SP262351WO00
DESCRIPTION RECEPTION DEVICE, RECEPTION METHOD, TRANSMISSION DEVICE, AND TRANSMISSION METHOD FOR DIGITAL SIGNAL INCLUDING ;
TUNING ASSISTANT INFORMATION, AND PROGRAM
5 j
TECHNICAL FIELD [0001]
The present invention relates to a reception device, a reception method, a transmission device, a transmission
10 method, and a program, and particularly to a reception
device, a reception method, a transmission device, a ;
transmission method, and a program, capable of rapidly f
presenting one segment broadcasting which can be received. I
15 BACKGROUND ART [0002] In digital terrestrial broadcasting, a frequency I
band (hereinafter, referred to as a physical channel) of j
about 6 MHz of a UHF (Ultra High Frequency) band is 20 divided into thirteen segments, and, broadcasting for
fixed terminals such as television receivers is performed using twelve of the segments. In addition, broadcasting I
for portable terminals, that is, one segment broadcasting j
(hereinafter, also referred to as one seg broadcasting)
25 is performed using the remaining one segment.
[0003]
At present, in the one seg broadcasting which is
performed as broadcasting for portable terminals, the
same contents as in the broadcasting for fixed terminals
30 are broadcasted, and thus a segment in the center (the
seventh segment in an ascending order of the frequency)
1
SP262351WO00
of the thirteen segments of the physical channel is used.
[0004]
Here, one seg broadcasting which is performed using i
the segment in the center (hereinafter, referred to as, a l
5 central segment), which is currently performed, is also >
referred to as normal one seg broadcasting.
[0005] After there is a complete transfer from analog terrestrial broadcasting to digital terrestrial 10 broadcasting, the digital terrestrial broadcasting is performed using physical channels called channels 13 to l
52 of a UHF band. [0006] However, all of the channels 13 to 52 are not •
15 actually used in each area in the .digital terrestrial >,
broadcasting, and thus vacant channels which are physical ;
channels and are not used in the digital terrestrial broadcasting are generated.
[0007] I
20 Currently, methods for effectively using the vacant
channels are examined, and, as one of them, it is
examined that one seg broadcasting is performed using any
segment of the vacant channel.
[0008]
25 Here, a physical channel of the digital terrestrial
broadcasting has thirteen segments, and thus it is
possible to perform thirteen items of one seg
broadcasting at maximum using a single physical channel.
A plurality of items of one seg broadcasting performed
30 using a plurality of respective segments of the thirteen
segments of a physical channel is called multi-segment
2
SP262351WO00
#
broadcasting.
[0009] I
In addition, one seg broadcasting performed using
each of one or more arbitrary segments of the thirteen
5 segments is also referred to as arbitrary one seg
broadcasting, and the arbitrary one seg broadcasting is
assumed to include multi-segment broadcasting. f
[0010] In a reception terminal in the related art I
10 (hereinafter, also referred to as a normal one seg t
terminal) which receives one seg broadcasting, in order for a user to tune normal one seg broadcasting, a table "(hereinafter, also referred to as a tuning table) of tuning information is created through channel scanning 15 for acquiring tuning information which is information
regarding tuning such as a frequency (for example, refer i
to Patent Document 1 or 2) . ',
[0011] :
In the channel scanning of the normal one seg
20 terminal, in a case where a central segment of each
physical channel of the digital terrestrial broadcasting
is tuned (tuned), and, a TS (Transport Stream) can be
received at the central segment, an NIT (Network
Information Table) which is a table including frequency
25 information for each service for tuning a carrier where
the service is transmitted and information regarding a
corresponding service, and an SDT (Service Description
Table) which is a table including meta-information of
each service (service name) are extracted from the TS,
30 and a tuning table is created from the NIT and the SDT.
[0012]
3
SP262351WO00
#
In a case where a reception terminal receiving
arbitrary one seg broadcasting is realized as well, a
tuning table is required to be created in the same manner }
as in the normal one seg terminal. 5 [0013] i
However, since the arbitrary one seg broadcasting ?
is performed using any segment of the thirteen segments of the physical channel, simply, not only the central segment of the physical channel but also all the thirteen ?
10 segments thereof are required to be tuned in the channel i
scanning, and thus an enormous amount of time is needed ;
as compared with channel scanning of the normal one seg
terminal. I
[0014] i
15 For this reason,, there is a demand for a proposal
of a method of rapidly performing channel scanning of
arbitrary one seg broadcasting in a short time.
CITATION LIST
2 0 PATENT DOCUMENTS
[0015]
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open
No. 2006-325032
Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open
25 No. 2007-329847
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION
[0016]
30 However, arbitrary one seg broadcasting
(hereinafter, also referred to as area limited
4
SP262351WO00 ]
#
broadcasting) has been proposed in which an area of approximately several tens of m to several km with respect to (an antenna of) a station which is a
transmission device transmitting a broadcast wave of the
5 arbitrary one seg broadcasting is set as a broadcasting
area.
[0017]
Since the area limited broadcasting is included in a category of the arbitrary one seg broadcasting, a
10 tuning table is also required to be created in a [
reception terminal receiving the area limited broadcasting in the same manner as a case of receiving
the arbitrary one seg broadcasting, but, since a
broadcasting area is narrow in the area limited
15 broadcasting, mere movement is performed by approximately several tens of m to several km, and thereby broadcasting
which has been received hitherto cannot be received, and
new broadcasting can be received. Therefore, there are
cases where a tuning table created before movement cannot
20 be used after the movement.
[0018]
In other words, if broadcasting which is currently
desired to be tuned by a user operating a so-called
channel button is a logical channel, there are cases
25 where, in a reception terminal receiving area limited
broadcasting, the logical channel which is area limited
broadcasting capable of being received before movement is
presented after movement on the basis of a tuning table
created before movement, and the logical channel cannot
30 be received even if the user performs an operation so as
to receive the logical channel.
5
SP262351WO00 I
[0019] f
Therefore, in order to present a logical channel capable of being received after movement to the user, it •
is necessary to perform channel scanning again after j
5 movement. I
[0020] However, performing channel scanning for each !
movement takes time for presenting a logical channel ;
capable of being received to the user. j
10 [0021] j
The present invention has been made in j
consideration of these circumstances, and is to rapidly j
present one segment broadcasting capable of being
received.
15 . ;
SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS
[0022]
A reception device or a program according to a
first aspect of the present invention is a reception
20 device for one segment broadcasting, including: station
information acquisition means for acquiring station
information regarding a station, the station information
at least including broadcasting area information which is
information of a broadcasting area capable of receiving a
25 broadcast wave from the station which transmits the
broadcast wave of the one segment broadcasting at an
arbitrary segment; storage means for storing the station
information; station selection means for selecting a
station of the one segment broadcasting which can be
30 received at a predetermined position as a tunable station
which can be tuned using the broadcasting area
6
SP262351WO00
information; and tuning control means for performing
tuning control in which the one segment broadcasting of
the tunable station is tuned, or a program for causing a
computer to function as the reception device. i
5 [0023] A reception method according to the first aspect of ;
the present invention is a reception method for a ;
reception device of one segment broadcasting, including
the steps of: acquiring station information regarding a
10 station, the station information at least including broadcasting area information which is information of a
broadcasting area capable of receiving a broadcast wave
from the station which transmits the broadcast wave of
the one segment broadcasting at an arbitrary segment;
15 storing the station information; selecting.a station of
the one segment broadcasting which can be received at a
predetermined position as a tunable station which can be
tuned using the broadcasting area information; and
performing tuning control in which the one segment
20 broadcasting of the tunable station is tuned.
[0024]
In the above-described first aspect, station
information regarding a station is acquired, which at
least includes broadcasting area information which is
25 information of a broadcasting area capable of receiving a
broadcast wave from the station which transmits the
broadcast wave of the one segment broadcasting at an
arbitrary segment, and the station information is stored.
In addition, a station of the one segment broadcasting
30 which can be received at a predetermined position is
selected as a tunable station which can be tuned using
7
SP262351WO00 the broadcasting area information, and tuning control is f
performed in which the one segment broadcasting of the tunable station is tuned.
[0025]
5 A transmission device or a program according to a
second aspect of the present invention is a transmission s
device which is a station, including: station information
acquisition means for acquiring station information regarding a station, the station information at least I
10 including broadcasting area information which is information of a broadcasting area capable of receiving a j
broadcast wave from the station which transmits the ;
broadcast wave of the one segment broadcasting at each of
one or more arbitrary segments; and transmission means
15. for transmitting the station information of the station
with a representative segment which is one segment of the
one or more segments used for one segment broadcasting by
the station, or a program for causing a computer to
function as the transmission device.
20 [0026]
A transmission method according to the second
aspect of the present invention is a transmission method
of a transmission device, which is a station for
transmitting a broadcast wave of one segment broadcasting
25 at each of one or more arbitrary segments, including the
steps of: acquiring station information regarding the
station, the station information at least including
broadcasting area information which is information of a
broadcasting area capable of receiving the broadcast wave
30 from the station; and transmitting the station
information of the station with a representative segment
8
SP262351WO00 m
which is one segment of the one or more segments used for
one segment broadcasting by the station.
[0027] !
In the above-described second aspect, station
5 information regarding a station is acquired, which at I
least includes broadcasting area information which is
information of a broadcasting area capable of receiving a
broadcast wave from the station which transmits the
broadcast wave of the one segment broadcasting at each of '
10 one or more arbitrary segments, and the station '
information of the station is transmitted with a
representative segment which is one segment of the one or
more segments used for one segment broadcasting by the
station.
15 [0028]
In addition, the reception device or the
transmission device may be an independent device, or may
be an internal block forming a single device.
[0029]
20 In addition, the program may be transmitted via a
transmission medium or be recorded on a recording medium
so as to be provided.
EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION
25 [0030]
According to the first and second aspects of the
present invention, it is possible to rapidly present one
segment broadcasting which can be received.
30 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0031]
9
SP262351WO00 I
#
Fig. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a tuning table j
creation process. I
Fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the l
tuning table. |
5 Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating channel scanning
of a normal one seg terminal. >
Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration
example of one embodiment of a transmission and reception j
system to which the present invention is applied. j
10 Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating bandwidth i
assignment of digital terrestrial broadcasting.
Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the
segment assignment used for arbitrary one seg
broadcasting.
15 Fig. 7 is a diagram illustrating a method of
acquiring tuning information of area limited broadcasting.
Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating an NIT transmitted
using a central segment of a physical channel for area
limited broadcasting.
20 Fig. 9 is a diagram illustrating configurations of
an NIT and an SDT of a central segment and non-central
segments.
Fig. 10 is a diagram illustrating channel scanning
of each of a reception terminal 33 and a normal one seg
25 terminal 100.
Fig. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of the
tuning table.
Fig. 12 is a diagram illustrating broadcasting
areas of normal one seg broadcasting and lines of flow
30 which are trajectories of a user carrying the normal one
seg terminal 100'receiving only normal one seg
10
f
SP262351WO00
t
broadcasting. -
Fig. 13 is a diagram illustrating broadcasting
areas of area limited broadcasting and lines of flow
which are trajectories of a user carrying the reception 5 terminal 33 which can receive area limited broadcasting.
Fig. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of the
station information.
Fig. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of the
syntax of the station information.
10 Fig. 16 is a diagram illustrating an acquisition
method where the reception terminal 33 acquires station
information.
Fig. 17 is a diagram illustrating a data structure
of the NIT.
15 Fig. 18 is a. diagram illustrating a method where
station information STi is transmitted by a station 32.
Fig. 19 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed
configuration example of the station 32.
Fig. 20 is a flowchart illustrating a transmission
20 process performed by the station 32.
Fig. 21 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed
configuration example of the reception terminal 33.
Fig. 22 is a diagram illustrating acquisition and
use of station information in the reception terminal 33.
25 Fig. 23 is a block diagram illustrating a
functional configuration example of a portion of the
controller 80 which performs tuning control using station
information.
Fig. 24 is a flowchart illustrating a process where
30 the reception terminal 33 acquires station information
through channel scanning and receives a service. '
11
SP262351WO00
Fig. 25 is a diagram illustrating a display example of the display unit 7 6 in a case where the reception
terminal 33 acquires station information through channel I
scanning and receives a service.
5 Fig. 26 is a flowchart illustrating a process where •
the reception terminal 33 acquires station information using a direct method and receives a service. i
Fig. 27 is a flowchart illustrating a process where )
the reception terminal 33 acquires station information 10 using other methods. Fig. 28 is a flowchart illustrating a tuning •
process in an individual selection mode. Fig. 29 is a diagram illustrating a display example
of the display unit 76 in a case where the tuning process
15 in an individual selection mode is performed.
Fig. 30 is a flowchart illustrating a tuning
process in a sequential selection mode.
Fig. 31 is a diagram illustrating a display example
of the display unit 7 6 in a case where the tuning process
20 in a sequential selection mode is performed.
Fig. 32 is a flowchart illustrating a tuning
process in a map display mode.
Fig. 33 is a diagram illustrating a display example
of the display unit 76 in a case where the tuning process
25 in a map display mode is performed.
Fig. 34 is a flowchart illustrating a tuning
process in a GPS mode.
Fig. 35 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware
configuration example of the computer.
30
MODE'FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
12
SP262351WO00
[0032]
[Channel scanning of normal one seg terminal]
[0033]
First, a description will be made of channel
5 scanning of a normal one seg terminal which is a
reception terminal in the related art receiving normal
one seg broadcasting.
[0034]
Fig. 1 is a flowchart illustrating channel scanning
10 of the normal one seg terminal.
[0035]
In step Sll, the normal one seg terminal selects a
physical channel of physical channels of channels 13 to
52 of a UHF band, for example, a physical channel of the
15 lowest frequency as a target physical channel which is a
process target, and the process proceeds to step S12.
[0036]
In step S12, the normal one seg terminal tunes a
central segment of the target physical channel, and
20 proceeds to step S13.
[0037]
In step S13, the normal one seg terminal determines
whether or not a TS of the central segment of the target
physical channel can be received, and if it is determined
25 that it cannot be received, the process skips step S14,
and proceeds to step S15.
[0038]
In addition, if it is determined that the TS of the
central segment of the target physical channel is
30 received in step S13, the process proceeds to step S14
where the normal one seg terminal acquires (extracts) an
13
f.
i
SP262351WO00 j
NIT (Network Information Table) of a self-segment (a
segment receiving the TS) which is described as NIT ;
actual and an SDT (Service Description Table) of the self-segment which is described as SDT actual from the TS •
5 received using the central segment, and the process
proceeds to step S15. [0039]
In step S15, the normal one seg terminal determines
whether or not all the physical channels of the channels
10 13 to 52 of the UHF band have been target physical
channels.
[0040]
If it is determined that there is a physical
channel which is not a target physical channel in step
15 S15, the process proceeds to step S16 where the normal
one seg terminal selects, for example, a physical channel
of which a frequency is high next to the current target
physical channel as a new target physical channel, and
the process returns to step S12.
20 [0041]
On the other hand, if it is determined that all the
physical channels have been target physical channels in
step S15, the process proceeds to step S17 where the
normal one seg terminal creates a tuning table on the
25 basis of the NIT and the SDT acquired in step S14 and
finishes the channel scanning.
[0042]
Fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating a tuning table
created based on the NIT and the SDT.
