Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SPECIFICATION
TITLE OF THE INVENTION
STILL PICTURE TELEVISION SYSTEM
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an interactive value added information
services, which are offered by television bro~ ting such as terrestrial wave
broadcasting, CATV, or satellite broadcasting, etc. and telephone, and in particular to
a system for providing interactive information service by comhining picture media for
television such as still picture television broadcasting, still picture video tape, still
picture video disk, etc. with a telephone.
BACKGROUND ART
In the i~o.lllation-oriented society of today, various transmitting means are
used to transmit electrical and electronic inforrnation such as sound, picture, text
data, binary data, etc. Of such electrical and electronic information, low quality
sound, monochrome still picture at low speed, character data at low speed, and
binary data at low speed are tr~ncmitte~ by public telephone line as electric signals,
and monochrome still picture at high speed, character data at high speed and binary
data at high speed are tr~n.~mitted by ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network)
line as an electric signal. High quality sound and moving picture are transmitted by
terrestrial wave broa~c~cting, ~tellite broadcasting or CATV as a modulated radio
wave or by optical fiber as modulated light.
In the present information- centered era, attçntio~ is now focused on the
interactive inform~t1on system as a promising major infnrrn~tion system in future.
The interactive information system is a system, in which infnnn~tion is selectively
received and positively utilized by general public, who have been merely receivers of
the one-way inforrn~tion sent to them in the past.
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As the interactive ;~-ro"n~ion system cullenlly used, there are answering
system using aulomalic voice response system via public telephone line, videotexsystem represented by CAPTAIN (Character And Pattern Telephone Access
Illfolmdlion Network) using still picture, and VRS (Video Response System) usingmoving picture via dedicated line.
Of these interactive information systems, the answering system is
disadvantageous in that su ficient infnrrn~tion cannot be obtained because it depends
upon audio information only and that input and output data cannot be visually
conf~rmed.
The videotex system has drawbacks in that there is limitation in the contents
to be displayed because texts and pictures are displayed by using character codes,
and the picture il~ullllalion using character codes can provide less amount of
information than a natural picture.
The VRS system has no limit~tion in the contents of display because natural
moving picture can be used, while commllnic~tion cost is expensive because wide
band dedicated line must be used.
On the other hand, various ;"rO. ",~ion services such as television shopping,
application or subscription, weather forecast, traffic i.~rO, .n~l;QIl, etc. are offered in
the cullently used television system, although these are not interactive. Most of
the picture information needed in these i,~ro"-,~ion services are the still picture
inform~tion~ and moving picture inforrn~tion is needed in very rare cases. Thus, in
the current television system off~ring these inform~tion services, still picture is
broadcast as moving picture. Specifically, by tr~n~mitting several hundreds to
several thousands of the same picture, a still picture is displayed on a television set.
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Therefore, the tr~n~mitting cost of the still pictures is very expensive, and aninteractive inform~tion service for h~ncmitting still pichures to match the demand of
the users is not CII1Le11l1Y available.
For example, television shopping is one of the inform~tiQn services using
pictures. However, in the television shopping practiced in the past, only the
one-way product infnt~n~hon, h~ncmittetl by the broadcasting station, is tltili~e(l,
and interactive information service is not practically available, in which the desired
picture from product information is displayed on the television set according to the
int~ntion of the users and the users carry out shopping based on the contellls of the
display.
Meanwhile, television picture is composed of ~ame units. In the NTSC
system adopted in Japan, the picture is sent at a rate of 30 frames per second. Lf
one still pichure is transmitted for each frame, 30 natural still pictures can be
tr~n~mitted within a second.
As a still picture broadcasting system based on this principle, there is a system
called "time- division still picture broadcast system".
Fig. 1 represents a drawing to explain the time- division still picture
commllnic~t l)n system.
In the time- division still picture broadcast system shown in Fig. 1, still
pictures 3-1, 3-2, 3-3, 3-4, .. are photographed at first by independent
television cameras 4-1, 4-2, 4-3, 4-4, .. at a still picture broadcasting station 1.
Next, these still pictures are composed to television signals compri~ing frames 5-1,
5-2, 5-3, 5-4, .. , and these are tr~nsmitted to still picture receiving devices
2-1, 2-2, 2-3, 2-4, ......
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Upon receipt of the television signals, necessary frames are stored at first to
frame memories 6--1, 6- 2, 6-3, 6- 4, .. at the still picture receiving devices.
Next, the stored frames are repeatedly read out from the ~rame memories and are
displayed on display units 7-1, 7- 2, 7- 3, 7- 4, .. as still pictures.
Selection of the necessary frames and recording them to the frame memories
are ca-rried out by the procedure such as an insertion of a frame id~ntific~tion signal
to horizontal sc~nning line during vertical retrace interval of each frame.
~ one frame, two field pictures compri~ing of di~erellt picture components are
superimposed by interlace sc~nning
Each of the frame pictures is a complete natural picture, while field picture isnot a complete natural picture because its amount of information is only one- half of
that of the natural picture. However, when colllpaled with the picture based on
character codes, it may be referred as a natural picture, which provides sati~f~ction.
