypt video or the like if it cannot obtain the encryption key, it may be used as authentication for copyright protection by requesting authentication at the distribution server from the broadcast receiving apparatus 100, or the authentication may be completed by notifying the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 from the mobile information terminal 700 that the encryption key has been obtained. Note that charging may be performed by the distribution server.

[0228] [Mutual Authentication of Encryption Keys] The encryption keys respectively held by the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 and the mobile information terminal 700 are mutually authenticated and confirmed to perform authentication for copyright protection.

[0229] When the information stored in the broadcast signal indicates that copyright protection by a predetermined method is required, if authentication for copyright protection cannot be performed by the predetermined method, terminal cooperation is not permitted. Also, even when there is no designation in the broadcast signal and authentication is performed by the default method of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100, if authentication for copyright protection cannot be performed by the default method, terminal cooperation is not permitted.

[0230] When terminal connection is permitted, thereafter, it is not checked whether the mobile information terminal 700 exists within the same house, and in accordance with a request from the mobile information terminal 700 (S10211), autonomous control of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100, and a request from the broadcast signal (S10210), distribution of broadcast cooperation information (S10217) to the mobile information terminal 700 and issuance of an authentication key for the distribution server (S10212) are performed. In this case, control for setting a valid time does not have to be performed. The mobile information terminal 700 outside the house acquires the broadcast cooperation information from the distribution server using the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 or the issued authentication key (S10215). Further, if the authentication information acquired from the broadcast signal (for example, assume it is described in AIT) is incorporated into the authentication key issued by the broadcast receiving apparatus 100, and the distribution server permits access if the authentication key incorporates the authentication information acquired from the broadcast signal, the appropriateness of use outside the house can be further improved.

[0231] Furthermore, there may be cases where it is better not to permit unrestricted use of the broadcast cooperation application, such as when giving a discount as a premium for program viewing. In such cases, a method in which authentication is performed once with the mobile information terminal existing within the same house and thereafter use of the distribution server is permitted even if not within the same house is preferable. In this case, the mobile information terminal 700 does not have to be registered with the broadcast receiving apparatus 100.

[0232] The specific procedure in this case is shown in FIG. 18D. Since some of the procedures are common to FIG. 18C above, the description of the overlapping parts will be omitted. First, with the portable information terminal 700 being in the same house as the broadcast receiving apparatus 100, a terminal cooperation request is sent from the portable information terminal 700 to the broadcast receiving apparatus 100, and the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 permits cooperation after confirming that the portable information terminal 700 is in the same house (S10305). Here, if necessary, authentication may be performed between the portable information terminal 700 and the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 for copyright protection of the broadcast video and broadcast cooperation information (S10307). At that time, the authentication may be authentication by an external distribution server. Information on whether copyright protection is necessary and information on the copyright protection authentication method are obtained from the broadcast signal (for example, assume it is described in AIT), and control is performed accordingly. If these pieces of information are not stored in the broadcast signal, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 follows a predetermined method. For example, a predetermined copyright protection process may be performed. Also, if these pieces of information are not stored in the broadcast signal, it may be predetermined in the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 not to perform the copyright protection process.

[0233] Specific examples of authentication for copyright protection are shown below. Only one of the following authentications may be performed respectively. Or, a combination of a plurality of authentications exemplified below may be performed. Also, a combination of the authentication exemplified below and other authentication processes not exemplified below may be performed.

[0234] [Use of Encryption Key] With the portable information terminal 700 being in the same house, an encryption key for decrypting encrypted video data and the like is transmitted from the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 to the portable information terminal. This encryption key may also be obtained from the broadcast signal (for example, described in AIT). Authentication is made by delivering this encryption key within the same house. Furthermore, if the encryption key cannot be obtained from the broadcast signal unless it is a certain point in the program, and the delivery of the encryption key to the portable information terminal 700 is limited to within the same house, a restriction may be set that one must be in the same house at that time, and it can also be used for premium addition for viewing.

[0235] [Use of the distribution server] A method for issuing an encryption key for decrypting encrypted video data or the like from a distribution server. The mobile information terminal 700 transmits an ID and a password to the distribution server to obtain the encryption key. In this case, the location information (specifically, the URL) of the distribution server is obtained from the broadcast signal (for example, described in AIT), and this location information is transmitted from the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 to the mobile information terminal 700, thereby enhancing security. Since the mobile information terminal 700 cannot decrypt video or the like without obtaining the encryption key, it may be used as authentication for copyright protection by requesting authentication at the distribution server from the broadcast receiving apparatus 100, or the authentication may be completed by notifying the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 from the mobile information terminal 700 that the encryption key has been obtained. Access to the distribution server may be performed either indoors or outdoors, but the location information of the distribution server cannot be obtained from the broadcast signal unless it is a time point when there is a program. If the transfer of the location information to the mobile information terminal 700 is limited to the same house, a restriction may be provided that one must be in the same house at that time point, and this can also be used for granting a premium for viewing. Note that charging may be performed by the distribution server.

[0236] [Mutual authentication of encryption keys] The encryption keys respectively held by the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 and the mobile information terminal 700 are mutually authenticated and confirmed to be used as authentication for copyright protection. This authentication may be performed either indoors or outdoors.

[0237] When the information stored in the broadcast signal indicates that copyright protection by a predetermined method is required, if authentication for copyright protection cannot be performed by the predetermined method, terminal cooperation is not permitted. Also, even when there is no designation in the broadcast signal and authentication is performed by the default method of the broadcast receiver 100, if authentication for copyright protection cannot be performed by the default method, terminal cooperation is not permitted. The procedures after terminal cooperation is permitted are common to the procedures in FIG. 18C, so the description is omitted.

[0238] According to the mobile information terminal cooperation technology related to the present embodiment described above, it is possible to realize the use from outside the home while paying attention to copyright protection for the mobile information terminal that cooperates with the broadcast receiving device.

Embodiment

[0239] In the actual usage situation, it is more desirable to easily know whether there is a terminal cooperation application for a program and which terminal cooperation application is available. In this embodiment, a method for displaying the available status of the terminal cooperation application will be described. The terminal cooperation application refers to the broadcast cooperation application used in terminal cooperation.

[0240] FIG. 19A is an example of the launcher screen (173b11) of the broadcast cooperation application when there is a terminal cooperation application. The broadcast cooperation application is displayed as an icon with framed text. The broadcast cooperation applications (173b12 to 173b14) for the broadcast receiving device 100 linked to the program being viewed and the broadcast cooperation applications (173b15 to 173b17) for the mobile information terminal are displayed. In this example case, the status of the application is indicated by the thickness of the frame line surrounding the character string and the color inside the frame. The main body applications A and B (173b12, 173b13) and the terminal applications A and B (173b15, 173b16) are in an available state, and the main body application C (173b14) and the terminal application C (173b17) are in an unavailable state. The state where the terminal application is unavailable means that among the mobile information terminals 700 that are in a state capable of communicating with the broadcast receiving device 100, there is no device having the function of executing the application.

[0241] FIG. 19B is a screen after selecting the terminal application A in FIG. 19A. It shows the status of each mobile information terminal 700 regarding the terminal application A. The mobile information terminals displayed on this screen are the terminals that have been linked to or registered with the broadcast receiving device 100 in the past.

[0242] The mobile terminal 1 (173b22) and the mobile terminal 2 (173b23) with solid icon frame lines are in a state where they can communicate with the broadcast receiving device 100, indicating that the mobile terminal 3 (173b24) and the mobile terminal 4 (173b25) with dotted icon frame lines are not in a state where they can communicate with the broadcast receiving device 100. Also, the mobile terminal 1 (173b22) and the mobile terminal 3 (173b24) with a white icon frame have the function of executing the terminal app A, indicating that the mobile terminal 2 (173b23) and the mobile terminal 4 (173b25) with a gray icon frame do not have the function of executing the terminal app A. Furthermore, when an app is already running on the terminal, an icon of a design representing that fact may be used.

[0243] Also, since it is more visually understandable to use patterns for icons, an example is shown below.

[0244] Figure 19C is an example of a launcher screen (173b31) showing a list of broadcast cooperation apps. Icons are shown according to the types of the mobile information terminal 700 in addition to the broadcast receiving device 100. 173b32 and 173b33 are icons indicating the broadcast receiving device 100, 173b34 and 173b35 are icons indicating the smartphone type mobile information terminal 700, and 173b36 is an icon indicating the head-mounted display type mobile information terminal 700. Each app is for the device indicated by the icon.

