JPH11220493A - Transmitter, transmission method, receiver, reception method, transmission reception system and transmission reception method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently distribute data while suppressing increase in a load on a receiver. SOLUTION: When an object (contents) registered in a database 3 is updated by a server 2, a subject that is data to reflect updated contents on an object before being updated is generated. Furthermore, the server 2 generates an event that is data denoting a fact of an updated object and informing an acquisition method of the subject and distributes it simultaneously via a broadcast network such as a satellite channel. A equipment terminal 5 receives the event and acquires the subject to reflect update contents of the object whose update is informed by the event. That is, the event describes the acquisition method of the subject and the reception terminal 5 acquires the subject based on the acquisition method.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a transmitting apparatus and a transmitting method, a receiving apparatus and a receiving method, and a transmitting / receiving system and a transmitting / receiving method. A transmission device and a transmission method, a reception device and a reception method, and a transmission / reception system and a transmission / reception system suitable for use when performing data distribution by IP (Internet Protocol) multicast, when distributing data to an unspecified large number, and the like. About the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Various methods have been proposed as data distribution methods. For example, on the current Internet, HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) is used.
l) TCP / IP (Transmission Control Prot)
ocol / Internet Protocol). In TCP / IP, a call is made from a receiving side receiving data distribution to a data transmitting side, and a connection is established between the transmitting side and the receiving side every time data transmission / reception is performed. Since it is established, highly reliable data distribution can be performed. However, on the other hand, the load on the transmission side and the network increases, and it may be difficult to perform efficient data distribution.

[0003] That is, if the number of terminals receiving data is increased and access to the server that provides the data is concentrated, a heavy load is imposed on the server and the network. In some cases, it took a lot of time.

Therefore, in recent years, W3C (World Wide W
eb Consortium), DRP (Distribution and
Replication Protocol) has been proposed.
In DRP, when data is updated in a certain database, the updated data itself is not distributed to other databases dispersed in many regions, but the data before the update and the data after the update are updated. Only the difference information between this data and the other data is individually distributed. Then, in the database that has received the distribution of the difference information, the data before the update is updated based on the difference information.

[0005] Therefore, in the data distribution method using DRP, difference information is transmitted, so that the amount of information flowing on the network can be reduced rather than transmitting the data itself. However, for example,
When access is concentrated from an enormous number of terminals, such as on a nationwide scale, or on a global scale, the load on servers and networks increases, making it difficult to perform efficient data distribution.

In the data distribution using TCP / IP and DRP described above, a connection is established and data is exchanged between a transmitting side and a receiving side. On the other hand, data exchange is performed without a connection. For example, UDP (User Datagram) such as IP multicast
Protocol)). UDP
Data distribution by connection is connectionless,
Compared to data distribution performed by establishing a connection such as CP / IP, the data reliability is reduced, but the load on the transmission side and the network can be reduced.

[0007] However, even in the case of using UDP, it is necessary to individually distribute data to each of a large number of terminals as long as the current Internet is used. However, the load on servers and networks increases due to the increase in the number of terminals, making it difficult to perform efficient data distribution.

[0008] Therefore, there is a technology called multi-feed, which reduces the load on the transmitting side and the network by efficiently concentrating / dispersing data exchanged for providing various services on the Internet. Proposed.

However, even in the case of multi-feed, as long as the current Internet is used, the load on the server and the network increases due to the increase in the number of terminals as in the case of UDP, so that efficient data distribution can be achieved. It will be difficult to do.

[0010]

In any of the data distribution methods described above, when data distribution is performed via the Internet connected by a physical line such as a cable, the terminal must With the increase, it is inevitable that the load on the server and the network will increase.

[0011] Therefore, a method has been proposed in which data is distributed using, for example, a broadband satellite line or terrestrial broadcast line capable of broadcasting simultaneously over a wide area. In this case, the load on the server and the network is not affected by the increase in the number of terminals.

By the way, even when data is distributed using a satellite line or the like, from the viewpoint of improving the efficiency of data distribution, for example, as in the data distribution method using DRP, the data itself is not used. Instead, it is preferable to transmit the difference information.

However, when transmitting the difference information using a satellite line or the like, on the receiving side, the difference information indicates which channel (if a satellite line, which transponder, which frequency band), and furthermore, Since it is not known when the broadcast will occur, it is necessary to constantly monitor all the channels, which increases the burden on the receiving side.

The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and it is an object of the present invention to enable efficient data distribution while suppressing an increase in the load on the receiving side.

[0015]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, when a content registered in a database is updated, the transmission device according to claim 1 generates reflection data for reflecting the updated content to the content before the update. And a notification data generation unit that generates notification data for notifying that the content registered in the database has been updated.

In the transmission method according to the ninth aspect, when the content registered in the database is updated, reflection data for reflecting the updated content to the content before the update is generated, and the content is updated. It is characterized by generating notification data for notifying that the notification has been made.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a receiving apparatus for receiving notification data for notifying that content registered in a database has been updated, and updating the notification data based on the notification data. Is provided with reflected data receiving means for receiving reflected data for reflecting the updated content of the notified content, and updating means for updating the content based on the reflected data.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a receiving method for receiving notification data for notifying that content registered in a database has been updated, and for updating the content based on the notification data with the notification data. Receiving reflected data for reflecting the updated content of the above, and updating the content based on the reflected data.

A transmission / reception system according to claim 17, wherein, when the content registered in the database is updated, reflected data generating means for generating reflected data for reflecting the updated content to the content before the update. A notification data generating means for generating notification data for notifying that the content registered in the database has been updated, a notification data receiving means for receiving the notification data, and updating with the notification data based on the notification data. It is characterized by including reflected data receiving means for receiving reflected data for reflecting the notified update content of the content, and updating means for updating the content based on the reflected data.

According to the transmission / reception method of the present invention, when the content registered in the database is updated, reflection data for reflecting the updated content to the content before the update is generated, and the content is updated. While generating the notification data for notifying that has been performed, receiving the notification data, based on the notification data, receiving reflection data for reflecting the update content of the content whose update has been notified by the notification data, The content is updated based on the reflection data.

[0021] In the transmission device according to the first aspect, when the content registered in the database is updated, the reflected data generating means generates reflected data for reflecting the updated content to the content before the update. The notification data generation means generates notification data for notifying that the content registered in the database has been updated.

In the transmission method according to the ninth aspect, when the content registered in the database is updated, reflection data for reflecting the updated content to the content before the update is generated, and the content is updated. Notification data for notifying the user of the update is generated.

In the receiving device according to the tenth aspect,
The notification data receiving means receives notification data for notifying that the content registered in the database has been updated, and the reflection data receiving means receives the notification of the content whose update has been notified by the notification data based on the notification data. Reflection data for reflecting the updated content is received. The updating means updates the content based on the reflected data.

[0024] In the receiving method according to claim 16,
Receives notification data for notifying that the content registered in the database has been updated, and, based on the notification data, receives reflection data for reflecting the updated content of the content whose update has been notified by the notification data. ,
The content is updated based on the reflected data.

In the transmission / reception system according to the seventeenth aspect, when the content registered in the database is updated, the reflected data generating means reflects the reflected data for reflecting the updated content on the content before the update. The notification data generation means generates notification data for notifying that the content registered in the database has been updated. The broadcast data receiving unit receives the broadcast data, and the reflected data receiving unit is configured to receive, based on the broadcast data, the reflected data for reflecting the update content of the content whose update has been broadcasted by the broadcast data. I have. The updating means updates the content based on the reflected data.

