JP2006211120A - Video display system provided with character information display function - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a video display system allowing a viewer to view an image with full of presence by extracting character information from AV contents, converting the information into character information suitable for the video image and displaying the character information superimposingly on the video image on a screen. <P>SOLUTION: The video display system processing the AV contents including video information, audio information, and character information or the like, and displaying the character information, includes a character information extract/output unit 10 for extracting various information items from the AV contents, processing the various information items, and carrying out an image output and an audio output; and a data conversion server 100 for applying image conversion processing to the extracted character information. The character information extract/output unit 10 includes: an extracting means 18 for extracting the character information; a transmission means 19 for transmitting the extracted character information to the data conversion server 100; and a composite means 24 for composing the image transmitted from the data conversion server 100 with the video information. The data conversion server 100 includes an image conversion means 103 that converts the character information received by a character information reception means 101 into an image corresponding to program information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a video display system having a text information display function capable of processing AV content on which video information, audio information, text information, and program information are superimposed and presenting them to a user.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when viewing a television broadcast, there is a character information display device that superimposes audio information as video information on a video and displays it on a screen. Subtitle broadcasts in analog television broadcasts and digital television broadcasts are received by a character information display device or a digital television broadcast receiver, and displayed on a screen with caption data transmitted from a broadcasting station. However, the general subtitles that are displayed superimposed on the video are displayed as they are on the screen as the subtitle data received by the character information display device or the digital TV broadcast receiver. Since they are the same and there is no sense of unity between the TV broadcast video and the displayed subtitles, there is a sense of incongruity when watching subtitle broadcasts.

For example, Patent Literature 1 proposes a technique that solves such a feeling of strangeness between video and subtitles when viewing a program. The device of Patent Document 1 changes the character font or display color for each genre and displays it on a screen when watching a subtitle broadcast. Also, the character font or display color is downloaded to the memory, and the character font or display color is changed for each genre and displayed on the screen.
JP 2002-271712 A

  However, the conventional character information display device including Patent Document 1 draws character information using a character font or display color previously installed in the character information display device or downloaded to the memory and displays it on the screen. Characters and symbols registered in the character font held by the information display device can be displayed only in a shape corresponding to the type of the character font, and there is a problem that there is a limit in character expressiveness.

  In addition, since the conventional character information display device simply draws the original character information as it is and displays it on the screen, for example, a foreigner who does not understand Japanese can view AV content to which only Japanese subtitles are added. In some cases, there was a problem that could not be understood.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to extract character information from the received AV content, convert it into character information suitable for the video, superimpose it on the video and display it on the screen, and watch the AV content full of presence and appropriate translation of the character information. An object of the present invention is to provide a video display system having a text information display function that enables convenient AV content viewing.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention mainly adopts the following configuration.
In a video display system capable of processing AV content including video information, audio information, character information, program information, and displaying the character information,
A character information extraction / output device that extracts and processes various types of information from the AV content to perform image output and sound output; a data conversion server that performs image conversion processing on the character information extracted by the character information extraction / output device; With
The character information extraction / output device includes character information extraction means for extracting character information from the AV content, character information transmission means for transmitting the character information extracted by the character information extraction means to the data conversion server, Image receiving means for receiving the image transmitted from the data conversion server, and combining means for combining the received image received by the image receiving means and the video information,
The data conversion server includes: character information receiving means for receiving character information transmitted from the character information transmitting means; and image conversion for converting character information received by the character information receiving means into an image corresponding to the program information. And an image transmission means for transmitting the converted image to the character information extraction / output device.

In the video display system, the character information extraction / output device includes genre information extraction means for extracting genre information of a program from the program information, and the character information transmission means transmits the extracted genre information to the genre information. Send text information and genre information in addition to text information,
The image conversion unit is configured to convert the character information from the character information receiving unit into an image corresponding to the genre information from the character information receiving unit when converting the image into an image.

