Broadcasting system, receiver, transmission method, and reception method

Abstract

To provide a broadcasting system capable of designating how a service designated by the broadcasting system is to be handled by a receiver having acquired an object area of the service.SOLUTION: The broadcasting system which sends signals of digital broadcasting comprises: a control information generation unit which, with respect to one or each of a plurality of services included in the digital broadcasting, generates control information including first information indicating use restriction based on an area set by a receiver receiving the digital broadcasting and second information indicating an area in which the service is available; and a multiplexing unit which multiplexes the control information and contents of the one or the plurality of services.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a broadcast system, a receiver, a transmission method, and a reception method.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in terrestrial digital broadcasting, a receiver can acquire which area each service (channel) is targeted at by including an area code in the NIT (Network Information Table) or including area identification in the SDT (Service Description Table) (for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in conventional terrestrial digital broadcasting, there is a problem that there is no regulation on how a receiver that has acquired the target area of a service specified by a broadcast system handles the service, and the operation varies depending on the receiver.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides a broadcast system, a receiver, a transmission method, and a reception method that can specify how a receiver that has acquired the target area of a service specified by a broadcast system handles the service.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] This invention was made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and one aspect of the present invention is a broadcasting system for transmitting a digital broadcast signal, comprising: a control information generation unit that generates control information for each of one or more services included in the digital broadcast, which includes first information indicating restrictions on use based on the region set in a receiver that receives the digital broadcast, and second information indicating the region in which the service can be used; and a multiplexing unit that multiplexes the control information and the content of the one or more services.

[0007] Another aspect of the present invention is the broadcasting system described above, wherein the first information indicates display in a program guide or restrictions on channel selection.

[0008] Another aspect of the present invention is the broadcasting system described above, wherein the control information is placed in a service description table.

[0009] Another aspect of the present invention is the broadcasting system described above, comprising a content generation unit that generates data broadcasting content, which causes the receiver to compare a region set in the receiver with the second information to determine whether each of the one or more services is available, and the multiplexing unit further multiplexes the content.

[0010] Another aspect of the present invention is a receiver for receiving digital broadcast signals, comprising: a multiplexing unit that separates control information from the received signal, for each of one or more services included in the digital broadcast, including first information indicating restrictions on use based on a region set in the receiver and second information indicating regions where the service can be used; and a storage unit that stores regions for determining whether each of the one or more services can be used by comparing it with the second information.

[0011] Another aspect of the present invention is the receiver described above, wherein the first information indicates display on an electronic program guide or a restriction on channel selection.

[0012] Another aspect of the present invention is the receiver described above, wherein the control information is placed in a service description table.

[0013] Another aspect of the present invention is a receiver described above, comprising a processing unit that compares a region set in the receiver with the second information to determine whether each of the one or more services is available.

[0014] Another aspect of the present invention is the receiver described above, comprising a data content processing unit that executes data broadcast content, wherein the data content processing unit comprises an interface that provides the first information and the second information to the data broadcast content.

[0015] Another aspect of the present invention is a transmission method for a broadcasting system that transmits a digital broadcast signal, comprising the steps of: generating control information for each of one or more services included in the digital broadcast, including first information indicating restrictions on use based on a region set in a receiver that receives the digital broadcast, and second information indicating a region in which the service can be used; and multiplexing the control information with the content of the one or more services.

[0016] Another aspect of the present invention is a receiving method for a receiver, comprising the steps of: receiving a signal of a digital broadcast; and separating control information from the received signal, which includes, for each of one or more services included in the digital broadcast, first information indicating restrictions on use based on a region set in the receiver, and second information indicating a region in which the service can be used, wherein the receiver comprises a storage unit that stores regions for determining whether each of the one or more services can be used by comparing them with the second information. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] According to this invention, it is possible to specify how a receiver that has acquired the target area of a service specified by a broadcast system handles the service.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0018] [Figure 1] It is a schematic block diagram showing the configurations of a receiver 100 and a broadcast system 200 according to an embodiment of this invention. [Figure 2] It is a diagram showing an example of a protocol stack of digital broadcasting according to the same embodiment. [Figure 3] It is a table showing the data structure of a service description table according to the same embodiment. [Figure 4] It is a table showing an example of the data structure of an MH area-limited service descriptor according to the same embodiment. [Figure 5] It is a table showing an example of area designation according to the same embodiment. [Figure 6] It is a table showing another example of area designation according to the same embodiment. [Figure 7] It is a table showing an example of an area restriction acquisition API according to the same embodiment. [Figure 8] It is a flowchart showing an operation example of a data content processing unit 105 by a simulcast EPG according to the same embodiment. [Figure 9] It is a schematic diagram showing an example of EPG display according to the same embodiment. [Figure 10] It is a schematic block diagram showing the configurations of a receiver 100a and a broadcast system 200 according to a second embodiment of this invention. [Figure 11] It is a flowchart for explaining an operation example of a program schedule processing unit 106 according to the same embodiment. [Figure 12] It is a flowchart for explaining another operation example of a program schedule processing unit 106 according to the same embodiment.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0019] <First Embodiment> Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of a receiver 100 and a broadcasting system 200 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The transmitting and receiving system in this embodiment comprises a receiver 100 and a broadcasting system 200. The broadcasting system 200 (transmitter) transmits digital broadcast signals. The receiver 100 receives the digital broadcast signals transmitted by the broadcasting system 200. This digital broadcast can provide a large number of services (channels) by using, for example, VVC (Versatile Video Coding) for video encoding. In this digital broadcast, terrestrial digital broadcast services are retransmitted (simulcast) using a broadcasting satellite. This makes it possible to receive the retransmitted services in areas where terrestrial digital broadcast reception is poor.

