Receiving device, receiving method, providing device, providing method, programs, and broadcasting system
View Patent ↗This technique relates to a receiving device, a receiving method, a providing device, a providing method, programs, and a broadcasting system that can control operations of external devices connected to the receiving device in synchronization with progress of a show being received. When the application control type in an application control descriptor is 2, the receiving device receives command information contained in a digital broadcast signal, and acquires and starts a new information service application and the like in accordance with the received command information. When an external device is designated as the command destination device, the receiving device generates a command for the external device, and outputs the command to the external device. In accordance with the command from the receiving device, the external device acquires and starts the new information service application and the like. This disclosure can be applied not only to controlling the receiving device from the broadcasting side, but also to controlling external devices connected to the receiving device.
1. A reception apparatus, comprising:
circuitry configured to
receive a digital broadcast signal;
acquire, from the received digital broadcast signal, control information associated with a particular programming segment, the control information including an application identifier, an action identifier, and a destination identifier, the application identifier identifying an application, the action identifier identifying an action associated with the application, and the destination identifier specifying whether the action is to be processed by the reception apparatus or an external device;
when the destination identifier specifies that the action identified by the action identifier of the control information is to be processed by the external device, deliver the control information to the external device; and
when the destination identifier specifies that the action identified by the action identifier of the control information is to be processed by the reception apparatus, perform an operation related to the application identified by the application identifier in accordance with the action.
2. The reception apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the destination identifier specifies that the action identified by the action identifier of the control information is to be processed by the reception apparatus and the external device.
3. The receiving device according to claim 1 , wherein the control information further identifies a predetermined server location.
4. The reception apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the action is to execute, suspend, or end the application identified by the application identifier.
5. The reception apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the digital broadcast signal includes the control information and A/V content, which includes the particular programming segment, and
the application identified by the application identifier is programmed to cause additional content to be presented in synchronization with the A/V content.
6. The reception apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to acquire the application identified by the application identifier from a server via the Internet.
7. A method of processing control information included in a digital broadcast signal, the method comprising:
receiving, by circuitry of a reception apparatus, the digital broadcast signal;
acquiring, from the received digital broadcast signal, the control information associated with a particular programming segment, the control information including an application identifier, an action identifier, and a destination identifier, the application identifier identifying an application, the action identifier identifying an action associated with the application, and the destination identifier specifying whether the action is to be processed by the reception apparatus or an external device;
when the destination identifier specifies that the action identified by the action identifier of the control information is to be processed by the external device, delivering, by the circuitry, the control information to the external device; and
when the destination identifier specifies that the action identified by the action identifier of the control information is to be processed by the reception apparatus, perform an operation related to the application identified by the application identifier in accordance with the action.
8. The method according to claim 7 , further comprising:
when the action identified by the action identifier of the control information is to be processed by the external device, performing, by the external device, an operation related to the application identified by the application identifier in accordance with the action.
9. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the action identified by the action identifier of the control information is to be processed by the reception apparatus and the external device.
10. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the control information further identifies a predetermined server location.
11. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the action is to execute, suspend, or end the application identified by the application identifier.
12. The method according to claim 7 , further comprising:
acquiring, by the reception apparatus or the external device, the application identified by the application identifier from a server via the Internet.
13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program which when executed by a computer causes a reception apparatus to:
receive a digital broadcast signal;
acquire, from the received digital broadcast signal, control information associated with a particular programming segment, the control information including an application identifier, an action identifier, and a destination identifier, the application identifier identifying an application, the action identifier identifying an action associated with the application, and the destination identifier specifying whether the action is to be processed by the reception apparatus or an external device;
when the destination identifier specifies that the action identified by the action identifier of the control information is to be processed by the external device, deliver the control information to the external device; and
when the destination identifier specifies that the action identified by the action identifier of the control information is to be processed by the reception apparatus, perform an operation related to the application identified by the application identifier in accordance with the action.
14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 13 , wherein the destination identifier specifies that the action identified by the action identifier of the control information is to be processed by the reception apparatus and the external device.
15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 13 , wherein the control information further identifies a predetermined server location.
16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 13 , wherein the action is to execute, suspend, or end the application identified by the application identifier.
17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 13 , wherein the program which when executed by the computer further causes the reception apparatus to acquire the application identified by the application identifier from a server via the Internet.