In the video display system, the character information extraction / output device includes language selection means for selecting a language to be displayed, and the character information transmission means adds the selected language information to the character information. Send text information and language information,
The image conversion unit is configured to translate the character information and convert the image according to the language information from the character information receiving unit when converting the character information from the character information receiving unit into an image.

  According to the present invention, the character information is transmitted to the data conversion server, the character information is converted into an image for each genre by the data conversion server, the character information is transmitted to the character information extraction / display (output) device, and the image is superimposed on the video on the screen. By projecting on the screen, the character information can be freely converted into an image, so that the character expression power is enhanced.

  Further, it is possible to reduce a burden on data communication by compressing when transmitting character information or an image and decompressing the compressed data when receiving them.

  Since the character information is converted into an image according to the genre information by the data conversion server, the character information superimposed on the video from the character information extraction / display (output) device and displayed on the screen is most suitable for the genre of the AV content. Since character information using images can be displayed, it is possible to view AV content with a sense of reality.

  In addition, by translating a language into another language and converting the image, even a person who does not understand the meaning of the character information due to a language problem can enjoy AV content with character information compatible with other languages.

  An image display system including a character information display mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. The present invention can be applied to all devices capable of displaying character information on a monitor screen, such as AV equipment (digital television broadcast receiver and video / DVD deck), PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), mobile phone, and the like.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a digital television broadcast receiving apparatus which is an example of a video display system having a character information display function according to an embodiment of the present invention. A broadcast wave transmitted from a broadcast station is received by a tuner 12 through a broadcast receiving antenna 11 of a character information extraction / display device (character information extraction / output device) 10 of a video display system having a character information display function. The received broadcast wave includes a video signal, an audio signal, program information, and character information related to television broadcasting. These signals and information are separated by the demultiplexer 13 into the respective signals and information.

  The video signal and the audio signal separated by the demultiplexer 13 are processed by the video signal processing unit 26 and the audio signal processing unit 14, respectively. The video signal processed by the video signal processing unit 26 is processed by the video signal processing unit and output to the TV screen display unit 25 through the video / OSD signal synthesis unit 24. The audio signal processed by the audio signal processing unit 14 is output to the audio output 16. The program information is input to the program information acquisition unit 15. The character information is input to the character (caption) information acquisition unit 17.

  First, a schematic configuration relating to a video display system having a character information display function according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. The character information input to the character information acquisition unit 17 by the demultiplexer 13 is extracted by the character information extraction unit 18. The character information extracted by the character information extraction unit 21 is stored in the character information transmission unit 22 for transmission to the data conversion server 100. The character information transmission unit 22 compresses the character information using an algorithm such as LZH format or ZIP format that is often used in the computer world, and transmits it to the data conversion server 100. The method of compressing character information is an example for realizing the present embodiment, and the present invention is not limited to this. The compression method may be changed as necessary.

  Character information transmitted from the character information extraction / display (output) device 10 is received by the character information receiving unit 101 in the data conversion server 100. The character information receiving unit 101 decompresses the compressed character information. The character information decompressed by the character information receiving unit 101 is stored in the character information management unit 102. The character information management unit 102 determines additional information added to character information such as genre information and language information. Details regarding determination of additional information added to character information will be described later. Additional information such as genre information and language information added to the character information determined by the character information management unit 102 is requested to the image conversion unit 103 to be converted into an image suitable for the additional information.

  The image conversion unit 103 converts the character information into an image suitable for the additional information added to the character information. Details regarding the operation of converting character information into an image will be described later. The image converted by the image conversion unit 103 is stored in the image transmission unit 104 for transmission to the character information extraction / display (output) device 10. The image transmission unit 104 compresses the image and transmits it to the character information extraction / display (output) device 10.

  The compressed image transmitted from the data conversion server 100 is received by the image receiving unit 21 of the character information extraction / display (output) device 10. The image receiving unit 21 decompresses the compressed image. The image decompressed by the image receiving unit 21 passes through the OSD display unit 22 and is superimposed on the video by the video / OSD signal synthesis unit 24 and is output to the TV screen display unit 25.