[0245] In Figure 19C, when the app cannot be used, a mark indicating non-availability (in this case, a crossed-out circle mark) is displayed over the device pattern. Also, regarding the broadcast receiving device 100, when the app is already running, a mark indicating that fact (in this case, a dotted circle) may be overlaid and displayed. By this display, it is possible to prevent a wasteful operation of proceeding with the launcher procedure even though the app is already running. In the case of the mobile information terminal 700, it is also possible to use a method of displaying a mark indicating that the app is running when the app is running on all terminals that are in a state where they can communicate with the broadcast receiving device and the app is executable.

[0246] FIG. 19D shows a screen (173b41) after selecting application C (173b34) in FIG. 19C. The state of the mobile information terminal 700 of the type corresponding to application C is shown. On this screen, when the mobile information terminal 700 does not have the execution function of the broadcast cooperation application, when it is not in a communicable state with the broadcast receiving device 100, or when the broadcast cooperation application is already being executed, marks indicating those situations are superimposed on the icons. In this example, a mark with a slanted line in a circle (173b44, 173b46) is displayed when it does not have the execution function, a mark with an exclamation mark in a triangle (173b45, 173b46) is displayed when it is not in a communicable state, and a mark with a dot in a circle (173b43) is displayed when it is already being executed.

[0247] Furthermore, it is desirable to have a display method that allows the user to know that there is a broadcast cooperation application when the situation changes without having to start the launcher each time. For example, when the power is turned on, when the channel is changed, at the beginning of a program, even in the middle of a program when there is a change in the broadcast cooperation application, when there is a change in the communication state between the broadcast receiving device 100 and the mobile information terminal 700, or when the execution status of the application changes, the icon is displayed for a predetermined time to indicate the state at that time.

[0248] FIG. 19E shows an example of that case. When icons indicating the types of the respective devices are displayed, it indicates that there is a broadcast cooperation application corresponding to the device of that type. In this case, the mark with a slanted line in a circle indicates that there is no application that can be executed on the device of that type that is in a usable state. The mark with a dot in a circle indicates that the application is being executed on all devices of that type that are in a usable state.

[0249] Figure 19F shows the display screen (10401) on the mobile information terminal 700. When requesting terminal cooperation from the mobile information terminal 700, it is more convenient to know in a list which broadcast receiving device 100 and which broadcast cooperation application are available. An example of such a list is shown in Figure 19F (10402). This table shows which broadcast cooperation applications corresponding to the program to be investigated are available on which broadcast receiving device 100 within the home. Also, if the status of each broadcast receiving device 100 is also displayed, the convenience is further enhanced, especially when using it from outside the home. In this example, display examples such as receiving the program, receiving another program, free, having a reservation for another program (when recording another program is reserved from the middle of the program) are shown. Here, when there are multiple tuners in the broadcast receiving device 100, the convenience is further enhanced if the status is displayed for each tuner. In Table 10202, the branch numbers indicate the distinction of the tuners within the same device. For example, receiving device B-1 and receiving device B-2 are tuners within the same broadcast receiving device 100. In the case of terminal cooperation, if the delivery of broadcast video and audio can be received as streaming data, there is no need to use the video unit of the broadcast receiving device 100, and if the tuner within the broadcast receiving device 100 can be used, the broadcast can be used. Therefore, it is convenient to know the usage status of each tuner.

[0250] Note that in order to perform the display described in this embodiment, for each broadcast cooperation application, information on whether it is an application corresponding to the broadcast receiving device 100 or an application corresponding to what type of mobile information terminal 700 is required. Also, information for executing the corresponding application is required in the broadcast receiving device 100 and the mobile information terminal 700. These information can be obtained by, for example, being described in the AIT in the broadcast receiving device 100.

[0251] According to the mobile information terminal cooperation technology according to the present embodiment described above, by displaying information on the broadcast cooperation application, the broadcast receiving device 100, and the mobile information terminal 700, a more convenient broadcast cooperation service can be used.

Embodiment

[0252] Hereinafter, Example 6 of the present invention will be described. Note that the configurations, effects, etc. in this example are the same as those in Example 1 unless otherwise specified. Therefore, hereinafter, the differences between this example and Example 1 will be mainly described, and the common points will be omitted as much as possible to avoid duplication.

[0253] In this example, an example will be given and described regarding the operation of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 in the case where the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 corresponds to the following in particular in the activation process of the broadcast cooperation application based on the AIT transmitted by the broadcast wave. This case means that the broadcast cooperation application is a broadcast managed application, and the broadcast managed application, which is a broadcast cooperation application, is defined and instructed to be preferentially automatically activated based on information on the PMT and information such as the application control code 903 and activation priority 907 of the AIT (FIG. 6). Hereinafter, the broadcast managed application may be referred to as the "broadcast managed app".

[0254] The broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of Example 6 has a function of controlling the activation process of the broadcast cooperation application designated for the above automatic activation in the digital broadcast service according to the selection by the user. When there is a regulation or instruction for the above automatic activation, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of Example 6 does not automatically activate the broadcast cooperation application unconditionally, but controls to automatically activate only when the following conditions (1) to (3) are met. (1) When the automatic activation is set to be allowable in the user settings of the broadcast receiving apparatus. (2) When the user who has a predetermined terminal linked to the broadcast receiving apparatus is viewing, in other words, when the automatic activation is set to be allowable in the user settings of the linked terminal. (3) When the user is confirmed for activation each time and is affirmed in the confirmation.

[0255] FIG. 20 shows the system configuration and usage example including the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of Example 6. The broadcast receiving apparatus 100 receives a broadcast wave from the broadcast station server 300 via the radio tower 300t, and separates the video of the broadcast program and information such as AIT. The broadcast receiving apparatus 100 appropriately acquires a broadcast cooperation application from the service provider server 400 based on information such as AIT. The AIT may include information for instructing automatic startup of a broadcast cooperation application associated with a broadcast program.

[0256] There are one or more portable information terminals 700 that perform terminal cooperation with the broadcast receiving apparatus 100. For example, one broadcast receiving apparatus 100 can cooperate with each of the portable information terminals 700 of two users and is shared. For example, there are terminal A owned by user A and terminal B owned by user B. Not limited to this, one user may use a plurality of portable information terminals 700.

[0257] The broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of Example 6 has application startup control means 2000 including user selection means 2001. The user selection means 2001 is means for selecting whether to permit the startup and execution of a broadcast cooperation application based on the operations of the users of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 and the portable information terminal 700. The user selection means 2001 is constituted by, for example, an instruction input unit, a user setting unit, etc. in the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 and the portable information terminal 700. The application startup control means 2000 controls the startup of the broadcast cooperation application according to the selection of whether to permit the startup and execution of the broadcast cooperation application by the user and the user selection means 2001 when automatic startup of the broadcast cooperation application is instructed by the AIT.

[0258] [In the case of automatic startup of the broadcast managed application] In Example 6, first, when it is specified that the broadcast managed app is preferentially automatically started, the operation sequence until the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 appropriately checks information such as PMT and AIT and starts the broadcast managed app is the same as the explanation using FIG. 7A of Example 1. In the example of FIG. 7A, it is confirmed whether the target broadcast managed app can be executed in the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 by checking the application profile 904 of AIT (S105). When it is confirmed that the execution is possible, the broadcast managed app is always automatically started regardless of the selection of the user of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100.

[0259] However, for example, it should also be considered that the user of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 may not want the automatic start of the broadcast managed app for reasons such as wanting to concentrate on watching a broadcast program. The broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of Example 6 has app start control means 2000 as a control function considering this possibility. That is, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of Example 6, even when there is an instruction for automatic start with priority given to the broadcast managed app based on information such as the above PMT and AIT, and when it is confirmed that the broadcast managed app can be executed based on information such as AIT, controls the start of the app according to the user's selection of whether to start. Hereinafter, an example in which the possibility of automatic start of the broadcast managed app is controlled will be described.

[0260] [Operation sequence at the time of starting the broadcast managed app (1)] FIG. 21 shows an example of the operation sequence at the time of starting a broadcast cooperation app when it is specified that the broadcast managed app, which is a broadcast cooperation app, is preferentially started as a first configuration example and processing example of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of Example 6. FIG. 21 shows a series of processes until the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 appropriately checks information on PMT and AIT and further controls the possibility of automatic start of a predetermined broadcast cooperation app according to the user's selection. The first configuration example uses user settings in the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 as the user selection means 2000.