In the transmission / reception method according to the eighteenth aspect, when content registered in the database is updated, reflection data for reflecting the updated content to the content before update is generated, and the content is updated. While generating the notification data for notifying that the update has been performed, receiving the notification data, and receiving the reflection data for reflecting the update content of the content whose update has been notified by the notification data based on the notification data. The content is updated based on the reflected data.

[0027]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below, but before that, the correspondence between each means of the invention described in the claims and the following embodiments will be clarified. For this reason, the features of the present invention are described as follows by adding the corresponding embodiment (however, an example) in parentheses after each means.

That is, the transmitting device according to the first aspect is a transmitting device for transmitting data for providing contents registered in the database, and when the contents registered in the database are updated, Update the contents
Reflected data generating means (for example, a subject / event generating unit 13 shown in FIG. 13) for generating reflected data to be reflected on the content before updating, and for notifying that the content registered in the database has been updated. Notification data generating means for generating the notification data of (for example,
(Subject / event generation unit 13 shown in FIG. 13 and the like)
Transmitting means for transmitting the reflection data and the notification data via a predetermined transmission path (for example, the transmission unit 1 shown in FIG. 13)
8 etc.).

[0029] A receiving apparatus according to a tenth aspect is a receiving apparatus for receiving data for receiving provision of contents registered in a database, and notifies that the contents registered in the database have been updated. Data receiving means (for example, FIG. 18)
And a reflection data receiving means (for example, the event processing shown in FIG. 18) that receives, based on the notification data, reflection data for reflecting the update content of the content whose update has been notified by the notification data. Part 30
And a communication control unit 31) and updating means (for example, a subject processing unit 24 shown in FIG. 18) for updating the content based on the reflected data.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the case where the broadcast data receiving means receives a plurality of broadcast data each containing a description of a plurality of methods of acquiring reflected data, the broadcast data receiving means includes a plurality of broadcast data. Selection means for selecting one (for example, the event selection unit 29 shown in FIG. 18)
Wherein the reflected data receiving unit acquires the reflected data based on a method of acquiring the reflected data included in the notification data selected by the selecting unit.

A transmission / reception system according to a seventeenth aspect is a transmission / reception system including a transmission device for transmitting data for providing contents registered in a database, and a reception device for receiving data from the transmission device. When the transmitting apparatus updates the content registered in the database, the transmitting apparatus generates reflected data for reflecting the updated content in the content before the update (for example, the subject data shown in FIG. 13). / Event generation unit 13) and notification data generation means (for example, subject / event generation unit 13 shown in FIG. 13) for generating notification data for notifying that the content registered in the database has been updated. Transmitting means for transmitting the reflection data and the notification data via a predetermined transmission path (for example, FIG. And a receiving unit (for example, a receiving unit 21 shown in FIG. 18) for receiving the notification data, and the update is notified by the notification data based on the notification data. Reflected data receiving means (for example, the event processing unit 30 and the communication control unit 31 shown in FIG. 18) for receiving reflected data for reflecting the updated content of the content, and updates the content based on the reflected data. An update unit (for example, the subject processing unit 24 shown in FIG. 18) is provided.

Of course, this description does not mean that each means is limited to those described above.

FIG. 1 shows a data distribution system to which the present invention is applied (in the present specification, a system refers to a system in which a plurality of devices are logically aggregated, and each configuration device is in the same housing. It does not matter whether it is or not).

The information providers A to C have databases 1a to 1c in which various data are stored. The databases 1a to 1c include, for example, traffic information, weather information, stock price information, and other data that changes in real time, such data that does not change in real time, text data, image data, audio data, computer data, and the like. Anything such as a program (including structured data provided by pointcasting and data constituting a homepage provided on the WWW (World Wide Web)) can be stored. Here, for example, a group of information (generally, for example, one file) that constitutes traffic information, weather information, and the like is hereinafter referred to as content or an object as appropriate.

Of the objects (contents) stored in the databases 1a to 1c, updated ones (including new ones, changed ones, and deleted ones) are distributed to the server 2, In the server 2, the stored content of the database 3 is updated to the delivered object (the object stored in the database 3 is changed to the delivered object, and the delivered object is changed). Is newly stored in the database 3 and the database 3
Is deleted). When the storage content of the database 3 is updated, the server 2 generates data (hereinafter, appropriately referred to as a subject) (reflected data) for reflecting the updated content on the object before the update. That is, the server 2 reflects the update content of the object on the object before the update, and generates a subject including a description of a reflection method for updating the object. Here, as a description of the reflection method, for example, an executable computer program (patch data) for converting an object before update into an object after update, or a difference between an object after update and an object before update and so on.

Further, the server 2 also generates data (hereinafter, appropriately referred to as an event) (notification data) for notifying that the object has been updated.

Here, the event includes a description of a method for acquiring a subject for reflecting the updated content of the object that is notified that the event has been updated by the event. That is, for example, the subject may be transmitted from the server 2 via the broadcast network 4 at a predetermined time. In this case, the event includes the time at which the subject is broadcast, the channel, the data rate, and the like. Described as a method. Further, the subject may be associated with, for example, a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) and transmitted via the communication network 6. In this case, the event includes the URL associated with the subject and the subject. A phone number for accessing the managed server is described as an acquisition method.

When there are a plurality of obtaining methods for a certain subject, an event is generated for each of the plurality of obtaining methods. That is, for example, if the subject
If you are broadcasting at different times or on different channels,
Events for the subject are generated for the different times and for each of the different channels. Further, when the subject is provided in association with the URL, an event is generated for the URL. However, a plurality of subject acquisition methods can be described in one event.

The description of the reflection method for updating the object does not need to be entirely included in one subject, but is divided into a plurality of parts, and a plurality of subjects each including the description of the plurality of parts are divided. It is also possible to configure. However, in this case, the object can be updated only when all of the plurality of subjects are present.

Here, as described above, the method of acquiring the subject is described in the event. The existence of the subject acquired by the acquisition method means that the object updated by the subject exists. It turns out that. Thus, the event itself serves to signal that the object has been updated.

When the server 2 generates an event in which a subject and a method of acquiring the subject are described, the event is generated according to a predetermined transmission schedule, for example, in a satellite line, a CATV network, a terrestrial wave, or the like. , At least, via a broadcast network 4 which is a one-way network capable of broadcasting to many users simultaneously,
For example, IRD (Integrated Receiver and Decoder)
And is transmitted to the receiving terminal 5 composed of an STB (Set Top Box) or the like.

That is, when a subject is generated and an event describing a method of obtaining the subject is generated, basically, the event is transmitted first. Furthermore, if the event transmitted in this manner includes a subject broadcast time or a channel as a description of the subject acquisition method, the subject is transmitted on that channel at that broadcast time. You.

Here, in the server 2, the above-mentioned transmission schedule is set as follows. That is, for example, first, a subject transmission schedule is set (broadcast time and broadcast channel are determined). Furthermore, according to the transmission schedule,
The event describes the broadcast time and broadcast channel of the subject. Then, a transmission schedule of the event is set.