In case it is broadcast as still pictures, twice as many pictures as in the latter can be
tr~n~mitted.
Up to now, an interactive still picture infnrm~tion service system has been
proposed, in which still picture information service is requested by an adequatemeans such as public line and still picture information service is offered by the
"time- division still picture broadcast system" to such request. Fig. 2 shows a
general outline of the system.
This system comprises a still picture bro~ ting station app~dlLIs 8 for
broadcasting a still picture by the time- division still picture broadcast system, an
inform~tion provider app~dl-ls 9, a user appdldl~ls 10, and a data colllllnlnication
device such as a telephone set 15. Terrestrial broadcasting wave 12 or satellitebroadcasting wave or CATV radio wave are used to connect between the still picture
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broadcasting station appaldl-ls 8 and the user app~dllls 10, and a co~ ic~tion line
11 such as public line or CATV line is used to connect the telephone set 15 with the
inform~tion provider app~dllls 9. A colllmunication line such as public line or
dedicated line is used to connect the information provider apparatus 9 with the still
picture bro~dc~cting station appaLdLLls 8.
The information provider a~pdldllls 9 may not be used. In this case, the still
picture broadcasting station appaLdLIls 8 is directly connected ~,vith the user appa~dlus
10 via communication line such as public line or dedicated line.
The user app~dlus 10 comprises a set-top box 14 for receiver of still picture,
a display unit 13 and a data communication device such as a telephone set 15. Tothe set-top box 14 for receiver of still picture, a television ~ n~)~ for receiving still
picture broadcasting, a television ~nt~nn~ for receiving s~t~llite bro~flr~sting, or a
coaxial cable for CATV are connected. The set-top box 14 for receiver of still
picture is connected to a display unit 13 such as a television set. The telephone set
15 is connected to a communication line 11 such as a public line or CATV line.
In this system, when a user, wishing to receive the infnrm~tion service, calls
the inform~tinn provider app~dllls 9 using the telephone set 15 via the
communication line 11 such as public line and requests transmission of the desired
still picture, the request is transferred to the still picture bro~dc~cting station
appaldl,ls 8. As a result, the desired still picture 16 is bro~ct, and the desired
still picture 17 is displayed on the display unit 13 by the user.
In the interactive still picture ;"rO. ",~ion service system as described above,selection of necessary frdmes and recording of them in the frame memories are
performed in such m~nn~r that a frame identification signal is inserted to horizontal
sc~nning line in vertical retrace interval of each frame at the still picture
bro~dç~cting station app~dlus 8, and this frdme identifir~tion signal is detected by
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the user app~dlus 10.
For this purpose, it is necessary to provide means for inserting the frame
i~ntifi~tion signal to horizontal sc~nning line in vertical retrace interval of each
frame at the still picture broadcasting station appaldl-ls 8 and also to provide the
user apparatus 10 with means for detecting the frame identification signal. Thisnaturally means that the still picture broa~ ting station appaldl~ls 8 and the user
apparatus 10 will be more compli~te(l
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
To solve the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to providean interactive information service system, which adopts "time- division still picture
broadcast system" as inform~tion tr~n~mitting means and uses public line as datacommunication means, whereby the user can select a necessary frame by simple
arrangement.
The system of the present invention comprises an information service provider
apparatus, a user apl)~dlus, a television signal path for connecting the inf(~rm~tion
service provider app~dlus with the user appaldl-ls, and a communication line.
The inform~tion service provider a~a dlUs cmpr~e a still picture television
signal tr~n~mitt-or for tr~n~mitting natural still pictures by the time- division still
picture broadcast system and a data co,,,~ ;~tion device for pel r~ Il;llg data
communication with the user.
The user app~dlus comprises a still picture television receiver for receiving
and displaying a signal of natural still picture television wave tr~n~mitte~ by the
time- division still picture broadcast system and a data co~ lnlllication deviceconnected to a co"""~ ication line via the still picture television receiver and for
pelr)llllillg data co~llllllll,i~tion with the inform~tion service provider.
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Terrestrial broadcasting wave, s~t~llite broadcasting wave or CATV line are
used as the television signal path, and public line, ISDN line or CATV line are used
as the conmlunication line.
The natural still picture frame int~l11(1ing the reference frame is repeatedly
tr~n.cmittecl in a given order using the reference frame as a reference. The user
~3lJ~dL~ls detects the reference frame and counts number of received frames. As a
result, relationship on the desired frame is confirmed and the desired frame is
displayed.
To transmit information for selecting the frames, the following methods are
used instead of the method to transmit by inserting frame identification signal to
horizontal sf~nning line in vertical retrace interval as practiced in the past: a
method to insert a still picture frame i,lL~ llaLion to the displayed still picture, a
method to insert a still picture frame inform~tion to audio band, and a method to
insert the frame inform~tion to none of horizontal sc~nning line, still picture or audio
band.
Number of still pictures to be tr~n~mitted repeatedly is fixed in some cases,
semi-fixed in some cases, or variable in some other cases.