[0020] When terrestrial digital broadcasting services from various regions are retransmitted by broadcasting satellites, the receiver 100 receives signals for services broadcast in various regions. Therefore, these digital broadcast signals include first information indicating usage restrictions based on the region set in the receiver 100, and second information indicating the regions where the service is available. This allows the receiver 100 to specify how each service is handled.

[0021] The broadcasting system 200 comprises a video generation unit 201, a data generation unit 202, an SI (Signaling Information) generation unit 203, a multiplexing unit 204, and a transmission unit 205. The video generation unit 201 encodes the video content of each service using encoding methods such as VVC and HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding) to generate a stream of video content for each service. The video content stream may also include audio, subtitles, etc. The data generation unit 202 generates a stream of data content for each service. The data content is, for example, an application written in the HTML (HyperText Markup Language) 5 standard. In this embodiment, the data broadcasting content also includes an EPG (Electric Program Guide, hereafter also called Simul EPG) for selecting a service to watch from among the transmitted terrestrial digital broadcasting services. The SI generation unit 203 (control information generation unit) generates control information such as MMT (MPEG Media Transport)-SI (Signaling Information).

[0022] This control information includes, for each of the one or more services included in this digital broadcast, first information (region-restricted use or restriction function described later) indicating restrictions on use based on the region set in the receiver 100, and second information (region designation described later) indicating the region in which the service can be used. In one embodiment, the first information indicates restrictions on display in the electronic program guide (simulcast EPG) or on channel selection. In another embodiment, the control information including the first and second information is placed in a service description table (MH-Service Description Table, MH-SDT), which is one of the MMT-SIs.

[0023] The multiplexing unit 204 multiplexes the control information generated by the SI generation unit 203 with one or more services included in this digital broadcast, i.e., the video content stream generated by the video generation unit 201, and generates a multiplexed stream. This multiplexing may be done using MMT (MPEG Media Transport) packets or other packets. Furthermore, the multiplexing unit 204 also multiplexes the data broadcast content stream generated by the content generation unit 202.

[0024] The transmission unit 205 transmits the stream generated by the multiplexing unit 204 as a digital broadcast signal. The signal transmitted by the transmission unit 205 is relayed by the broadcast satellite transponder and received by receivers 100 installed in each region.

[0025] The receiver 100 comprises a tuner 101, a multiplexing / decoupling unit 102, a decoder 103, a storage unit 104, and a data content processing unit 105. The tuner 101 receives digital broadcasts via an antenna and tunes (selects) to the channel selected based on user operation. The tuned signal is demodulated and input as a stream to the multiplexing / decoupling unit 102. The multiplexing / decoupling unit 102 separates the input stream into a video content stream, data broadcast content, and control information. The decoder 103 decodes the video content stream separated by the multiplexing / decoupling unit 102. The decoder 103 generates an image by combining the decoded image with the image generated by the data content processing unit 105, and displays this image on the display device 110.

[0026] The storage unit 104 stores information indicating a region. This information is used to determine whether each service is available or not by comparing it with a second piece of information indicating the regions where the service is available. In one embodiment, the information indicating a region stored in the storage unit 104 is set by the user of the receiver 100. The data content processing unit 105 processes the data content separated by the multiplexing unit 102.