When the subject is provided in association with the URL, an event for the URL is generated and transmitted. In this case, the subject is the domain name of the URL included in the event. Is under the control of the server corresponding to.

That is, if the server corresponding to the domain name of the URL included in the event is, for example, the server 2,
After the subject is generated in the server 2, the UR
L and is managed by the server 2. In this case, when the URL is accessed to the server 2 via the communication network 6, the server 2 transmits the subject associated with the URL via the communication network 6.

Further, if the server corresponding to the domain name of the URL included in the event is, for example, the mirror server 7, the subject is generated in the server 2, then distributed to the mirror server 7, and distributed to the mirror server 7. Under control. In this case, when the URL is accessed to the mirror server 7 via the communication network 6, the mirror server 7 transmits the subject associated with the URL via the communication network 6. The distribution of the subject to the mirror server 7 is performed in the same manner as the distribution of the subject from the server 2 to the receiving terminal 5. That is, from the viewpoint of the server 2, the receiving terminal 5 and the mirror server 7 are equivalent, and therefore, the server 2 distributes data without being conscious of the receiving terminal 5 or the mirror server 7. .

As described above, the event transmitted (distributed) via the broadcast network 4 is received by the receiving terminal 5 of the user (the event from the server 2 is also received by the mirror server 7, The processing performed by the mirror server 7 in this manner is basically the same as the processing performed by the receiving terminal 5, and thus the description thereof is omitted. In the receiving terminal 5,
Among the received events, the one for the object desired by the user is selected, and the subject is obtained based on the selected event.

That is, for example, when the event includes a subject broadcast time or a channel as a description of the subject acquisition method, the server 2
At that broadcast time, the subject on that channel is
Since the transmission is performed via the broadcast network 4, the receiving terminal 5 receives the subject transmitted in such a manner.

For example, if the event includes a URL associated with the subject as a description of the method of obtaining the subject, the receiving terminal 5 sends the event to the server corresponding to the domain name of the URL. For example, analog public networks, ISDN (Integrated Service)
s Digital Network), the Internet, and other communication networks 6 that are at least capable of two-way communication, request and receive subjects.

More specifically, if the server corresponding to the domain name of the URL included in the event is, for example, the server 2, the subject is under the control of the server 2, so that the receiving terminal 5 Via the communication network 6,
Access the server 2 and obtain the subject.

Further, if the server corresponding to the domain name of the URL included in the event is, for example, the mirror server 7, the subject is under the management of the mirror server 7, so that the receiving terminal 5 It accesses the mirror server 7 via the network 6 and acquires the subject. Note that, in this case, the mirror server 7 needs to acquire the subject in advance in the same manner as the receiving terminal 5 acquires the subject.

After obtaining the subject as described above, the receiving terminal 5 updates the object based on the reflection method described in the subject.

As described above, when there are a plurality of subject acquisition methods, the server 2 generates an event for each of the plurality of acquisition methods.
Transmitted via the broadcast network 4, in this case
The receiving terminal 5 selects one of the plurality of events describing the acquisition method for the same subject, and acquires the subject based on the selected event.

According to the data distribution system as described above, an event describing a method of acquiring a subject is
Since the subject is acquired at the receiving terminal 5 based on the event and the object is updated at the receiving terminal 5, the data is efficiently distributed while suppressing an increase in the load on the receiving terminal 5. It can be performed.

That is, in general, the data amount of a subject in which an object updating method is described is large, and the subject is generated in response to the updating of the object, so it is not known when the subject will occur. Therefore, assuming that such an irregularly occurring subject having a large amount of data is transmitted as early as possible via the broadcast network 4, the server 2 uses the currently available channel to You need to send the subject. However, in this case, the receiving terminal 5 needs to wait for a subject that does not know when and on which channel the signal is transmitted, which increases the processing load.

On the other hand, since an event includes a description of a method of acquiring a subject, the data amount is generally much smaller than that of a subject including a description of a method of updating an object. It is possible to transmit on a certain narrow band channel (and at a certain time). Therefore,
In this case, the receiving terminal 5 only needs to receive the event transmitted on the channel (and at a certain fixed time), and the load is much smaller than when waiting for the transmission of the subject. I can do it.

Further, in this embodiment, the event is
Broadcasting network 4 capable of broadcasting over a wide area
, The increase in the number of receiving terminals 5 does not affect the load on the server 2 or the broadcast network 4.

In the present embodiment, a method of reflecting the changed content on the object before the change is described instead of transmitting the changed object itself with the change of the object. Since the subject is transmitted, efficient data distribution can be performed.

Note that the broadcast network 4 and the communication network 6 need not be physically separate networks. That is, the broadcast network 4 is, for example, CATV
When configured with a network, the CATV network can be used as the communication network 6. Also,
The distribution of data by the broadcast network 4 is performed, for example, by using an IP (Internet Protocol
l) In the case of performing by multicast, the communication network 6 can be constituted by the Internet.

Further, transmission of data (event and subject) from the server 2 to the receiving terminal 5 is performed, for example, by scrambling, so that only a specific user (a user who has made a reception contract) can transmit data. It is also possible to enable reception.

Next, referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a description will be given of a hierarchical model of an event and subject transmission / reception protocol in the data distribution system of FIG.

For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the event and subject transmission / reception protocols include an object access layer (Object Access Layer), a service interface layer (Service Interface Layer), and an object database layer (Object Database).
e Layer).

In the object access layer, a transmitting side (Object Supplier) for providing an object and a receiving side (Object Consume
r). In FIG. 1, focusing on the relationship between the server 2 and the receiving terminal 5, the server 2 or the receiving terminal 5 is a transmitting side or a receiving side, respectively. In addition, focusing on the relationship between the server 2 and the mirror server 7, the server 2 or the mirror server 7 is a transmitting side or a receiving side, respectively. Although not described in FIG. 1, the mirror server 7 can receive an event from the server 2 and distribute the event to the receiving terminal 5.
In this case, paying attention to the relationship between the receiving terminal 5 and the mirror server 7, the receiving terminal 5 or the mirror server 7 is a receiving side or a transmitting side, respectively. That is, in the embodiment of FIG. 1, the mirror server 7 is the receiving side in relation to the server 2, but in the relation to the receiving terminal 5,
Be the sending side.

In the service interface layer, a directory service is defined, that is, in this embodiment, an event is defined. In the object database layer, an object database, that is, an object in the present embodiment is specified.

Under the above hierarchical model, as shown in FIG. 3, in the object access layer, the object provided by the transmitting side is used by the receiving side.

Then, when the object provided by the transmitting side is updated in the object database layer, the transmitting side generates a subject for reflecting the updated content on the object before updating, and according to a predetermined transmission schedule. , Delivered to the recipient.
On the other hand, in this case, an event for obtaining the subject generated in the object database layer is generated in the service interface layer, and is also distributed to the receiving side according to a predetermined transmission schedule.

On the receiving side, an event transmitted in the service interface layer is received. When the receiving side receives a plurality of events for one subject (when there are a plurality of acquisition methods for acquiring one subject, a plurality of events in which the plurality of acquisition methods are described), one of the events is received. One is selected. Further, on the receiving side, the subject distributed in the object database layer is acquired according to the received event. Then, on the receiving side, the object is updated based on the subject, whereby the same object (updated copy of the updated object) as the updated object stored on the transmitting side is stored on the receiving side. Will be.