[0261] In FIG. 21, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 acquires a TS by performing a channel selection process for a channel desired by the user by the tuner / demodulation unit 131 in FIG. 2A. Next, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 acquires the PMT data sequence separated by the first separation unit 132 by the main control unit 101 (S1101), and checks the activation priority described in the acquired PMT (S1102). The broadcast receiving apparatus 100 confirms in the processes of S1101 and S1102 that the activation priority of the broadcast managed application, which is a broadcast cooperation application, is high.

[0262] Upon the above confirmation, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 acquires the AIT data sequence separated by the first separation unit 132 by the application control unit 161 (S1103), and checks the application control code 903 of the acquired AIT data sequence (S1104). When the application control code 903 is "automatic startup" in the processes of S1103 and S1104, that is, when the automatic startup of the broadcast cooperation application is specified, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 further checks the application profile 904 of the acquired AIT data sequence (S1105).

[0263] In S1105, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 confirms, by checking the information of the application profile 904, that the execution of the broadcast cooperation application specified by the AIT in the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 is possible. When the executability is confirmed, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 further refers to the operation setting values stored in the storage unit 110 by the application control unit 161. Thereby, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 checks whether the automatic startup of the broadcast cooperation application is permitted in the user settings of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 (S1106).

[0264] The operation setting value indicating whether or not the broadcast cooperation application can be automatically started can be selected and set by the user according to their preference through the function setting menu of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 or the like. The broadcast receiving apparatus 100 provides the user with a function setting menu on the screen or the like as the user selection means 2001. The user can perform user settings regarding various functions by operating a remote control of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100, a mobile information terminal 700 to be linked, or the like in the function setting menu of the screen. The broadcast receiving apparatus 100 stores the user setting information in the function setting menu as an operation setting value in a memory in the broadcast receiving apparatus 100.

[0265] In the process of S1106, when the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 confirms that the automatic start of the broadcast cooperation application is not permitted ("No"), that is, when the user does not wish the automatic start of the broadcast cooperation application (S1107 - No), the present process in FIG. 21 ends. That is, the application control unit 161 does not acquire and start the broadcast cooperation application specified in the AIT.

[0266] On the other hand, in the process of S1106, when the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 confirms that the automatic start of the broadcast cooperation application is permitted ("Yes"), that is, when the user wishes the automatic start of the broadcast cooperation application (S1107 - Yes), it proceeds to S1108. In the process of S1108, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 transmits a distribution request for the broadcast cooperation application to a predetermined service provider server 400 via the LAN communication unit 121 based on the information described in the application acquisition destination information 905 of the AIT by the application control unit 161.

[0267] The service provider server 400 that has received the distribution request for the broadcast cooperation application in S1108 performs authentication processing for the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 as necessary based on the control of the application management / distribution execution unit 4103 in FIG. 4, and then distributes a predetermined broadcast cooperation application stored in the application storage area 4013 via the LAN communication unit 421 (S1109). A known method may be used for the authentication processing, and a detailed description thereof is omitted.

[0268] Next, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 activates a predetermined broadcast cooperation application distributed from the service provider server 400 received via the LAN communication unit 121 based on the control of the application control unit 161 by the application engine 162 (S1110). As a result, the broadcast cooperation application is executed and the execution screen of the application is displayed.

[0269] As a modification, the processes of S1106 to S1107 may be performed after the broadcast cooperation application is acquired in the processes of S1108 to S1109.

[0270] As in the first configuration example of FIG. 21 described above, in the sixth embodiment, the broadcast cooperation application can be activated when it is confirmed in the user settings of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 that automatic activation is permitted.

[0271] [Operation sequence (2) when the broadcast managed application is activated] FIG. 22 shows an example of an operation sequence at the time of activation of a broadcast cooperation application different from FIG. 21 when the broadcast managed application, which is a broadcast cooperation application, is defined to be preferentially activated as a second configuration example and a processing example of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 according to the sixth embodiment. FIG. 22 is an example of confirming whether or not the broadcast cooperation application can be automatically activated by referring to the operation setting value stored in the portable information terminal 700 that performs the cooperation operation with the broadcast receiving apparatus 100, that is, the user setting information, that is, the terminal cooperation described above. In the second configuration example, the user selection means 2000 uses the user settings on the portable information terminal 700. The user selects and sets whether or not to permit automatic activation of the broadcast cooperation application for the portable information terminal 700.

[0272] In FIG. 22, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 first performs processes S1201 to S1205, which are the same as the processes of S1101 to S1105 in FIG. 21. When the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 confirms through the check of the application profile 904 in S1205 that the broadcast cooperation application specified in the AIT is executable, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 then performs the process of S1206. In S1206, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 transmits a user setting confirmation request to the mobile information terminal 700 during the cooperation operation by the application control unit 161. Here, assume that the mobile information terminal 700 in the cooperation operation or in a state where the terminal can be connected, such as terminal A in FIG. 20, exists.

[0273] The mobile information terminal 700 refers to the operation setting value regarding the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 stored in the storage unit 710 of FIG. 5A in response to the above user setting confirmation request received via the LAN communication unit 721 by the cooperation control execution unit 7102 of FIG. 5B. Thereby, the mobile information terminal 700 confirms whether the broadcast cooperation application in the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 can be automatically started in the user setting of the mobile information terminal 700 (S1207). The mobile information terminal 700 transmits the confirmation result of whether the automatic start is possible as the user setting confirmation result to the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 via the LAN communication unit 721 by the cooperation control execution unit 7102 (S1208).

[0274] The operation setting value for whether or not to automatically start the broadcast cooperation application in the broadcast receiving device 100, which is the user setting information of the mobile information terminal 700, can be set by, for example, the following means. That is, in the cooperation operation state between the broadcast receiving device 100 and the mobile information terminal 700, the user can select and set according to his or her preference through a cooperation function setting menu or the like, which is one item in the function setting menu of the mobile information terminal 700. The mobile information terminal 700 provides the user with the above function setting menu on a screen or the like. The user selects the cooperation function setting menu from the function setting menu. The cooperation function setting menu is a menu in which settings related to the cooperation operation can be made. The user can set whether or not to automatically start the broadcast cooperation application in the broadcast receiving device 100 by selecting an operation from the cooperation function setting menu. The mobile information terminal 700 stores the user setting information in the function setting menu as an operation setting value in the memory in the mobile information terminal 700.

[0275] When the broadcast receiving device 100 confirms through the above processes S1206 to S1208 that the automatic start of the broadcast cooperation application is not permitted, that is, the user who owns the mobile information terminal 700 does not wish to automatically start the broadcast cooperation application in the broadcast receiving device 100 (S1209 - No), the present process in FIG. 22 is terminated. That is, the application control unit 161 does not acquire and start the broadcast cooperation application specified in the AIT.

[0276] On the other hand, when the broadcast receiving device 100 confirms that the automatic start of the broadcast cooperation application is permitted, that is, the user who owns the mobile information terminal 700 wishes to automatically start the broadcast cooperation application in the broadcast receiving device 100 (S1209 - Yes), the process proceeds to S1210.

[0277] In S1210, the broadcast receiving device 100 transmits a distribution request for the broadcast cooperation application to the predetermined service provider server 400 via the LAN communication unit 121 based on the information described in the application acquisition destination information 905 of the AIT by the application control unit 161.

[0278] Upon receiving the distribution request for the broadcast cooperation application of S1210, the service provider server 400 performs the authentication process of the broadcast receiving device 100 as necessary under the control of the application management / distribution execution unit 4103, and then distributes a predetermined broadcast cooperation application stored in the application storage area 4013 via the LAN communication unit 421 (S1211).

[0279] Next, the broadcast receiving device 100 starts a predetermined broadcast cooperation application distributed from the service provider server 400 received via the LAN communication unit 121 under the control of the application control unit 161 by the application engine 162 (S1212).

[0280] As in the second configuration example of FIG. 22 described above, in the sixth embodiment, when there is a mobile information terminal 700 that cooperates with the broadcast receiving device 100 and the permission for automatic startup is confirmed in the user settings of the mobile information terminal 700, the broadcast cooperation application can be started.