Of the still picture frame infnrm~hon inserted into the still picture, only the
infnrm~tion on the displayed still picture is displayed in some cases, and number of
all still pictures tr~n~mittecl in a period defined by the reference frame is displayed
together with the il~r(" ~ ;on on the displayed still picture in some other cases.
For the still picture frame inform~tion to be inserted in audio band, there are
the following three cases: a case where it is inserted into an audio band
corresponding to the reference still picture, a case where it is inserted in an audio
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band corresponding to some still pictures, and a case where it is inserted into audio
band corresponding to all still pictures.
For the still picture frame information to be inserted into audio band, there are
the following three cases: An audio signal is inserted into main audio band; an
audio signal is inserted into sub audio band, and other adequate control signal is
inserted into sub audio band.
The il~o~ ation other than the natural still pictures necessary for the
interactive communication is tr~n~mitted or received via the communication line, and
it is converted to character pattern by a character generator incorporated in the still
picture television receiver of the user. Further, it is stored in frame memory of the
user app~dl~ls after being superimposed with natural still picture, and the
superimposed pictures are repeatedly read and displayed on a display unit.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
~ ig. 1 is a drawing to explain time- division still picture broadcast system;
Fig. 2 is a drawing of a still picture broadcast system;
Figs. 3 (a) to 3 (d) represents a still picture television system of a first and a
second embodiments of the present invention;
Figs. 4 (a) to 4 (d) represent a still picture television system of a third
embodiment of the present invention;
Figs. 5 (a) to 5 (e) represent a still picture television system of a fourth and a
fifth embodiments of the present invention;
Figs. 6 (a) to 6 (c) represent a still picture television system of a sixth
embodiment of the present invention;
Figs. 7 (a) to 7 (c) represent a still picture television system of a seventh
embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 8 represents a still picture television system of an eighth embodiment of
the present invention;
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Fig. 9 represents a still picture television system of a ninth embodiment of thepresent invention;
Fig. 10 shows a still picture television system used in a tenth embodiment of
the present invention; and
Figs. 11 (a) to 11 (c) represent a still picture television system of the tenth
embodiment of the present invention.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
In the following, description will be given on embodiments of the present
invention referling to the accompanied drawings.
To fA~ilitAte ~ nAtion, the embodiments are divided into the following three
cases: a case where a frame infonnAtion is displayed on a still picture, a case where
the frame information is inserted into an audio band, and a case wnere the ~ame
information is inserted into none of horizontal sc~nning line, still picture or audio
band. Each of these three cases are furrher divided into a case where number of
still pictures for a period is fixed, a case where it is semi- fixed, and a case where it
is variable.
[Embodiment 1]
Description will be given now on operation of a system of an embodiment
where a ~ame infonnAtion is displayed on still pictures and number of the still
pictures to be trAn~mitted is fixed, r~f~rring to Fig. 3. In this system, a
conventional type app~dlus as shown in Fig. 2 are used.
In this system, as shown in Fig. 3 (a), a still picture bro~(lc~cting station 8
makes up a set of a fixed number of still pictures, e.g. 100 still pictures such as 21,
22, 23, 24, 25, .. , puts a frame number to each of the still pictures and trAn~mit~s
them repeatedly. In this case, a still picture 21 having frame number 1 is used as a
main menu picture, but this menu picture is not necessarily required.
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A set- top box 14 for receiver of still picture detects an adequate frame, and
its still picture 23 is displayed on a display unit 13. In this still picture, a still
picture frame number 28 is displayed as "15", for example, as shown in Fig. 3 (b).
The set- top box 14 for receiver of still picture starts to count number of
frames after the received still pictures. In this case, a still picture having the frame
number, which is obtained by subtracting a number of integral multiple of 100 from
number of counts, is the same picture as the displayed still picture. Accordingly, the
counter of the set- top box 14 for receiver of still picture is reset at every 100
counts.
Also, a frame having a frame number 1 and being next to a frame having a
frame number 100 is a frame of a main menu picture. Therefore, a frame next to aframe having a number, which is obtained by subtracting the displayed frame number
15 from the total frame number 100, i.e. a frame after 86 counts, is a frame of the
main menu picture 21.
When the user inputs "15" to the set-top box 14 for receiver of still picture, amenu picture 21 having the frame number 26 displayed as "1", meaning that it is a
menu picture, is displayed on the display unit 13 as shown in Fig. 3 (c). This is the
frame after 86 counts, which is obtained by subtracting the displayed frame number
15 from the total frame number 100 and by adding 1.
Also, the menu picture may comprise a main menu picture and a sub- menu
picture.
When a frame number "6~' of a desired still picture 24 as shown in Fig. 3 (d)
is inputted to the receiver 14 based on the data of the menu picture 21, the set-top
box 14 for receiver of still picture searches to display a still picture 24, which is
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specified according to a frame number counted by the same procedure as in the case
where the main menu is displayed.
Some of the still picture information to be offered such as weather information,stock market inform~tion, traffic inform~tion, etc. may be better broadcast regardless
of whether the user wants it or not.
It is ~e~igned in such manner that the still picture information as described
above can be selected from the main menu picture or from the upper- level
sub- menu picture.