[0027] For example, the data content processing unit 105 has a browser function and processes HTML5 data content to generate video for data broadcasting content. The data content processing unit 105 may also have an API (Application Program Interface, hereafter referred to as the regional restriction acquisition API) that provides at least the first or second piece of control information separated by the multiplexing / separation unit 102 to the data content. When processing the simulcast EPG, the data content processing unit 105 can compare the second piece of information obtained using this API with the regional information obtained from the storage unit 104 to determine whether or not the service is available. Furthermore, based on the first piece of information obtained using this API, the data content processing unit 105 can determine whether or not to display each service in the EPG and whether or not to make each service selectable.

[0028] Figure 2 shows an example of a digital broadcasting protocol stack according to this embodiment. As shown in this figure, the digital broadcasting protocol stack according to this embodiment consists of TMCC (Transmission and Multiplexing Configuration Control), time information, encoded video data, encoded audio data, encoded subtitle data, MMT-SI, an application (also simply called an app) written in HTML5 standard, EPG (Electronic Program Guide, including Simul EPG), content download data, etc. The encoding of the video and audio signals of the broadcast program is done by an MFU (Media Fragment Unit) / MPU (Media Processing Unit). The MFU / MPU is then packaged in an MMTP (MMT Protocol) payload, packetized by broadcasting station 1, and transmitted by broadcasting system 200 as an IP packet. For data content transmission, the data is packetized in an MMTP packet by broadcasting system 200 and transmitted by broadcasting system 200 as an IP packet. When the IP packets configured in this way are broadcast using a broadcasting transmission path, they are transmitted by broadcasting system 200 in the form of a TLV (Type Length Value) packet. A single IP packet, or a single header-compressed IP packet, is transmitted by the broadcasting system 200 as a single TLV packet.

[0029] Furthermore, this protocol stack provides two types of control information: MMT-SI and TLV-SI. MMT-SI is control information that indicates the structure of broadcast programs, etc. MMT-SI is in the format of an MMT control message, is placed in an MMTP payload by the broadcast system 200, is converted into an MMTP packet, and is transmitted by the broadcast system 200 as an IP packet. TLV-SI is control information related to IP packet multiplexing, and provides information for channel selection and information on the correspondence between IP addresses and services.

[0030] Furthermore, TMCC refers to control information that is inserted into the transmission frame and transmitted in a hierarchical modulation scheme that specifies the modulation scheme and error correction scheme for each unit (slot) of signal on the transmission path. HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding) and VVC (Versatile Video Codec) are methods for encoding video signals. AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) and ALS (Audio Lossless Coding) are methods for encoding audio signals. UDP / IP (User Datagram Protocol / Internet Protocol) is one of the protocols used for communication. TLV is one of the data multiplexing methods. TLV data encoding consists of three components: data type, length, and value.

[0031] <Message Types and Identification> MMT-SI includes messages, tables, and descriptors. Messages include PA (Package Access) messages, M2 section messages, CA messages, M2 short section messages, data transmission messages, and messages set by the carrier. The MMT-SI message used for broadcasting is as follows:

[0032] The "PA message" transmits the PLT and MPT to indicate the service entry point. "M2 section messages" transmit the section extension format of MPEG-2 Systems. The "CA message" transmits information regarding restricted access. "M2 Short Section Messages" transmit the section short format of MPEG-2 Systems. The "data transmission message" transmits a table related to data transmission.

[0033] The TLV-SI table used for broadcasting is as follows:

[0034] “TLV-NIT(Network Information Table for TLV) transmits information that associates the transmission path information, such as the modulation frequency, with the broadcast program during transmission using TLV packets. The "AMT (Address Map Table)" transmits information that associates a service identifier, which identifies the broadcast program number, with an IP packet. The MMT-SI table used for broadcasting is as follows: The "MPT (MMT Package Table)" provides information that makes up a package, such as a list of assets and their locations. The "PLT (Package List Table)" is a list of packet IDs that transmit PA messages, including MPTs, for services provided as broadcast services. "ECM (Entitlement Control Message)" transmits common information consisting of program information (information about the program and keys for descrambling, etc.) and control information (commands to force the decoder's scrambling function on / off).

[0035] "EMM (Entitlement Management Message) transmits individual information, including contract information for each subscriber and a work key for decrypting common information." "CAT(MH)(Conditional Access Table)" specifies the packet identifier of the MMTP packet that transmits individual information among the related information that constitutes restricted access broadcasting. "MH-EIT (MH-Event Information Table)" transmits information about a program, such as its name, broadcast date and time, and a description of its content. "MH-AIT (MH-Application Information Table)" transmits dynamic control information and additional information necessary for the execution of an application. "MH-BIT (MH-Broadcaster Information Table)" is used to display information about broadcasters present on the network.