Note that the distribution and acquisition of the subject in the object database layer can be performed by transmitting the subject from the transmitting side to the receiving side via the broadcasting network 4 or by transmitting the subject from the receiving side via the communication network 6. This includes the case where the sender is accessed to obtain the subject.

Next, when updating the object, as described above, when the object is changed (for example, in consideration of the weather forecast, the topographic map forming the weather map may be changed even if the time or date changes). In general, it can be used as it is, but it is necessary to change isobars indicating atmospheric pressure distribution, marks indicating weather, numbers indicating the probability of precipitation, etc. (Change of the object), a case where the object is newly generated, and a case where the object is deleted.

By the way, a new generation of an object is as follows.
It can be considered that an object that does not exist is changed to a newly created object. Deletion of an object replaces an existing object with
Since it can be considered that the object is changed to a non-existent object, new generation of the object, change of the object, and deletion of the object can all be regarded as change of the object.

Therefore, in the data distribution system of FIG.
In each of the cases where a new object is created, an object is changed, and an object is deleted, the process is performed by regarding the change as an object.

First, the processing when an object is newly generated will be described with reference to FIGS.
Here, from the server 2, with respect to three receiving terminals 5 ₁ to 5 _3, it is assumed that the data delivery is carried out.

[0073] For example, as shown in FIG. 4, in the server 2, is not stored in the receiving terminal 5 ₁ to 5 _3, when a new object ObjectA is created (e.g., FIG. 1
In the case where new information not registered in the database 3 is provided by the information provider, the subject Su which describes a reflection method for reflecting the change content of the new object ObjectA to the non-existent object is described.
bjectA is generated. Here, as a description of a reflection method for reflecting the change content to the new object ObjectA to a non-existent object, for example, an executable program that generates the object ObjectA when executed, or a description of the object ObjectA itself There is a description.

After generating the subject SubjectA, the server 2 generates an event describing an acquisition method for acquiring the subject SubjectA.

That is, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, three acquisition methods are prepared as a method for acquiring the subject SubjectA, and events EventA1, EventA2, and EventA3 are generated for each of the three acquisition methods.

The three events EventA1 to EventA3
As shown in FIG. 5, from the server 2 via the broadcasting network 4 capable broadcast, it is transmitted to the receiving terminal 5 ₁ to 5 _3. Here, for example, due to other line conditions of the broadcasting network 4, the receiving terminal 5 ₁ to 5 _3, respectively, all three events EventA1 to EventA3, there may not be normally received (e.g., In some cases, an error occurs during transmission and normal data cannot be received, or transmission is normally performed, but reception fails on the receiving side and normal data cannot be received.) FIG.
Embodiment of, in the receiving terminal _3, three events Eve
ntA1 to have been able to receive all the EventA3 successfully, the receiving terminal 5 _1, only events EventA1 and EventA2 of them, the receiving terminal 5 _2, event EventA1
And EventA3 only are normally received.

[0077] In the receiving terminal 5 ₁ to 5 _3, for one of the subjects, when receiving a plurality of events, as shown in FIG. 6, one of which is selected. That is, in the embodiment of FIG. 6, the receiving terminal 5 _1, of the events EventA1 or EventA2 it can been able to successfully receive, for example, an event EventA1 is selected, the receiving terminal 5 _2, it is able to successfully receive EventA1 or EventA3 created
For example, the event EventA1 is selected. Further, the receiving terminal _3, of the event EventA1 to EventA3 could be normally received, for example, an event EventA3 is selected.

[0078] Then, the receiving terminal 5 ₁ to 5 _3, as shown in FIG. 7, on the basis of the selected event, subject SubjectA is obtained. That is, in the event EventA1, as a method of acquiring the subject SubjectA, for example, subject SubjectA is, when the time and channel transmitted via a broadcast network 4 is described, the receiving terminal 5 ₁ selected events EventA1 in and 5 _2, the time described in the event EventA1,
Similarly, the subject SubjectA broadcast from the server 2 is received on the channel described therein.
In the event EventA3, the subject Subject
As a method of acquiring A, for example, when the URL associated with the subject SubjectA is described,
In the receiving terminal 5 ₃ selected events EventA3, events
Based on the URL described in EventA3, for example, the server 2 is accessed via the communication network 6, and the subject SubjectA managed there is obtained.

Thereafter, as described above, the subject
In the receiving terminal 5 ₁ to 5 ₃ obtaining the SubjectA, as shown in FIG. 8, on the basis of the subject SubjectA, objects ObjectA is generated. That is, for example, when the subject SubjectA is an executable program for generating the object ObjectA, the program is executed to generate a new object ObjectA. Further, for example, when the subject SubjectA is the object ObjectA itself, the subject SubjectA is directly used as the object ObjectA.

Next, a process when an object is changed will be described with reference to FIGS. Note, again, from the server 2, with respect to three receiving terminals 5 ₁ to 5 _3, it is assumed that the data delivery is carried out.

[0081] For example, as shown in FIG. 9, in the server 2, the object ObjectAa stored in the server 2 and receiving terminals 5 ₁ to 5 _3, when it is changed to the object ObjectAb (e.g., in FIG. 1, the information When the provider provides information in which information registered in the database 3 is changed), a subject SubjectA is described in which a reflection method for reflecting the change to the object ObjectAb is reflected in the object ObjectAa. Here, as a description of a reflection method for reflecting the change content to the object ObjectAa to the object ObjectAa, for example, when executed, an executable program that changes the object ObjectAa to the object ObjectAb, or a description of the There is a difference between them.

After generating the subject SubjectA, the server 2 generates an event describing an acquisition method for acquiring the subject SubjectA.

That is, in the embodiment of FIG. 9, as in the case of the embodiment of FIG. 4, three methods of obtaining the subject SubjectA are prepared. For each of the three methods, Event EventA
1, EventA2 and EventA3 are generated.

The three events EventA1 to EventA3
As shown in FIG. 10, from the server 2 via the broadcasting network 4 capable broadcast receiving terminal 5 ₁ to 5 ₃
Sent to. Here, also in the embodiment of FIG. 10, as in the embodiment of FIG. 5, due to the other line conditions of the broadcasting network 4, the receiving terminal 5 ₁
So only the event EventA1 and EventA2 is, the receiving terminal 5 _2, only events EventA1 and EventA3 is successfully received, respectively, also in the receiving terminal _3, three events EventA1 to EventA3 are all successfully received.

[0085] In the receiving terminal 5 ₁ to 5 _3, subject Su
When multiple events are received for bjectA, FIG.
In the same manner as described above, one of them is selected, and the subject SubjectA is obtained based on the selected event. That is, for example, as in FIG. 6, the receiving terminal 5 ₁ and 5 ₂ in the event Ev
entA1 is selected, the receiving terminal ₃ in the event EventA3 is selected. In the event EventA1,
As a method of acquiring the subject SubjectA, for example, the time and channel at which the subject SubjectA is transmitted via the broadcast network 4 are described, and the event Even
At tA3, it is assumed that, for example, a URL associated with the subject SubjectA is described as a method of acquiring the subject SubjectA.