[Embodiment 2]
Description will be given below on operation of a system of an embodiment
where the frame information is displayed on still pictures and number of the still
pictures to be tr~n~mitted is semi-fixed. The arrangement of the still pictures in
this embodiment is the same as in Embodiment 1, and description will be given now
re~er~ g to Fig. 3.
In this system, as shown in Fig. 3 (a), the still picture broadcasting station 8makes up a set of a fixed number of still pictures, e.g. 90 still pictures such as 21,
22, 23, 24, 25, .. , puts frame number to each of the still pictures, and ~n~mit~
them repeatedly. In this case, a still picture 21 having frame number 1 is regarded
as a menu picture, but this menu picture is not necessarily required.
The number of the still pictures to be tr~n~mitted is a semi-fixed number,
which varies according to the conditions of bro~dc~sting This number, e.g. 90, is
notified in advance by other publicity inform~tion tr~n~mi~ting means such as
newspaper or by individual illr~JI ", ~lion ~n~mitting means such as a telephone line.
The user inputs the data on the number of still pictures obtained from these
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infnnn~io~ tr~n~mitting means to the set-top box 14 for receiver of still picture in
advance.
As shown in Fig. 3 (b), the set-top box 14 detects an adequate frame, and its
still picture 23 is displayed on the display unit 13. On this still picture, a still
picture frame number 28 is displayed as "15", for example.
The set- top box 14 for receiver of still picture starts to count the number of
frames after the received still pictures. In this case, the still picture having a frame
number, which is obtained by subtracting a number of integral multiple of 90 from
the number of counts, is the same picture as the displayed still picture. Accordingly,
the counter of the receiver 14 is reset at every 90 counts.
Also, a frame having a frame number 1 and being next to a frame having a
frame number 90 is the frame of the main menu picture. Therefore, a frame next to
the number, which is obtained by subtracting the displayed frame number 15 from
the total frame number 90, i.e. a frame after 76 counts, is the frame of the main
menu picture 21.
When the user inputs "15" to the set-top box 14 for receiver of still picture, amain menu picture 21 having a frame number 26 displayed as "1" is displayed on the
display unit 15 as shown in Fig. 3 (c), meaning that it is a menu picture. This is a
frame after 76 counts, which is obtained by subtracting the display frame number 15
from the total frame number 90 and by adding 1.
Also, the menu picture may comprise a main menu picture and a sub- menu
picture.
When a frame number "67" of a desired still picture 24 as shown in Fig. 3 (d)
is inputted to the set-top box 14 for receiver of still picture based on the data of the
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menu picture 21, the set-top box 14 for receiver of still picture searches and
displays the specified still picture 24 according to the frame number counted by the
same procedure as in the case where the main menu is displayed.
Some of the still picture inforrnation to be offered such as weather ;I~rOl .1.,.l ;on,
stock market inform~tion, traffic information, etc. may be better broadcast regardless
of whether the user wants it or not.
It is designed in such manner that the still picture i.-fo. ..~ ;c.n as described
above can be selected from the main menu picture or from the upper- level
sub- menu picture.
[Embodiment 3]
Description will be given below on operation of a system of an embodiment
where ~ame information is displayed on still pictures and number of the still pictures
to be transmitted is variable, lçre. . ;.-g to Fig. 4.
In this system, the conventional app~dLus as shown in Fig. 2 are also used.
As shown in Fig. 4 (a), the still picture broadc~cting station makes up a set ofan adequate number of still pictures, e.g. 100 still pictures such as 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, ...
..., puts ~ame number to each of the still pictures, and tr~ncmits them repeatedly.
In this case, the frdme number also contains inform~ti~n on the number of still
pictures.
In this case, the first still picture is regarded as a menu picture, but this menu
picture is not necessarily required.
The set-top box 14 for receiver of still picture detects an adequate frame and
displays its still picture 33 and starts to count the number of frames after the
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displayed still picture.
As shown in Fig. 4 (b), the frame number of still picture and total number of
the tr~n~mitted still pictures, e.g. 15 and 100, are displayed on the received still
picture as "15100" as shown on 38 in the figure.
In addition to this, it may be displayed in the other way such as "10015",
"15/100", "15- 100", etc.
The user inputs "15100" to a controller of the receiver 14.
In case 100 still pictures are repeatedly tr~n~mi~ted~ the still picture having a
frame number, which is obtained by subtracting integral multiple of 100 from thenumber of counts, is the same picture as the displayed still picture. Therefore, if
the user inputs "15100", ill~ullllalion that the total number of still pictures is 100 is
inputted to the user app~dl~ls because the latter half of the inputted number
inputted to the user appalaL~Is is "100".
When the total number of still pictures is inputted, the user app~dlLls
subtracts a number of integral multiple of 100 from the number of counts, and the
counter is reset at every 100 counts.
A frame having a frame number 1 and being next to a frame having a frame
number 100 is the frame of the main menu picture. Accordingly, a frame next to
the number, which is obtained by subtracting the displayed frame number 15 from
the total frame number 100, i.e. a frame after 86 counts, is the frame of the menu
picture 31.