[0036] "MH-SDTT (MH-Software Download TriggerTable)" transmits notification information such as the download service ID, schedule information, and the type of receiver to be updated. "MH-SDT (MH-Service Description Table)" transmits information about programming channels, such as the name of the programming channel and the name of the broadcasting company. "MH-TOT (MH-Time Offset Table)" transmits the current date and time, as well as the difference between the actual time and the time displayed to the human system. "MH-CDT (MH-Common Data Table)" transmits data that is commonly required by receivers, such as carrier logos, and is intended to be stored in non-volatile memory. "DDMT (Data Directory Management Table)" provides the directory structure for the files that make up an application.

[0037] "DAMT (Data Asset Management Table)" provides the configuration of MPUs within an asset and version information for each MPU. The "DCCT (Data Content Configuration Table)" provides configuration information for files as data content. The Event Message Table (EMT) is used to transmit information related to event messages.

[0038] Figure 3 is a table showing the data structure of the service description table (MH-SDT) according to this embodiment. The service description table is stored in the M2 section message. In Figure 3, "uimsbf" represents "unsigned integer most significant bit first", and "bslbf" represents "bit string left bit first". The "table_id" (table identifier) ​​is an 8-bit field that identifies each table. The table identifier is 0x9F if the service description table is the service description table of the same TLV stream, and 0xA0 if it is the service description table of another TLV stream.

[0039] The "section_syntax_indicator" is a 1-bit field and is always set to '1'. The "section_length" field is a 12-bit field, with the first two bits always set to '00'. This specifies the number of bytes in the section from immediately after the section length field to the end of the section containing the CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check).

[0040] The "tlv_stream_id" (TLV stream identifier) ​​is a 16-bit field that acts as a label to identify the TLV stream indicated by MH-SDT from other multiplexers within its distribution system. The "version_number" is a 5-bit field that represents the version number of the subtable. The version number is incremented by 1 whenever there is a change in the information within the subtable. If the current next instruction is '1', the version number will be the version number of the current subtable defined by the table identifier and network identifier. If the current next instruction is '0', the version number will be the version number of the next subtable defined by the table identifier and network identifier.

[0041] The `current_next_indicator` is a 1-bit field. If the current_next_indicator is '1', it indicates that the subtable is the current subtable. If the current_next_indicator is '0', it indicates that the subtable being sent has not yet been applied and will be used as the next subtable. The "section_number" is an 8-bit field that represents the section number. The section number for the first section in a subtable is 0x00. The section number is incremented by 1 for each additional section that shares the same table identifier, TLV stream identifier, and original network identifier.

[0042] "last_section_number" is an 8-bit field that specifies the number of the last section (i.e., the section with the highest section number) in the subtable to which the section belongs. "original_network_id" (original network identifier) ​​is a 16-bit field that acts as a label defining the network identifier of the original distribution system.

[0043] The "service_id" (service identifier) ​​is a 16-bit field that serves as a label to identify this service from other services within its TLV stream. The "EIT_user_defined_flags" (EIT operator-defined flags) is a 3-bit field that can be independently defined by broadcasters as an extension indicating whether or not EIT is transmitted. If not used, it should be set to '111'. The "EIT_schedule_flag" (EIT [schedule] flag) is a 1-bit field. If this flag is '1', it indicates that the EIT [schedule] information for that service is present in the current TLV stream. If this flag is '0', it indicates that the EIT [schedule] information for that service is not present in the current TLV stream.

[0044] The "EIT_present_following_flag" (EIT [present / next] flag) is a 1-bit field. If this flag is '1', it indicates that the EIT [present / next] information for that service is in the current TLV stream. If this flag is '0', it indicates that the EIT [present / next] information for that service is not in the current TLV stream. The "running_status" field is a 3-bit field. This field indicates whether the service is not running, will start within a few seconds, is stopped, or is running.

[0045] The "free_CA_mode" (scrambled) field is a 1-bit field. If this field is '0', it indicates that all component streams within the event are not scrambled. If this field is '1', it indicates that access to one or more streams is controlled by the CA (Conditional Access) system. The `descritors_loop_length` field is a 12-bit field. It specifies the total byte length of subsequent descriptors. The `descriptor()` is a region of length indicated by the descriptor loop length, where descriptors related to the service indicated by the service identifier are placed. "CRC_32" (CRC) is the 32-bit CRC for this section. Furthermore, the section from the service identification to before the CRC is repeated as many times as there are services stored in this service description table.