30 [0043]
In the NIT, a network ID which is an ID unique to a
14
SP262351WO00
#
network, a TSID which is an ID unique to a TS, a
frequency, a service ID unique to a (broadcasting) ;
service, and the like, corresponding to a self-segment,
are described. In addition, in the SDT, a TSID, a
5 service ID, a service name corresponding to the service
ID, and the like, corresponding to the self-segment, are
described.
[0044]
The normal one seg terminal acquires a service ID
10 and a frequency for tuning from an NIT of a central
segment of each physical channel, acquires a service name
from an SDT corresponding to the NIT so as to be
correlated, and registers the service ID, the service '
name, and the frequency in a tuning table as tuning
15 information.
[0045]
In addition, in Fig. 2, the central segment of the
physical channel CH-1 of which a frequency Fl is used for
two services of which the service IDs are ID1 and ID2,
20 and thus two services ID1 and ID2 are described in the
NIT of the central segment of the physical channel CH-1
of which a frequency is Fl.
[0046]
In the normal one seg terminal, for example, a
25 service name of the tuning table is presented as the name
of ("00 TV", "xx channel", or the like of a program
table) a logical channel, and, if a user performs an
operation so as to tune a service (logical channel) of
the service name, a frequency correlated with the service
30 name in the tuning table is tuned.
[0047]
15
SP262351WO00 [
»
Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating channel scanning [
of the normal one seg terminal.
[0048]
As described with reference to Fig. 1, the normal
5 one seg terminal tunes the central segments of the
respective physical channels of the digital terrestrial
broadcasting in the descending order of the frequency,
and acquires an NIT and an SDT from a TS in a case where
the TS can be received in the central segments.
10 [0049]
In addition, the normal one seg terminal creates a
tuning table from the NIT and the SDT acquired from the
TS in the above-described way. i
[0050]
15 Therefore, in a case.where arbitrary one seg
broadcasting is performed using a central segment, tuning
information of the one seg broadcasting can be acquired
in the normal one seg terminal, but tuning information of
arbitrary one seg broadcasting performed using segments
20 (portions indicated by the diagonal lines in Fig. 3)
other than the central segment cannot be acquired.
[0051]
[Configuration example of one embodiment of
transmission and reception system to which the present
25 invention is applied]
[0052]
Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration
example of one embodiment of a transmission and reception
system to which the present invention is applied.
30 [0053]
In Fig. 4, the transmission and reception system 30'
16
SP262351WO00
is constituted by a terrestrial broadcasting station 31,
stations 32-1, 32-2 and 32-3, and a reception terminal 33.
[0054] |
The terrestrial broadcasting station 31 is a
5 broadcasting station which performs digital terrestrial
broadcasting, performs broadcasting for fixed terminals
using twelve segments, and performs broadcasting (normal
one seg broadcasting) for portable terminals using one
segment.
i o [0055] ;
The stations 32-1 to 32-3 are transmission devices
which transmit broadcast waves of arbitrary one seg
broadcasting, and perform area limited broadcasting which
is one seg broadcasting using each of one or more
15 arbitrary segments of a vacant channel of the digital
terrestrial broadcasting.
[0056]
In other words, the station 32-1 performs area
limited broadcasting which can be received only in a
20 broadcasting area A.
[0057]
The station 32-2 performs area limited broadcasting
which can be received only in a broadcasting area B, and
the station 32-3 performs area limited broadcasting which
25 can be received only in a broadcasting area C.
[0058]
In addition, in a case where it is unnecessary to
differentiate the stations 32-1 to 32-3 from each other,
they are collectively referred to as a station 32.
30 [0059]
Here, as the area limited broadcasting, for example,
17
ISP262351WO00
#
there is broadcasting regarding a theme park which can be ?
received only in the theme park, broadcasting regarding shops which can be received only in a certain ward or town and is developed in the ward or town, or the like.
5 [0060] i
In the area limited broadcasting, broadcasting can
be performed using the same segment in stations of
broadcasting areas that do not overlap each other.
[0061]
10 That is to say, for example, in Fig. 4, the
broadcasting areas A and B do not overlap each other, and
thus the station 32-1 of the broadcasting area A and the
station 32-2 of the broadcasting area B can perform the j
area limited broadcasting using the same segment. «
15 [0062]
Further, in Fig. 4, the broadcasting areas B and C
do not overlap each other, and thus the station 32-2 of
the broadcasting area B and the station 32-3 of the
broadcasting area C can perform the area limited
20 broadcasting using the same segment.
[0063]
However, in Fig. 4, the broadcasting areas A and C
overlap each other, and thus the station 32-1 of the
broadcasting area A and the station 32-3 of the
25 broadcasting area C cannot use the same segment for the
area limited broadcasting (as long as broadcasting is
performed at the same time).
[0064]
The reception terminal 33 is a portable terminal
30 which can receive both the normal one seg broadcasting
and the area limited broadcasting.
18
SP262351WO00
[0065] !
For example, as illustrated in Fig. 4, in a case ••
where a user carrying the reception terminal 33 is in the
broadcasting area A, the reception terminal 33 can
5 receive the normal one seg broadcasting and the area
limited broadcasting by the station 32-1 of the
broadcasting area A.
[0066]
In addition, a process where the reception terminal
10 33 receives the normal one seg broadcasting is the same
as that of a reception terminal (normal one seg terminal)
in the related art which receives normal one seg
broadcasting, and thus description thereof will be
omitted in the following.
15 [0067]
[Description of segment used for arbitrary one seg
broadcasting]
[0068]
Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating bandwidth
20 assignment of the digital terrestrial broadcasting in the
transmission and reception system 30 of Fig. 4.
[0069]
As illustrated in Fig. 5, in the transmission and
reception system 30, in a physical channel used for the
25 digital terrestrial broadcasting, normal one seg
broadcasting is performed using a bandwidth corresponding
to a central segment and broadcasting for fixed terminals
is performed using bandwidths corresponding to the
remaining twelve segments of the overall bandwidths of
30 the digital terrestrial broadcasting.
[0070]
19
SP262351WO00
Each of one or more segments of a vacant channel
can be used for the area limited broadcasting. In a
single vacant channel, the maximum number of segments ;
(logical channels) which can be used for the area limited
5 broadcasting is thirteen channels.
[0071] i
Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the
assignment of segments used for the arbitrary one seg
broadcasting.
10 [0072]
Any segment of a vacant channel may be assigned to
the station 32 as a segment used for the area limited
broadcasting which is arbitrary one seg broadcasting;
however, if a certain station has one or more other
15 stations which are, so to speak, subordinate thereto, a
central segment may be assigned to the certain station.
[0073]
In other words, for example, as illustrated in Fig.
6, the station 32-1 is, so to speak, a central station
20 which has a predetermined district as the broadcasting
area A, and the stations 32-2 and 32-3 are, so to speak,
local stations which respectively have a building, an
amusement park, or the like, in the district as the
broadcasting areas B and C. In a case where the
25 broadcasting area A includes the broadcasting areas B and
C, one or more segments including a central segment of a
predetermined vacant channel may be assigned to the
station 32-1 which is a central station, and segments of
the vacant channel other than the segments assigned to
30 the station 32-1 may be assigned to the stations 32-2 and
32-3 which are local stations.
20
SP262351WO00 j
[0074] [
[Acquisition method of tuning information]
[0075]
Fig. 7 is a diagram illustrating a method of
5 acquiring tuning information of the area limited
broadcasting.
[0076]
As illustrated in Fig. 7, as methods of acquiring
tuning information of the area limited broadcasting,
10 there are mainly three methods, the first, second, and
third methods.
[0077]
The first method is a method of acquiring tuning
information through channel scanning where broadcast
15 waves of digital terrestrial broadcasting are scanned.
[0078]
In the first method, the reception terminal 33
tunes each segment of each physical channel of digital
terrestrial broadcasting, and acquires tuning information
20 of area limited broadcasting which can be received.
[0079]
According to the first method, a user carrying the
reception terminal 33 does not need to be conscious of
whether or not there is area limited broadcasting which
25 can be received at a position of the user, and can
automatically acquire tuning information of area limited
broadcasting which can be received.
[0080]
However, in the first method, the user is required
30 to tune each segment of each physical channel of the
digital terrestrial broadcasting for each movement, and
21
SP262351WO00
it takes time to acquire tuning information of area
limited broadcasting which can be received.
[0081]
The second method is a method of embedding (storing
5 in advance) tuning information in the reception terminal
33.
[0082]
In the second method, tuning information is stored
in the reception terminal 33 in advance, and thus it does
10 not take time to acquire tuning information.
[0083]
However, there are cases where, even if a user
carrying the reception terminal 33 performs an operation
for tuning a certain logical channel from the tuning
15 information stored in advance, the logical channel (area
limited broadcasting) cannot be received outside a
broadcasting area of the logical channel.
[0084]
The third method is a method of acquiring tuning
20 information using means other than broadcast waves, that
is, for example, through communication via the Internet,
communication with a noncontact IC (Integrated Circuit)
card, or the like.
[0085]
25 According to the third method, it is possible to
rapidly acquire tuning information as compared with the
first method.
[0086]
However, in the third method as well, there are
30 cases where, even if a user carrying the reception
terminal 33 performs an operation for tuning a certain
22
SP262351WO00
logical channel, the logical channel cannot be received
in the same manner as the second method.
[0087]
As described above, in the first method of
5 performing channel scanning for tuning each segment of
each physical channel of the digital terrestrial
broadcasting, it takes time to acquire tuning information
as compared with the second and third methods.
[0088]
10 Therefore, a description will be made of a method
of more rapidly acquiring tuning information through
channel scanning in the reception terminal 33.
[0089]
[Description of NIT and SDT transmitted by station
15 32]
[0090]
Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating an NIT transmitted
by the station 32 of Fig. 4.
[0091]
20 Now, for example, if area limited broadcasting
which can be received in a certain broadcasting area is
performed using each of the thirteen segments si to sl3
forming a physical channel, the station 32 to which a
central segment is assigned transmits the following NIT-0
25 and NIT-1 using the central segment s7.
[0092]
The NIT-0 is constituted by a network ID, a multisegment
information descriptor, and information
(hereinafter, also referred to as TS information)
30 regarding a TS of the central segment s7.
[0093]
23
SP262351WO00
In addition, the multi-segment information
descriptor is a descriptor indicating that arbitrary one
seg broadcasting is performed using segments of a
physical channel including the central segment s7.
5 [0094]
Further, the TS information of the central segment
s7 includes a TSID of the TS of the central segment s7, a
frequency of the central segment s7, and a service ID of
a broadcasting service of the central segment s7.
10 [0095]
The NIT-1 is constituted by the network ID and TS
information of the segments si to s6, and s8 to sl3 other
than the central segment s7. In addition, the network ID
of the NIT-0 is different from a network ID of the NIT-1.
15 In the example of Fig. 8, the network ID of the NIT-0 is
0, and the network ID of the NIT-1 is 1.
[0096]
Fig. 9 is a diagram illustrating an NIT and an SDT
transmitted using each segment.
20 [0097]
As illustrated in Fig. 9, the NIT-0 is transmitted
as NIT actual describing an NIT of a self-segment in the
central segment s7.
[0098]
25 The NIT-1 is transmitted as NIT other describing an
NIT of segments (hereinafter, referred to as non-central
segments) of a physical channel of the central segment s7,
other than the central segment s7 which is a self-segment,
in the central segment s7.
30 [0099]
In addition, an SDT of the central segment s7 is
24
SP262351WO00
transmitted as SDT actual describing an SDT of the selfsegment
in the central segment s7. In addition, an SDT
of the non-central segments si to s6 and s8 to sl3 is
transmitted as SDT other describing the SDT of the non-
5 central segments in the central segment s7.
[0100]
Each NIT-1 is transmitted as NIT actual in the noncentral
segments si to s6 and s8 to sl3, and none of them
is transmitted as NIT other. Further, each of the SDTs
10 of the self-segments si to s6 and s8 to sl3 is
transmitted as SDT actual in the non-central segments si
to s6 and s8 to sl3, and none of them is transmitted as
SDT other.
[0101]
15 As described above, in a case where the NIT and the
SDT are transmitted, the reception terminal 33
sequentially tunes a central segment of each physical
channel of the digital terrestrial broadcasting from a
lower frequency.
20 [0102]
In addition, in a case where the reception terminal
33 can receive a TS in the central segment, an NIT and an
SDT of area limited broadcasting performed using the
central segment are acquired from NIT actual and SDT
25 actual of the TS.
[0103]
The reception terminal 33 recognizes whether area
limited broadcasting which is arbitrary one seg
broadcasting is performed or normal one seg broadcasting
30 is performed depending on whether or not there is multisegment
information descriptor in the NIT acquired from
25
SP262351WO00 [
NIT actual of the TS of the central segment.
[0104] ' J
If it is recognized that the area limited
broadcasting is performed, the reception terminal 33
5 acquires NITs and SDTs of area limited broadcasting
performed using the non-central segments from NIT other
and SDT other of the TS received in the central segment.
[0105]
The reception terminal 33 creates a tuning table
10 including tuning information of the area limited
broadcasting from the NITs and SDTs acquired in the
above-described way.
[0106]
As described with reference to Figs. 8 and 9, since
15 not only NIT actual and SDT actual but also. NIT other and
SDT other are disposed in the TS of the central segment,
the reception terminal 33 simply sequentially tunes a
central segment of each physical channel and thereby can
acquire NITs and SDTs of the overall items of area
20 limited broadcasting of a physical channel having the
central segment.
[0107]
Therefore, the reception terminal 33 can rapidly
acquire tuning information of area limited broadcasting.
25 [0108]
In addition, NIT other and SDT other are not
necessarily transmitted in a central segment.
[0109]
However, in a case where NIT other and SDT other
30 are not transmitted in the central segment, the reception
terminal 33 recognizes whether or not area limited
26
SP262351WO00 ]
#
broadcasting is performed depending on whether or not
there is a multi-segment information descriptor of NIT
actual of the central segment, and, when the area limited
broadcasting is performed, it is necessary to acquire NIT
5 actual and SDT actual of non-central segments where a TS
can be received by sequentially tuning non-central
segments.
[0110]
Here, NIT actual includes information regarding a
10 network where NIT actual is transmitted, and NIT other
includes information regarding a network separated from a
network where NIT other is transmitted. In addition, SDT
actual includes information regarding a network where SDT
actual is transmitted, and SDT other includes information
15 . regarding a network separated from a network where SDT
other is transmitted.
[0111]
Fig. 10 is a diagram illustrating channel scanning
of each of the reception terminals 33 of Fig. 4 and a
20 normal one seg terminal 100 which is a reception terminal
in the related art receiving normal one seg broadcasting.
[0112]
The reception terminal 33 and the normal one seg
terminal 100 in the related art, for example,
25 sequentially tune a central segment of each physical
channel from a lower frequency and acquire tuning
information, thereby creating a tuning table.
[0113]
The normal one seg terminal 100 does not correspond
30 to area limited broadcasting (arbitrary one seg
broadcasting), and thus disregards a multi-segment
27
SP262351WO00 ;
information descriptor of NIT actual disposed in a TS of {
a central segment of a physical channel assigned to area limited broadcasting. Therefore, the normal one seg •
terminal 100 does not generate operation errors but 5 cannot acquire NIT other and SDT other. |
[0114] j
As a result, as illustrated in Fig. 10, the normal one seg terminal 100 acquires tuning information from j
NITs and SDTs of normal one seg broadcasting and area
10 limited broadcasting of a central segment of each
physical channel.