When the user inputs "15100" to the set- top box 14 for receiver of still
picture, a menu picture 31 having a frame number 36 displayed as "1100", meaning
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that it is the menu picture, is displayed on the display unit 15 as shown in Fig. 4 (c).
This is the frame after 86 counts, which is obtained by subtracting the display frame
number 15 from the total frame number 100 and by adding 1.
Also, the menu picture may comprise a main menu picture and a sub- menu
picture.
When the frame number "67100" of the desired still picture as shown in Fig. 4
(d) is inputted to the receiver 14 based on the data of the menu picture 31, thereceiver 14 searches to display the specified still picture 34 according to the frame
number counted by the same procedure as in the case where the main menu is
displayed.
Some of the still picture inform~tion to be offered such as weather il~r,na~on,
stock market information, traffic information, etc. may be better broadcast regardless
of whether the user wants it or not.
It is designed in such manner that the still picture information as described
above can be selected from the main menu picture or from the upper- level
sub- menu picture.
[Embodiment 4]
Fig. 5 shows a method to detect a specific picture such as a menu picture by
arranging not a character signal but a section having a specific hue or l~ ce onthe picture.
The co"ver,~;on~l appaldl~ls as shown in Fig. 2 may be modified and used.
As shown in Fig. 5 (a), the still picture broatl~ting station 8 makes up a set
of an adequate number of still pictures, e.g. 100 still pictures such as 41, 42, 43, 44,
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45, .. , then, as shown by 46 in Fig. 5 (b), a section having a specific hue or
ll~",;"~l-ce is arranged on a part of a specific still picture frame 41 (h~ Ler
referred as "re~crence frame"), and these are repeatedly transmitted.
In this case, the still picture of the reference frame 41 is regarded as a menu
picture, but this menu picture is not necessarily required.
The set-top box 14 detects the reference frame 41 based on the reference
frame signal 46, displays a menu picture as the reference frame 41 on the display
unit 13 as shown in Fig. 5 (b), and starts to count the number of the subsequentframes.
Also, the menu picture may comprise a main menu picture and a sub- menu
picture.
The counter of the frame number is reset each time the reference frame
number 46 is received.
When the user inputs the frame number of the desired still picture to the
receiver 14 based on the data of the menu displayed as the reference frame 41 onthe display unit 13, the receiver searches the specified picture according to the
number of frames counted, and the desired still picture 44 is displayed on the display
unit 13 as shown in Fig. 5 (c).
Based on the reference frame signal 46, the frame counter is started, and the
number of counts until the next reference frame signal is received is the total frame
number.
Therefore, even when the number of ~ames is variable, it is possible in this
case to identify the total frame number.
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Some of the still picture infonn~tion to be offered such as weather ;l~rO~ "~;on,
stock market inforrn~tion, traffic information, etc. may be better broadcast regardless
of whether the user wants it or not.
Lf the rel~tiQn~hip of the still picture information with the reference frame iskept at constant level, the still picture can be selected without using the main menu.
[Embodiment 5]
Figs. 5 (d) and (e) represent variations of Embodiment 4, and reference
numerals 41' and 41" represent a first field and a second field respectively, which
constitute a frame 41.
The frame number in this case is di~erell~ between the first field and the
second field. This contributes to easier id~ntifi~tion
[Embodiment 6]
Referring to Fig. 6, description will be given now on operation of a system of
an embodiment where the still picture frame info~n~tiol~ is inserted into an audio
band and it is inserted into the audio band corresponding only to a specific still
picture. In this system, the convenlional type app~d~-ls as shown in Fig. 2 can be
modified and used.
In Fig. 6 (a), reference numeral 50 represents a still picture program, and 56
represents an audio band to be broadcast together with the still picture program.
The still picture broa~ ting station 8 makes up a set of an adequate number
of still pictures, e.g. 100 still pictures such as 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, .. A signal 57
(hereinafter referred as "lerelc~nce frame signal") is inserted at a point to correspond
to a specific still picture frame 51 (hereinafter referred as "r~rer~nce frame") in the
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audio band 56, e.g. at the position of a vertical synchronizing signal to be repeatedly
tr~n~mitted.
In this case, the still picture of the reference frame 51 is regarded as a menu
picture, but this is not necessarily required.
The reference frame signal 57 inserted in the audio band is a sound inserted in
main audio band in some case, or it may be inserted in sub audio band, or it may be
control signal other than the sound inserted in the sub audio band.
The set-top box 14 for receiver of still picture detects the reference frame 51
based on the reference frame signal 57 inserted in the audio band, displays the menu
picture of the reference frame 51 on the display unit 13 as shown in Fig. 6 (b), and
starts to count the number of the subse~uent frames.
Also, the menu picture may comprise a main menu picture and a sub- menu
picture.
The counter of the number of frames is reset each time the reference frame
signal 57 is received.
When the user inputs frame number of the desired still picture to the receiver
14 based on the data of the display menu displayed as the reference frame 51 on the
display unit 13, the receiver searches the specified picture according to the number
of the counted frames and displays it on the display unit 13 as shown in Fig. 6 (c).