[0046] Figure 4 is a table showing an example of the data structure of the MH area-limited service descriptor according to this embodiment. Figure 4(1) is an example where the area designation is an area designator described later, and Figure 4(2) is an example where the area designation is an area identification assignment described later. The MH area-limited service descriptor (MH_limited_area_service_descriptor) is placed in the descriptor area of ​​the service description table. The `descriptor_tag` is a 16-bit field that identifies the descriptor. The "descriptor_length" field is an 8-bit field that indicates the number of data bytes for the descriptor that follows this field.

[0047] The "service_type" field is an 8-bit field that indicates the service type of this service. If this service is a retransmission of terrestrial digital broadcasting, you may set a new type so that when this service is tuned in, the data content, which is the simulEPG, is executed. The new type may be a regional broadcasting service using television-type next-generation video (e.g., 0xC2) or a regional data service of data type (e.g., 0xAC).

[0048] "use_area_information" is a 1-bit field. If the value is '1', it indicates that the restriction function following this field is enabled. If the value is '0', it indicates that the restriction function following this field is disabled. The "limited_function" field is a two-bit field that indicates usage restrictions based on the region set on receiver 100. The first bit, if '1', indicates a restriction on displaying this service in the EPG. The second bit, if '1', indicates a restriction on tuning to this service.

[0049] The `target_region_spec()` (region specification) indicates the region where this service is available. In other words, the region specification indicates the region to which the restrictions indicated by the restriction function do not apply. When a region specifier is used as the region specification, the region specification is a 56-bit field. When a region identification assignment is used as the region specification, the region specification is a 6-bit field. The "remote_control_number" indicates the channel number assigned to this service. In cases where a region specifier is used for region specification, the remote control number is a 5-bit field. In cases where a region identification assignment is used for region specification, the remote control number is a 7-bit field.

[0050] Figure 5 is a table showing an example of a regional designation according to this embodiment. The regional designation shown in Figure 5 is a regional designator defined in Appendix G of ARIB STD-B10. As shown in Figure 5, this regional designator is 56 bits long, and each bit constituting this regional designator indicates the region where the service can be used. For example, for a service available in Gunma Prefecture, the 11th bit is set to '1', and for a service available in Gunma Prefecture and Saitama Prefecture, the 11th and 12th bits are set to '1'.

[0051] Figure 6 is a table showing another example of regional designation according to this embodiment. The regional designation shown in Figure 6 is a regional identification assignment as defined in Chapter 9 of Part VII of ARIB TR-B14. The regional identification assignment is 6 bits long and its value indicates the region where the service is available. For example, for a service available in Gunma Prefecture, the value of the regional identification assignment is set to "25".

[0052] Figure 7 is a table showing an example of a regional restriction acquisition API according to this embodiment. As described above, the regional restriction acquisition API is an API that provides at least the first or second piece of information to the data content. As shown in Figure 7, when the regional restriction acquisition API is set as an argument to a service identifier (service_id), it returns an object (regional restriction service information) that corresponds to the MH regional restriction service descriptor of the service indicated by that service identifier. That is, the regional restriction service information includes each field of the MH regional restriction service descriptor, such as regional restriction usage, restriction function, and region specification. Alternatively, separate APIs may be provided to return each field of the MH regional restriction service descriptor as part of the regional restriction acquisition API.

[0053] Figure 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the data content processing unit 105 using the SimulEPG according to this embodiment. The SimulEPG may be multiplexed as data content for each service that is a retransmission of terrestrial digital broadcasting. Alternatively, the SimulEPG may be sent as data content for a specific service, and when a network that is retransmitting terrestrial digital broadcasting is selected by the user, the receiver 100 may tune into that specific service.

[0054] The data content, SimulEPG, causes the data content processing unit 105 to perform the following steps. The data content processing unit 105 obtains region-limited service information for each service using the region restriction acquisition API (step Sa1). Next, the data content processing unit 105 selects one service (channel) (step Sa2). The data content processing unit 105 determines whether the service selected in step Sa2 is a region-limited service by referring to the region restriction usage of that service (step Sa3). If the data content processing unit 105 determines that it is a region-limited service (step Sa3-Yes), it proceeds to step Sa4; if it determines that it is not a region-limited service (step Sa3-No), it proceeds to step Sa6.

[0055] In step Sa4, the data content processing unit 105 determines whether the service selected in step Sa2 is restricted from being displayed in the EPG by referring to the first bit of the restriction function. If the data content processing unit 105 determines that the EPG display is restricted (step Sa4-Yes), it proceeds to step Sa5; if it determines that the EPG display is not restricted (step Sa4-No), it proceeds to step Sa6.