[0115]
In contrast, the reception terminal 33 corresponds
to area limited broadcasting, and thus recognizes a
15 multi-segment information descriptor of NIT actual
disposed in a TS of a central segment of a physical
channel assigned to area limited broadcasting, thereby
obtaining NIT other and SDT other in addition to NIT
actual and SDT actual.
20 [0116]
As a result, the reception terminal 33 can acquire
tuning information from NITs and SDTs of all the items of
normal one seg broadcasting and area limited broadcasting
assigned to each physical channel.
25 [0117]
Fig. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of the
tuning table created by the reception terminal 33 and the
tuning table created by the normal one seg terminal in
the example of Fig. 10.
30 [0118]
A of Fig. 11 illustrates a tuning table created by
28
SP262351WO00
the reception terminal 33.
[0119]
In the tuning table created by the reception
terminal 33, first, a service name "one seg service 1", a i
5 service ID "ID1", and a frequency "Fl", assigned to the [
central segment of the first physical channel of Fig. 10, i
are registered. I
[0120] ;
Next, service names "community service 1" to
10 "community service 5" of area limited broadcasting
corresponding to five segments service IDs "ID2" to "ID6", j
and frequencies "F2" to "F6", assigned to the second physical channel, are respectively registered.
[0121] I
15 In addition, a service name "one seg service 2" of . |
normal one seg broadcasting, a service ID "ID7", and a frequency "F7", assigned to the central segment of the ',
third physical channel, are registered. >
[0122] ;
20 This is also the same for the following, service
names, service IDs, and frequencies of normal one seg
broadcasting assigned to the central segment of the
fourth physical channel and area limited broadcasting
corresponding to seven segments assigned to the fifth
25 physical channel are registered.
[0123]
B of Fig. 11 illustrates a tuning table created by
the normal one seg terminal 100.
[0124]
30 In the tuning table created by the normal one seg
terminal 100, in the same manner as the tuning table
29
SP262351WO00 j
created by the reception terminal 33, first, a service j
name "one seg service 1" a service ID "ID1", and a j
frequency "Fl", assigned to the central segment of the [
first physical channel, are registered. J
5 [0125] j
Next, a service name "community service 1" of area j
limited broadcasting, a service ID "ID2", and a frequency "F2", assigned to the second physical channel, are registered. =
10 [0126] In addition, in the same manner as the tuning table -
created by the reception terminal 33, a service name "one I
seg service 2" of normal one seg broadcasting, a service ID "ID7", and a frequency "F7", assigned to the central j
15 segment of the third physical channel, are registered. !
[0127]
This is also the same for the following, and, ;
service names, service IDs, and frequencies of normal one }
seg broadcasting assigned to the central segment of the j
20 fourth physical channel and area limited broadcasting *
corresponding to the central segment assigned to the }
fifth physical channel are registered. j
[0128]
As described above, in the normal one seg terminal 25 100 in the related art, tuning information of area limited broadcasting of non-central segments is not acquired and thus is not registered in a tuning table, but tuning information of a central segment can be ;
acquired and is thus registered in the tuning table. |
30 [0129] ;
Therefore, as described with reference to Figs. 8
30
SP262351WO00
and 9, even if a NIT and an SDT are transmitted, this i
does not hinder the normal one seg terminal 100 in the ;
related art from receiving normal one seg broadcasting. [0130] 5 [Broadcasting area and line of flow of user]
[0131] ;
Fig. 12 is a diagram illustrating broadcasting
areas of digital terrestrial broadcasting (normal one seg ;
broadcasting) and lines of flow which are trajectories of 10 movement of a user carrying the normal one seg terminal
100 which receives only normal one seg broadcasting.
[0132]
Since a broadcasting area of the normal one seg
broadcasting is wide, in daily life, a user carrying the
15 normal one seg terminal 100 in the related art moves in a
broadcasting area of a specific terrestrial broadcasting
station HI as a living area in many cases, and hardly
moves from the broadcasting area to a broadcasting area ?
of another terrestrial broadcasting station H2.
20 [0133]
Therefore, as illustrated in Fig. 12, in the normal
one seg terminal 100 carried by a user of which most of
the lines of flow are in the broadcasting area of the
terrestrial broadcasting station HI, and a few of the
25 lines of flow are in the broadcasting area of the
terrestrial broadcasting station H2, tuning information
of normal one seg broadcasting by the terrestrial
broadcasting station HI is registered in a tuning table,
and thereby (a service name of) normal one seg
30 broadcasting by the terrestrial broadcasting station HI
which can be received in most cases can be presented to
31 |
SP262351WO00
the user as (a service name of) normal one seg
broadcasting which can be tuned by the user. |
[0134] In addition, in the normal one seg terminal 100, in 5 addition to tuning information of normal one seg broadcasting by the terrestrial broadcasting station HI,
tuning information of normal one seg broadcasting by the
terrestrial broadcasting station H2 is also registered,
and thereby normal one seg broadcasting by each of the
10 terrestrial broadcasting stations HI and H2 can be
presented to the user as normal one seg broadcasting
which can be tuned by the user. [0135] |
However, in this case, in a case where the user 15 carrying the normal one seg terminal 100 is in the broadcasting area of the terrestrial broadcasting station
Hi, even if normal one seg broadcasting of the terrestrial broadcasting station H2 is tuned, the normal ;
one seg terminal 100 cannot receive normal one seg ;
20 broadcasting of the terrestrial broadcasting station H2. >
[0136] i
In the same manner, in a case where the user
carrying the normal one seg terminal 100 is in the broadcasting area of the terrestrial broadcasting station 25 H2, even if normal one seg broadcasting of the terrestrial broadcasting station HI is tuned, the normal
one seg terminal 100 cannot receive normal one seg
broadcasting of the terrestrial broadcasting station HI.
[0137]
30 If only normal one seg broadcasting which can be
received is to be presented to the user in the normal one
32 |
SP262351WO00 ]
seg terminal 100, tuning information of normal one seg i
broadcasting by the terrestrial broadcasting station HI and tuning information of normal one seg broadcasting by i
the terrestrial broadcasting station H2 are divided and
5 are registered in tuning tables, and the user is required to change (perform an operation) the tuning tables used
for tuning as necessary. ;
[0138]
As described above, since a broadcasting area is <
10 wide in the normal one seg broadcasting, the frequency
where the user moves from the broadcasting area including
the living area to another broadcasting area in daily
life is very small. ;
[0139] ;
15 Therefore, cases where a tuning table used for
tuning is required to be changed are few, further, the
number of tuning tables in which tuning information is
divided and is registered is small, and changing in the
tuning tables is also easy.
20 [0140]
Fig. 13 is a diagram illustrating broadcasting
areas of area limited broadcasting and lines of flow t
which are trajectories of movement of a user carrying the
reception terminal 33 which can receive the area limited I
25 broadcasting. ;
[0141] J
Since a broadcasting area of area limited j
broadcasting is narrow, many stations are densely
provided in a range which is not greatly wide, and, as a
30 result, it is expected that the user carrying the
reception terminal 33 frequently moves between
33 ;
SP262351WO00
#
broadcasting areas of many stations. j
[0142]
Therefore, it is expected that area limited >
broadcasting (logical channel) which can be received in
5 the reception terminal 33 is frequently varied in the
middle of the user moving in the living area.
[0143]
In order to present only area limited broadcasting I
f
which can be received to the user in the reception 10 terminal 33 in the same manner as the normal one seg j
terminal 100 described with reference to Fig. 12, tuning
information of many items of area limited broadcasting is !
divided and is registered in tuning tables, and the user
changes tuning tables used for tuning as necessary.
. 15 Thereby, it is expected that the user is required to
change tuning tables by targeting many tuning tables, and f
the frequency of changes also increases. I
[0144] [
Therefore, in the reception terminal 33, it is not I
20 realistic that tuning information of many items of area j
limited broadcasting is divided and is registered in many
tuning tables, and the user changes tuning tables used I
for tuning. [0145] i
25 In addition, for example, in relation to area ;
limited broadcasting performed in an event place, a I
period of time where broadcasting is performed or a broadcasting time slot is expected to be restricted, and thus there are cases where area limited broadcasting can 30 be received and cannot be received in a broadcasting area
of a certain station.
34 |
SP262351WO00
[0146]
Therefore, in the reception terminal 33, even if
tuning information of area limited broadcasting is
embedded as limited and permanent information in advance,
5 tuning information of area limited broadcasting of which
a period of time for broadcasting has elapsed is useless,
and, further it is difficult to support area limited
broadcasting which will be started in the future.
[0147]
10 On the other hand, in the reception terminal 33,
even if channel scanning described with reference to Fig.
10 is performed and tuning information of area limited broadcasting which can be received at that time is ;
acquired, in a case where a user moves or time has
15 elapsed thereafter, it cannot be said that area limited
broadcasting corresponding to the tuning information acquired through the channel scanning in the past can be ;
received.
[0148] !
20 Therefore, for example, if area limited
broadcasting which can be received at that time is to be >
presented to a user as area limited broadcasting which
can be received by the user at a position of the user, it is necessary to acquire tuning information of area
25 limited broadcasting which can be received by performing channel scanning at all times (at a short cycle). ;
[0149]
However, the channel scanning described with
reference to Fig. 10 rapidly acquires tuning information
30 as compared with channel scanning for tuning each segment i
of each physical channel of digital terrestrial '
35 |
SP262351WO00
broadcasting but needs a certain amount of time.
[0150] |
Therefore, performing the channel scanning at all j
times is not realistic. i
5 [0151] |
Therefore, in order to rapidly present a user area ;
limited broadcasting which can be received, station information regarding a station, which includes at least broadcasting area information which is information of a I
10 broadcasting area in which a broadcast wave can be received from a station, is presented to the reception ;
terminal 33, and, the reception terminal 33 selects a }
station of area limited broadcasting which can be received as a tunable station which can be tuned using 15 the station information. [0152] I
[Description of station information] j
[0153] Fig. 14 is a diagram illustrating station i
2 0 information. I
[0154] I
The station information includes a station ID, an j
area limited broadcaster ID, a transmission output, a I
station name, an area ID, an area name, a transmission I
25 station longitude, a transmission station latitude, the effective transmission start date, the effective f
transmission end date, an entry frequency, and the like. j
[0155] I
The station ID is a unique ID for identifying a I
30 station.
[0156]
36 j
SP262351WO00 J
In addition, as an ID for identifying a station, a 5
method of employing a network ID may be considered. [
[0157] I
However, the network ID is formed of 16 bits, and I
5 it is expected that it is difficult to uniquely assign a network ID of 16 bits to a station in consideration of
many stations provided performing area limited
broadcasting. •
[0158]
10 Therefore, a station ID is employed in order to ;
uniquely identify a station. In addition, the station ID is particularly multi-bit as long as a plurality of I
stations can be uniquely identified. j
[0159] |
15 The area .limited broadcaster ID is a unique ID for
identifying a business operator (area limited
broadcaster) performing area limited broadcasting. The [
area limited broadcaster may perform area limited ;
broadcasting in one or more stations, and thus area
20 limited broadcaster IDs may be the same even in station
information where station IDs are different.
[0160] I
In addition, although not illustrated in Fig. 14, ;
the station information may include the name of an area >
25 limited broadcaster identified by the area limited
broadcaster ID. i
[0161] J
The transmission output is a transmission output
(power) of a broadcast wave from a station identified by
30 the station ID.
[0162] . •
37
SP262351WO00 j
The station name is the name of the station
identified by the station ID. i
[0163] j
The area ID is an ID for identifying a location of )
5 the station identified by the station ID, and, may employ, for example, a postal code, an area code, or the like of a location of the station identified by the station ID.
[0164] ;
The area name is the name of the location of the
10 station identified by the station ID, or the name (area specifying name) of an area of a broadcasting area. [0165] I
The transmission station longitude and the
transmission station latitude are positional information
15 indicating a position (location) of the station.
identified by the station ID, and are respectively
longitude and latitude of the location of the station ?
identified by the station ID.
[0166]
20 The effective transmission start date and the
effective transmission end date are respectively the
start date and the end date of an area limited
broadcasting effective period which is a period of time
when the station identified by the station ID performs
25 area limited broadcasting.
[0167] In addition, although not illustrated in Fig. 14, [
in a case where a time slot when area limited
broadcasting is performed is defined in a day in the r
30 station identified by the station ID, the start time and i
the end time of the time slot may be included in the •
38 j
SP262351WO00 station information.
[0168] i
The entry frequency is a frequency (a frequency of
a segment (representative segment) performing area
5 limited broadcasting) for tuning area limited
broadcasting which is performed by the station identified
by the station ID.
[0169]
In addition, in a case where the station
10 information is provided to the reception terminal 33
through transmission with a segment used for area limited
broadcasting, the entry frequency is included in an NIT
transmitted with the segment and thus is not necessarily
included in the station information.
15 [0170]
In addition, in the station information of Fig. 14,
the area name of the station identified by the station ID
functions as broadcasting area information. [0171]
20 In addition, in the station information of Fig. 14,
a broadcasting area which can receive a broadcast wave
from the station identified by the station ID can be
recognized by using the transmission station longitude
and the transmission station latitude which are j
25 positional information of the station identified by the
station ID, and the transmission output, and, therefore,
the transmission station longitude, the transmission
station latitude, and the transmission output also
function as broadcasting area information.
30 [0172]
Fig. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of the
39
SP262351WO00
syntax of the station information. [0173] In the station information Station_information () I
of Fig. 15, 24-bit station_id is a station ID, and 16-bit 5 area_broadcaster_id is an area limited broadcaster ID. [0174]
8-bit station_name_length indicates the number of
letters (number of bytes) of the station name, and an N
(=station_name_length) sequence of station_name_byte of 8 10 bits indicates the station name.
[0175]
8-bit emission_power is a transmission output, and
16-bit station_longitude and station_latitude are
respectively a transmission station longitude and a
15 transmission station latitude.
[0176]
1-bit area_id_flag, area_name_flag,
operation_start_time_flag, operation_end_time_flag, and
entry_seg_frequency_flag respectively indicate whether or
20 not an area ID, the area name, the effective transmission
start date, the effective transmission end time, and an
entry frequency are included in the station information.
[0177]
3 bits following entry_seg_frequency_flag are
25 reserved for the future.
[0178]
16-bit area_id is an area ID, and is included in
the station information Station_information () if
area_id_flag is 1.
30 [0179] I
8-bit area_name_length indicates the number of
40 {
SP262351WO00 letters of the area name, and an N (=area_name_length)
sequence of 8-bit area_name_byte indicates the area name.
If area_name_flag is 1, area_name_length and
area_name_byte are included in the station information
5 Station_information (). ?
[0180] |
24-bit operation_start_time and operation_end_time ;
are respectively the effective transmission start date
and the effective transmission end date. If
10 operation_start_time_flag is 1, and !
operation_end_time_flag is 1, operation_start_time and ;
operation_end__time are included in the station
information Station_information ().
[0181]
15 16-bit entry_seg_frequency is an entry frequency,
and is included in the station information
Station_information () if entry_seg_frequency_flag is 1. '.
[0182]
Fig. 16 is a diagram illustrating an acquisition
20 method where the reception terminal 33 acquires station
information.
[0183]
Station information STi of any number of stations
of one or more is transmitted from the station 32 using a
25 segment and is received by the reception terminal 33,
thereby being acquired in the reception terminal 33.