In this case, as shown in FIG.
In EventA1 receiving terminal 5 ₁ and 5 ₂ is selected, the time described in the event EventA1, the channel that is also described therein, subject SubjectA is received coming broadcasted from the server 2. Event Ev
In the receiving terminal 5 ₃ you select EntA3, based on the URL described in the event EventA3, via the communication network 6, for example, access is made to the server 2, where-Managed subject SubjectA is obtained.

[0087] Then, the receiving terminal 5 ₁ to 5 ₃ obtaining the subject SubjectA, as shown in FIG. 12, based on the subject SubjectA, objects ObjectAa
Is changed to the object ObjectAb. That is, for example, when the subject SubjectA is an executable program for changing the object ObjectAa to the object ObjectAb, the program is executed and the object ObjectAa is changed to the object ObjectAb. Further, for example, when the subject SubjectA is a difference between the objects ObjectAa and ObjectAb, the difference is added to the object ObjectAa, so that the object ObjectAa is changed to the object ObjectAb.

[0088] Then, for example, as described above, if the object ObjectAb stored is modified in the server 2 and receiving terminals 5 ₁ to 5 _3, is deleted in the server 2 (e.g., in FIG. 1, If the information provider has provided information indicating that the information registered in the database 3 has been deleted), a subject in which a reflection method for reflecting changes to non-existent objects in the object ObjectAb is described. SubjectA is generated.
Here, the object ObjectAb, as a description of how reflecting to reflect changes to an object that does not exist, for example, when executed, a program executable to delete the object ObjectAb, the receiving terminal 5 ₁ to 5 ₃ On the other hand, there is a command for instructing deletion of the object ObjectAb.

After generating the subject SubjectA, the server 2 generates an event describing an acquisition method for acquiring the subject SubjectA.

[0090] Then, the following, in the same way as described in FIGS. 4-8 or FIGS. 9 to 12, transmitted by the server 2 of the event is performed, and, if necessary, the receiving terminal 5 ₁ to 5 _In each of the _three , an event is selected, and the subject SubjectA is obtained.

[0091] Then, the receiving terminal 5 ₁ to 5 ₃ obtaining the subject SubjectA, based on the subject SubjectA, object ObjectAb is deleted. That is,
For example, if the subject SubjectA is an object Object
If the program is an executable program for deleting Ab, the program is executed and the object ObjectAb is deleted.
Is deleted. Also, for example, the subject SubjectA
But when a command for instructing the deletion of an object ObjectAb is, in the receiving terminal 5 ₁ to 5 _3, in accordance with that command, object ObjectAb is deleted.

Next, FIG. 13 shows a configuration example of the server 2 of FIG.

The communication control unit 11 includes, for example, a modem, T
A (Terminal Adapter) or the like, and controls communication via the communication network 6.
The scheduler 12 performs scheduling for transmitting data via the broadcast network 4. That is, the scheduler 12 determines whether the subject /
Upon receiving the notification of the subject generation from the event generation unit 13, scheduling for transmitting the subject is performed. Further, the scheduler 12 notifies the subject / event generation unit 13 of a subject transmission schedule, that is, a transmission time, a transmission channel, a data rate, and the like. In response to this, the subject / event generating unit 13 generates an event in which the subject transmission time and the transmission channel from the scheduler 12 are described, and notifies the scheduler 12 that the event has been generated. The scheduler 12 receives the notification of the event generation and performs scheduling for transmitting the event. The event and subject transmission schedule is supplied from the scheduler 12 to the data configuration unit 17.

In the present embodiment, for example,
The transmission channel of the event is determined in advance. Therefore, the scheduler 12 determines the event, excluding the transmission channel, for example, the broadcast time and the data rate.

When the subject / event generating unit 13 receives from the registration unit 15 that the object registered in the database 3 has been updated, the subject for reflecting the updated contents and the subject are reflected. Generate an event to acquire and the storage 1
4. The storage 14
The subject / event supplied from the subject / event generation unit 13 is stored.

The registration unit 15 stores updated objects (newly created objects, deleted objects, as well as changed objects as described above) from the databases 1a to 1c of the information providers A to C. (Including (information of)) is delivered, and the registration unit 15 updates the registration contents of the database 3 corresponding to the object (the object after the change is replaced with the object before the change). In addition to the case where the object is registered instead, the case where a new object is registered and the case where the object is deleted are also included. Further, when the registration unit 15 updates the registered contents of the database 3, the registration unit 15 notifies the subject / event generation unit 13 of the update.

The subject search unit 16 receives a subject request transmitted from the receiving terminal 5 via the communication network 6 from the communication control unit 11, searches for the subject, and supplies the subject to the communication control unit 11. It has been made like that. The data configuration unit 17 reads events and subjects from the storage 14 according to the transmission schedule from the scheduler 12, and
Transmission data to be transmitted via the broadcast network 4 by the transmission unit 18 is configured and supplied to the transmission unit 18. The transmission unit 18 transmits (transmits) the transmission data from the data configuration unit 17 via the broadcast network 4.

In the server 2 configured as described above, registration processing for registering data in the database 3 (update the registered contents of the database), subject / event generation processing for generating subjects and events, and the broadcast network 4 A data transmission process for transmitting an event or a subject, and a request subject transmission process for transmitting the subject via the communication network 6 when a request for the subject is received from the receiving terminal 5 via the communication network 6 are performed. Has been made.

That is, in the registration process, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 14, first, in step S1, the databases 1a to 1 of the information providers A to C are set.
The registration unit 15 determines whether or not the object has been delivered from any one of c. If it is determined that the object has not been delivered, the process returns to step S1. If it is determined in step S1 that the object has been delivered, the process proceeds to step S2, where the registration unit 1
5 adds, for example, an identifier to the object.

Here, the identifier is for identifying the object, and is, for example, a traffic information, a weather information, a stock price information, and a unique identifier previously assigned to each of the constituent elements constituting the information. ID
(Identification), and version information indicating the newness of the object. As the version information, for example, an integer value that is incremented by one each time an object is updated is used. Therefore, for objects to which the same ID is added, the version information is compared. Thus, the latest object can be recognized.

The ID and the version information are, for example, both fixed length here. Also, ID
Information necessary for obtaining an identifier including version information and version information is distributed together with the object from, for example, the databases 1a to 1c. Therefore, in the registration unit 15, the databases 1a to 1
From c, an identifier of the object is generated based on the information distributed together with the object.

The registration unit 15 stores the databases 1a to 1c
When an identifier including ID and version information is added to the object distributed from
In 3, an object to which the same ID is added is searched from the database 3 and supplied to the subject / event generating unit 13. In other words, the objects delivered from the databases 1a to 1c are basically updated objects registered in the database 3, and therefore, in step S3,
The pre-update object registered in the database 3 and the updated object distributed from the databases 1a to 1c are transmitted from the registration unit 15 to the subject / subject.
The event is supplied to the event generator 13.

If the object distributed from the databases 1a to 1c is a newly generated object, that is, if an object having the same ID as the object is not registered in the database 3, Nothing is supplied from the registration unit 15 to the subject / event generation unit 13 as an object before update (new objects distributed from the databases 1a to 1c are supplied as objects after update). . When the distribution contents from the databases 1a to 1c request deletion of the objects registered in the database 3, the registration unit 15 sends the updated subject / event generation unit 13 Nothing is supplied as the object (the object before update is registered in the database 3,
The object to be deleted is supplied).