[0056] In step Sa5, the data content processing unit 105 determines whether the region specified for the service selected in step Sa2 matches the region indicated by the information stored in the storage unit 104. Here, if the region indicated by the information stored in the storage unit 104 is included in the region indicated by the region specification, it may be determined that they match. If the data content processing unit 105 determines that they match (step Sa5-Yes), it proceeds to step Sa6; if it determines that they do not match (step Sa5-No), it proceeds to step Sa7.

[0057] In step Sa6, the data content processing unit 105 displays the services selected in step Sa2 on the EPG. In step Sa7, the data content processing unit 105 determines whether all services (channels) have been selected in step Sa2. Here, "all services" refers to the services of retransmission of terrestrial digital broadcasting. If there are services that have not been selected (step Sa7-No), the data content processing unit 105 returns to step Sa2; if all services have been selected (step Sa7-Yes), it proceeds to step Sa8.

[0058] In step Sa8, the data content processing unit 105 obtains a channel selection instruction indicating the service selected by the user from among the services displayed on the EPG. Next, the data content processing unit 105 determines whether the service indicated by the channel selection instruction is a region-limited service by referring to the region-restricted usage of that service (step Sa9). If the data content processing unit 105 determines that it is a region-limited service (step Sa9-Yes), it proceeds to step Sa10; if it determines that it is not a region-limited service (step Sa9-No), it proceeds to step Sa12.

[0059] In step Sa10, the data content processing unit 105 determines whether the service indicated by the channel selection instruction is restricted by referring to the second bit of the restriction function. If the data content processing unit 105 determines that channel selection is restricted (step Sa10-Yes), it proceeds to step Sa11; if it determines that channel selection is not restricted (step Sa10-No), it proceeds to step Sa12.

[0060] In step Sa11, the data content processing unit 105 determines whether the service region specified by the channel selection instruction matches the region indicated by the information stored in the storage unit 104. Here, if the region indicated by the information stored in the storage unit 104 is included in the region indicated by the region specification, it may be determined that they match. If the data content processing unit 105 determines that they match (step Sa11-Yes), it proceeds to step Sa12; if it determines that they do not match (step Sa11-No), it returns to step Sa8.

[0061] In step Sa12, the data content processing unit 105 controls the receiver 100 to select the video content of the service indicated by the channel selection instruction. In this way, the SimulEPG operates so that the receiver 100 does not display EPG information for services that are retransmissions of terrestrial digital broadcasts and whose regions do not match. Furthermore, the SimulEPG operates so that the receiver 100 does not select channels for services that are retransmissions of terrestrial digital broadcasts and whose channels do not match.

[0062] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an EPG display according to this embodiment. The example in Figure 9 is for a case where there are four services that retransmit terrestrial digital broadcasts: national channel A, regional channel B, regional channel C, and regional channel D. In the example in Figure 9, regional channel D, which is shaded, is displayed in the EPG but cannot be selected.

[0063] National Channel A is a channel that does not have an MH regional service descriptor, has '0' set for regional restriction usage, or has '0' set for all bits of the restriction function, and is therefore not a regionally restricted service. National Channel A is displayed in the EPG and can be tuned.

[0064] Regional channel B is a channel that has an MH regional service descriptor, has '1' set for regional restriction use, has '1' set in any bit of the restriction function, and whose region designation matches the region set in receiver 100. Regional channel B is displayed in the EPG and can be selected.

[0065] Regional channel C is a channel that has an MH regional service descriptor, has '1' set for regional restriction use, has '1' set for the first bit of the restriction function (the bit for restricting display in the EPG), and whose region specification does not match the region set in receiver 100. Regional channel C is not displayed in the EPG and therefore cannot be tuned.

[0066] Regional channel D is a channel that has an MH regional service descriptor, has '1' set for regional restriction use, has '0' set for the first bit of the restriction function (the bit for restricting display in the EPG), has '1' set for the second bit of the restriction function (the bit for restricting channel selection), and whose region designation does not match the region set in receiver 100. Regional channel D is displayed in the EPG, but cannot be selected.

[0067] <Second Embodiment> In the first embodiment, the EPG display and channel selection were restricted by the simultaneous EPG data content, but the receiver may have these functions in advance. Figure 10 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of a receiver 100a and a broadcasting system 200 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In Figure 10, the same reference numerals are used for parts corresponding to each part in Figure 1, and their descriptions are omitted.

[0068] Receiver 100a differs from receiver 100 in Figure 1 in that it further includes a program guide processing unit 106. The program guide processing unit 106 performs the same processing as the simulcast EPG in the first embodiment without using data content.