[0184] 1
In addition, the station information STi is stored :
in advance in a non-contact medium such as a non-contact *
30 IC card (for example, Felica (registered trademark)), and ;
can be acquired in the reception terminal 33 through
41
SP262351WO00 {
m
proximity communication for sending and receiving the
station information STi between the non-contact medium :
and the reception terminal 33. ;
[0185] i
5 In addition, the station information STi is stored in a server on the Internet, and can be acquired in the :
reception terminal 33 by performing wireless
communication for sending and receiving the station
information STi between the server and the reception
10 terminal 33 using a wireless LAN or the like.
[0186] Further, the station information STi is downloaded
to a PC (Personal Computer) from a server on the Internet,
and can be acquired in the reception terminal 33 by
15 performing communication for sending and receiving the i
station information STi between the PC and the reception
terminal 33 using a USB (Universal Serial Bus) or the
like.
[0187] i
20 In addition, in a case where the station information is transmitted from the station 32 using a |
segment, the station information may be included in an I
NIT. >
[0188] )
25 Further, the station 32 may include station
f
information of the station 32 in NIT actual as a [
descriptor so as to be transmitted using a representative I
segment which is a segment of one or more segments used :•
for area limited broadcasting by the station 32. i
30 [0189] ]
Here, as the representative segment of the station
42 I
SP262351WO00
#
32, any one segment of one or more segments used for area
limited broadcasting by the station 32 may be employed.
However, in a case where one or more segments used for
area limited broadcasting by the station 32 include a
5 central segment, for example, the central segment may be
a representative segment.
[0190]
In addition, the station 32 may include station
information of stations other than the station 32 in NIT
10 other as a descriptor so as to be transmitted with a
representative segment of the station 32.
[0191] [
Further, other stations of which station •
information is included in NIT other transmitted by the ?
15 station 32 may employ any station such as a station which
performs area limited broadcasting using other segments of a physical channel having a segment which is used for area limited broadcasting by the station 32. <
[0192] [
20 In addition, transmission of NIT other including station information of other stations can be performed ;
only in a station which has the central segment as a
representative segment.
[0193] |
25 Fig. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of the
syntax (data structure) of the NIT including station
information. [0194] l
In the NIT, sequentially from the top, an 8-bit
30 table ID (table_id), a 1-bit section syntax indicator (section_syntax_indicator) , and a 1-bit future use region
43 }
SP262351WO00 ;
#
(reserved_future_use) are disposed.
[0195]
In a case where the NIT is an NIT as NIT actual, [
the table ID becomes 0x40, and in a case where the NIT is
5 an NIT as NIT other, the table ID becomes 0x41.
[0196] I
After the future use region, a 2-bit vacant region
(reserved), a 12-bit section length (section_length), a
16-bit network ID (network_ID), a 2-bit vacant region i
10 (reserved), a 5-bit version number (version_number) are
sequentially disposed. [
[0197] j
Thereafter, a 1-bit current next indicator $
(current_next_indicator), a 8-bit section number 15 (section_number), an 8-bit last section number I
(last_section_number), and a 4-bit future use region are sequentially disposed. [0198] (
Next, a 12-bit network descriptor length i
20 (network_descriptor_length), and a network loop which is a first loop are sequentially disposed.
[0199]
One or more descriptors (descriptor ())
corresponding to the network descriptor length may be
25 disposed in the network loop.
[0200]
As a descriptor of the network loop, a network name
descriptor (network__name_descriptor) , a system management
descriptor (system__management_descriptor) , and the like
30 are disposed for each network ID described in the front I
part. {
44
SP262351WO00 ;
#
[0201]
The network name is described in the network name
descriptor, and information indicating whether a network
is a broadcasting network or a communication network is
5 described in the system management descriptor.
[0202]
Here, in a case where the station information
Station_information () is included in the NIT, a station ;
information descriptor Station_information_descriptor () '
10 may be further included in the descriptor of the network j
loop. [0203] |
In the station information descriptor i
Station_information_descriptor (), 8-bit descriptor_tag
15 indicating that the station information is included, and
8-bit descriptor_length indicating the size of the j
station information descriptor Station__information_descriptor () are ' sequentially
disposed.
20 [0204] !
In addition, thereafter, the station information
Station_information () (Fig. 15) is disposed.
[0205] f
In addition, in a case where a multi-segment
25 information descriptor is described in an NIT, the multi- segment information descriptor is also described as a
descriptor of a network loop of the NIT as NIT actual.
[0206]
After the network loop, a 4-bit future use region,
30 a 12-bit TS loop length (transport_stream__loop_length) , a
TS loop which is a second loop, and a 32-bit CRC (Cyclic
45 I
SP2 62351WO00
Redundancy Check) 32 value (CRC_32) are sequentially
disposed.
[0207] l
One or more descriptors (descriptor ()) 5 corresponding to the TS loop length may be disposed in
the TS loop.
[0208]
As descriptors of the TS loop, a service list i
descriptor (service_list_descriptor), a terrestrial
10 system descriptor (terrestrial_delivery_system_descriptor), and the like are described for each TS. A service ID, and a service I
type indicating a broadcasting service type (television I
broadcasting, radio broadcasting, and the like) are ;
15 . described in the service list descriptor, and information
needed for tuning a frequency (entry frequency) or the
like is described in the terrestrial system descriptor.
[0209] i
Fig. 18 is a diagram illustrating a method where f
20 the station information STi is transmitted by the station
32. f
[0210]
In Fig. 18, the station 32-1 is a central station, ;
and the stations 32-2 and 32-3 are local stations of the 25 station 32-1. j
[0211] |
In addition, the broadcasting area A of the station 32-1 which is a central station includes the broadcasting •
area B of the station 32-2 which is a local station and 30 the broadcasting area C of the station 32-3 which is the f
same local station. ;
46 |
SP262351WO00
[0212]
Further, five segments including a central segment
of a predetermined physical channel are assigned to the ;
station 32-1 which is a central station. 5 [0213] }
In addition, a single non-central segment (a non- j
central segment which is not assigned to the station 32- {
1) of the predetermined physical channel is assigned to ;
the station 32-2 which is a local station, and two non- [
10 central segments (non-central segments which are not !
assigned to any of the stations 32-1 and 32-2) of the predetermined physical channel are assigned to the i
station 32-3 which is a local station.
[0214] . 15 The station 32-1 includes.the station information I
STi of the station 32-1 itself in an NIT so as to be transmitted with a central segment which is a
representative segment by using the central segment as ;
the representative segment among the five segments I.
20 assigned to the station 32-1. \.
[0215] The station 32-2 includes the station information {
STi of at least the station 32-2 itself in an NIT so as i
to be transmitted with a representative segment by using j
25 a single segment assigned to the station 32-2 as the representative segment.
[0216]
In the same manner as the station 32-3, the station
32-3 includes the station information STi of at least the
30 station 32-3 itself in an NIT so as to be transmitted . }
with a representative segment by using an arbitrary •'
47
SP262351WO00 f
segment of the two segments assigned to the station 32-3
as the representative segment.
[0217]
In addition, as described above, the station 32 can ;
5 transmit station information of other stations.
[0218] |
[Configuration example of station 32] [0219] I
Fig. 19 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed }
10 configuration example of the station 32 of Fig. 4. |
[0220] In Fig. 19, the station 32 includes a related i
information acquisition unit 51, a video data acquisition unit 52, a video encoder 53, an audio data acquisition
15 unit 54, an audio encoder 55, a multiplexer 56, a
transmission unit 57, and an antenna 58.
[0221]
The related information acquisition unit 51 ;•
generates and acquires related information such as PSI ;
20 (Program Specific Information) which is control
information such as information, including a PMT and a ;
PAT or an NIT and an SDT of area limited broadcasting, for receiving a service, frequency information, and *
information for specifying a packet corresponding to the 25 service, and information (hereinafter, referred to as
display control information) for performing display using
a browser in area limited broadcasting, so as to be
supplied to the multiplexer 56.
[0222]
30 In addition, the related information acquisition l
unit 51 acquires station information included in an NIT
48
SP262351WO00
when the NIT is generated.
[0223]
In other words, in a case where station information <
of the station 32 is stored, for example, in a memory
5 (not illustrated), the related information acquisition unit 51 acquires the station information of the station
32 by reading the station information from the memory. :
[0224]
Further, in a case where station information of
10 other stations is included in the NIT, for example, the
related information acquisition unit 51 downloads and
acquires the station information of other stations from
other stations via a network.
[0225]
15 The video data acquisition unit 52 acquires video
data of area limited broadcasting from a built-in HDD ;
(Hard Disk Drive), an external serve, a camera, (not
illustrated), or the like, so as to be supplied to the [
video encoder 53. .
20 [0226]
The video encoder 53 encodes the video data
supplied from the video data acquisition unit 52 on the
basis of an encoding method such as MPEG (Moving Picture
Experts Group) so as to be supplied to the multiplexer 56.
25 [0227]
The audio data acquisition unit 54 acquires audio
data of area limited broadcasting from a built-in HDD
(Hard Disk Drive), an external serve, a microphone, (not
illustrated), or the like, so as to be supplied to the
30 audio encoder 55.
[0228]
49
SP262351WO00
i
The audio encoder 55 encodes the audio data supplied from the audio data acquisition unit 54 on the I
basis of an encoding method such as MPEG (Moving Picture Expert Group) so as to be supplied to the multiplexer 56. !
5 [0229]
The multiplexer 56 generates a TS by multiplexing !
the related information from the related information
acquisition unit 51, the video data from the video
encoder 53, and the audio data from the audio encoder 55,
10 so as to be supplied to the transmission unit 57.
[0230]
The transmission unit 57 transmits the TS supplied |
from the multiplexer 56 using a predetermined segment via i
the antenna 58. S
15 [0231] . [
In the transmission unit 57, in the TS supplied I
from the multiplexer 56, a TS where an NIT including
station information of the station 32 is multiplexed as
related information is transmitted using a representative
20 segment of the station 32.
[0232]
[Description of process of station 32]
[0233] f
Fig. 20 is a flowchart illustrating a process I
25 (transmission process) of the station 32 of Fig. 19. {
[0234] I
In step S31, the related information acquisition
unit 51 acquires station information which is to be
transmitted by the station 32, that is, station
30 information of the station 32 or station information of
other ' stations, and generates and acquires related
50
i
SP262351WO00 :
information such as PSI of area limited broadcasting such
as an EIT including the station information or display I
control information, so as to be supplied to the multiplexer 56.
5 [0235]
In step S32, the video data acquisition unit 52
acquires video data of area limited broadcasting so as to
be supplied to the video encoder 53.
[0236] |
10 In step S33, the video encoder 53 encodes the video :
data supplied from the video data acquisition unit 52 so 5
as to be supplied to the multiplexer 56. !
[0237] 1
In step S34, the audio data acquisition unit 54 I
15 acquires audio data of area limited broadcasting so as to be supplied to the audio encoder 55.
[0238] j
In step S35, the audio encoder 55 encodes the audio ';
data supplied from the audio data acquisition unit 54 so
20 as to be supplied to the multiplexer 56. !'
[0239]
In step S36, the multiplexer 56 generates a TS by
multiplexing the related information from the related
information acquisition unit 51, the video data from the
25 video encoder 53, and the audio data from the audio
encoder 55.
[0240]
Here, in a case where the transmission unit 57
transmits the TS with the central segment, the
30 multiplexer 56 generates, as a TS of the central segment,
a TS which includes the NIT-0 (Fig. 8)' as NIT actual,
51
SP262351WO00 m
includes the NIT-1 as NIT other, includes the SDT of a
self-segment as SDT actual, and includes the SDTs of non- i
central segments as SDT other.
[0241]
5 Further, in a case where the transmission unit 57 ]
transmits the TS with the non-central segments, the multiplexer 56 generates, as a TS of the non-central <
segments, a TS which includes the NIT-1 as NIT actual and includes the SDT of the self-segment as SDT actual. 10 [0242] |
Furthermore, here, since the central segment is a [
representative segment, NIT actual (NIT-0) in which station information of the station 32 is described is j
included in the TS of the central segment. [
15 [0243]
In addition, NIT other (NIT-1) in which station information other than the station 32 is described may be ;
included in the TS of the central segment. I
[0244]
20 Further, in a case where the non-central segment is
a representative segment, NIT actual (NIT-1) in which
station information of the station 32 is described is
included in the TS of the non-central segment which is a
representative segment.
25 [0245]
In step S37, the transmission unit 57 transmits the
TS supplied from the multiplexer 56 with a predetermined
segment which is used to transmit the TS via the antenna
58, and finishes the process.
30 [0246]
As above, the station 32 acquires station
52
SP262351WO00 |
information of the station 32 or other stations, so as to
be transmitted with a representative segment which is a
segment of one or more segments used for arbitrary one
seg broadcasting (area limited broadcasting) by the
5 station 32, and thereby the reception terminal 33 which
acquires the station information can rapidly present area
limited broadcasting which can be received using the
station information. •
[0247] |
10 [Detailed configuration example of reception }
terminal 33]
[0248]
Fig. 21 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed
configuration example of the reception terminal 33 of Fig.
15 4.
[0249]
In Fig. 21, the reception terminal 33 includes an
antenna 71, a tuner 72, a demultiplexer 73, a video
decoder 74, a selection unit 75, a display unit 76, an
20 audio decoder 77, a speaker 78, a browser 79, a
controller 80, and an operation unit 81.
[0250]
The antenna 71 receives a broadcast wave of the UHF
band from the terrestrial broadcasting station 31 or the
25 station 32, and supplies an IF (Intermediate Frequency)
signal obtained by receiving the broadcast wave to the
tuner 72.
[0251]
The tuner 72 tunes (a signal of) normal one seg
30 broadcasting or area limited broadcasting of a
predetermined logical channel (segment) from the IF
53
SP262351WO00
signal from the antenna 71 under the control of the
controller 80, and supplies a TS obtained as a result
thereof to the demultiplexer 73. ?•
[0252] |
5 The demultiplexer 73 divides the TS supplied from the tuner 72 into video data, audio data, display control I
information, respective pieces of information of PSI, and the like. The demultiplexer 73 supplies the video data
to the video decoder 74 and supplies the audio data to 10 the audio decoder 77. In addition, the demultiplexer 73
supplies the display control information to the browser ;
79, and supplies the respective pieces of information of i
PSI and the like to the controller 80.
[0253] ;
15 The video decoder 74 decodes the video data
supplied from the demultiplexer 73 using a method
corresponding to that of the video encoder 53 (Fig. 19)
under the control of the controller 80, so as to be
supplied to the selection unit 75.
20 [0254]
The selection unit 75 selects the video data
supplied from the video decoder 74 or the video data
supplied from the browser 79 under the control of the
controller 80, so as to be supplied to the display unit
25 76.
[0255]
In addition, the selection unit 75 supplies video
data of an image such as OSD (On Screen Display) to the
display unit 76 under the control of the controller 80.
30 [0256]
The display unit 76 displays images of normal one
54
SP262351WO00
#
seg broadcasting or area limited broadcasting on the
basis of the video data supplied from the selection unit
75.
[0257]
5 The audio decoder 77 decodes the audio data 1
supplied from the demultiplexer 73 using a method i
corresponding to that of the audio encoder 55 (Fig. 19) i
under the control of the controller 80, so as to be
supplied to the speaker 78.
10 [0258] The speaker 78 outputs sound corresponding to the
audio data from the audio decoder 77, that is, sound of normal one seg broadcasting or area limited broadcasting.
[0259]
15 In addition, the speaker 78 may output ;
predetermined other sound (for example, a beep sound or
the like) under the control of the controller 80.
[02 60]
The browser 79 analyzes the display control
20 information supplied from the demultiplexer 73, and
generates video data which is supplied to the selection
unit 75.