[0281] As a modification, when the user settings are confirmed in FIG. 22, if the mobile information terminal 700 is not in the cooperation operation with the broadcast receiving device 100, the processes of S606 to S611 in FIG. 8C may be performed before the processes of S1206 to S1208. Thus, in this modification, the startup process of the cooperation control application is performed to start the cooperation operation between the mobile information terminal 700 and the broadcast receiving device 100, and the user settings are confirmed in this state.

[0282] As a modification example, in the following cases, embodiments of controlling to select the Yes side at S1209 or embodiments of controlling to select the No side at S1209 are possible. These cases include when there is no portable information terminal 700 that is the target for transmitting the user setting confirmation request at S1206, when there is no response to the request, when the user setting confirmation result cannot be correctly obtained at S1208, and the like. These cases correspond to situations where there is no portable information terminal 700 with which terminal cooperation is possible at that time, situations where communication between the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 and the portable information terminal 700 is temporarily impossible, and the like. In the former embodiment, although permission to start by user setting could not be confirmed, the broadcast cooperation application is started. In the latter embodiment, since permission to start by user setting could not be confirmed, the broadcast cooperation application is not started. Regarding which control operation to adopt in the above modification example, it is defined by the specifications of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 or user selection settings are made possible.

[0283] As a modification example, the processes of S1206 to S1209 may be performed after acquiring the broadcast cooperation application in the processes of S1210 to S1211.

[0284] [Operation Sequence (3) at Startup of Broadcast Managed Application] FIG. 23 shows an example of an operation sequence at startup of a different broadcast cooperation application when it is defined that the broadcast managed application, which is a broadcast cooperation application, starts preferentially as a third configuration example and processing example of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of Embodiment 6. FIG. 23 is an example of confirming to the user whether or not to start the broadcast cooperation application by a message on the screen or the like in real time each time. The third configuration example uses an instruction input from the portable information terminal 700 to the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 as the user selection means 2000.

[0285] In FIG. 23, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 first performs processes S1301 to S1305, which are the same as the processes of S1101 to S1105 in FIG. 21. When it is confirmed in S1205 that the broadcast cooperation application specified in the AIT is executable by checking the application profile 904, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 then performs the process of S1306. In S1306, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 causes the video display unit 173 to display a start permission confirmation screen for allowing the user to select whether to allow the start of the broadcast cooperation application by the application control unit 161.

[0286] The user selects whether to start the broadcast cooperation application (S1307) using the portable information terminal 700, the remote control, or the like, which are operation means, with respect to the start permission confirmation screen displayed in S1306. The broadcast receiving apparatus 100 receives the information of the selection as an instruction input.

[0287] If the start of the broadcast cooperation application is not selected as a result of the user's start permission selection in S1307, that is, if the user does not allow the start at this time (S1308 - No), the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 ends the present process in FIG. 23. That is, the application control unit 161 does not acquire and start the broadcast cooperation application specified in the AIT.

[0288] On the other hand, if the start of the broadcast cooperation application by the user in S1307 is selected, that is, if the user allows the start at this time (S1308 - Yes), the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 proceeds to S1309. In the process of S1309, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 transmits a distribution request for the broadcast cooperation application to the predetermined service provider server 400 via the LAN communication unit 121 based on the information described in the application acquisition destination information 905 by the application control unit 161.

[0289] Upon receiving the distribution request for the above-mentioned broadcast cooperation application, the service provider server 400 performs authentication processing of the broadcast receiving device 100 as necessary under the control of the application management / distribution execution unit 4103, and then distributes a predetermined broadcast cooperation application stored in the application storage area 4013 via the LAN communication unit 421 (S1310).

[0290] Next, the broadcast receiving device 100 activates a predetermined broadcast cooperation application distributed from the service provider server 400 received via the LAN communication unit 121 under the control of the application control unit 161 by the application engine 162 (S1311).

[0291] As a modification, the processes of S1306 to S1308 may be performed after acquiring the broadcast cooperation application in the processes of S1309 to S1310.

[0292] As in the third configuration example of FIG. 23 described above, in the sixth embodiment, each time the user is confirmed to start on the screen, the broadcast cooperation application can be started when the permission is confirmed.

[0293] In the example of FIG. 23 above, the portable information terminal 700 functions as an operation means of the broadcast receiving device 100 by terminal cooperation to select whether to start or not. Not limited to this, an embodiment in which a remote control or the like provided in the broadcast receiving device 100 which is the main body is used to select whether to start or not is also possible.

[0294] [Startup Confirmation Screen] FIG. 24 shows an example of a startup confirmation screen of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 displayed by the process of S1306 in FIG. 23. In the present embodiment, on the screen of the video display unit 173 in FIG. 24, a message box 173f1 is displayed as a startup confirmation screen. The message box 173f1 includes a message indicating that a predetermined broadcast cooperation application is available, and displays "Yes" and "No" buttons for allowing the user to select whether to start the broadcast cooperation application. Examples of the message are "Broadcast cooperation application XXX is available. Do you want to start the broadcast cooperation application XXX?" and the like. Other examples of the message are "The startup of the broadcast cooperation application XXX is specified and it is possible to start, but do you permit the startup?" and the like.

[0295] In a state where the message box 173f1 shown in FIG. 24 is displayed, the user selects whether to start up using the above operation means (S1307). For example, the user selects the above "Yes" or "No" using the cursor key 741ac and the decision key 741ad, etc. on the basic screen 741a of the cooperation control application of the portable information terminal 700 in FIG. 10A. Thereby, the user can select whether to permit the startup of the broadcast cooperation application presented in the message box 173f1 on the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 according to his / her own convenience and situation at that time.

[0296] As a modification, instead of the message box 173f1, an icon 173b0 representing the presence of a cooperation application as shown in FIG. 12A or other marks, images, etc. may be displayed on the screen to allow the user to perform a selection operation. In this case, the user presses, for example, the cooperation application key 741a9 on the basic screen 741a of the cooperation control application. Thereby, a predetermined broadcast cooperation application is started. Also, when the cooperation application key 741a9 corresponding to the selection of the icon 173b0 is not pressed for a predetermined time or more, the display of the icon 173b0 may be controlled to be erased.

[0297] [Effects, etc.] According to each configuration example of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 in the above-described Example 6, there are regulations and instructions for automatically starting the broadcast managed application with priority based on PMT and AIT, and even when it is confirmed that the broadcast managed application can be executed by AIT, the start of the broadcast managed application can be appropriately controlled according to the user's selection. That is, according to the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of this embodiment, it is possible to execute a function with higher added value.

[0298] Regarding which of the above-described first to third configuration examples and various modification examples are adopted, it is defined as a specification of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 or the like, or it is possible to set a selection by the user for the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 or the like. For example, in the configuration examples of FIGS. 21 and 22, as an operation setting value by user setting, it is possible to select from two values: (a) 'Allow (Yes) the start of the broadcast managed application' and (b) 'Do not allow (No) the start of the broadcast managed application'. Without being limited to this, as a modification example, in user setting, in addition to the above (a) and (b), it may be possible to select from multiple values including values such as (c) 'Inquire to the terminal' and (d) 'Confirm on the screen each time'. The broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of this modification example performs a control operation according to the first to third configuration examples corresponding to the set value of the user's selection. In the case of the setting of (c), the process of the second configuration example is performed, and in the case of the setting of (d), the process of the third configuration example is performed.

[0299] Particularly, in the first configuration example of FIG. 21, it is possible to control the start of the broadcast cooperation application according to a previous user setting for the broadcast receiving apparatus 100. The user can appropriately change the setting according to their own convenience and use the broadcast cooperation application.

[0300] FIG. 25 shows an example of displaying a menu for user settings on the screen of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100. In response to an operation by the user using a remote control or the like, a menu 173f2 for user settings is displayed on the screen. In the case of the first configuration example, the menu 173f2 has, as one of the setting items, "Allow the start of the broadcast managed application". This item corresponds to "Whether to permit automatic start when automatic start of the broadcast cooperation application is specified". The user can set the approval or disapproval corresponding to the above (a) and (b) by turning on / off buttons or the like in the said setting item of the menu 173f2. The same function can be realized on the screen of the portable information terminal 700.

[0301] Particularly in the second configuration example of FIG. 22, it is possible to set whether to automatically start the broadcast managed application for each user who owns the portable information terminal 700, and further, it is also possible to select whether to automatically start the broadcast managed application depending on the presence or absence of the portable information terminal 700 that performs the cooperation operation.