By the reference frame signal 57, the frame coun~er is started, and the number
of counts until the next reference frame signal is received is the total number of
frames.
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Therefore, the total number of frames can be irlentifi~d even when the number
of frames is variable.
Some of the still picture info~n~tion to be offered such as weather ;I~rO1~ ;Q~
stock market inform~tiQn, traffic inrol,ndLion, etc. may be better broadcast regardless
of whether the user wants it or not.
If the relationship of the still picture inf(!rm~tion with the reference frame is
kept at constant level, it is possible to select the still picture without using the main
menu.
In case the reference frame signal 57 is inserted into the main audio band, the
reference frame signal 57 is heard by the user as sound.
To avoid this, the reference frame signal 57 should be inserted into the sub
audio band.
In this case, an adequate control signal other than sound may be used as the
signal to be inserted into the sub audio band.
In a television set, picture signal and audio signal are processed separately, and
even when it is tried to use the signal inserted in the audio band as a control signal
to select the still picture, it may not be controlled successfully.
In such case, the signal inserted in the audio band should be tr~n~mitted at a
time earlier than the corresponding still picture frame.
[Embodiment 7]
Description will be given now on operation of a system of an embodiment
where still picture ~ame inform~tinn is inserted only in the audio band, which
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corresponds to some of the still pictures.
In Fig. 7 (a), reference numeral 60 represents a s~ll picture program, and 66
represents an audio band, which is broadcast together with the still picture program.
The still picture broadcasting station 8 makes up a set of an adequate number
of still pictures, e.g. 100 still pictures such as 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, .. A signal 67
(hereinafter referred as "refel-ence frame signal") is inserted at a point corresponding
to a specific still picture frame 61 (hereilldrler referred as "l~r~lence frame") in the
audio band 66, e.g. at the position of vertical syncLul~izillg signal, and a signal 68
(hereinafter referred as "sub-reference frame signal") is inserted at a point
corresponding to some of the still picture frames 62, .. (hereinafter referred as
"sub-reference frame"), e.g. at the position of vertical synchronizing signal, and
these are tr~n~mitted repeatedly.
In this case, the still picture of the reference frame 61 and the still picture of
the sub- reference frame 62 are regarded as a menu picture and a sub- menu
picture, but other pictures may be displayed.
When the reference frame signal 67 and the sub- reference frame signal 68 are
inserted in the audio band, there are the following three cases: a case where these
are sound signals inserted in the main audio band, a case where they are sound
signals inserted in the sub audio band, and a case where they are control signals
other than sound inserted in the sub audio band.
The reference frame signal and the sub- reference frame signal are the signals
~enhfi~hle from each other.
The set- top box 14 for receiver of still picture detects a reference frame 61
based on the reference frame signal 67 inserted in the audio band and a
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CA 02204284 1997-0~-01
sub- reference frame 62 based on the sub- reference frame signal 68, displays a
main menu picture 61, i.e. a reference frame picture, and a sub-menu picture 62,i.e. a sub-reference frame picture, on the display unit 13 as shown in Fig. 7 (b), and
starts to count the number of the subsequent frames.
The count of the number of frames is reset each time the reference frame
signal 67 is received.
When the user inputs the frame number of the desired still picture, based on
the data of the main menu picture 61 or on the data of the sub--menu picture 62
displayed on the display unit 13, to the receiver 14, the receiver searches the
specified picture according to the number of the counted frames and displays it on
the display unit 13 as shown in Fig. 7 (c).
By the reference frame signal 67, the frame counter is started, and the number
of counts until the next reference frame signal is received is the total number of
frames.
Therefore, it is possible in this case to identify the total number of frames
even when the number of frames is variable.
If the relationship on the still picture infonn~tion with the reference frame iskept at constant level or if the still picture displayed on the sub-reference frame is
the sub-menu picture, it is possible to select the still picture without using the
menu.
If the still picture program is arranged to a plurality of groups and a reference
frame is provided for each of these groups, and if a reference frame signal having
di~ereilt for~n is used for each of a plurality of reference frames, a single still picture
broadcasting station can transmit a plurality of still picture programs at the same
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time.
In case the reference frame signal 67 or the sub-reference frame signal 68 is
inserted into the main audio band, the reference frame signal 67 or the
sub- reference frame signal 68 is heard by the user as sound.
To avoid this, the reference frame signal 67 or the sub-reference frame signal
68 should be inserted into the second audio band.
In this case, an adequate control signal other than sound may be used as a
signal inserted in the sub audio band.
In a television set, picture signal and audio signal are separately processed.
Accordingly, even when it is tried to use the signal inserted into the audio band as
the control signal for selecting the still picture, it may not be controlled successfully.
In such a case, the signal inserted in the audio band should be tr~n~mitted at atime earlier than the corresponding still picture frame.
If it is (lesigned in such m~nner that the sub--reference frame signal is
regarded as a specific signal and a still picture having this signal cannot be used in
the general user appdldl~ls, it is possible to lldnsnlil the sub-reference frame still
picture only to a specific user or a speciic group of users, and secrecy can be kept
in the case such as television shopping.