[0261]
The controller 80 performs various processes and
25 controls the respective blocks forming the reception
terminal 33 in response to an operation signal from the
operation unit 81.
[0262]
In other words, the controller 80 stores a
30 frequency of a central segment of each physical channel
of digital terrestrial broadcasting as a preset frequency
55
SP262351WO00
#
for channel scanning, and performs tuning control for >
controlling the tuner 72 such that (a segment of) the
preset frequency is sequentially tuned while channel j
scanning is performed.
5 [0263] j
In addition, the controller 80 generates a tuning !
table on the basis of NIT actual and SDT actual, or NIT •
actual, NIT other, SDT actual, and SDT other of the (
central segment of each physical channel included in the I
10 PSI supplied from the demultiplexer 73, so as to be I
stored in a built-in memory (not illustrated).
[0264] r
Further, the controller 80 supplies the service
names registered in the tuning table to the display unit
15 76 via the selection unit 75 so as to be displayed in
response to an operation signal from the operation unit
81.
[0265]
Here, a user may view the service names displayed
20 on the display unit 76 and operate the operation unit 81
so as to select the service name of a service (logical
channel) which is a viewing target.
[0266]
The controller 80 recognizes a frequency as tuning
25 information of the service of the service name of the
viewing target from the tuning table according to the
operation of the operation unit 81, and performs tuning
control for controlling the tuner 72 so as to tune (a
segment of) the frequency.
30 [0267]
In addition, the controller 80 controls the video
56
SP262351WO00 :
*
decoder 74, the selection unit 75, the audio decoder 77,
and the browser 79 on the basis of the respective pieces
of information of the PSI supplied from the demultiplexer ;
73. Specifically, the controller 80 controls, for
5 example, the video decoder 74 and the audio decoder 77
such that the video data output from the video decoder 74 is synchronized with the audio data output from the audio
decoder 77. <
[0268]
10 Further, in a case where station information is
included in an NIT of PSI, the controller 80 acquires the |
station information so as to be stored as necessary.
[0269]
In addition, the controller 80 performs tuning
15 control using the station information.
[0270]
In other words, the controller 80 selects a station
of area limited broadcasting which can be currently
received as a tunable station which can be tuned using
20 the station information, and displays the station name
(Fig. 14) of the tunable station or the service name of a
service of area limited broadcasting performed by the
tunable station on the display unit 76 via the selection
unit 75.
25 [0271]
Further, the controller 80 recognizes a frequency
(of a service) of the area limited broadcasting of the
tunable station from the station information or the
tuning table and performs tuning control for controlling
30 the tuner 72 so as to tune the frequency.
[0272]
57
SP262351WO00 [
The operation unit 81 is operated by the user and supplies an operation signal corresponding to the |
operation to the controller 80. In addition, the <
operation unit 81 also includes a button displayed as a
5 GUI (Graphics User Interface) on the display unit 76 in
addition to physical buttons and the like.
[0273]
Fig. 22 is a diagram illustrating acquisition and
use of station information in the reception terminal 33
10 of Fig. 21.
[0274]
As described above, in a case where the station 32
includes station information in an NIT so as to be
transmitted, the reception terminal 33 can acquire the
15 station information from the NIT which is received, for
example, when channel scanning is performed.
[0275]
In addition, the reception terminal 33 may acquire
station information using methods other than the channel
20 scanning as described with reference to Fig. 16.
[0276]
In the reception terminal 33, the controller 80
acquires station information, and registers the station
information in a station list which is a list in which
25 the station information is registered (stored) as
necessary.
[0277]
In addition, the controller 80 performs tuning
control using the station information.
30 [0278]
[Configuration example of controller 80]
58
SP262351WO00 I
#
[0279] Fig. 23 is a block diagram illustrating a
functional configuration example of a portion of the controller 80 of Fig. 21 which performs tuning control
5 using the station information.
[0280]
In Fig. 23, the controller 80 has station
information acquisition units 111, 112 and 113, a
registration unit 114, a storage unit 115, an update unit
10 116, a station selection unit 117, and a tuning control
unit 118.
[0281]
The station information acquisition units 111, 112
and 113 acquire station information.
15 [0282]
In other words, the station information acquisition
unit 111 acquires the station information from an NIT
obtained by the tuner 72 performing channel scanning, so
as to be supplied to the registration unit 114 and the
20 tuning control unit 118.
[0283]
Here, for example, in a case where the operation
unit 81 is operated so as to perform channel scanning,
the tuning control unit 118 described later performs
25 tuning control for controlling the tuner 72 such that
frequencies of central segments of the respective
physical channels of digital terrestrial broadcasting,
stored as the preset frequencies, are sequentially tuned.
< [0284]
30 The tuner 72 tunes a preset frequency in response
'. to the tuning control of the tuning control unit 118, and
i 59
SP262351WO00 I
supplies a TS to the demultiplexer 73 in a case where area limited broadcasting can be received at the tuned preset frequency, that is, as a result of the tuning, the •
TS of the area limited broadcasting can be obtained. j
5 [0285]
The demultiplexer 73 separates PSI from the TS from
the tuner 72 so as to be supplied to the controller 80.
[0286] ;
In the above-described way, when channel scanning ',
10 is performed, the controller 80 creates a tuning table in
which tuning information of services (area limited
broadcasting) which can be received at that time is
registered, from an NIT and an SDT included in the PSI
supplied from the demultiplexer 73 as necessary.
15 [0287]
In addition, in the controller 80, the station
information acquisition unit 111 acquires station
information from the NIT obtained through the channel
scanning.
20 [0288]
The station information acquisition unit 112
acquires station information using a direct method so as
to be supplied to the registration unit 114 and the
tuning control unit 118.
25 [0289]
Here, for example, in a case where area limited
broadcasting performed by the station 32 is broadcasting
regarding an event performed in a broadcasting area of
the station 32, a poster in which station information of
30 the station 32 is printed in a form of a bar code or the
like, or a poster in which a wireless tag storing the
60
SP262351WO00
station information is embedded may be put up in the broadcasting area of the station 32. [0290] i
In this case, the station information acquisition 5 unit 112 has a reading device reading the bar code or a
reader-writer which performs proximity communication
(non-contact communication) with the wireless tag,
embedded therein, and, when a user makes the reception
terminal 33 come close to the poster in order to acquire
10 the station information of the station 32, the station
information of the station 32 is acquired from the bar
code or the wireless tag of the poster.
[0291]
As described above, a method of acquiring station
15 information in which only the station information of the
station 32 can be obtained in a broadcasting area of the
specific station 32 is the direct method.
[0292]
The station information acquisition unit 113
20 acquires station information using methods (other
methods) other than the channel scanning and the direct
method, so as to be supplied to the registration unit 114.
[0293]
In other words, in a case where arbitrary one seg
25 broadcasting or normal one seg broadcasting is received
(a TS of the arbitrary one seg broadcasting or the normal
one seg broadcasting can be obtained) in the tuner 72,
when station information of each of one or more stations
is included in an NIT of the TS of the arbitrary one seg
30 broadcasting or the normal one seg broadcasting, the
station information acquisition unit 113 can acquire the
61
SP262351WO00 j
station information. i
[0294] j
In addition, for example, in a case where the
reception terminal 33 has a Web browser function, and a 5 Web server on the Internet provides station information
of each of one or more stations, the station information
acquisition unit 113 accesses the Web server and can
acquire the station information.
[0295]
10 In addition, in a case where the reception terminal
33 is connected to a PC which downloads station
information from a server which provides the station
information of each of one or more stations, the station
information acquisition unit 113 can acquire the station
15 . information from the PC.
[0296]
In addition, for example, in a case where a printed
matter (for example, a poster, a catalog, a magazine, or
the like) in which station information of each of one or
20 more stations is printed in a bar code, or a printed
matter in which a wireless tag storing station
information of each of one or more stations is embedded
is provided, when the user makes the reception terminal
33 come close to the printed matter, the station
25 information acquisition unit 113 can acquire the station
information from the bar code or the wireless tag of the
printed matter.
[0297]
The registration unit 114 supplies the station
; 30 information supplied from the station information
I acquisition units 111 to 113 to the storage unit 115 so
| 62
4
SP262351WO00 I
as to be stored (registered in the station list of the [
storage unit 115) as necessary.
[0298]
In other words, the registration unit 114 stores
5 only station information which is requested to be
registered by a user of pieces of the station information
supplied from the station information acquisition units
111 to 113, into the storage unit 115.
[0299]
10 Here, for example, there are cases where the tuning
control unit 118 performs tuning control using the
station information supplied from the station information
acquisition unit 111, and thereby a user who views area
limited broadcasting received by the tuner 72 does not
15 want to view the area limited broadcasting thereafter.
[0300]
In this case, station information where the area
limited broadcasting is performed is unnecessary.
[0301]
20 In addition, if a plurality of pieces of station
information including such unnecessary station
information is stored in the storage unit 115, (station
names of) a plurality of stations are displayed on a
station list screen described later, and, as a result,
25 there are cases where it is difficult for a user to
select a desired station.
[0302]
Therefore, the registration unit 114 may store
station information into the storage unit 115 when the
30 user performs an operation (hereinafter, referred to as a
bookmark operation) for the operation unit 81 (Fig. 21)
63
SP262351WO00 m
so as to request registration. ;
[0303] |
Thereby, a plurality of stations are displayed on !
the station list screen, and thereby it is possible to
5 prevent difficulty in selecting a station desired by a
user.
[0304]
The storage unit 115 stores the station information
supplied from the registration unit 114. In other words,
10 the storage unit 115 stores a station list in which
station information is registered, and registers the
station information supplied from the registration unit
114 in the station list.
[0305]
15 The update unit 116 updates the station information
stored in the storage unit 115.
[0306]
In other words, the station information includes,
as illustrated in Fig. 14, the effective transmission
20 start date which is the start date of the area limited
broadcasting effective period which is a period of time
when the station performs area limited broadcasting, and
the effective transmission end date which is the end date
thereof.
25 [0307]
The update unit 116 deletes, from the storage unit
115, station information of which the area limited
broadcasting effective period recognized from the
effective transmission start date and the effective
30 transmission end date of the station information stored
in the storage unit 115 has elapsed.
1 64
SP262351WO00 j
[0308]
Specifically, the update unit 116 periodically
checks, for example, the effective transmission end date
of the station information stored in the storage unit 115,
5 and deletes station information of which the effective
transmission end data is the past date in terms of the
current time from the storage unit 115.
[0309]
As described above, the update unit 116 updates
10 station information stored in the storage unit 115, and
thereby it is possible to prevent difficulty in selecting
a station desired by a user due to display of a plurality
of stations including stations which do not perform area
limited broadcasting yet.
15 [0310]
The station selection unit 117 selects a station of
area limited broadcasting which can be received at a
predetermined position using broadcasting area
information of a broadcasting area which is included in
20 station information stored in the storage unit 115 and
can receive a broadcast wave from a station corresponding
to the station information, as a tunable station which
can be tuned, and supplies station information of the
tunable station to the tuning control unit 118.
25 [0311]
Here, as described with reference to Fig. 14, a set
of the area name, a transmission station longitude, a
transmission station latitude, and a transmission output
is broadcasting area information.
; 30 [0312]
The tuning control unit 118 performs tuning control
j 65
SP262351WO00
#
such that the tuner 72 (Fig. 21) tunes area limited
broadcasting of a station corresponding to station
information using the station information supplied from
the station information acquisition unit 111 or 112 or
5 the station selection unit 117.
[0313]
In addition, the tuning control unit 118 performs
display control for controlling the selection unit 75
such that a station list screen on which the station name
10 of the tunable station is displayed, a channel list
screen on which the service name of area limited
broadcasting (service) performed by the tunable station
is displayed, or the like, is displayed on the display
unit 76 (Fig. 21) using the station information of the
15 tunable station supplied from the station selection unit
117.
; [0314]
[Process of acquiring station information by
I reception terminal 33]
1 20 [0315]
J Fig. 24 is a flowchart illustrating a process where
I the reception terminal 33 of Fig. 21 acquires station
information through channel scanning and receives a
service.
25 [0316]
For example, if a user operates the operation unit
81 (Fig. 21) so as to display a scanning operation screen
which is a menu screen of channel scanning, in step S101,
the tuning control unit 118 (Fig. 23) controls the
30 selection unit 75 (Fig. 21) such that the scanning
operation screen is displayed on the display unit 76 (Fig.
j 66
SP262351WO00
21), and the process proceeds to step S102.
[0317]
In step S102, the tuning control unit 118
determines whether or not a scanning button of the
5 scanning operation screen is operated.
[0318]
In other words, the scanning button operated when
the channel scanning is performed is provided on the
scanning operation screen, and, it is determined whether
10 or not the scanning button is operated in step S102.
[0319]
If it is determined that the scanning button is not
operated in step S102, the process returns to step S102.
[0320]
15 In addition, if it is determined that the scanning
button is operated in step S102, the process proceeds to
step S103 where the tuning control unit 118 makes the
tuner 72 perform channel scanning so as to acquire
station information.
20 [0321]
In other words, if the scanning button is operated,
the tuning control unit 118 performs tuning control for
controlling the tuner 72 such that frequencies (preset
frequencies) of central segments of the respective
25 physical channels of the digital terrestrial broadcasting
; are sequentially tuned.
[0322]
: Here, in the tuning control of the tuner 72 by the
tuning control unit 118, the tuner 72 may be controlled
• 30 such that not frequencies of the central segments of the
respective physical channels of the digital terrestrial
I 67
SP262351WO00
broadcasting but frequencies of the respective segments
of each physical channel are sequentially tuned.
[0323]
The tuner 72 tunes a preset frequency under the
5 tuning control of the tuning control unit 118, and
supplies a TS to the demultiplexer 73 in a case where
area limited broadcasting can be received at the tuned
preset frequency, that is, the TS of the area limited
broadcasting can be obtained.
10 [0324]
The demultiplexer 73 separates PSI from the TS from
the tuner 72 so as to be supplied to the controller 80.
[0325]
In the above-described way, when channel scanning
15 is performed, the controller 80 creates .a tuning table in
which tuning information of services (area limited
broadcasting) which can be received at that time is
registered, from an NIT and an SDT included in the PSI
supplied from the demultiplexer 73 as necessary.
20 [0326]
In addition, in the controller 80, the station
information acquisition unit 111 acquires station
information from the NIT obtained through the channel
scanning.
I 25 [0327]
! In addition, although a frequency (entry frequency)
j at which a station corresponding to the station
] information acquired from the NIT performs area limited
} broadcasting can be recognized from the NIT including the
] 30 station information, here, for simplicity of description,
'I it is assumed that an entry frequency is included in the
68
SP262351WO00 station information.
[0328]
In step S103, the station information acquisition
unit 111 acquires the station information in the above-
5 described way, and supplies the station information to
the registration unit 114 and the tuning control unit 118,
and the process proceeds to step S104.
[0329]
In step S104, the tuning control unit 118 generates
10 a channel list screen on which the service name of a
service performed as area limited broadcasting in a
station corresponding to the station information is
displayed using the station information from the station
information acquisition unit 111, so as to be displayed
.15 on the display unit 76 via the selection unit 75.
[0330]
Here, the service name of a service of which area
limited broadcasting is performed in a station
corresponding to certain station information may be
20 recognized from an SDT on the basis of a service ID
included in an NIT including the station information.
[0331]
Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S105 from
step S104, and the tuning control unit 118 determines
25 whether or not the operation unit 81 is operated so as to
select any one of the service names (logical channels)
displayed on the channel list screen.
