Data broadcast apparatus for controlling presentation timing of additional data with high precision

Abstract

A data broadcast apparatus repeatedly broadcasts broadcast data to a reception apparatus which stores the broadcast data into a memory and reproduces the broadcast data stored in the memory, according to a carousel method. An acquiring unit acquires a plurality of sets of broadcast data which each have a specified reproduction start time. A generating unit generates carousel data including the plurality of sets of broadcast data. A carousel data broadcasting unit repeatedly broadcasts the carousel data according to the carousel method, beginning at the earliest reproduction start time of the plurality of sets of broadcast data. An instruction broadcasting unit broadcasts, for each set of broadcast data, an instruction that indicates to the reception apparatus to start reproducing the set of broadcast data at a reproduction start time specified for the set of broadcast data.

1 - 12 . (Cancelled)  
     
     
         13 . A data broadcast reception apparatus for receiving broadcast data which is repeatedly broadcasted from a data broadcast apparatus using a carousel method, storing the broadcast data into a predetermined memory, and reproducing the broadcast data stored in the predetermined memory, comprising: 
 a carousel data receiving unit operable to receive carousel data which is repeatedly broadcasted from the data broadcast apparatus using the carousel method, the carousel data including a plurality of sets of broadcast data for each of which a reproduction start time is specified, and the broadcast of the carousel data being started at an earliest one of a plurality of reproduction start times of the plurality of sets of broadcast data;    a storing unit operable to store each of the plurality of sets of broadcast data included in the carousel data received by the carousel data receiving unit, into the predetermined memory by a reproduction start time of the set of broadcast data;    an instruction receiving unit operable to receive a reproduction instruction to start reproduction of the set of broadcast data, the reproduction instruction being broadcasted at the reproduction start time of the set of broadcast data; and    a reproducing unit operable to start, when the instruction receiving unit receives the reproduction instruction, the reproduction of the set of broadcast data stored in the predetermined memory.    
     
     
         14 . The data broadcast reception apparatus of  claim 13 , 
 wherein the instruction receiving unit further receives a storage instruction to store the set of broadcast data into the predetermined memory, and    the storing unit stores, when the instruction receiving unit receives the storage instruction, the set of broadcast data into the predetermined memory.    
     
     
         15 . The data broadcast reception apparatus of  claim 14 , 
 wherein the instruction receiving unit further receives a deletion instruction which indicates to the data broadcast reception apparatus that the set of broadcast data can be deleted from the predetermined memory, and    the storing unit is allowed, from when the instruction receiving unit receives the deletion instruction, to delete the set of broadcast data from the predetermined memory.    
     
     
         16 . The data broadcast reception apparatus of  claim 13 , 
 wherein the instruction receiving unit receives the reproduction instruction as an event message or a module which has a particular identifier.    
     
     
         17 . A data broadcast reception apparatus for (a) receiving program data which is continuously broadcasted from a data broadcast apparatus and reproducing the program data, and (b) receiving additional data which is associated with the program data and is repeatedly broadcasted from the data broadcast apparatus using a carousel method, storing the additional data into a predetermined memory, and reproducing the additional data stored in the predetermined memory, comprising: 
 a data receiving unit operable to receive a plurality of sets of program data which are continuously broadcasted from the data broadcast apparatus, and receive carousel data which is repeatedly broadcasted from the data broadcast apparatus using the carousel method, a broadcast time slot being specified for each of the plurality of sets of program data, the carousel data including a plurality of sets of additional data which are respectively associated with the plurality of sets of program data, and the broadcast of the carousel data being started at the start of an earliest one of a plurality of broadcast time slots of the plurality of sets of program data;    a storing unit operable to store each of the plurality of sets of additional data included in the carousel data received by the data receiving unit, into the predetermined memory by the start of a broadcast time slot of a set of broadcast data associated with the set of additional data;    an instruction receiving unit operable to receive a reproduction instruction to start reproduction of the set of additional data, the reproduction instruction being broadcasted at the start of the broadcast time slot of the set of program data associated with the set of additional data; and    a reproducing unit operable to (a) reproduce the program data received by the data receiving unit, and (b) start, when the instruction receiving unit receives the reproduction instruction, the reproduction of the set of additional data stored in the predetermined memory.    
     
     
         18 . The data broadcast reception apparatus of  claim 17 , 
 wherein the instruction receiving unit further receives a storage instruction to store the set of additional data into the predetermined memory, and    the storing unit stores, when the instruction receiving unit receives the storage instruction, the set of additional data into the predetermined memory.    
     
     
         19 . The data broadcast reception apparatus of  claim 18 , 
 wherein the instruction receiving unit further receives a deletion instruction which indicates to the data broadcast reception apparatus that the set of additional data can be deleted from the predetermined memory, and    the storing unit is allowed, from when the instruction receiving unit receives the deletion instruction, to delete the set of additional data from the predetermined memory.    
     
     
         20 . The data broadcast reception apparatus of  claim 17 , 
 wherein the instruction receiving unit receives the reproduction instruction as an event message or a module which has a particular identifier.    
     