  Next, a configuration example and an operation example related to a video display system having a character information display function according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

  The program information input by the demultiplexer 13 in the character information extraction / display (output) device 10 is acquired by the program information acquisition unit 15. The genre information extraction unit 23 extracts genre information that can be used for genre discrimination from the program information acquired by the program information acquisition unit 15. The genre information extracted by the genre information extraction unit 23 is passed to the character information transmission unit 19 for transmission to the data conversion server 100 together with the character information. The character information transmission unit 19 compresses the genre information and the character information and transmits them to the data conversion server 100.

  The data conversion server 100 converts the above-described character information into an image according to the genre information, and transmits it to the character information extraction / display (output) device 10. The operation of the data conversion server 100 will be specifically described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation example in which character information is image-converted according to genre information and transmitted to the character information extraction / display (output) device 10 by the data conversion server related to the video display system according to the present embodiment.

  First, the genre information and the character information transmitted from the character information extraction / display (output) device 10 are received by the character information receiving unit 101 (step 2001). The character information receiving unit 101 decompresses the compressed character information and genre information and inputs them to the character information management unit 102. When the character information management unit 102 determines that the additional information added to the character information is genre information, the character information management unit 102 determines the genre information added to the character information (step 2002). Further, the character information management unit 102 requests the image conversion unit 103 to perform image conversion according to the genre information determined by the character information management unit 102.

  The image conversion unit 103 selects a character font from the genre information determined by the character information management unit 102, converts the character information into a character font suitable for the genre information, and performs image conversion. For example, if the genre information is determined to be a historical drama (step 2003), the character information management unit 102 requests the image conversion unit 103 to convert the character information into an image suitable for the genre information of the historical drama. The image conversion unit 103 selects a character font suitable for a historical drama that makes the atmosphere of the past feel from the genre information of the historical drama. Then, the character information is converted into a character font suitable for a historical drama and converted into a bitmap, and the image is converted in an image file format (step 2006).

  On the other hand, if the genre information is determined to be horror (step 2004), the character information management unit 102 requests the image conversion unit 103 to convert the character information into an image suitable for the genre information called horror. The image conversion unit 103 selects a character font that can terrify the viewer from genre information called horror. Then, the character information is converted into a character font suitable for horror and converted into a bitmap, and image conversion is performed in an image file format (step 2007).

  On the other hand, when the genre information is determined to be SF (Science Fiction) (step 2005), the character information management unit 102 requests the image conversion unit 103 to convert the character information into an image suitable for the genre information of SF. The image conversion unit 103 selects a character font that draws the viewer into a mysterious space from the genre information called SF. Then, the character information is converted into a character font suitable for SF and converted into a bitmap, and image conversion is performed in an image file format (step 2008).

  The genre information and the image conversion method described above are one configuration example for realizing the present embodiment, and the present invention is not limited to these. The genre information item and the image conversion method may be increased or decreased as necessary. The image converted by the image conversion unit 103 according to the genre information is stored in the image transmission unit 104. The image transmission unit 104 compresses the image (step 2009) and transmits it to the character information extraction / display (output) device 10 (step 2010). As described above, the video display system having the character information display function according to the present embodiment converts the character information into an image according to the genre information by the data conversion server, so that the video is extracted from the character information extraction / display (output) device 10. As the character information that is superimposed and displayed, it is possible to display character information using an image that best matches the genre of the program.

  Next, another configuration example and another operation example relating to the video display system having the character information display function according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3. The language selection unit 20 of the character information extraction / display (output) device 10 selects a language to be displayed on the TV screen display unit 25 by using a button on the remote control or the character information extraction / display (output) device 10. To do. The language information selected by the language selection unit 20 is passed to the character information transmission unit 19 for transmission to the character information and data conversion server 100. The character information transmission unit 19 compresses the language information and the character information and transmits them to the data conversion server 100. In the data conversion server 100, the character information is converted into an image by translating the character information according to the language information, and transmitted to the character information extraction / display (output) device 10.