Then, the registration unit 15 stores the database 3
Is updated, the updated object distributed from the databases 1a to 1c is registered in place of the object before the update registered in.

Next, in step S3, when the object before update and the object after update are supplied from the registration unit 15 to the subject / event generation unit 13, the subject / event generation unit 13 Is generated in the subject / event generation process.

That is, the subject / event generator 13
Upon receiving the object before the update and the object after the update, the subject for configuring the object after the update is generated by reflecting the update content of the object in the object before the update. Here, FIG.
5 (A) shows the format of the subject. As described above, the subject includes a method of updating the pre-update object with the post-update object, and also includes the pre-update object updated by the subject, the identifier of the post-update object, and the like.

Upon generating the subject, the subject / event generating unit 13 determines a method for acquiring the subject and performs necessary processing. That is, the subject
When acquiring via the broadcast network 4, the subject / event generation unit 13
, The subject data amount and other necessary information are supplied, and the transmission schedule is set. When the subject is acquired via the communication network 6, the subject / event generating unit 13 gives the subject information (access path) indicating the position of the subject on the communication network 6, such as a URL.
Is associated. Then, the subject / event generating unit 13 supplies the subject to the storage 14 and stores the subject.

Thereafter, the subject / event generator 1
In No. 3, an event for acquiring the generated subject is generated. That is, the subject / event generator 1
In 3, for example, as described above, when the schedule for transmitting a subject is set by the scheduler 12, an event describing the transmission schedule (broadcast time, broadcast channel, data rate, etc.) is generated. . Further, in the subject / event generation unit 13,
For example, as described above, when a URL is associated with a subject and stored in the storage 14,
An event describing the RL is generated. This event is also supplied to and stored in the storage 14 similarly to the subject.

FIG. 15B shows the format of an event. In the event, as described above, a subject describing a method of updating the object before update to the object after update is obtained (acquired).
In addition to the method of updating, the identifier of the object before update and the object after update that the subject updates, and the type of update (change, new generation, deletion, etc. of the object) are also included.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 15, when a new object is generated, the identifier of the object before update is NULL, and when the object is deleted, the identifier of the object after update is NULL. Is NUL
L, respectively.

Next, the data transmission processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In the data transmission process, first, in step S 11, an event or a subject to be transmitted is read from the storage 14 by the data configuration unit 17 in accordance with the transmission schedule of the scheduler 12. Then, in step S12, the data configuration unit 17 sets the event or subject read from the storage 14 as transmission data in a predetermined format,
This is supplied to the transmission unit 18. The transmission unit 18 performs step S13
, The transmission data from the data configuration unit 17 is transmitted via the broadcast network 4, and the process proceeds to step S14. In step S14, the transmission unit 18 determines whether a predetermined time has elapsed since the transmission of the transmission data from the data configuration unit 17 for the first time. S1
3, the transmission of the transmission data is repeated. That is, since data transmission by the broadcast network 4 is performed only in one direction from the server 2 to the receiving terminal 5, it is impossible to confirm whether data transmission and reception have been correctly performed between them. Therefore, in the server 2, the transmission of the transmission data is repeated for a predetermined time (or a predetermined number of times), so that the probability that the receiving terminal 5 will receive accurate data is improved. Has been made.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S14 that a predetermined time has elapsed since the transmission of the transmission data from the data configuration unit 17 for the first time, the process returns to step S11, and the same processing is performed thereafter. Repeated.

Next, the request subject transmitting process in the server 2 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In this case, in step S21, the communication control unit 11 determines whether the URL has been transmitted from the receiving terminal 5 via the communication network 6, and if it is determined that the URL has not been transmitted, the process proceeds to step S21. It returns to S21. In step S21, the URL
Is determined to have been transmitted, the communication control unit 11
Transfers the URL to the subject search unit 16. When the subject search unit 16 receives the URL,
In step S22, a subject associated with the URL is searched from the storage 14,
It is supplied to the communication control unit 11. The communication control unit 11 receives the subject from the data search unit 16 and proceeds to step S2
In 3, the URL is transmitted to the receiving terminal (here, for example, the receiving terminal 5) that has transmitted the URL via the communication network 6, and the process returns to step S21.

Next, FIG. 18 shows a configuration example of the receiving terminal 5 of FIG.

The receiving section 21 receives the transmission data transmitted from the server 2 via the broadcasting network 4, decodes the data into an event or a subject, and
To be output. The selection unit 22 selects an event or subject from the reception unit 21 and supplies the selected event or subject to the storage 23. Storage 23
Is composed of, for example, a large-capacity hard disk, magneto-optical disk, or other recording medium, and stores (records) events and subjects from the selection unit 22.

The subject processing unit 24 stores
3, the subject is read, and the object stored in the database 25 is updated based on the subject. Note that the subject may be supplied from the communication control unit 31 to the subject processing unit 24, and the subject processing unit 24 may receive the subject from the communication control unit 31 based on the subject. The object stored in is updated.

The database 25 is configured to store objects. The reading unit 26 includes the operation unit 2
In response to the operation 8, an object stored in the database 25 is read and supplied to the output unit 27. The output unit 27 includes, for example, a display, a speaker, and the like, and is configured to display an object from the reading unit 26 or output the object as sound. The operation unit 28 is operated when the data registered in the database 23 is displayed and output on the output unit 25.

The event selecting section 29 reads out the events stored in the storage 23 and supplies them to the event processing section 30. The event selection unit 2
9, when a plurality of events for acquiring the same subject are stored in the storage 23, one of the plurality of events is selected and supplied to the event processing unit 30. I have.

The event processing unit 30 includes the event selection unit 2
The subject is acquired based on the event supplied from 9. That is, the event processing unit 3
0 indicates that the event describes the broadcast channel and broadcast time of the subject. Therefore, when the subject is transmitted via the broadcast network 4, the control of the receiving unit 21 and the selecting unit 22 is performed. To receive and select the subject. In addition, the event processing unit 30 describes the URL associated with the subject in the event. Therefore, the subject makes a request to the server 2 or the like via the communication network 6 so that the subject can make the request. When the subject is transmitted, the communication control unit 31 is controlled to request and receive the subject.

The communication control unit 31 controls the communication via the communication network 6, and sends a subject request to the server via the communication network 6 under the control of the event processing unit 30. 2 or the server 2 in response to the request.
For example, a subject transmitted from the communication network 6 via the communication network 6 is received and supplied to the subject processing unit 24.

In the receiving terminal 5 configured as described above,
A reception process relating to reception of transmission data transmitted from the server 2 via the broadcast network 4, an event-related process of processing an event received in the reception process, and the like are performed.

First, the reception processing will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

When transmission data is transmitted from the server 2 via the broadcast network 4, the reception unit 21 receives the transmission data in step S31, decodes the data into an event or a subject, and then sends the data to the selection unit 22. Supplied. In step S32, the selection unit 22 determines whether the data (here, an event or a subject) from the reception unit 21 is to be selected.

That is, if all events and subjects transmitted from the server 2 via the broadcast network 4 are received and stored, the storage 23,
Eventually, the database 25 needs a huge storage capacity. Also, the users have preferences, and each user rarely needs all of the objects stored in the database of the server 2. Nevertheless, it is not preferable to register all the registered contents of the database 3 of the server 2 in the database 25 from the viewpoint of efficient storage of data and the like.