     
         21 . A computer readable program for receiving broadcast data which is repeatedly broadcasted from a data broadcast apparatus using a carousel method, storing the broadcast data into a predetermined memory, and reproducing the broadcast data stored in the predetermined memory, comprising: 
 a carousel data receiving step of receiving carousel data which is repeatedly broadcasted from the data broadcast apparatus using the carousel method, the carousel data including a plurality of sets of broadcast data for each of which a reproduction start time is specified, and the broadcast of the carousel data being started at an earliest one of a plurality of reproduction start times of the plurality of sets of broadcast data;    a storing step of storing each of the plurality of sets of broadcast data included in the carousel data received in the carousel data receiving step, into the predetermined memory by a reproduction start time of the set of broadcast data;    an instruction receiving step of receiving a reproduction instruction to start reproduction of the set of broadcast data, the reproduction instruction being broadcasted at the reproduction start time of the set of broadcast data; and    a reproducing step of starting, when the instruction receiving step receives the reproduction instruction, the reproduction of the set of broadcast data stored in the predetermined memory.    
     
     
         22 . A computer readable program for (a) receiving program data which is continuously broadcasted from a data broadcast apparatus and reproducing the program data, and (b) receiving additional data which is associated with the program data and is repeatedly broadcasted from the data broadcast apparatus using a carousel method, storing the additional data into a predetermined memory, and reproducing the additional data stored in the predetermined memory, comprising: 
 a data receiving step of receiving a plurality of sets of program data which are continuously broadcasted from the data broadcast apparatus, and receiving carousel data which is repeatedly broadcasted from the data broadcast apparatus using the carousel method, a broadcast time slot being specified for each of the plurality of sets of program data, the carousel data including a plurality of sets of additional data which are respectively associated with the plurality of sets of program data, and the broadcast of the carousel data being started at the start of an earliest one of a plurality of broadcast time slots of the plurality of sets of program data;    a storing step of storing each of the plurality of sets of additional data included in the carousel data received in the data receiving step, into the predetermined memory by the start of a broadcast time slot of a set of broadcast data associated with the set of additional data;    an instruction receiving step of receiving a reproduction instruction to start reproduction of the set of additional data, the reproduction instruction being broadcasted at the start of the broadcast time slot of the set of program data associated with the set of additional data; and    a reproducing step of (a) reproducing the program data received in the data receiving step, and (b) starting, when the instruction receiving step receives the reproduction instruction, the reproduction of the set of additional data stored in the predetermined memory.    
     
     
         23 . A data broadcast reception method for receiving broadcast data which is repeatedly broadcasted from a data broadcast apparatus using a carousel method, storing the broadcast data into a predetermined memory, and reproducing the broadcast data stored in the predetermined memory, comprising: 
 a carousel data receiving step of receiving carousel data which is repeatedly broadcasted from the data broadcast apparatus using the carousel method, the carousel data including a plurality of sets of broadcast data for each of which a reproduction start time is specified, and the broadcast of the carousel data being started at an earliest one of a plurality of reproduction start times of the plurality of sets of broadcast data;    a storing step of storing each of the plurality of sets of broadcast data included in the carousel data received in the carousel data receiving step, into the predetermined memory by a reproduction start time of the set of broadcast data;    an instruction receiving step of receiving a reproduction instruction to start reproduction of the set of broadcast data, the reproduction instruction being broadcasted at the reproduction start time of the set of broadcast data; and    a reproducing step of starting, when the instruction receiving step receives the reproduction instruction, the reproduction of the set of broadcast data stored in the predetermined memory.    
     
     
         24 . A data broadcast reception method for (a) receiving program data which is continuously broadcasted from a data broadcast apparatus and reproducing the program data, and (b) receiving additional data which is associated with the program data and is repeatedly broadcasted from the data broadcast apparatus using a carousel method, storing the additional data into a predetermined memory, and reproducing the additional data stored in the predetermined memory, comprising: 
 a data receiving step of receiving a plurality of sets of program data which are continuously broadcasted from the data broadcast apparatus, and receiving carousel data which is repeatedly broadcasted from the data broadcast apparatus using the carousel method, a broadcast time slot being specified for each of the plurality of sets of program data, the carousel data including a plurality of sets of additional data which are respectively associated with the plurality of sets of program data, and the broadcast of the carousel data being started at the start of an earliest one of a plurality of broadcast time slots of the plurality of sets of program data;    a storing step of storing each of the plurality of sets of additional data included in the carousel data received in the data receiving step, into the predetermined memory by the start of a broadcast time slot of a set of broadcast data associated with the set of additional data;    an instruction receiving step of receiving a reproduction instruction to start reproduction of the set of additional data, the reproduction instruction being broadcasted at the start of the broadcast time slot of the set of program data associated with the set of additional data; and    a reproducing step of (a) reproducing the program data received in the data receiving step, and (b) starting, when the instruction receiving step receives the reproduction instruction, the reproduction of the set of additional data stored in the predetermined memory.