[0302] Using the above-mentioned FIG. 20, the above settings and usage examples will be described. As user settings on the portable information terminal 700, the terminal A of user A has setting A, and the terminal B of user B has a different setting B. For example, setting A is that automatic start of the broadcast cooperation application is "enabled", and setting B is that automatic start of the broadcast cooperation application is "disabled". At the time of the processes of S1206 to S1209 in FIG. 22, for example, when only the terminal A of user A is performing the cooperation operation, the terminal A is confirmed, and the result is that startup is permitted. When only the terminal B of user B is performing the cooperation operation, the terminal B is confirmed, and the result is that startup is not permitted. In this way, it is possible to set whether to start the broadcast cooperation application for each user's portable information terminal 700, and it is possible to start and use the broadcast cooperation application according to the presence or absence of the portable information terminal 700 that cooperates in that situation.

[0303] As a modification example, a control operation considering a combination of both the specifications or user settings in the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 and the specifications or user settings in the portable information terminal 700 is possible. For example, both an embodiment that prioritizes the content of the user settings in the portable information terminal 700 over the user settings in the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 and an embodiment that prioritizes the content of the user settings in the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 over the user settings in the portable information terminal 700 are possible.

[0304] Also, in the second configuration example, it may be possible to make a user setting regarding whether to inquire of the portable information terminal 700 to confirm the availability of starting the broadcast cooperation application. In that case, in the user setting menu 173f2 of FIG. 25 described above, a setting item corresponding to the above (c) 'Inquire of the terminal' is provided.

[0305] Particularly, in the third configuration example of FIG. 23, it is possible to control whether to start in units of the broadcast managed applications prepared for each broadcast program. The user can view the broadcast managed applications and confirmation information presented on the screen, and can permit the start if the user wants to start the application at that time, or can disallow the start if the user does not want to start the application at that time.

[0306] Also, in the third configuration example, it may be possible to make a user setting regarding whether to confirm the availability of starting the broadcast cooperation application on the screen each time. In that case, in the user setting menu 173f2 of FIG. 25 described above, a setting item corresponding to the above (d) 'Confirm on the screen each time' is provided.

[0307] Other examples are as follows. Even when the user has previously selected and set "no" for (b) in the configuration examples of FIGS. 21 and 22 above, an option is provided to forcibly start the broadcast managed application regardless of the set value. In this example, for instance, in the data configuration of AIT shown in FIG. 6, as the set value of the parameter of the application control code 903, in addition to (1) to (4), a set value of (5) "forced start" is prepared. Alternatively, separately, an item of "forced start setting" may be prepared as one of the parameters of AIT (one of the "other information" in FIG. 6). These set values can be selected, for example, as "valid" or "invalid".

[0308] Furthermore, when the set value of the application control code 903 is the above (5) "forced start", or when the value of the item of the above "forced start setting" is "valid", the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 performs control as follows. That is, even when the above operation set value is set to "no" for (b), the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 controls to forcibly start the broadcast managed application. In other words, the control of this example provides a forced start as an item that is higher and has priority than the user selection item regarding the automatic start described above. When taking an example of an embodiment provided with the above-described forced start option, applications with a high degree of necessity for display and provision, such as an application for displaying emergency information from the broadcast station side or an application required for the production of a specific CM, can be suitably displayed and provided to the user.

[0309] As another example, when a broadcast cooperation application is pre-installed inside the broadcast receiving apparatus 100, processes such as acquisition of the broadcast cooperation application with respect to the service provider server 400 described above (for example, S1108 to S1110 in FIG. 21) become unnecessary.

[0310] Information for controlling a broadcast cooperation application included in a broadcast wave is applicable not only to a PAT, an AIT, etc. For example, one of the parameters (901 to 909) of the AIT in FIG. 6 may be configured and provided as separate and independent control information. The control information may be provided in a form included in the broadcast wave, or may be provided in a form different from the broadcast wave. The control information may be preset in the device.

Example

[0311] Hereinafter, Example 7 of the present invention will be described. Note that the configuration, effects, etc. in this example are the same as those in Example 1 unless otherwise specified. For this reason, hereinafter, the differences between this example and Example 1 will be mainly described, and the description of the common points will be omitted as much as possible to avoid duplication.

[0312] Since the broadcast cooperation application, which is an application used in the broadcast communication cooperation system of this example, is composed of an HTML document, it can be linked to other HTML documents on the network. The broadcast managed application has its operations such as startup / termination controlled based on the application control code 903, etc. of the AIT included in the broadcast signal of the broadcast wave. The operations such as startup / termination of the out-of-broadcast managed application and the general application are not controlled by the above broadcast signal. Hereinafter, the out-of-broadcast managed application may be referred to as an "out-of-broadcast application", and the general application may be referred to as a "general application" in some cases.

[0313] Since it is possible to create links in the HTML documents that make up the above-described broadcast cooperation application, in Example 7, it is assumed that it is possible to transition from the broadcast managed application to applications outside the broadcast or general applications. Also in Example 7, it is assumed that applications outside the broadcast or general applications can be directly launched in response to a user's instruction operation from the above-described broadcast cooperation application launcher screen or the like. For example, a broadcasting station, a service provider, etc. include information for instructing a transition to another HTML document that constitutes an application outside the broadcast or the like by describing a link such as a URL in the HTML document of the broadcast managed application. In such a case, a transition from the above-described broadcast managed application to an application outside the broadcast or the like may occur.

[0314] Since the operations such as startup / termination of the above-described applications outside the broadcast or general applications are not controlled by the broadcast signal, the user may execute an application outside the broadcast or a general application while watching a broadcast program. And when the user is executing an application outside the broadcast or the like while watching a broadcast program, there may be a further request to start the broadcast managed application associated with the broadcast program. Such a request includes, for example, an instruction to start by the application control code 903 of the AIT included in the broadcast signal. That is, in this case, it is required to execute the application outside the broadcast or the general application and the broadcast managed application in parallel, or to select one of them. Although it is technically possible to execute a plurality of different types of applications in parallel in this way, it may not be desirable in terms of control, and it may also be inconvenient for the user.

[0315] Therefore, in order to be able to appropriately handle the above situation, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of Example 7 has a function of controlling the duplicate or parallel startup of the applications or the startup and termination of each application. When the startup and execution of the second application are requested during the execution of the first application, the function controls operations including the startup and termination of those applications according to the user's selection. In particular, when a request to start a broadcast managed application comes during the execution of a non-broadcast application or the like, the function controls the termination of the non-broadcast application or the like and the startup of the broadcast managed application according to the user's instruction input, settings, etc. In Example 7, an example of the control operation of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 in the above cases and situations will be described.

[0316] Examples of the control according to the user's selection by the above function are as follows. (1) The function starts and executes the target broadcast managed application while continuing the non-broadcast application or general application being executed at the time when the above request comes. (2) The function terminates the non-broadcast application or general application being executed at the time when the above request comes and starts and executes the target broadcast managed application. (3) The function continues the non-broadcast application or general application being executed at the time when the above request comes and does not start and execute the target broadcast managed application.

[0317] The means for the user's selection by the above function are as follows. (a) When the above request comes, the function displays on the screen information for notifying the user of the situation where a request to start a broadcast managed application different from the non-broadcast application or the like being executed at that time comes, and information for allowing the user to select the application to be started or terminated or the above control operation. The function accepts an operation of instructing input of the user's selection on the screen. The function executes the content of the control selected from, for example, the above (1) to (3) according to the user's selection. (b) The function accepts an operation of user setting by the user in advance. When the above request comes, the function executes the content of the control selected from, for example, the above (1) to (3) according to the confirmation of the user setting information.

[0318] FIG. 26 shows a system configuration and usage example including the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of Example 7. The broadcast receiving apparatus 100 receives a broadcast wave from the broadcast station server 300 via the radio tower 300t, and separates the video of the broadcast program and information such as AIT. Based on information such as AIT, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 appropriately acquires a broadcast managed app, which is a broadcast cooperation app, from the service provider server 400 or the like. The broadcast receiving apparatus 100 also appropriately acquires a non-broadcast app or a general app from the service provider server 400 or other application servers 500. There may also be a mobile information terminal 700 that performs terminal cooperation with the broadcast receiving apparatus 100, and various apps may be acquired and executed in a state of terminal cooperation between the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 and the mobile information terminal 700.