[0332]
If it is determined that the operation unit 81 is
30 not operated so as to select any one of the service names
displayed on the channel list screen in step S105, the
69
SP262351WO00 process returns to step S105. [
[0333] I
In addition, if it is determined that the operation 1
unit 81 is operated so as to select any one of the
5 service names displayed on the channel list screen in
step S105, the process proceeds to step S106 where the
tuning control unit 118 performs tuning control such that
a selected service (logical channel) (segment) which is a
service of the service name selected through the
10 operation of the operation unit 81 is tuned.
[0334]
In other words, since a frequency of the service
performed by the station is included in an NIT which is
transmitted with a segment (representative segment) of an
15 entry frequency (Fig. 14) included in station information
of the station performing area limited broadcasting of
the selected service, the tuning control unit 118
recognizes the frequency of the selected service (of
which area limited broadcasting is performed) from the
20 NIT (or, when possible, a tuning table which has already
been created)
[0335]
In addition, the tuning control unit 118 controls
the tuner 72 (Fig. 21) such that a frequency of the
25 selected service is tuned.
[0336]
The tuner 72 tunes a frequency of the selected
service in response to the tuning control of the tuning
control unit 118, and supplies a TS to the demultiplexer
30 73 (Fig. 21) in a case where area limited broadcasting
can be received, that is, as a result of the tuning, the
70
SP262351WO00
TS of the area limited broadcasting can be obtained.
[0337]
The demultiplexer 73 divides video data, audio data,
and display control information from the TS from the
5 tuner 72 so as to be respectively supplied to the video
decoder 74, the audio decoder 77, and the browser 79.
[0338]
Thereby, for example, an image of the selected
service is displayed on the display unit 76, sound of the
10 selected service is output from the speaker 78, and
thereby the user can view the selected service.
[0339]
Thereafter, the process proceeds from the step S106
to step S107, and the registration unit 114 determines
15 whether or not the user performs a bookmark operation.
[0340]
In other words, the tuning control unit 118 also
displays a bookmark button on the display unit 76 via the
selection unit 75 when an image of the selected service
20 is displayed on the display unit 76.
[0341]
The registration unit 114 determines whether or not
a bookmark operation for operating the bookmark button is
performed in step S107.
| 25 [0342]
If it is determined that the bookmark operation is
j performed in step S107, the process proceeds to step S108,
i where the registration unit 114 registers station
information of a station performing area limited
j 30 broadcasting of the selected service of pieces of station
} information from the station information acquisition unit
I 71
SP262351WO00
111 into the station list of the storage unit 115, and
finishes the process.
[0343]
In addition, if it is determined that the bookmark
5 operation is not performed in step S107, the process
skips step S108 and is finished.
[0344]
Therefore, the station information of a station
performing area limited broadcasting of the selected
10 service, acquired by the station information acquisition
unit 111, is registered in the station list of the
storage unit 115 only in a case where the bookmark
operation is performed.
[0345]
15 Fig. 25 is a diagram illustrating a display example
of the display unit 76 in a case where the reception
terminal 33 of Fig. 21 acquires station information
through channel scanning and receives a service.
[0346]
20 As described with reference to Fig. 24, if a user
operates the operation unit 81 (Fig. 21) so as to display
the scanning operation screen, the scanning operation
screen with the scanning button is displayed on the
| display unit 76 in the reception terminal 33.
i 25 [0347]
I If the user operates the scanning button of the
i scanning operation screen displayed on the display unit
1 76, channel scanning is performed in the reception
| terminal 33.
| 30 [0348]
I In addition, in the reception terminal 33, the
j 72
i
i
SP262351WO00
station information acquisition unit 111 acquires station
information from an NIT obtained when the channel
scanning is performed.
[0349]
5 Further, in the reception terminal 33, the tuning
control unit 118 generates a channel list screen on which
the service name of a service performed as area limited
broadcasting in a station corresponding to the station
information acquired by the station information
10 acquisition unit 111, so as to be displayed on the
display unit 76.
[0350]
Thereafter, if the user selects any one service
name (logical channel) displayed on the channel list
15 screen, the tuner 72 sets a service of the service name
as a selected service and tunes the selected service in
the reception terminal 33.
[0351]
In addition, in the reception terminal 33, as a
20 result of the tuning by the tuner 72, a broadcasting
reception screen on which an image of the selected
service where a TS can be received is displayed is
displayed on the display unit 76.
[0352]
25 The bookmark button is further displayed on the
broadcasting reception screen. If the bookmark button is
operated, in the reception terminal 33, the registration
unit 114 registers station information of a station
performing area limited broadcasting of the selected
I 30 service of pieces of station information from the station
information acquisition unit 111 into the station list of
| 73
SP262351WO00
the storage unit 115.
[0353]
Fig. 26 is a flowchart illustrating a process where
the reception terminal 33 of Fig. 21 acquires station
5 information using the direct method and receives a
service.
[0354]
For example, if the user operates the operation
unit 81 so as to acquire station information using the
10 direct method, and, for example, makes the reception
terminal 33 come close to a bar code of a poster where
station information of a predetermined station is printed
in a form of the bar code, the station information
acquisition unit 112 (Fig. 23) acquires the station
15 information by reading the bar code in step Sill, so as
to be supplied to the registration unit 114 and the
tuning control unit 118, and the process proceeds to step
S112.
\ [0355]
20 In step S112, the tuning control unit 118 performs
tuning control so as to tune a service of which area
limited broadcasting is performed at an entry frequency
of the station information using the station information
from the station information acquisition unit 112.
25 [0356]
In other words, the tuning control unit 118
controls the tuner 72 (Fig. 21) so as to tune the entry
frequency of the station information from the station
information acquisition unit 112.
30 [0357]
The tuner 72 tunes the entry 'frequency in response
74
SP262351WO00
to the tuning control of the tuning control unit 118, and
supplies a TS to the demultiplexer 73 in a case where
area limited broadcasting can be received at the entryfrequency,
that is, as a result of the tuning, the TS of
5 the area limited broadcasting can be obtained.
[0358]
The demultiplexer 73 divides video data, audio data,
and display control information from the TS from the
tuner 72 so as to be respectively supplied to the video
10 decoder 74, the audio decoder 77, and the browser 79.
[0359]
Thereby, an image of a service (hereinafter, also
referred to as a direct acquisition service) of which
area limited broadcasting is performed at the entry
15 frequency of the station information, acquired by the
station information acquisition unit 112 is displayed on
; the display unit 76, sound of the direct acquisition
5 service is output from the speaker 78, and thereby the
j user can view the direct acquisition service.
20 [0360]
j Thereafter, the process proceeds from the step S112
; to step S113, and the registration unit 114 determines
I whether or not the user performs a bookmark operation.
I [0361]
25 In other words, the tuning control unit 118 also
displays a bookmark button on the display unit 76 via the
selection unit 75 when an image (broadcasting reception
screen) of the direct acquisition service is displayed on
the display unit 76 in the same manner as the case
\ 30 illustrated in Fig. 25.
] [0362]
! 75
SP262351WO00
The registration unit 114 determines whether or not
a bookmark operation for operating the bookmark button is
performed in step S113.
[0363]
5 If it is determined that the bookmark operation is
performed in step S113, the process proceeds to step S114,
where the registration unit 114 registers station
information from the station information acquisition unit
112, that is, station information of a station performing
10 area limited broadcasting of the direct acquisition
service into the station list of the storage unit 115,
and finishes the process.
[0364]
In addition, if it is determined that the bookmark
15 operation is not performed in step S113, the process
skips step S114 and is finished.
[0365]
Therefore, the station information acquired by the
station information acquisition unit 112 is registered in
j 20 the station list of the storage unit 115 only in a case
; where the bookmark operation is performed.
\ [0366]
! Fig. 27 is a flowchart illustrating a process where
the reception terminal 33 of Fig. 21 acquires station
I 25 information using other methods.
\ [0367]
] In step S121, the station information acquisition
; unit 113 (Fig. 23) acquires station information using
i other methods as described with reference to Fig. 23 so
30 as to be supplied to the registration unit 114, and the
process proceeds to step S122.
76
SP262351WO00
[0368]
In step S122, the registration unit 114 registers
all the pieces of station information from the station
information acquisition unit 113 into the station list of
5 the storage unit 115, and finishes the process.
[0369]
Therefore, all the pieces of the station
information acquired by the station information
acquisition unit 113 is registered in the station list of
10 the storage unit 115.
[0370]
[Tuning process using station information]
[0371]
Fig. 28 is a flowchart illustrating a tuning
15 process of performing tuning by using station information
in the reception terminal 33.
[0372]
Here, tuning process modes includes an individual
selection mode, a sequential selection mode, a map
20 display mode, and a GPS mode, and the flowchart of Fig.
28 illustrates a tuning process in the individual
i selection mode.
I [0373]
In addition, which mode a tuning process is
i 25 performed in may be selected, for example, by the user
: operating the operation unit 81.
1 [0374]
In step S131, the tuning control unit 118 generates
an area selection screen which is displayed on the
30 display unit 76.
[0375]
77
SP262351WO00
In other words, the station selection unit 117
sequentially selects station information registered in
the station list of the storage unit 115 as target
station information which is targeted, and selects the
5 area name (Fig. 14) of the target station information as
a display area name which is displayed on the area
selection screen.
[0376]
In addition, the station selection unit 117 does
10 not select an area name which conforms to an area name
which has already been selected as a display area name,
as a display area name.
[0377]
If display area names are selected by setting all
15 the pieces of station information registered in the
station list of the storage unit 115 as target station
information, the station selection unit 117 supplies a
list of the display area names to the tuning control unit
118.
20 [0378]
The tuning control unit 118 generates an area
selection screen on which the list of the display area
names from the station selection unit 117 so as to be
displayed on the display unit 76.
25 [0379]
In step S131, if the area selection screen is
j displayed, the process proceeds to step S132, where the
I station selection unit 117 determines whether or not an
I area name as any one of display area names which is
30 displayed on the area selection screen is selected by the
| user operating the operation unit 81.
! 78
SP262351WO00
[0380]
Here, in a case where a plurality of display area
names are displayed on the area selection screen, there
are cases where it is difficult for the user to select a
5 desired display area name.
[0381]
Therefore, display area names displayed on the area
selection screen may be restricted.
[0382]
10 That is to say, in a case where the station
selection unit 117 has a function of acquiring a present
location such as a GPS (Global Positioning System), the
station selection unit 117 supplies only display area
names of areas close to the present location to the
15 tuning control unit 118, and thereby display area names
displayed on the area selection screen can be restricted
to only display area names of areas close to the present
location.
[0383]
20 If it is determined that none of display area names
displayed on the area selection screen is selected in
\ step S132, the process returns to step S132.
| [0384]
In addition, if it is determined that any one of
25 display area names displayed on the area selection screen
is selected in step S132, the process proceeds to step
} S133, where the station selection unit 117 sets the
display area name selected from the area selection screen
• as a selected area name and selects station information
; 30 of which an area name conforms to the selected area name
from station information registered in the 'station list
! 79
SP262351WO00
of the storage unit 115.
[0385]
In addition, the station selection unit 117
registers the station information of which an area name
5 conforms to the selected area name and which is selected
from the station information registered in the station
list of the storage unit 115, into a tunable list in
which station information of a tunable station is
registered, so as to be supplied to the tuning control
10 unit 118, and the process proceeds to step S134.
[0386]
In step S134, the tuning control unit 118
determines whether or not reception check of a station of
which the station information is registered in the
15 tunable list from the station selection unit. 117, that is,
I (area limited broadcasting by) a tunable station is
performed.
I [0387]
i
{ Here, the reception check of the tunable station is
j 20 to check that area limited broadcasting (service) by the
j tunable station is actually received, that is, a TS of
i the area limited broadcasting can be obtained when the
j area limited broadcasting by the tunable station is tuned.
| [0388]
{ 25 Whether or not the reception check is performed may I
i be set, for example, by operating the operation unit 81.
j [0389]
I If it is determined that the reception check is not
j performed in step S134, the process skips steps S135 to
j 30 S139 so as not to perform the reception check, and the
I process proceeds to step S140.
! 8° •
SP262351WO00
[0390]
Further, if it is determined that the reception
check is performed in step S134, the process proceeds to
step S135, and, the reception check is performed in steps 5 S135 to S139 in the following. ;
[0391]
In other words, in step S135, the tuning control ;
unit 118 selects first station information of the tunable !
list from the station selection unit 117 as target
10 station information (hereinafter, also referred to as
target information).
[0392]
Further, in step S135, the tuning control unit 118
performs tuning control for controlling the tuner 72 such
15 .that a service of which area limited broadcasting is i
performed at an entry frequency of the target station
information is tuned by the use of the target station ;
information.
[0393]
20 Thereafter, the process proceeds from step S135 to
step S136, and the tuning control unit 118 determines ;
whether or not the service of which area limited
broadcasting is performed at the entry frequency of the
target station information can be received, that is, as a 25 result of the tuning, a TS can be obtained in the tuner )
72. j
[0394] j
If it is determined that the service of which area
limited broadcasting is performed at the entry frequency
30 of the target station information cannot be received in I
step S136, the process proceeds' to step S137, where the
81 •;
SP262351WO00
tuning control unit 118 deletes the target station
information from the tunable list, and the process
proceeds to step S138.
[0395]
5 In other words, for example, in a case where the
present location is in a broadcasting area of a target
station which is a station corresponding to the target
station information, but a TS of the service of area
limited broadcasting by the target station cannot be
10 received for a reason such as there being an obstacle
such as a building between the target station and the
present location, or the present location being too
| distant from the target station, the tuning control unit
j 118 deletes the target station information from the
j 15 tunable list, and thereby excludes the target station
[ from the tunable stations.
i
| [0396]
i On the other hand, if it is determined that the
] service of which area limited broadcasting is performed
] 20 at the entry frequency of the target station information
j
j can be received in step S136, the process skips step S137
j and proceeds to step S138 where the tuning control unit
j 118 determines whether or not all the pieces of station
j information of the tunable list has been target station
I 25 information.
j [0397]
i
] If it is determined that there is station
1
j information which has not been target station information
j yet of the pieces of station information of the tunable
| 30 list in step S138, the process proceeds to step S139,
where the tuning control unit 118 selects the next
! 82
SP262351WO00 I
m
station information of station information which is
currently target station information as new target
station information of the pieces of station information
of the tunable list.
5 [0398]
In addition, in step S139, the tuning control unit
118 performs tuning control for controlling the tuner 72 j
such that a service of which area limited broadcasting is ;
performed at an entry frequency of the target station
10 information is tuned using the target station information,
and the process returns to step S136.
[0399]
Further, if it is determined that all the pieces of
station information of the tunable list has been target
15 station information in step S138, that is, reception
check for all the pieces of station information of the
tunable list is completed, the process proceeds to step
S140, where the tuning control unit 118 generates a
station list screen which is displayed on the display
20 unit 76.
[0400]
In other words, in step S140, the tuning control
unit 118 recognizes station names (Fig. 14) of the
tunable stations from the station information of the
25 tunable list.
[0401]
In addition, the tuning control unit 118 generates
a station list screen which is a list displaying a list
of the station names of the tunable stations so as to be
30 displayed on the display unit 76, and the process
proceeds from step'S140 to step S141.
83
SP262351WO00
[0402]
The tuning control unit 118 determines whether or
not the user performs a tuning operation in step S141,
and if it is determined that the tuning operation is not
5 performed, the process returns to step S141.