[0069] Figure 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the program guide processing unit 106 according to this embodiment. The flowchart in Figure 11 shows the operation of the program guide processing unit 106 during a channel scan, such as when installing the receiver 100a. First, the program guide processing unit 106 obtains region-specific service information from the service description table (step Sb1). Next, the program guide processing unit 106 performs a channel search and receives the detected service (step Sb2).

[0070] The program guide processing unit 106 determines whether the service detected in step Sb2 is a region-restricted service by referring to the region-restricted usage of that service (step Sb3). If the program guide processing unit 106 determines that it is a region-restricted service (step Sb3-Yes), it proceeds to step Sb4; if it determines that it is not a region-restricted service (step Sb3-No), it proceeds to step Sb6.

[0071] In step Sb4, the program guide processing unit 106 determines whether the service detected in step Sb2 is restricted from being displayed in the EPG by referring to the first bit of the restriction function. If the program guide processing unit 106 determines that the EPG display is restricted (step Sb4-Yes), it proceeds to step Sb5; if it determines that the EPG display is not restricted (step Sb4-No), it proceeds to step Sb6.

[0072] In step Sb5, the program guide processing unit 106 determines whether the service region specified in step Sb2 matches the region indicated by the information stored in the storage unit 104. Here, if the region indicated by the information stored in the storage unit 104 is included in the region indicated by the region specification, it may be determined that they match. If the program guide processing unit 106 determines that they match (step Sb5-Yes), it proceeds to step Sb6; if it determines that they do not match (step Sb5-No), it proceeds to step Sb7.

[0073] In step Sb6, the program guide processing unit 106 registers the service detected in step Sb2 in the channel list for EPG display and proceeds to step Sb7. In step Sb7, the program guide processing unit 106 determines whether the service detected in step Sb2 is the final channel of the channel search. If the program guide processing unit 106 determines that it is not the final channel (step Sb7-No), it returns to step Sb2; if it determines that it is the final channel (step Sb7-Yes), it terminates the process.

[0074] Figure 12 is a flowchart illustrating another example of the operation of the program guide processing unit 106 according to this embodiment. Figure 12 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the program guide processing unit 106 when the EPG is displayed. First, the program guide processing unit 106 displays the channels registered in the channel list in step Sb6 of Figure 11 as an EPG (step Sc1). Next, the program guide processing unit 106 obtains a channel selection instruction indicating the service selected by the user as the service to be selected from among the services displayed in the EPG (step Sc2).

[0075] Next, the program guide processing unit 106 determines whether the service indicated by the channel selection instruction is subject to channel selection restrictions by referring to the second bit of the restriction function (step Sc3). If the program guide processing unit 106 determines that channel selection is restricted (step Sc3-Yes), it proceeds to step Sc4; if it determines that channel selection is not restricted (step Sc3-No), it proceeds to step Sac5.

[0076] In step Sc4, the program guide processing unit 106 determines whether the region specified for the service indicated by the channel selection instruction matches the region indicated by the information stored in the memory unit 104. Here, if the region indicated by the information stored in the memory unit 104 is included in the region indicated by the region specification, it may be determined that they match. If the program guide processing unit 106 determines that they match (step Sc4-Yes), it proceeds to step Sc5; if it determines that they do not match (step Sc4-No), it returns to step Sc2. In step Sc5, the program guide processing unit 106 selects the service indicated by the channel selection instruction.

[0077] In the embodiments described above, the example given was that the digital broadcast is a television broadcast that broadcasts video content, but it may also be a radio broadcast that broadcasts audio content. In that case, the broadcast system 200 includes an audio generation unit that generates a stream of audio content instead of the video generation unit 201, the receiver 100 decodes the audio content in the decoder 103, and outputs the audio using an audio output device instead of the display device 110.

[0078] Furthermore, while the above embodiments described the use of broadcasting satellites as an example for digital broadcasting, other equipment may also be used for relaying.

[0079] Thus, the broadcasting system 200 that transmits digital broadcast signals includes an SI generation unit 203 that generates control information for each of one or more services included in the digital broadcast, which includes first information indicating restrictions on use based on the region set in the receivers 100, 100a that receive the digital broadcast, and second information indicating the region in which the service can be used, and a multiplexing unit 204 that multiplexes the control information with the content of one or more services. This allows the receivers 100 and 100a, which have acquired the service area, to specify how they will handle the service.