[0319] The broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of Example 7 has a plurality of app execution control means 2600 including user selection means 2601. The user selection means 2601 is means for selecting, based on the operations of the users of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 and the mobile information terminal 700, operations including activation and termination of a plurality of types of apps, and control contents such as parallel execution. The user selection means 2601 includes, for example, an instruction input unit that receives and processes instruction inputs in the broadcast receiving apparatus 100, the mobile information terminal 700, etc., related to the above (a). The user selection means 2601 includes, for example, a user setting unit that receives and processes user settings related to the above (b).

[0320] When the activation of the broadcast managed app is instructed by the AIT of the broadcast wave, for example, during the viewing of a broadcast program or during the execution of a non-broadcast app or a general app, the plurality of app execution control means 2600 controls the termination of the non-broadcast app or the like and the activation of the broadcast managed app according to the selection of the control operation corresponding to the case by the user and the user selection means 2601.

[0321] [Examples of Multiple Types of Apps] Figure 27 shows examples of the document configurations of multiple types of applications, the startup of each application, the transitions between each application, etc. Broadcast wave 2010 includes the video of a broadcast program, information such as AIT, and information such as BML. As described above, in the broadcast communication cooperation function, AIT notifies the broadcast receiving device 100 of the existence of a broadcast cooperation application and instructs control such as its startup and termination. For example, based on the AIT information included in the broadcast wave 2010, the broadcast managed application 2011 is started.

[0322] In Example 7, the broadcast cooperation applications are roughly classified into (a) broadcast managed applications, (b) non-broadcast applications, and (c) general applications. The broadcast managed application operates in a broadcast reception state based on a control signal included in the broadcast signal, and access to broadcast resources is permitted. The non-broadcast application operates in a state where startup / termination, etc. are not controlled by the broadcast signal, and access to broadcast resources is permitted based on authentication, etc. The general application operates independently of the broadcast signal, and access to broadcast resources is not permitted.

[0323] In Figure 27, the App1 which is the broadcast managed application 2011 is composed of, for example, four documents of HTML11 to HTML14. The App2 which is the non-broadcast application 2012 is composed of, for example, two documents of HTML21 to HTML22. The App3 which is the general application 2013 is composed of, for example, two documents of HTML31 to HTML32. Each HTML document can be transitioned by the link indicated by the solid arrow. For example, it is possible to transition from HTML13 of App1 to HTML21 of App2 or HTML31 of App3. The dashed arrow shows an example of the transition between HTML documents.

[0324] In Figure 27, for example, in response to the user operation 2020 on the aforementioned broadcast cooperation application launcher screen, the App2 which is the non-broadcast application 2012 and the App3 which is the general application 2013 can be started. App2 is executed by, for example, loading HTML21, and App3 is executed by, for example, loading HTML31.

[0325] An example of the case of executing each application independently during the playback of a broadcast program (for example, broadcast program A) by the broadcast wave 2010 is as follows. (a1) At the AIT, the start of App1, which is the broadcast managed application 2011, is instructed, and App1 is started and executed. App1 is permitted to access the broadcast program A. When the end of App1 is instructed at the same AIT, App1 is terminated.

[0326] (a2) Based on a selection operation such as the user's instruction input, the start of App2, which is the off-air application 2012, is instructed by the broadcast cooperation application launcher screen, a link from the HTML13 of App1, etc., and App2 is started and executed. App2 is permitted to access the broadcast program A. When the end of App2 is instructed, App2 is terminated. (a3) Similarly, based on the user's selection operation, the start of App3, which is the general application 2013, is instructed by the broadcast cooperation application launcher screen, a link from the HTML13 of App1, etc., and App3 is started and executed. App3 is not permitted to access the broadcast program A. When the end of App3 is instructed, App3 is terminated.

[0327] [Operation sequence when starting a broadcast managed application] FIG. 28 shows the control operation sequence when the start of a broadcast managed application is requested by the AIT of a broadcast signal or the like during the execution of an off-air application while watching a broadcast program in the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of Example 7. Although the case of an off-air application will be described below, the case of a general application is also possible in the same manner. In FIG. 28, it is assumed that the start of the broadcast managed application with priority is defined and instructed by the information on the PMT and the information such as the application control code 903 and the start priority 907 of the AIT.

[0328] In the broadcast receiving apparatus 100, during the viewing of a broadcast program by the user, for example, in response to an operation of selecting an arbitrary desired non-broadcast application from the broadcast-linked application launcher screen by the user, the activation of the non-broadcast application is instructed. Then, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 superimposes and displays the execution screen of the non-broadcast application on the broadcast program screen, for example (S1401). When the broadcast program is switched in the state of S1401 or the like, the contents of information such as PMT and AIT in the broadcast signal are updated. Even if such an update occurs, since the operations such as activation / termination of the non-broadcast application are not controlled by the broadcast signal, the execution state is continued.

[0329] Next, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 acquires the PMT data sequence separated by the first separation unit 132 by the main control unit 101 (S1402), and checks the activation priority described in the PMT (S1403). In the process of S1403, for example, it is confirmed that the activation priority of the broadcast managed application is high. Then, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 acquires the AIT data sequence separated by the first separation unit 132 by the application control unit 161 (S1404), and checks the application control code 903 of the acquired AIT data sequence (S1405). In the process of S1405, when the application control code 903 is "automatic activation", the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 further checks the application profile 904 of the AIT data sequence (S1406). In S1406, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 checks the executability of the broadcast managed application specified in the AIT.

[0330] When it is confirmed that the above is executable, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 displays a startup selection screen (FIG. 30 and the like described later) on the video display unit 173 by the application control unit 161 (S1407). The startup selection screen is a screen that includes information for allowing the user to select the operations of controlling the startup / termination, etc. of the non-broadcast applications being executed and the broadcast managed applications that are required to start automatically. In the seventh embodiment, as the selection of the above control operation, on the startup selection screen, it is possible to select whether to continue or terminate the execution of the non-broadcast application, whether to start the broadcast managed application, etc. In other words, it is possible to select whether to allow the parallel execution of the non-broadcast application and the broadcast managed application, etc.

[0331] The user selects the operations of controlling the startup and termination of the above plurality of types of applications using the portable information terminal 700 which is his / her operation means, the remote control of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100, etc. on the startup selection screen displayed in S1407 (S1408). The broadcast receiving apparatus 100 receives the selection result of the user as an instruction input. When the startup of the above broadcast managed application is not selected according to the selection result of the user in S1408 (S1409-No), the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 ends the present process in FIG. 28. That is, the application control unit 161 does not acquire and start the broadcast managed application specified in the AIT. The execution of the non-broadcast application continues.

[0332] On the other hand, when the startup of the above broadcast managed application is selected (S1409-Yes), the process proceeds to S1410. In S1410, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 terminates the operation of the non-broadcast application being executed by the application control unit 161.

[0333] Next, the transceiver device 100 transmits a distribution request for a broadcast managed application to a predetermined service provider server 400 via the LAN communication unit 121 based on the information described in the application acquisition destination information 905 of the AIT (S1412). The service provider server 400 that has received the distribution request in S1412, after performing authentication processing of the broadcast receiving device 100 as necessary based on the control of the application management / distribution execution unit 4103, distributes a predetermined broadcast managed application stored in the application storage area 4013 via the LAN communication unit 421 (S1412). Then, the broadcast receiving device 100 activates the broadcast managed application received via the LAN communication unit 121 based on the control of the application control unit 161 by the application engine 162 (S1413).

[0334] In the above embodiment, when the activation of the broadcast managed application is selected in S1409, control is performed to terminate the non-broadcast application in S1410. However, it is not limited to this, and the following control is also possible. The broadcast receiving device 100 checks whether the termination of the non-broadcast application is selected during S1409 or in the step provided next. The broadcast receiving device 100, according to the user's selection result in this step, executes S1410 when the termination of the non-broadcast application is selected, and proceeds to S1411 when it is not selected.

[0335] As a modification, the processes such as the activation confirmation and the termination of the non-broadcast application in S1407 to S1410 may be performed after acquiring the broadcast managed application in S1411 to S1412.