Embodiment 8]
Description will be given now on operation of a system of an embodiment
where still picture frame inform~tion is inserted in an audio band to correspond to all
still pictures.
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Fig. 8 shows an embodiment where still picture frame inforrn~tion is inserted
to the main audio band corresponding to all still pictures. Reference numeral 70represents a still picture program, and 75 indicates a main audio band to be broadcast
together with the still picture program.
The still picture broa~ ting station 8 makes up a set of an adequate number
of still pictures, e.g. 100 still pictures such as 71, 72, 73, .. Signals 76, 77, 78,
... are inserted at each of points in the main audio band 75 corresponding to each of
the still picture frames, e.g. at the position of vertical synchronizing signal, and are
repeatedly tr~n.smitted.
In this case, the reference frame signal 76 to be inserted at a point
corresponding to a specific reference frame 71 may be made diL[~renl from the signal
to be inserted at the points corresponding to the other frames.
The set-top box 14 for receiver of still picture detects a reference frame 71
based on the reference frame signal 76 inserted in the audio band, displays a main
menu picture 71, i.e. its reference frame picture, on the display unit 13, and starts to
count the number of the subsequent frames.
The count of the number of frames is reset each time the reference frame
signal 76 is received.
When the user inputs the frame number of the desired still picture, based on
the data of the main menu picture 71 displayed on the display unit 13, to the
receiver 14, the receiver searches the specified picture according to the number of
the counted frames, and displays it on the display unit 13.
By the reference frame signal 76, the frame counter is started, and the number
of counts until the next reference frame signal is received is the total number of
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frames.
Therefore, it is possible in this case to identify the total number of frames
even when the number of frames is variable.
If the relationship on the still picture information with the reference frame iskept at constant level or if the still picture displayed on the sub- reference frame is
the sub- menu picture, it is possible to select the still picture without using the
menu.
If the still picture program is arranged to a plurality of groups, and a reference
frame is provided to each of these groups and a reference frame signal having
diLt~lelll form is used for each of a plurality of reference frames, a single still picture
broadcasting station can transmit a plurality of still picture programs at the same
time.
[Embodiment 9]
Fig. 9 shows an embodiment where a signal corresponding to a still picture
frame is inserted into main audio band and sub aùdio band. Reference numeral 80
represents a still picture program, and 84 represents the main audio band and 85 the
sub audio band which are broadcast together with the still picture program.
The still picture broaclc~sting station 8 makes up a set of an adequate number
of still pictures, e.g. 100 still pictures such as 81, 82, 83, .. A reference frame
signal 86 is inserted at a point in the main audio band 84 corresponding to the
reference frame 81, e.g. at the position of vertical syncllroni~-ng signal, and signals
87, 88, 89, .. are inserted at each of the points in the sub audio band correspon(1ing
to each of the still pictures, e.g. at the position of vertical synchronizing signal, and
these are repeatedly tr~ncmitted.
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The set-top box 14 for receiver of still picture detects the reference frame 81
based on the reference frame signal 86 inserted in the main audio band, displays a
main menu picture, i.e. the reference frame picture, on the display unit 13, and starts
to count the number of the subsequent frames.
The count of the number of frames is reset each time the reference frame
signal 86 is received.
When the user inputs the frame number of the desired still picture, based on
the data of the main menu picture displayed on the display unit 13, to the receiver
14, the receiver searches the specified picture according to the number of the
counted frames, and displays it on the display unit 13.
By the reference frame signal 86, the frame counter is started, and the number
of counts until the next reference frame signal is received is the total number of
frames.
Therefore, it is possible in this case to identify the total number of frames
even when the number of frames is variable.
If the relationship on the still picture infonn~t1on with the reference frame iskept at constant level or if the still picture displayed on the sub- reference frame is
the sub- menu picture, it is possible to select the still picture without using the
menu.
Embodiment 10]
Description will be given now on a system of an embodiment where frame
il~r~" ~ n is inserted in none of horizontal SÇ~nning line, still picture or audio band.
In this system, still picture frame infc rrn~tion is not inserted in the still
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CA 02204284 1997-05-01
pictures tr~n~mitted from the still picture bro~ sting station. It is tr~n.~mitted via
public line, or in case still pictures are broadcast via CATV, it is trn~mitted via
CATV line.
Therefore, an audio signal or an adequate control signal other than audio signalis used as in the case of still picture frame infnrm~tion inserted in the sub audio
band.
Fig. 10 shows an arrdngement of a system according tO the present invention.
This system comprises a still picture broadcasting station app~dllls 90 for
broadcasting a still picture by time- division still picture broadcast system, an
i"fo""~l;on senice provider app~dl~ls 91, a user app~dl-ls 92 and a data
col,,.llul~ication device such as a telephone 97. The still picture broadc~cting station
app~dl~ls 90 is connected with the user appa,dlus 92 via terreshial broadç~stingwave, s~tellite broadcasting wave or CATV wave 94. The telephone 97 is connectedwith the illfo""~;on senice provider al~paldl~ls 91 via coll~ ication line 93 such as
public line or CATV line. The i,,f(.l ",~;on senice provider app~dl~ls 91 is
connected with the still picture broadcasting station appa,dl~ls 90 via communication
line such as public line or dedicated line.