[0403]
Here, the tuning operation is an operation of
selecting a station and selecting a service of which area
limited broadcasting is performed by the station.
10 [0404]
That is to say, the user may select a station name
of a desired station (tunable station) of the station
names displayed on the station list screen by operating
the operation unit 81.
15 [0405]
• If the user selects any one of the station names
« displayed on the station list screen, the tuning control
\ unit 118 recognizes frequencies and service names of one
or more services of which area limited broadcasting is
20 performed by a selected station, from an NIT and an SDT
(or, when possible, a tuning table which has already been
created) transmitted'with a segment (representative
segment) of an entry frequency (Fig. 14) of station
information of the selected station which is a station
25 (tunable station) of which the station name is selected
by the user.
[0406]
In addition, the tuning control unit 118 generates
J a channel list screen on which the service names of one
i 30 more services of which area limited broadcasting is
j performed by the selected station, so as to be displayed
I
I 84
! :
1
I
j i
SP262351WO00
on the display unit 76.
[0407]
The user may select a service name of a desired
service of the service names displayed on the channel
5 list screen by operating the operation unit 81.
[0408]
If the user selects any one of the service names
displayed on the channel list screen, the tuning control
unit 118 performs tuning control such that the tuner 72
10 tunes a selected service (logical channel) (service)
which is a service of which the service name is selected
by the user.
' [0409]
Thereby, for example, as described in step S106 of
15 Fig. 24, an image of the selected service is displayed on
the display unit 76, and sound of the selected service is
output from the speaker 78.
[0410]
In step S141, as described above, it is determined
20 whether or not a tuning operation is performed in which a
; station name of a selected station is selected from the
station names displayed on the station list screen, and a
service name of a selected service is selected from the
I service names of services, displayed on the channel list
| 25 screen, of which area limited broadcasting is performed
{ by the selected station.
{ [0411]
i If it is determined that the tuning operation is
I performed in step S141, that is, a station is selected as
| 30 a selected station from the station list screen, and a
{ service is selected as a selected service from the
i
•. 85
SP262351WO00
channel list screen on which service names of one or more
services of which area limited broadcasting is performed
by the selected station are displayed, the process
proceeds to step S142, where the tuning control unit 118
5 performs tuning control such that the tuner 72 tunes the
selected service, and the tuning process in an individual
selection mode finishes.
[0412]
As described above, in the reception terminal 33,
10 the station information acquisition units 111 to 113
acquire station information, and the storage unit 115
stores the station information.
[0413]
In addition, in the station selection unit 117, a
15 station .having an area name conforming to a display area
name selected by the user by using area names which are
broadcasting area information included in the station
information stored in the storage unit 115, that is, a
' station which performs area limited broadcasting which
; 20 can be received at a position of the display area name
selected by the user is selected as a tunable station
i which can be tuned, and a station name thereof is
l registered in the tunable list.
| [0414]
| 25 In addition, in the tuning control unit 118, the
j station list screen on which station names registered in
j
j the tunable list are displayed is displayed as
j information of tunable stations, and tuning control is
I
| performed for a service (selected service) of which area
i 30 limited broadcasting is performed by a tunable station
I which is selected from the station list' screen and the
I
i
t
i :
} 86
i
| ;
•I
4
SP262351WO00
channel list screen by the user.
[0415]
Therefore, in the reception terminal 33, after
station information is acquired, it is possible to
5 rapidly present area limited broadcasting (service) which
can be received at a position of a display area name
selected by the user in a form of a station list screen
and a channel list screen. i
[0416]
10 In addition, if reception check is not performed,
: there are cases where a service of which area limited
\ broadcasting is performed by a tunable station selected
by the user from the station list screen and the channel
list screen cannot be received.
15 [0417]
Fig. 29 is a diagram illustrating a display example
of the display unit 76 in a case where a tuning process
in an individual selection mode is performed in the
reception terminal 33 of Fig. 21.
20 [0418]
In the individual selection mode, as described with
reference to Fig. 28, the area selection screen on which
area names of station information are displayed as
display area names is displayed on the display unit 76.
25 [0419]
If the user selects any one of the display area '
names displayed on the area selection screen, a station
list screen on which a station name of a tunable station
is displayed by setting, as the tunable station, a
30 station corresponding to station information where an
area name of the station information registered in the
87
SP262351WO00
t
station list of the storage unit 115 conforms to a
selected area name which is the display area name
selected from the area selection screen, is displayed on
the display unit 76.
5 [0420]
Here, in Fig. 29, display area names, "Shinjuku",
"Shibuya", "Marunouchi", "Shinagawa", and "Yokohama" are 1
displayed on the area selection screen, and "Shinagawa" is selected of the display area names.
10 [0421]
In addition, in Fig. 29, as stations of which the
area name of the station information is "Shinagawa",
there are three stations of which station names are
"Shinagawa Community", "Shinagawa Prince S", and "Wing
15 Station", and, the station names, "Shinagawa Community",
"Shinagawa Prince S", and "Wing Station" are displayed on
the station list screen.
[0422]
| If the user selects any one of the station names
20 displayed on the station list screen, a channel list
screen on which service names of one or more services of
which area limited broadcasting is performed by a
selected station which is the station (tunable station)
of which the station name is selected by the user are
25 displayed is displayed on the display unit 76.
| [0423]
] Here, in Fig. 29, the station name "Shinagawa
i
| Community" is selected.
j [0424]
j 30 In addition, the station name "Shinagawa Community"
j performs area limited broadcasting of two services of
! 88 :
SP262351WO00
which service names are "Shinagawa First" and "Shinagawa
Second", and the service names, "Shinagawa First" and
"Shinagawa Second" are displayed on the channel list
screen.
5 [0425]
If the user selects a service name of a desired
service of the service names displayed on the channel
list screen, a selected service which is the service of
which the service name is selected is received in the
10 tuner 72, and a broadcasting reception screen on which
images of the selected service are displayed is displayed
on the display unit 76.
[0426]
: Fig. 30 is a flowchart illustrating a tuning
J 15 process in a sequential selection mode of the tuning
| processes of performing tuning by using station
; information in the reception terminal 33.
j [0427]
j In the tuning process in a sequential selection
I 20 mode, the same processes as in steps S131 to S133 of Fig.
| 28 are respectively performed in steps S161 to S163.
! [0428]
j In other words, if the area selection screen is
> displayed on the display unit 7 6, and an area name is
1 25 selected as any one of the display area names displayed
j on the area selection screen, the display area name
i selected from the area selection screen is set as a
j
j selected area name, and station information where an area
j name conforms to the selected area name is selected as
j 30 station information of a tunable station from the station
\ information registered in the station list of the storage
j
j
j 89
X
j
SP262351WO00
unit 115 and is registered in the tunable list. ;
[0429] |
Thereafter, in step S164, the tuning control unit
118 selects first station information of the tunable list ?
5 as target station information. [0430] Further, in step S164, the tuning control unit 118
performs tuning control for controlling the tuner 72 such
that a service of which area limited broadcasting is 10 performed at an entry frequency of the target station ;
t information is tuned by the use of the target station
information, and the process proceeds to step S165.
[0431]
In step S165, the tuning control unit 118
15 determines whether or not the service of which area
limited broadcasting is performed at the entry frequency J
of the target station information can be received, that
is, as a result of the tuning, a TS can be obtained in
the tuner 72.
20 [0432]
If it is determined that the service of which area
limited broadcasting is performed at the entry frequency
of the target station information cannot be received in
step S165, the process skips steps S166 to S168, and the -
25 process proceeds to step S169.
[0433]
In addition, if it is determined that the service
of which area limited broadcasting is performed at the
entry frequency of the target station information can be
30 received in step S165, the process proceeds to step S166 where the tuning control unit 118 outputs the service of
90 |
SP262351WO00
which area limited broadcasting is performed at the entry
frequency of the target station information from the
display unit 7 6 and the speaker 78.
[0434]
5 In other words, the tuning control unit 118
displays an image of the service of which a TS can be
obtained by the tuner 72 on the display unit 76 and
outputs sound of the service from the speaker 78.
[0435]
10 Thereafter, the process proceeds from step S166 to
I step S167, and the tuning control unit 118 displays a
] "Next ch" button for tuning a service of which area
limited broadcasting is performed by a station
corresponding to the next station information of the
15 tunable list on the display unit 7 6 in addition to an
image of the service of which area limited broadcasting
is performed at the entry frequency of the target station ;
information, and the process proceeds to step S168.
[0436]
20 In step S168, the tuning control unit 118
determines whether or not the "Next ch" button is
operated, and if it is determined that it is not operated,
the process returns to step S168.
[0437]
25 In addition, if it is determined that the "Next ch"
button is operated in step S168, the process proceeds to
step S169 where the tuning control unit 118 determines
whether or not all the pieces of station information of
the tunable list has been target station information.
30 [0438]
If it is determined that there is station'
91
SP262351WO00
information which has not been target station information
yet of the pieces of station information of the tunable
list in step S169, the process proceeds to step S170,
where the tuning control unit 118 selects the next
5 station information of station information which is
currently target station information as new target
station information of the pieces of station information
of the tunable list. ;
[0439] I
10 In addition, in step S170, the tuning control unit
118 performs tuning control for controlling the tuner 72
such that a service of which area limited broadcasting is
performed at an entry frequency of the target station
information is tuned using the target station information,
15 and the process returns to step S165.
; [0440] ;
Further, if it is determined that all the pieces of
station information of the tunable list has been target :
station information in step S169, the tuning process in a
20 sequential selection mode finishes.
[0441] Fig. 31 is a diagram illustrating a display example
of the display unit 76 in a case where a tuning process '[
in a sequential selection mode is performed in the
25 reception terminal 33 of Fig. 21. ;
[04 42]
In the sequential selection mode, as described with
reference to Fig. 30, the area selection screen on which
area names of station information are displayed as
30 display area names are displayed is displayed on the
display unit 76.
92
SP262351WO00
[0443]
If the user selects any one of the display area
names displayed on the area selection screen, a station
corresponding to station information where an area name
5 of the station information registered in the station list
of the storage unit 115 conforms to a selected area name
which is the display area name selected from the area
selection screen is set as a tunable station, and station
information of the tunable station is registered in the
10 tunable list.
[0444]
In addition, first station information of the
tunable list is selected as target station information,
and a service of which area limited broadcasting is
15 performed at an entry frequency of the target station
information is tuned.
[0445]
In a case where, as a result of the tuning, a TS of
the service of which area limited broadcasting is
20 performed at the entry frequency of the target station
information can be obtained, a broadcasting reception
screen on which images of the service are displayed is
displayed on the display unit 76, and sound of the
service is output from the speaker 78.
25 [0446]
In addition, the "Next ch" button is displayed on
the broadcasting reception screen.
[0447]
If the user operates the "Next ch" button, the next
30 station information of station information which is
currently target station information is selected as new
93 SP262351WO00
target station information of the pieces of station
information of the tunable list, and a service of which
area limited broadcasting is performed at an entry
frequency of the target station information is tuned.
5 [0448]
In a case where, as a result of the tuning, a TS of
the service of which area limited broadcasting is
performed at the entry frequency of the target station :
information can be obtained, a broadcasting reception i
10 screen on which images of the service are displayed is :
displayed on the display unit 76, and sound of the
service is output from the speaker 78.
[0449]
In addition, in the same manner as described above,
15 the "Next ch" button is displayed on .the broadcasting
reception screen, and, in the same manner in the
following, services of which area limited broadcasting is
performed by tunable stations of which station
information is registered in the tunable list are
20 sequentially tuned each time the "Next ch" button is S
operated. [0450]
Fig. 32 is a flowchart illustrating a tuning )
process in a map display mode of the tuning processes of
25 performing tuning by using station information in the
reception terminal 33. I
[0451]
In step S181, the tuning control unit 118 displays
a map on the display unit 76 in response to an operation 30 of the user, and the process proceeds to step S182.
[0452]
94
SP262351WO00
In other words, the tuning control unit 118 has a
built-in memory storing map data, and, for example, if
the user operates the operation unit 81 so as to display
a map of a predetermined area, the map of the
5 predetermined area is displayed on the display unit 76 in
response to the operation.
[0453] In step S182, the station selection unit 117 sets
the name of the area included in the map displayed on the
10 display unit 76 as a target area name which is targeted,
and selects station information where an area name
conforms to the target area name from the station
information registered in the station list of the storage
unit 115.
15 [0454]
In addition, the station selection unit 117
registers the station information of which an area name
conforms to the target area name and which is selected
from the station information registered in the station
20 list of the storage unit 115, into a tunable list in
which station information of a tunable station is
registered, so as to be supplied to the tuning control
unit 118, and the process proceeds to step S183. |
[0455] |
25 In step S183, the tuning control unit 118
determines whether or not reception check is performed in
the same manner as the case of step S134 of Fig. 28. l
[0456]
If it is determined that the reception check is not
30 performed in step S183, the process skips steps S184 to
S188 so as not to perform the reception check, and the
95
SP262351WO00
process proceeds to step S189.
[0457]
Further, if it is determined that the reception
check is performed in step S183, the process proceeds to
5 step S184, and, the reception check is performed in steps ;
S184 to S188 in the following by performing the same
processes as in steps S135 to S139 of Fig. 28. I
[0458] j
In addition, if, in steps S184 to S188, the 10 reception check is completed, in step S189, in relation ?
to a tunable station which is a station of which station i
information is registered in the tunable list, the tuning |
control unit 118 displays a mark indicating the tunable
list at a position of the tunable list indicated by the
15 transmission station longitude and the transmission
station latitude of the station information of the !
tunable station on the map of the display unit 76. I
[0459] |
Further, in addition to the map and the mark 20 indicating the tunable station, a station name of the tunable station may be displayed on the display unit 76. !
[0460]
Thereafter, the process proceeds from step S189 to i
step S190, where the tuning control unit 118 determines
25 whether or not a tuning operation is performed in which '
the user selects a station and selects a service of which ;
area limited broadcasting is performed by the station, ;
and if it is determined that it is not performed, the :
process returns to step S190.
30 [0461]
In other words, the user may select a desired
96
SP262351WO00
station (tunable station) among stations of which a mark
or a station name is displayed on the map of the display
unit 7 6 by operating the operation unit 81.
[0462]
5 If the user selects a desired station among
stations of which a mark or a station name is displayed :
on the map of the display unit 7 6, the tuning control
unit 118 recognizes frequencies and service names of one
or more services of which area limited broadcasting is
10 performed by a selected station, from an NIT and an SDT
(or, when possible, a tuning table which has already been
created) transmitted with a segment (representative
segment) of an entry frequency (Fig. 14) of station
information of the selected station which is a station
15 (tunable station) of which the station name is selected
by the user.
[0463]
In addition, the tuning control unit 118 generates
a channel list screen on which the service names of one
20 more services of which area limited broadcasting is
performed by the selected station, so as to be displayed
on the display unit 76.
[0464]
The user may select a service name of a desired
25 service of the service names displayed on the channel
list screen by operating the operation unit 81.
[0465]
If the user selects any one of the service names
displayed on the channel list screen, the tuning control
30 unit 118 performs tuning control such that the tuner 72 I
tunes a selected service (logical channel) (service)
97 |
SP262351WO00 ;
which is a service of which the service name is selected by the user.
[0466]
Thereby, for example, as described in step S106 of
5 Fig. 24, an image of the selected service is displayed on
the display unit 76, and sound of the selected service is
output from the speaker 78.