[0336] [Control Example] FIG. 29 shows an example of controlling the playback and execution of a broadcast program and a plurality of types of applications corresponding to the process of FIG. 28 in Example 7. The horizontal axis represents time. Vertically, the playback of the video of the broadcast program by the broadcast signal of the broadcast wave and the control instructions by AIT are related to (A) First Control, (B) Second Control, and (C) Third Control. (A) The First Control indicates (A1) the execution of App2 which is an out-of-broadcast application and (A2) the execution of App1 which is a broadcast-managed application. Similarly, (B) the Second Control indicates (B1) the execution of App2 and (B2) the execution of App1. (C) The Third Control indicates (C1) the execution of App2 and (C2) the execution of App1. Note that the startup priority is such that App1, which is a broadcast-managed application, is higher than App2, which is an out-of-broadcast application, as described above.

[0337] First, as an example of the playback of a broadcast program, the broadcast program A is being played back during the period from time t1 to t3. At time t3 to t4, it is switched to the broadcast program B, and the broadcast program B is being played back during the period from t4 to t6. Along with the switch to the broadcast program B, AIT instructs the startup of App1, which is a broadcast-managed application associated with the broadcast program B.

[0338] (A) In the case of the First Control, for example, at time t2 as in (A1), the out-of-broadcast application App2 is started by a user operation or the like and is being executed from t2. Suppose an instruction to start App1 occurs at t3 during the execution of App2. At this time, as the user selection by the user selection means 2601 from t3 to t4, the continuation of App2 and the startup of App1 are selected. The multiple-application execution control means 2600 of the broadcast receiver 100 starts App1 at t4 as in (A2) while continuing the execution of App2 according to the user selection, and controls the display state of the screen accordingly. Thereafter, for example, during the period from t4 to t5, App1 and App2 are executed in parallel, and App2 is terminated by a user operation or the like at t5. During the period from t5 to t6, the execution of App1 is continued, and App1 is terminated according to the termination instruction of App1 by AIT at t6.

[0339] (B) In the case of the second control, App2 is being executed during the period from t2 to t3 as shown in (B1). Along with the startup instruction of App1 at t3, as a user selection, the termination of App2 and the startup of App1 are selected. The broadcast receiving apparatus 100 terminates the execution of App2 according to the user selection and starts App1 at t4 as shown in (B2). Thereafter, App1 is being executed during the period from t4 to t6.

[0340] (C) In the case of the third control, App2 is being executed during the period from t2 to t3 as shown in (C1). Along with the startup instruction of App1 at t3, as a user selection, the continuation of App2 and the non-startup of App1 are selected. The broadcast receiving apparatus 100 continues the execution of App2 according to the user selection and does not start and execute App1 at t4 as shown in (C2). Thereafter, App2 is being executed during the period from t4 to t5.

[0341] [Startup Selection Screen] FIG. 30 shows an example of the startup selection screen displayed by the process of S1407 in FIG. 28 in Example 7. In this screen, a message box 173g1 is displayed. The message box 173g1 includes the display of a message indicating that the currently non-broadcast application is being executed, that the startup of the broadcast managed application has been instructed and that the startup is possible, and that the user is to be confirmed and selected whether to perform the startup or not. The message box 173g1 in this example includes 'Yes' and 'No' buttons for the user to select whether the startup is possible or not.

[0342] With the message box 173g1 displayed, the user selects "Yes" or "No" using, for example, the cursor keys 741ac and the enter key 741ad on the basic screen 741a of the cooperation control application. That is, when the user wants to start the broadcast managed application at that time, the user selects "Yes", and when the user wants to continue executing the non-broadcast application, the user selects "No". With this screen, the user can easily select whether to start a new broadcast managed application or not, etc. on the broadcast receiving device 100 while executing an arbitrary desired non-broadcast application, according to the user's convenience and wishes at that time. The above control is also possible in the case of a general application.

[0343] Note that instead of the message box 173g1, an icon 173b0 or other mark in FIG. 12A described above may be displayed to prompt a predetermined user operation, and the start of the broadcast managed application or the termination of the non-broadcast application may be controlled by the operation. For example, a mark or message indicating a request to start the broadcast managed application may be displayed in the OSD at a corner of the screen. If no predetermined user operation is performed after the display of the icon or the like, the display is erased.

[0344] FIG. 31 shows an example of another start selection screen. In the start selection screen of FIG. 31, a message box 173g2 is displayed. The message box 173g2 includes a display of a message or the like for allowing the user to select an operation for controlling the start and termination of a plurality of types of applications including the non-broadcast application and the broadcast managed application. Specifically, as information on control options, the message box 173g2 includes (1) starting the broadcast managed application while executing the non-broadcast application, (2) terminating the non-broadcast application and starting the broadcast managed application, (3) not starting the broadcast managed application, and the like.

[0345] With the message box 173g2 displayed, the user makes a selection from the above options, for example, using the color key 741ae on the basic screen 741a of the cooperation control application. For example, blue corresponds to the control of (1), red corresponds to the control of (2), and yellow corresponds to the control of (3). Depending on the situation at that time, the user can also easily select to end or start each application on the above screen.

[0346] The startup selection screen is not limited to the form of being displayed when a request occurs, but can also be in the form of being displayed during user settings. In this case, the broadcast receiving device 100 displays a user setting menu on the screen of the video display unit 173, for example, in the same manner as in FIG. 25, and displays options for the above controls such as (1) to (3) in the menu, enabling the user to set the selection. The broadcast receiving device 100 executes the control according to this user setting information when a request occurs.

[0347] [Execution screens of multiple applications] When the broadcast receiving device 100 controls to terminate the above non-broadcast application and start and execute the broadcast managed application, it controls the display on the screen of the video display unit 173 in the same manner as in the previous example. That is, the broadcast receiving device 100 terminates the execution screen of the non-broadcast application that was displayed in, for example, a separate area from the broadcast program screen or a partially overlapping area within the broadcast program screen on the screen of the video display unit 173, and newly displays the execution screen of the broadcast managed application.

[0348] In addition, when the broadcast receiving device 100 controls to start the broadcast managed application while continuing the execution of the above non-broadcast application, that is, to execute both applications in parallel, it may control the display on the screen of the video display unit 173 as follows. The broadcast receiving device 100 appropriately adjusts the size and display position of the execution screens of both or one of the applications so that the displays of the execution screen of the non-broadcast application and the execution screen of the broadcast managed application do not entirely overlap. Also, the execution screens of both may be adjusted so that they overlap in a partial area.

[0349] The broadcast receiving device 100 may perform a process of reducing, for example, the size of the execution screen of a non-broadcast application being executed so as not to interfere with the display of the execution screen of the newly launched broadcast managed application. Conversely, the size of the execution screen of the newly launched broadcast managed application may be reduced so as not to interfere with the display of the execution screen of the non-broadcast application being executed. Also, the non-broadcast application may be temporarily iconified, and only the execution screen of the broadcast managed application may be displayed, and the display of the execution screen of the non-broadcast application may be restored by a selection operation of the icon of the non-broadcast application by the user. Also, both applications may be iconified, and the execution screen may be displayed according to the selection of the icon by the user.

[0350] The broadcast receiving device 100 may, for example, display a playback screen of a broadcast program within the screen of the video display unit 173, superimpose and display the execution screen of a non-broadcast application on a partial area of the playback screen of the broadcast program, and further superimpose and display the execution screen of the broadcast managed application or the like on a partial area within the execution screen of the non-broadcast application. Also, the broadcast receiving device 100 may divide all or a partial area of the screen of the video display unit 173 and display the broadcast program and the execution screens of both applications in parallel.

[0351] FIG. 32 shows an example of the screen of the video display unit 173 corresponding to a control example of parallel execution of the above plurality of applications. In the screen of FIG. 32, the execution screen of the newly launched broadcast managed application is superimposed and displayed on a partial area 173g3 on the screen 173g for displaying the broadcast program. At the same time, the execution screen of the non-broadcast application being executed is displayed in a reduced size or as an icon or the like in a partial area 173g4 within the area 173g3. When the area 173g4 is selected and operated by the user, the execution screen of the non-broadcast application is displayed in an enlarged manner in the area 173g3, and conversely, the execution screen of the broadcast managed application is displayed in a reduced size or as an icon or the like in the area 173g4. A mark or a message indicating that there is an instruction to start the broadcast managed application may be displayed in the area 173g4.

[0352] Through a screen like the above example, the user can easily grasp and recognize the status of the broadcast program and the execution of multiple types of applications.