Therefore, for example, if the ID of the object desired by the user is registered in the selection unit 22, the selection unit 22 describes the ID as the ID of the object before or after the update. Only events and subjects are selected and supplied to the storage 23 for storage. Therefore, step S
The determination at 32 is made by comparing the ID registered by the user with the ID described in the event or subject supplied from the receiving unit 21.

In step S32, when it is determined that the transmission data from the receiving unit 21 is not to be selected, that is, for example, the ID registered by the user and the receiving unit 2
If the ID supplied in the event or the subject supplied from 1 does not match, the next transmission data is
After being transmitted via the broadcast network 4, the process returns to step S31. Therefore, in this case, the event or subject from the receiving unit 21 is not registered in the storage 23.

On the other hand, in step S32, the receiving unit 2
When it is determined that the event or subject from 1 is to be selected, that is, for example, when the ID registered by the user matches the ID described in the event or subject supplied from the receiving unit 21 ,
Proceeding to step S33, the selection unit 22 determines whether an event or a subject in which the same ID as the ID described in the event or the subject is stored in the storage 23.

If it is determined in step S33 that the event or subject in which the same ID as the event or subject from the receiving unit 21 is described is not stored in the storage 23, the process proceeds to step S34. Is skipped, and step S35 is skipped.
The event or subject from the receiving unit 21 is registered in the storage 23, and the process returns to step S31.

In step S33, the receiving unit 2
If it is determined that the event or subject in which the same ID as the event or subject from 1 is described is stored in the storage 23, the process proceeds to step S34, and the selection unit 22 The same version information as the version information described in the already stored event or subject (hereinafter, appropriately referred to as registered data) is received by the receiving unit 2.
It is determined whether the event is described in the event or the subject from 1.

In step S34, when it is determined that the same version information as the version information described in the registered data is described in the event or the subject from the receiving unit 21, that is, in FIG.
As described in the data transmission process 2, the same event or subject is repeatedly transmitted from the server 2 via the broadcast network 4 in order to improve reliability. Events and subjects from past submissions have already
If registered in the storage 23, step S31
Return to Therefore, in this case, the event or the subject from the receiving unit 21 is not registered in the storage 23 (it is not necessary to register again because it has already been registered).

On the other hand, when it is determined in step S34 that the same version information as the version information described in the registered data is not described in the event or the subject from the receiving unit 21, if it is determined in step S3
Proceeding to 5, the event or subject from the receiving unit 21 is registered in the storage 23, and the process returns to step S31.

That is, when the version information described in the registered data is different from the version information described in the event or the subject from the receiving unit 21, the registered data is stored in the event or the event from the receiving unit 21. Since the subject has been received and stored in the past in order to update an object whose version is older than the object to be updated, the event or subject from the receiving unit 21 overwrites, for example, already registered data. Is written to the storage 23.

When the subject is stored in the storage 23 as described above, the subject processing unit 24
Reads the subject from the storage 23 and updates the object registered in the database 25 based on the subject. The updated object is operated by operating the operation unit 28.
The data is read from the database 25 by the reading unit 26, supplied to the output unit 27, and output.

After updating the object, the subject processing unit 24
The subject used for the update is deleted from the storage 23.

Next, the event-related processing will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

In the event selecting section 29, step S41
In FIG. 15, for example, only one event stored in the storage 23 is read out, and the process proceeds to step S42, where the same ID as the ID described in the event (FIG. 15B) is described. Is stored in the storage 23. In step S42, when it is determined that the event in which the same ID as the ID read in the event read in step S41 is described is not stored in the storage 23, that is, in step S41, If only one event in which the ID described in the specified event is described is stored in the storage 23, the event read in step S41 is sent from the event selection unit 29 to the event processing unit 30. And further skips step S43 and proceeds to step S44
Proceed to.

On the other hand, in step S 42, an event in which the same ID as the ID read in the event read in step S 41 is described is stored in the storage 2.
3 is determined to be stored in the storage 23, that is, when the event described in the event read in step S41 is stored in the storage 23 in plurals. At 29, all the events in which the same ID is described are read from the storage 23, and the process proceeds to step S43.

In the step S43, the event selecting section 29
At the same time, the same I
One of a plurality of events in which D is described is selected. That is, the event selection unit 29 evaluates, for example, a subject acquisition method described in a plurality of events, and selects one of the plurality of events based on the evaluation result.

Specifically, for example, in the case where the time at which the subject is transmitted via the broadcast network 4 is described in each of a plurality of events,
For example, if the object updated by the subject is required by the currently executing application, the event describing the earliest time is selected. In addition, for example, when the data rate at which the subject is transmitted via the broadcast network 4 is described in each of the plurality of events, the fastest data rate that the receiving terminal 5 can support is described. An event is selected. Furthermore, for example, the time and channel at which the subject is transmitted via the broadcast network 4 are described in one of the plurality of events, and the subject is described in the other one.
When the URL for requesting via the communication network 6 is described and the line condition of the broadcast network 4 is poor (for example, S / N (Signal / Noise))
Is low), the event in which the URL is described is selected.

The event selected in step S43 is output from event selecting section 29 to event processing section 30, and the flow advances to step S44.

In the step S44, the event processing unit 30
In, the subject is acquired according to the event supplied from the event selection unit 29. That is, for example, when the event from the event selection unit 29 describes the transmission time and transmission channel of the subject transmitted via the broadcast network 4, the event processing unit 30 sets The receiving unit 21 and the selecting unit 22 are controlled to receive and select a subject transmitted on the transmission channel. This allows
The subject is received and selected by the receiving unit 21 and the selecting unit 22 based on the event output from the event selecting unit 29 to the event processing unit 30, and is supplied to the storage 23 and stored. Thereafter, the object stored in the database 25 is updated in the subject processing unit 24 as described above.

When the power of the receiving terminal 5 is off, the event processing unit 30 turns off the power of the receiving terminal 5 at the transmission time described in the event output by the event selecting unit 29. Control to turn on is also performed.

Further, for example, the event processing unit 30 adds a subject to the event from the event selection unit 29,
When the URL for requesting via the communication network 6 is described, the communication control unit 31 is controlled and the URL is controlled.
By transmitting L to the server 2 or the like via the communication network 6, the subject is requested. In this case, the server 2 performs the request subject transmission processing described with reference to FIG. 17 and transmits the subject via the communication network 6. This subject is received by the communication control unit 31 and supplied to the subject processing unit 24. In this case, the subject processing unit 24, based on the subject from the communication control unit 31,
Is updated.

After the above processing, the event read from the storage 23 is deleted from the viewpoint of effective use of the storage 23, the process returns to step S41, and the same processing is repeated thereafter.

[0147] The data distribution system described above can be used, for example, to distribute data to a large number of databases in a distributed database, to distribute data by IP multicast, or to specify an unspecified number of data. This is particularly useful for distribution.

In the present embodiment, the event is transmitted via the broadcast network 4. Alternatively, the event may be transmitted via the communication network 6 in response to a request from the receiving terminal 5. You may do it. Furthermore, in the present invention, it is not essential that both the broadcast network 4 and the communication network 6 are provided. That is, the present invention is also applicable to a system including only one of the broadcast network 4 and the communication network 6.