[0080] Alternatively, the receivers 100, 100a, and broadcasting system 200 may be operated by recording a program for realizing the functions or some functions of the receivers 100, 100a, and broadcasting system 200 in Figures 1 and 10 onto a computer-readable recording medium, loading the program recorded on this recording medium into a computer system, and executing it. The term "computer system" here includes hardware such as the operating system and peripheral devices.

[0081] Furthermore, "computer-readable recording media" refers to portable media such as flexible disks, magneto-optical disks, ROMs, and CD-ROMs, as well as storage devices such as hard disks built into computer systems. Moreover, "computer-readable recording media" also includes those that dynamically hold programs for a short period of time, such as communication lines used when transmitting programs over networks such as the Internet or communication lines such as telephone lines, and those that hold programs for a certain period of time, such as volatile memory inside computer systems that act as servers or clients in such cases. In addition, the above-mentioned programs may be for the purpose of realizing some of the functions described above, and may also be able to realize the above-mentioned functions in combination with programs already recorded in the computer system.

[0082] Furthermore, the functional blocks of receivers 100, 100a, and broadcasting system 200 in Figures 1 and 10 described above may be individually chipped, or some or all of them may be integrated into a single chip. Also, the integrated circuit method is not limited to LSIs; it may be implemented using dedicated circuits or general-purpose processors. Both hybrid and monolithic designs are acceptable. Some functions may be implemented by hardware, while others may be implemented by software. Furthermore, with advancements in semiconductor technology, if technologies such as integrated circuit development that can replace LSIs emerge, it will also be possible to use integrated circuits based on those technologies.

[0083] While embodiments of this invention have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments and may include design modifications and the like that do not depart from the spirit of this invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0084] 100, 100a receiver 101 Tuner 102 Demultiplexer 103 Decoder 104 Storage section 105 Data Content Processing Unit 106 Program Guide Processing Unit 200 Broadcasting Systems 201 Video Generation Department 202 Data Generation Unit 203 SI generation section 204 Multiplex section 205 Dispatch Unit

Claims

1. A broadcasting system that transmits digital broadcast signals, A control information generation unit generates control information for each of the one or more services included in the digital broadcast, including first information indicating restrictions on use based on the region set in the receiver that receives the digital broadcast, and second information indicating the region in which the service can be used. A multiplexing unit that multiplexes the control information and the content of one or more services. Equipped with, The first piece of information includes a broadcasting system in which information indicating whether or not there are restrictions on displaying programs in the program guide and information indicating whether or not there are restrictions on channel selection.

2. The broadcasting system according to claim 1, wherein the control information is placed in a service description table.

3. The data broadcasting content includes a content generation unit that generates content for the receiver to determine whether each of the one or more services is available by comparing the region set in the receiver with the second information. The broadcasting system according to claim 1, wherein the multiplexing unit further multiplexes the content.

4. A receiver for receiving digital broadcast signals, A multiplexing unit separates control information from the received signal, which includes, for each of the one or more services included in the digital broadcast, first information indicating restrictions on use based on the region set in the receiver, and second information indicating the region in which the service can be used. A storage unit that stores regions for determining whether each of the one or more services is available, in comparison with the second information described above. Equipped with, The first information includes a receiver, which includes information indicating whether there are restrictions on displaying the program guide and information indicating whether there are restrictions on channel selection.

5. The receiver according to claim 4, wherein the control information is placed in a service description table.

6. The receiver according to claim 4, further comprising a processing unit that compares the region set in the receiver with the second information to determine whether each of the one or more services is available.

7. It includes a data content processing unit that executes data broadcasting content, The receiver according to claim 4, wherein the data content processing unit includes an interface for providing the first information and the second information to the data broadcast content.

8. A method for transmitting signals in a broadcasting system that transmits digital broadcast signals, For each of the one or more services included in the digital broadcast, the step of generating control information including first information indicating restrictions on use based on the region set in the receiver that receives the digital broadcast, and second information indicating the region in which the service can be used, The steps of multiplexing the control information and the content of one or more services. It has, A transmission method wherein the first information includes information indicating whether or not there are restrictions on displaying it in the program guide, and information indicating whether or not there are restrictions on channel selection.

9. A method of receiving signals from a receiver, The steps for receiving digital broadcast signals, For each of the one or more services included in the digital broadcast, the steps include separating control information from the received signal, which includes first information indicating restrictions on use based on the region set in the receiver, and second information indicating the region in which the service can be used. It has, The receiver includes a storage unit that stores regions for determining whether each of the one or more services is available, in comparison with the second information. The first information includes a reception method, wherein the first information includes information indicating whether or not there are restrictions on displaying in the program guide, and information indicating whether or not there are restrictions on channel selection.

Images