The inform~tinn senice provider appa,dl~ls 91 may not be used. In this case,
the still picture bro~ shng station appa~dlus 90 is directly connected with the user
appa,dlus 92 via cc)n~nlmication line 93 such as public line or dedicated line.
The user appa,dllls 92 cornpri~es a set-top box 96 for receiver of still pictureand a display unit 95. To the set- top box 96 for receiver of still picture, a
television ~l~te~lu for receiving still picture broa~ting, a television ~ntPnn~ for
receiving s~t.ollite bro~clc~ting or a coaxial cable for CATV are connecte(l Theset- top box 96 for receiver of still picture is connected to the display unit 95 such
as television set. The communication line 93 is connected with the telephone 97
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CA 02204284 1997-0~-01
indirectly via the set- top box 96 for receiver of still picture.
In this embodiment, the reference frame signal is not inserted in synchronizing
signal of the still picture or in audio band, but it is tr~n~mitte(l for example, as a
dual-tone signal, via the commnni~tion line. To utilize the dual-tone signal
tr~nsmitted via the communication line, it is necessary to capture the signal in the
set-top box 96 for receiver of still picture. For this purpose, the con~ ni~tionline 93 is directly connected to the set- top box 96 for receiver of still picture in this
embodiment, and the telephone 97 is indirectly connected with the commlmic~hon
line 93 via the set- top box 96 for receiver of still picture.
Next, description will be given on operation of the system of the embodiment,
refelLillg to Fig. 11.
In Fig. 11 (a), reference numeral 100 represents a still picture program, and
106 int1ic~tes an audio signal tr~n~mitted via the communic~tion line.
The still picture bro~dc~ting station 90 makes up a set of an adequate number
of still pictures, e.g. 100 still pictures such as 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, .. , and
tr~n~mits them repeatedly.
On the other hand, the i~ aLion service provider app~dLlls 91 synchronizes
the reference frame dual tone multi frequency (DTMF) signal 107 with the reference
frame and tr~n~mitc it to the set-top box 96 for receiving still picture via thecolllnlunication line.
In this case, the still picture of the reference frame 101 is regarded as a menupicture, but this menu picture is not necessa~ily required.
The set-top box 96 for receiver of still picture detects the reference frame
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CA 02204284 1997-0~-01
101 based on the received reference frame DTMF signal 107, displays the menu
picture, i.e. the reference frame 101, on the display unit 95 as shown in Fig. 11 (b),
and starts to count the number of the subsequent frames.
The menu picture may comprise a main menu picture and a sub- menu
picture.
The count of the number of frames is reset each time the reference frame
DTMF signal 107 is received.
When the user inputs the frame number of the desired still picture to the
set-top box 96 for receiver of still picture by DTMF signal of the telephone based
on the data of the menu displayed as the reference frame 101 on the display unit 95,
the set- top box 96 for receiver of still picture searches the specified pictureaccording to the number of the counted frames, and displays the specified still
picture 104 on the display unit 95 as shown in Fig. 11 (c).
By the reference frame DTMF signal 107, the frame counter is started, and
the number of counts until the next reference frame signal is received is the total
number of frames.
Therefore, it is possible in this case to identify the total number of frames
even when the number of frames is variable.
Some of the still picture i,,rul ",~;on to be offered such as weather inform~tion,
stock market inforrn~on, traffic infûrm~tlon, etc. may be better broadcast regardless
of whether the user wants it or not.
If the relationship on the still picture infonn~hon with the reference frame is
kept at constant level or if the still picture displayed on the sub- reference frame is
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CA 02204284 1997-0~-01
the sub- menu picture, it is possible to select the still picture without using the
menu.
In addition to a system where frame inf~rm~tion is inserted to none of
hori~ont~l sc~nning line, still picture, or audio band, there is a system where the still
picture frame inforTn~tion is inserted only in the audio band corresponding to some
of the still pictures or a system where still picture ~ame inform~tion is inserted to
audio band corresponding to all of the still pictures. However, the operation inthese systems is not basically di~e~enl from the operation in the system of
Embodiments 5 or 6, and detailed description is not given here.
In the above, description has been given on the cases where the system of the
present invention is applied in still picture television broadc~cting, whereas it is
needless to say that the present invention is also applicable to a video tape or a
video disk where still pictures are recorded.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
The present system is an interactive information service system using a
telephone and a television set widely propagated for home use, and the burden ofcost on general users is low.
Pictures di~lelll for each frame of television picture signal are tr~n~mitted,
and this makes it possible to broadcast a great number of still pictures within short
time. For this reason, it is possible to provide interactive still picture services to
each of many users.
Also, it is possible to display the contents of co~ nic~t on p~rform~cl
between the user and the inro. "~;on service provider on the display unit without
increasing the burden on the inform~tion service provider.
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