  The operation of the data conversion server 100 will be specifically described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 shows another operation example in which the character information is converted into an image by translating the character information according to the linguistic information, converted into an image, and transmitted to the character information extraction / display (output) device. It is a flowchart which shows.

  First, language information and character information transmitted from the character information extraction / display (output) device 10 are received by the character information receiving unit 101 of the data conversion server 100 (step 3001). The character information receiving unit 101 inputs the received character information and language information to the character information management 102. When the character information management unit 102 determines that the additional information added to the character information is language information, the character information management unit 102 determines the language information added to the character information (step 3002).

  In addition, after determining the language information, the character information management unit 102 requests the image conversion unit 103 to translate the character information into the determined language information and perform image conversion. The image conversion unit 103 translates the character information into the language information determined by the character information management unit 102 and performs image conversion. For example, if the language information is determined to be English (step 3003), the character information management unit 102 requests the image conversion unit 103 to translate the character information into English and perform image conversion. The image conversion unit 103 translates the character information into English and creates the image information in the image file format such as converting the character information translated into English into a bitmap (step 3006).

  On the other hand, if the language information is determined to be Chinese (step 3004), the character information management unit 102 requests the image conversion unit 103 to translate the character information into Chinese and to convert the image. The image conversion unit 103 creates the image information in the image file format such as translating the character information into Chinese and converting the character information translated into Chinese into a bitmap (step 3007). On the other hand, if the language information is determined to be Finnish (step 3005), the character information management unit 102 requests the image conversion unit 103 to translate the character information into Finnish and to convert the image. The image conversion unit 103 translates the character information into Finnish and creates it in an image file format such as converting the Finnish translated character information into a bitmap (step 3008). These language information and the image conversion method are examples for realizing the present embodiment, and the present invention is not limited to these. The genre information item and the image conversion method may be increased or decreased as necessary.

  The image conversion unit 103 translates the character information in accordance with the language information, and the converted image is stored in the image transmission unit 104 for transmission to the character information extraction / display (output) device 10. The image transmission unit 104 compresses the image (step 3009) and transmits it to the character information extraction / display (output) device (step 3010). As described above, the video display system having the character information display function according to the present embodiment translates the character information according to the language information and converts the image by the data conversion server, so that the character information extraction / display (output) device is provided. The character information that is superimposed on the video from 10 can be displayed using the image that best matches the selected language.

  As described above, the features of the present invention will be outlined. The character information extraction / display (output) device and the data conversion server are configured, and the character information extracted by the character information extraction / display (output) device is converted into data. Send to server, convert to image corresponding to character information in data conversion server, send this converted image to character information extraction / display (output) device, and superimpose video and converted image on screen Thus, the video display system is provided with a character information display function that enables convenient viewing of AV content by appropriate viewing of AV content and appropriate translation of character information.

  More specifically, a video display system having a text information display function according to an embodiment of the present invention processes AV content on which video information, audio information, and text information are superimposed, and presents the information to the user. In a video display system having a function for displaying character information having a function, extraction means for extracting character information from the AV content, transmission means for transmitting character information extracted by the character information extraction means to a data conversion server, data conversion Character information extraction / display (output) device comprising: receiving means for receiving an image transmitted from a server; and presenting means for presenting an image received by the receiving means to a user superimposed on video information; and character information extraction / Receiving means for receiving character information transmitted from the display (output) device, the character information received by the receiving means as character information Converting means for converting the corresponding image, characterized in that it is configured the converted image character information extracting / display (output) transmission means for transmitting device, from a data conversion server with.

  In addition, the video display system having the character information display function may be configured such that the character information extraction / display (output) device includes a compression unit that compresses character information to a transmission unit that transmits to the data conversion server, and a transmission from the data conversion server. The receiving means for receiving the image is provided with a decompressing means for decompressing the image, and the decompressing means for decompressing the character information to the receiving means for receiving the character information and the converted image are transmitted to the data conversion server. The transmitting means is provided with a compressing means for compressing an image.