[0353] FIG. 33 shows another screen example of the video display unit 173 corresponding to the control example of the parallel execution of the above multiple applications. The screen of FIG. 33 shows, in a plurality of divided regions, the screen 173g of the broadcast program, the execution screen 173g5 of the non-broadcast application, the execution screen 173g6 of the newly launched broadcast managed application, and the region 173g7 for displaying information for startup selection and the like in parallel. In the region 173g7, a mark or message indicating that there is an instruction to start the broadcast managed application may be displayed, or information on a list of applications such as the broadcast cooperation application launcher in FIG. 12B may be displayed. Further, on this screen, when there are two or more non-broadcast applications or general applications, and two or more broadcast managed applications, the execution screens of each application may be displayed in parallel.

[0354] [Effects, etc.] As described above, according to the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of the seventh embodiment, even when a request to start a broadcast managed application is generated by AIT or the like during the execution of a non-broadcast application or a general application in the broadcast receiving apparatus 100, the startup and termination of various multiple applications can be appropriately controlled according to the user's selection. That is, according to the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 of this embodiment, a function with higher added value can be executed. The user can select and use a non-broadcast application or a broadcast managed application according to the situation and convenience at the time of the request.

[0355] Regarding which of the various controls, modification examples, screen display control methods, etc. of the seventh embodiment are adopted, it is defined as a specification of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 or the like, or the user of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 or the like can make a selection setting.

[0356] As a modification of Example 7, the following is possible. As a first modification, after the processing up to S1406 in FIG. 28, without confirming the user selection by S1407 to S1408, the termination of the out-of-broadcast application and the startup of the broadcast managed application by S1410 to S1413 may be automatically performed. Similarly, after the processing up to S1406, without confirming the user selection, control may be performed so that the broadcast managed application is automatically started while the out-of-broadcast application is continued. Similarly, during the execution of the out-of-broadcast application or the general application, control may be performed so that the broadcast managed application is not automatically started without confirming the user selection. In the case of this modification, the user has less trouble in operation.

[0357] As a second modification, not limited to the confirmation of the instruction input of the user selection on the startup confirmation screen, similar to the aforementioned Example 6, using the user settings on the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 or the portable information terminal 700, the control of the execution of a plurality of types of applications may be realized. For example, with the user setting information such as the aforementioned function setting menu, etc., the user can select and set whether to start the broadcast managed application during the execution of the out-of-broadcast application or the general application according to his / her preference. The broadcast receiving apparatus 100 stores the set value in the storage unit 110. When the startup of the broadcast managed application is requested during the execution of the out-of-broadcast application or the like, for example, during the processing of S1407 to S1409 above, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 refers to and confirms the content of the user setting information of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100. The broadcast receiving apparatus 100 judges and determines the control such as the startup according to the content. In the case of this modification, the user can appropriately change the user settings according to his / her convenience and use a plurality of types of broadcast-linked applications.

[0358] The same can be realized also when using the user settings of the portable information terminal 700. Similar to Example 6, according to the presence or absence of the portable information terminal 700 to be linked or the user settings for each portable information terminal 700 to be linked, the startup, termination, etc. of the plurality of types of applications can be flexibly controlled.

[0359] As another modification example, in the control example related to the second control in FIG. 29(B) above, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 displays information indicating that an out-of-broadcast application has been terminated midway and a broadcast managed application has been started, and after terminating the broadcast managed application, automatically or by a predetermined user operation, restart and execute the out-of-broadcast application that was terminated midway. In the case of this modification example, the user can easily return to using the out-of-broadcast application.

[0360] As another modification example, in the control example related to the third control in FIG. 29(C) above, when a request to start a broadcast managed application comes, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 holds it without starting the broadcast managed application according to the user's selection and continues the out-of-broadcast application being executed. Thereafter, the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 starts the held broadcast managed application, for example, after the out-of-broadcast application ends. As an example of the control of the screen display in this case, a message or a mark indicating that there is a request to start the broadcast managed application or that the start is on hold is displayed at a corner of the execution screen of the out-of-broadcast application. This prompts the user to terminate the out-of-broadcast application and start the broadcast managed application. In the case of this modification example, the user can switch to using the broadcast managed application at a convenient timing.

[0361] The embodiments of the present invention have been described above using Examples 1 to 7. However, the configurations for realizing the technology of the present invention are not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications are possible. For example, a part of the configuration of one embodiment can be replaced with the configuration of another embodiment, and the configuration of another embodiment can be added to the configuration of one embodiment. All of these belong to the scope of the present invention. Also, the numerical values, messages, etc. that appear in the text and drawings are merely examples, and the use of different ones does not impair the effects of the present invention. The functions, etc. of the present invention described above may be realized in hardware, for example, by design in an integrated circuit or the like, or may be realized in software by a microprocessor unit or the like interpreting and executing an operation program for realizing each function, etc., or may be realized by a combination of hardware and software. Also, the control lines and information lines shown in the drawings indicate those considered necessary for explanation, and do not necessarily show all the control lines and information lines on the product. In practice, it may be considered that almost all the components are interconnected.

[0362] Note that the above-mentioned software for controlling the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 may be stored in advance in the ROM 103, the storage unit 110, etc. of the broadcast receiving apparatus 100 at the time of product shipment. It may also be acquired from other application servers 500 etc. on the Internet 200 via the LAN communication unit 121 after product shipment. Further, software stored in a memory card, an optical disk, etc. may be acquired via the expansion interface unit 124 etc. Similarly, the software for controlling the portable information terminal 700 may be stored in advance in the ROM 703, the storage unit 710, etc. of the portable information terminal 700 at the time of product shipment. It may also be acquired from other application servers 500 etc. on the Internet 200 via the LAN communication unit 721 or the mobile phone network communication unit 722 etc. after product shipment. Further, software stored in a memory card, an optical disk, etc. may be acquired via the expansion interface unit 724 etc.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0363] 100: Broadcast receiving device, 132: First separation unit, 133: First video decoding unit, 134: First audio decoding unit, 135: First subtitle decoding unit, 141: Data broadcast reception processing unit, 142: Data broadcast engine, 151: Streaming reception processing unit, 152: Second separation unit, 153: Second video decoding unit, 154: Second audio decoding unit, 155: Second subtitle decoding unit, 161: Application control unit, 162: Application engine, 171: Video overlay unit, 172: Audio selection unit, 173: Video display unit, 174: Speaker, 175: Video output unit, 176: Audio output unit, 181: Presentation synchronization control unit, 191: Terminal cooperation control unit, 300: Broadcast station server, 400: Service provider server, 500: Other application server, 600: Mobile phone communication server, 600b: Base station, 700: Portable information terminal, 2600: Multiple application execution control means, 2601: User selection means, 2010: Broadcast wave, 2011: Broadcast managed application, 2012: Non-broadcast application, 2013: General application, 2020: User operation.

Claims

【Claim 1】 An application startup method in a broadcast receiving apparatus capable of cooperating with a portable information terminal, comprising: a communication step in which the broadcast receiving apparatus communicates with the portable information terminal; a broadcast reception step in which the broadcast receiving apparatus receives a digital broadcast signal; a display step in which video of a broadcast program included in the digital broadcast signal received in the broadcast reception step is displayed on the broadcast receiving apparatus; an application execution step in which a cooperation application that cooperates with the broadcast program is executed on the broadcast receiving apparatus based on application-related information included in the digital broadcast signal received in the broadcast reception step; a data broadcast processing step in which execution of data broadcast is controlled based on the digital broadcast signal received in the broadcast reception step; and when the PMT (Program Map Table) information included in the digital broadcast signal received in the broadcast reception step indicates that the startup priority of the data broadcast is high, the execution of the data broadcast in the data broadcast processing step is prioritized over the execution of the cooperation application in the application execution step. In the data broadcast processing step, control is performed to display an entry button for starting the cooperation application on the broadcast receiving apparatus. During the execution of the data broadcast by the data broadcast processing step, when an instruction for operating the entry button, which is a startup instruction for the cooperation application, transmitted from the portable information terminal is received by the communication step, the execution of the ongoing data broadcast is terminated, and the cooperation application is started based on the application-related information by the application execution step. In the data broadcast processing step, when it is confirmed that the broadcast receiving apparatus is capable of executing the cooperation application, control is performed to display the entry button on the broadcast receiving apparatus. An application startup method.

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