[0467]
In step S190, as described above, it is determined
10 whether or not a tuning operation is performed in which a ;
selected station is selected from the map, and a selected
service is selected from services, displayed on the
channel list screen, of which area limited broadcasting |
is performed by the selected station.
15 [0468] I
If it is determined that the tuning operation is performed in step S190, that is, a station is selected as a selected station from the station list screen, and a
service is selected as a selected service from the ;
20 channel list screen on which service names of one or more ;-
services of which area limited broadcasting is performed by the selected station are displayed, the process f
proceeds to step S191, where the tuning control unit 118 performs tuning control such that the tuner 72 tunes the |
25 selected service, and the tuning process in a map display mode finishes. I
[04 69]
Fig. 33 is a diagram illustrating a display example
of the display unit 76 in a case where a tuning process
30 in a map display mode is performed in the reception
terminal 33 of Fig. 21. 98 j
SP262351WO00
[0470] ]
In the map display mode, as described with
reference to Fig. 32, the map is displayed on the display
unit 76.
5 [0471]
In addition, in the map display mode, a mark (a
triangular mark in Fig. 33) indicating a tunable station
is displayed at a position of the tunable station on the
map o the display unit 76.
10 [0472]
If the user performs an operation such as so-called
focusing on any one mark indicating the tunable station,
a station name ("Shinagawa Community" in Fig. 33) of the
tunable station corresponding to the mark is displayed, f
15 for example, in a form superimposed on the map in the
display unit 76.
[0473]
In addition, if the user selects any one of the
tunable stations of which the marks are displayed on the
20 map, a channel list screen on which service names of one
or more services of which area limited broadcasting is
performed by a selected station which is the tunable
station selected by the user are displayed is displayed
on the display unit 76.
25 [0474]
If the user selects a service name of a desired
service of the service names displayed on the channel
list screen, a selected service which is the service of
which the service name is selected is received in the
30 tuner 72, and a broadcasting reception screen on which
images of the selected service are displayed is displayed
99
SP262351WO00
on the display unit 76.
[0475] i
Fig. 34 is a flowchart illustrating a tuning
process in a GPS mode of the tuning processes of
5 performing tuning by using station information in the l
reception terminal 33. :
[0476]
In addition, in a case where the tuning process in
a GPS mode is performed, the station selection unit 117
10 is assumed to have a function of acquiring a present
location such as, for example, GPS.
[0477]
In step S201, the station selection unit 117
acquires a present location (of the reception terminal ;
15 33) which is supplied to the tuning control unit 118, and }
the process proceeds to step S202. [0478] |
In step S202, the tuning control unit 118 displays
a map including the present location from the station [
20 selection unit 117 on the display unit 76, and the :
process proceeds to step S203.
[0479] |
In other words, the tuning control unit 118 has a ;
built-in memory storing map data, and displays a map in a •
25 predetermined range including the present location from i
the station selection unit 117 on the display unit 76.
[0480]
In step S203, the station selection unit 117
selects station information of a station performing area }
30 limited broadcasting which is predicted to be capable of
being received at the present location from the station •
100
SP262351WO00
information registered in the station list of the storage
unit 115.
[0481]
That is to say, the station selection unit 117
5 sequentially selects stations of which station
information is registered in the station list of the
storage unit 115 as target stations which are targeted.
[0482]
In addition, the station selection unit 117 obtains
10 an area of a circle with the radius proportional to an
transmission output with respect to a position (of the
target station) specified by a transmission station
longitude and a transmission station latitude as a
broadcasting area of the target station on the basis of
15 the transmission output, the transmission station
longitude, and the transmission station latitude of the
station information of the target station.
[0483] j
In addition, in a case where the broadcasting area !
20 of the target station includes the present location, the
station selection unit 117 regards the target station as
a station performing area limited broadcasting which is
predicted to be capable of being received at the present
location, and selects station information thereof from i
25 the station information registered in the station list of
the storage unit 115.
[0484] ;
Further, the station selection unit 117 sets the
station selected from the station information registered
30 in the station list of the storage unit 115 as a tunable
station, and registers station information of the tunable
101
SP262351WO00
station into the tunable list so as to be supplied to the
tuning control unit 118.
[0485]
Thereafter, the process proceeds from step S203 to ';
5 step S204, and, the reception check is performed in steps
S204 to S208 in the following by performing the same
processes as in steps S135 to S139 of Fig. 28.
[0486]
In addition, if, in steps S204 to S208, the
10 reception check is completed, in step S209, in the same
manner as the case of step S189 of Fig. 32, the tuning
control unit 118 displays a mark indicating the tunable
list at a position of the tunable list indicated by the
transmission station longitude and the transmission
15 station latitude of the station information of the
tunable station on the map of the display unit 76.
[0487]
Thereafter, the process proceeds from step S209 to
step S210 where the tuning control unit 118 determines <
20 whether or not a mark indicating a new station which has
not been displayed when the previous tuning process in a <
GPS mode is performed is displayed on the map of the
display unit 76. ;
[0488] j
25 If it is determined that a mark indicating a new
station is not displayed on the map of the display unit
76 in step S210, the process skips step S211 and proceeds I
to step S212. ;
[0489]
30 In addition, if it is determined that a mark indicating a new station is displayed on the map of the
102 ;
SP262351WO00 m
display unit 76 in step S210, that is, the user carrying
the reception terminal 33 moves and thereby the present
location is varied, and, as a result, the present
location is included in a broadcasting area of the new
5 station, the process proceeds to step S211, where the
tuning control unit 118, for example, highlights and
displays the mark indicating the new station on the map
of the display unit 7 6, or outputs a beep sound or the
like from the speaker 78, thereby notifying the user of
10 the presence of the new station, and the process proceeds
to step S212.
[0490]
In steps S212 and S213, the same processes as in
steps S190 and S191 of Fig. 32 are respectively performed,
15 and the tuning process in a GPS mode finishes.
[0491]
In addition, in the tuning process in a GPS mode, ?
described with reference to Fig. 33, the same display as
in the case of performing the tuning process in a map
20 display mode is performed on the display unit 76.
[0492]
In addition, in a selection process in the GPS mode,
a map is not displayed but only a station list screen i
(Fig. 29) on which station names of tunable stations are
25 displayed may be displayed. :
[0493]
[Description of computer to which the present
invention is applied]
[04 94]
30 The above-described series of processes of the
station 32 and the reception terminal 33 may be executed
103
SP262351WO00
by hardware or may be executed by software. In a case
where the above-described series of processes is executed
by software, a program constituting the software is
installed in a computer. Here, the computer includes a
5 computer incorporated into dedicated hardware, or, a
general purpose personal computer which can execute
various functions by installing a variety of programs
therein. [0495]
10 Fig. 35 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware {
configuration example of the computer which executes the
above-described series of processes according to a l
program. f
[0496] 15 In the personal computer 200, a CPU (Central ;
Processing Unit) 201, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 202, a RAM
(Random Access Memory) 203 are connected to each other
via a bus 204.
[0497]
20 The bus 204 is further connected to an input/output
interface 205. The input/output interface 205 is
connected to an input unit 206, an output unit 207, a ••
storage unit 208, a communication unit 209, and a drive
210. j
25 [0498] |
The input unit 206 includes a keyboard, a mouse, a !
microphone, and the like. The output unit 207 includes a display, a speaker, and the like. The storage unit 208
includes a hard disk, a nonvolatile memory, or the like.
30 The communication unit 209 includes a network interface
and the' like. The drive 210 drives a removable medium
104
SP262351WO00
211 such as a magnetic disk, an optical disc, a magnetooptical
disc, or a semiconductor memory.
[0499]
In the personal computer 200 configured in this way,
5 the CPU 201 loads a program stored in, for example, the
storage unit 208 to the RAM 203 via the input/output interface 205 and the bus 204 so as to be executed, and l
thereby the above-described series of processes is ;
performed.
10 [0500]
The program executed by the personal computer 200 j
(CPU 201) may be recorded on the removable medium 211 j
such as, for example, a package medium and be provided. ;
In addition, the program may be provided via a wired or
15 wireless.transmission medium such as a local area network,
the Internet, or digital satellite broadcasting. [0501] In the personal computer 200, the program may be
installed in the storage unit 208 via the input/output '
20 interface 205 by mounting the removable medium 211 in the
drive 210. In addition, the program may be received by
the communication unit 209 via a wired or wireless
transmission medium and be installed in the storage unit ;
208. Further, the program may be installed in the ROM |
25 202 or the storage unit 208 in advance. [0502] {
In addition, the program executed by the computer
may be a program which performs the processes in a time i
series according to the order described in the present
30 specification, or may be a program which performs the
processes in parallel or at necessary timing such as
105
SP262351WO00
being accessed.
[0503]
Further, embodiments of the present invention are
not limited to the above-described embodiments, and
5 various modifications are possible in the scope without
departing from the spirit of the present invention.
[0504]
That is to say, in the station selection unit 117
(Fig. 23), station information of which the current time
10 is not included in the area limited broadcasting
effective period which can be recognized from the station
information may be deleted from a tunable list.
[0505]
In addition, area limited broadcasting may be ;
15 performed for passengers, for example, using inside of a
train, a bus, or the like, as a broadcasting area.
[0506] In this case, as broadcasting area information, for i
example, information for specifying a train, a bus, or :
20 the like is employed instead of an area name, or a set of I
a transmission station longitude, a transmission station •
latitude, and a transmission output. In addition, it is !
necessary to acquire information indicating whether or not a present location is inside a train, a bus, or the ;
25 like specified by the broadcasting area information.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
[0507] I
31 TERRESTRIAL BROADCASTING STATION ;
30 32-1 TO 32-3 STATION !
33 RECEPTION TERMINAL
106
SP262351WO00
51 RELATED INFORMATION ACQUISITION UNIT
52 VIDEO DATA ACQUISITION UNIT
53 VIDEO ENCODER
54 AUDIO DATA ACQUISITION UNIT '
5 55 AUDIO ENCODER ;
56 MULTIPLEXER ?
57 TRANSMISSION UNIT f
58, 71 ANTENNA
72 TUNER
10 73 DEMULTIPLEXER 74 VIDEO DECODER
75 AUDIO DECODER 7 6 DISPLAY UNIT
77 SELECTION UNIT
15 78 DISPLAY UNIT "
79 BROWSER :
80 CONTROLLER
81 OPERATION UNIT
111 TO 113 STATION INFORMATION ACQUISITION UNIT •
20 114 REGISTRATION UNIT j
115 STORAGE UNIT
116 UPDATE UNIT
117 STATION SELECTION UNIT
118 TUNING CONTROL UNIT
25 201 CPU
202 ROM
203 RAM
204 BUS
205 INPUT/OUTPUT INTERFACE
30 206 INPUT UNIT
2 07 OUTPUT UNIT
107
SP262351WO00 %
208 STORAGE UNIT J
209 COMMUNICATION UNIT ;
210 DRIVE j
211 REMOVABLE MEDIUM ;
5

SP262351WO00
m
CLAIMS
1. A reception device for one segment broadcasting,
comprising:
5 station information acquisition means for acquiring
station information regarding a station, the station
information at least including broadcasting area
information which is information of a broadcasting area
capable of receiving a broadcast wave from the station
10 which transmits the broadcast wave of the one segment
broadcasting at an arbitrary segment;
storage means for storing the station information;
station selection means for selecting a station of
the one segment broadcasting which can be received at a
15 predetermined position as a tunable station which can be
tuned using the broadcasting area information; and
tuning control means for performing tuning control
in which the one segment broadcasting of the tunable
station is tuned.
20
2. The reception device according to claim 1, wherein
the tuning control means displays information of the
tunable station, and tunes the one segment broadcasting
of a station selected by a user from the display of the
25 information of the tunable station.
3. The reception device according to claim 2, wherein
the station selection means selects a station of the one
segment broadcasting which can be received in an area
30 selected by a user as a tunable station using the
broadcasting area information.
109
SP262351WO00
m
4. The reception device according to claim 2, wherein
the tuning control means performs a reception check for
checking whether or not one segment broadcasting by the
5 tunable station can be received, and displays information
of only the tunable station for which reception of the
one segment broadcasting has been checked.
5. The reception device according to claim 1, wherein
10 the tuning control means sequentially tunes the one
segment broadcasting of the tunable station.
6. The reception device according to claim 1, wherein
the station information further includes an effective
15 period during which the station performs the one segment
broadcasting, and
wherein the reception device further includes
update means for deleting the station information of
which the effective period has elapsed, from among pieces
20 of the station information stored in the storage means
and for updating the station information.
7. The reception device according to claim 1, wherein
the broadcasting area information is information
25 indicating a position of the station and information
indicating a transmission output of the broadcast wave by
the station.
8. The reception device according to claim 1, wherein
30 the station information further includes a frequency of
one segment broadcasting by the station corresponding to
110
SP262351WO00
#
the station information, and
wherein the tuning control means tunes the one
segment broadcasting using the frequency included in the
station information.
5
9. A reception method for a reception device of one
segment broadcasting, comprising the steps of:
acquiring station information regarding a station,
the station information at least including broadcasting
10 area information which is information of a broadcasting
area capable of receiving a broadcast wave from the
station which transmits the broadcast wave of the one
segment broadcasting at an arbitrary segment;
storing the station information;
15 selecting a station of the one segment broadcasting
which can be received at a predetermined position as a
tunable station which can be tuned using the broadcasting
area information; and
performing tuning control in which the one segment
20 broadcasting of the tunable station is tuned.
10. A program for causing a computer to function as:
station information acquisition means for acquiring
station information regarding a station, the station
25 information at least including broadcasting area
information which is information of a broadcasting area
capable of receiving a broadcast wave from the station
which transmits the broadcast wave of the one segment
broadcasting at an arbitrary segment;
30 storage means for storing the station information;
station selection means for selecting a station of
111
SP262351WO00
m
the one segment broadcasting which can be received at a
predetermined position as a tunable station which can be
tuned using the broadcasting area information; and
tuning control means for performing tuning control
5 in which the one segment broadcasting of the tunable
station is tuned.
11. A transmission device which is a station,
comprising:
10 station information acquisition means for acquiring
station information regarding a station, the station
information at least including broadcasting area
information which is information of a broadcasting area
capable of receiving a broadcast wave from the station
15 which transmits the broadcast wave of the one segment
broadcasting at each of one or more arbitrary segments;
and
transmission means for transmitting the station
information of the station with a representative segment
20 which is one segment of the one or more segments used for
one segment broadcasting by the station.
12. The transmission device according to claim 11,
wherein the transmission means also transmits the station
25 information of other stations with the representative
segment.
13. A transmission method of a transmission device,
which is a station for transmitting a broadcast wave of
30 one segment broadcasting at each of one or more arbitrary
segments, comprising the steps of:
112
SP262351WO00
acquiring station information regarding the station,
the station information at leas.t including broadcasting
area information which is information of a broadcasting
area capable of receiving the broadcast wave from the
5 station; and
transmitting the station information of.the station
with a representative segment which is one segment of the
one or more segments used for one segment broadcasting by
the station.
10
14. A program for causing a computer to function as a
transmission device which is a station comprising:
station information acquisition means for acquiring
station information regarding a station, the station
15 information at. least including broadcasting area
information which is information of a broadcasting area
capable of receiving a broadcast wave from the station
which transmits the broadcast wave of the one segment
broadcasting at each of one or more arbitrary segments;
20 and
transmission means for transmitting the station
information of the station with a representative segment
which is one segment of the one or more segments used for
one segment broadcasting by the station.
f] A /