  In addition, the video display system having the character information display function transmits, to the character information extraction / display (output) device, extraction means for extracting genre information from the AV content having genre information, and character information to the server. The transmission means for transmitting the genre information and the character information to the server is provided. The data conversion server receives the genre information and the character information. The reception means receives the genre information and the character information when converting the received character information into an image. An image conversion means for converting an image in accordance with the genre information is provided.

  Further, the video display system having the character information display function includes: a selection unit that allows a user to select a language; and language information and character information selected by the language selection unit in the character information extraction / display (output) device. Transmitting means for transmitting, to the data conversion server, receiving means for receiving character information and language information, and translating the character information according to the selected language information when converting the received character information into an image, An image conversion means for image conversion is provided.

  Compared with the AV content having character information by the video display system having the character information display function having the characteristics as described above, the image conversion is more suitable for the pictogram and the like than the one that downloads the character font or display color. Since the shape of each character can be freely converted, such as being able to be freely inserted successively, the ability to express characters is increased, and AV content having realistic character information can be viewed. Also, by translating the language and converting the image, the character information is translated in the selected language and superimposed on the video and displayed on the screen, so even if the meaning of the character information is unknown due to language problems It becomes possible to enjoy watching the AV content.

It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the digital television broadcast receiver which is an example of the video display system provided with the character information display function which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation example which image-converts character information according to genre information in the data conversion server regarding the video display system concerning this embodiment, and transmits to a character information extraction / display (output) apparatus. The flowchart which shows the other example of an operation | movement which translates character information into character information according to linguistic information, converts it into an image, and transmits it to a character information extraction / display (output) apparatus with the data conversion server regarding the video display system concerning this embodiment. It is.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Character information extraction / display (output) apparatus 11 Antenna 12 Tuner 13 Demultiplexer 14 Audio | voice signal processing part 15 Program information acquisition part 16 Audio | voice output 17 Character information acquisition part 18 Character information extraction part 19 Character information transmission part 20 Language selection part 21 Image reception unit 22 OSD display unit 23 Genre information extraction unit 24 Video / OSD signal synthesis unit 25 TV screen display unit 26 Video signal processing unit 100 Data conversion server 101 Character information reception unit 102 Character information management unit 103 Image conversion unit 104 Image transmission Part

Claims (4)

In a video display system capable of processing AV content including video information, audio information, character information, program information, and displaying the character information,
A character information extraction / output device that extracts and processes various types of information from the AV content to perform image output and sound output; a data conversion server that performs image conversion processing on the character information extracted by the character information extraction / output device; With
The character information extraction / output device includes character information extraction means for extracting character information from the AV content, character information transmission means for transmitting the character information extracted by the character information extraction means to the data conversion server, Image receiving means for receiving the image transmitted from the data conversion server, and combining means for combining the received image received by the image receiving means and the video information,
The data conversion server includes: character information receiving means for receiving character information transmitted from the character information transmitting means; and image conversion for converting character information received by the character information receiving means into an image corresponding to the program information. A video display system having a character information display function, characterized by comprising: means; and image transmission means for transmitting the converted image to the character information extraction / output device. In claim 1,
The character information transmitting means is provided with compression means for compressing character information to be transmitted to the data conversion server, and the image receiving means is provided with decompression means for decompressing the image,
An image display system having a character information display function, wherein the character information receiving means is provided with a decompression means for decompressing the character information, and the image transmission means is provided with a compression means for compressing the image. In claim 1 or 2,
The character information extraction / output device includes genre information extraction means for extracting genre information of a program from the program information, and the character information transmission means adds the extracted genre information to the character information to add character information. And send genre information,
The image converting means converts the character information from the character information receiving means into an image corresponding to the genre information from the character information receiving means when converting the character information to the image. Equipped video display system. In claim 1 or 2,
The character information extraction / output device includes language selection means for selecting a language to be displayed, and the character information transmission means adds the selected language information to the character information and transmits character information and language information. And
The image converting means translates the character information according to the language information from the character information receiving means and converts the image when converting the character information from the character information receiving means into an image. Video display system with information display function.

Images