[0149]

As described above, according to the transmission apparatus and the transmission method of the present invention, when the content registered in the database is updated, the reflected data for reflecting the updated content in the content before the update is updated. Is generated, and notification data for notifying that the content has been updated is generated. Therefore, the receiving side knows that the content has been updated based on the notification data, and can update the content based on the reflected data.

Further, according to the receiving apparatus and the receiving method of the present invention, notification data for notifying that the content registered in the database has been updated is received, and based on the notification data, the update is performed by the notification data. Reflection data for reflecting the updated content of the notified content is received. Then, the content is updated based on the reflection data. Therefore, according to the broadcast data,
Knowing that the content has been updated, the content can be updated with the reflected data.

Further, according to the transmission / reception system and transmission / reception method of the present invention, when the content registered in the database is updated in the transmission device, the reflection data for reflecting the updated content to the content before the update. Is generated, and notification data for notifying that the content has been updated is generated. On the other hand, in the receiving device, the notification data is received, and based on the notification data,
Reflection data for reflecting the update content of the content whose update has been notified by the notification data is received.
Then, the content is updated based on the reflection data. Therefore, it is possible to know that the content has been updated by the notification data, and to update the content by the reflection data.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an embodiment of a data distribution system to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a data transmission / reception protocol in the data distribution system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a data transmission / reception protocol in the data distribution system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining processing of the data distribution system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining processing of the data distribution system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining processing of the data distribution system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining processing of the data distribution system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining processing of the data distribution system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining processing of the data distribution system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining processing of the data distribution system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining processing of the data distribution system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining processing of the data distribution system of FIG. 1;

13 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a server 2 in FIG.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a registration process performed by server 2.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a format of a subject and an event.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a data transmission process performed by server 2.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating a request subject transmission process performed by a server 2.

18 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a receiving terminal 5 in FIG.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart for explaining a reception process performed by the reception terminal 5;

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating an event-related process performed by the receiving terminal 5;

[Explanation of symbols]

1a to 1c databases, 2 servers, 3 databases, 4 broadcast networks, 5 receiving terminals, 6 communication networks, 7 mirror servers,
11 communication control unit, 12 scheduler, 13 subject / event generation unit, 14 storage,
15 Registration unit, 16 Subject search unit, 17
Data configuration part, 18 transmission part, 21 reception part, 2
2 selection unit, 23 storage, 24 subject processing unit, 25 database, 26 reading unit,
27 output section, 28 operation section, 29 event selection section, 30 event processing section, 31 communication control section

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Kazuo Haraoka 6-7-35 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Inside Sony Corporation (72) Inventor Yasuaki Yamagishi 6-35-35 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Sony Inside the corporation

Claims (18)

[Claims] 1. A transmission device for transmitting data for providing contents registered in a database, wherein when contents registered in the database are updated, the updated contents are replaced with contents before the update. Reflection data generation means for generating reflection data for reflecting on the data, notification data generation means for generating notification data for notifying that the content registered in the database has been updated, and the reflection data and the notification data. Transmitting means for transmitting the signal via a predetermined transmission path. 2. The transmission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reflection data includes a description of a reflection method for reflecting the update content of the content to the content before the update. 3. The transmitting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reflected data generating unit generates one or more reflected data in response to a content update. 4. The notification data includes a description of a method of acquiring the reflection data for reflecting an update content of a content that is notified that the notification data has been updated by the notification data. The transmitting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reflected data is transmitted so that the reflected data can be acquired by the acquiring method described in the broadcast data. 5. The transmission device according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit transmits the reflected data via a broadcast network capable of simultaneous broadcast or a bidirectional network capable of bidirectional communication. Transmission device. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the notification data includes a description of a method of acquiring the reflection data for reflecting an update content of a content notified that the content has been updated by the notification data. 2. The transmission device according to 1. 7. The notification data generating means, when there are a plurality of methods of acquiring the reflected data, generates a plurality of pieces of the notification data including descriptions of the plurality of acquisition methods. 7. The transmitting device according to 6. 8. The transmission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting unit transmits the broadcast data via a broadcast network capable of simultaneous broadcast or a bidirectional network capable of bidirectional communication. Transmission device. 9. A method for transmitting data for providing content registered in a database, wherein when the content registered in the database is updated, the updated content is reflected in the content before the update. Transmitting reflected data for notifying that the content has been updated, and transmitting the reflected data and the notification data via a predetermined transmission path. Method. 10. A receiving device for receiving data for receiving provision of content registered in a database, the receiving device receiving notification data for notifying that the content registered in the database has been updated. Broadcast data receiving means, based on the broadcast data, reflected data receiving means for receiving reflected data for reflecting an update content of the content whose update has been broadcasted by the broadcast data, and based on the reflected data, A receiving device comprising: updating means for updating content. 11. The notification data includes a description of a method of acquiring the reflection data for reflecting an update content of a content that is notified that the notification data has been updated by the notification data. The receiving device according to claim 10, wherein the receiving device receives the reflected data based on a method of acquiring the reflected data included in the broadcast data. 12. When the notification data receiving means receives a plurality of pieces of notification data including descriptions of a plurality of methods of acquiring the reflection data, one of the plurality of pieces of notification data is selected. The reflected data receiving means acquires the reflected data based on a method of acquiring the reflected data included in the notification data selected by the selecting means. 12. The receiving device according to item 11. 13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the selecting unit evaluates a method of acquiring the reflection data included in the plurality of pieces of notification data, and selects one piece of the notification data based on the evaluation result. 13. The receiving device according to claim 12. 14. The broadcast data receiving means receives the broadcast data via a broadcast network capable of simultaneous broadcast or a two-way network capable of two-way communication. 3. The receiving device according to claim 1. 15. The reflected data receiving means receives the reflected data via a broadcast network capable of simultaneous broadcast or a bidirectional network capable of two-way communication. 3. The receiving device according to claim 1. 16. A method for receiving data for receiving provision of content registered in a database, comprising: receiving notification data for notifying that content registered in the database has been updated; A receiving method, comprising: receiving, based on data, reflected data for reflecting an updated content of the content whose update has been notified by the broadcast data, and updating the content based on the reflected data. 17. A transmission / reception system comprising: a transmission device that transmits data for providing content registered in a database; and a reception device that receives data from the transmission device, wherein the transmission device includes: When the content registered in the database is updated, reflected data generating means for generating reflected data for reflecting the updated content in the content before the update, and a notification that the content registered in the database has been updated. A notification data generating means for generating notification data for notifying the user, and a transmission means for transmitting the reflection data and the notification data via a predetermined transmission path, wherein the receiving device receives the notification data Notification data receiving means, and the content whose update is notified by the notification data based on the notification data And reflecting the data receiving means for receiving the reflected data to reflect the updates, on the basis of the reflected data, transmitting and receiving system, comprising an update means for updating the content. 18. A transmission / reception method for a transmission / reception system, comprising: a transmission device for transmitting data for providing content registered in a database; and a reception device for receiving data from the transmission device. In the apparatus, when the content registered in the database is updated, the updated content is generated as reflected data for reflecting the updated content in the content before the update, and a notification that the content has been updated is provided. Generating broadcast data, transmitting the reflected data and the broadcast data via a predetermined transmission path, and receiving the broadcast data at the receiving device, and updating the broadcast data based on the broadcast data. Receiving the reflection data for reflecting the updated content of the content, and There are, receiving method and updates the content.