Information transmitting apparatus and method, information receiving apparatus and method, provider, and broadcasting system

Abstract

MPEG video encoders and MPEG audio encoders encode video signals and audio signals, respectively. An SI/EPG data generator generates program information. A transport stream multiplexer multiplexes the program information with video data and audio data. A system controller controls the data output rates of the encoding operations and the multiplexing ratio.

1 - 28 . (canceled) 
   
   
       29 . An information transmitting apparatus for transmitting a plurality of signals via a transmission channel after multiplexing them, wherein the plurality of signals are a video signal, an audio signal and an electronic program guide (EPG) signal, and wherein the apparatus comprises:
 video encoding means for encoding the video signal;   audio encoding means for encoding the audio signal;   EPG data generating means for generating EPG data;   a schedule database defining, with respect to time, current allocations of a video data occupation bandwidth, an audio data occupation bandwidth and an EPG data occupation bandwidth;   multiplexing means for multiplexing the plurality of signals; and control means for controlling a data output rate of the video encoding means; and   control means for controlling a data output rate of the video encoding means, a data output rate of the EPG data generating means, and the multiplexing ratio among the video data, the audio data, and the EPG data in the multiplexing means to thereby vary the occupation bandwidths of the video data, the audio data and the EPG data with time in relation to the transmission channel bandwidth and in accordance with the schedule database, the video and audio data rates thereby being reduced when a temporarily higher EPG data output rate is to be accommodated.   
   
   
       30 . An information transmitting method for transmitting a plurality of signals via a transmission channel after multiplexing them, wherein the plurality of signals are a video signal, an audio signal and an electronic program guide (EPG) signal; a schedule database defining, with respect to time, current allocations of a video data occupation bandwidth, an audio data occupation bandwidth and an EPG data occupation bandwidth, and wherein the method comprises
 a video encoding step of encoding the video signal;   an audio encoding step of encoding the audio signal;   an EPG data generating step of generating EPG data;   a multiplexing step of multiplexing the plurality of signals; and   a control step of controlling a data output rate of the video encoding step, a data output rate of the audio encoding step, a data output rate of the EPG data generating step, and the multiplexing ratio among the video data, the audio data, and the EPG data in the multiplexing step to thereby vary the occupation bandwidths of the video data, the audio data and the EPG data with time in relation to the transmission channel bandwidth and in accordance with the schedule database, the video and audio data rates thereby being reduced when a temporarily higher EPG data output rate is to be accommodated.   
   
   
       31 . A computer-readable program for causing an information transmitting apparatus which transmits a plurality of signals after multiplexing them to execute an information transmitting method according to  claim 30 . 
   
   
       32 . An information receiving apparatus for receiving electronic program guide (EPG) data that is multiplexed at a controlled multiplexing ratio with a video signal and an audio signal by a method according to  claim 30  and for displaying the EPG data together with the video signal, the information receiving apparatus comprising:
 separating means for separating the EPG data that is multiplexed with the video signal and the audio signal;   storing means for storing the EPG data separated by the separating means; and   control means for controlling operations of the separating means and the storing means in accordance with a transmission rate of the EPG data;   wherein the control means is operative to control the operations of the separating means and the storing means so that the EPG data is acquired only in a prescribed period when the transmission rate of the EPG data is temporarily higher.   
   
   
       33 . An information receiving method for receiving electronic program guide (EPG) data that is multiplexed at a controlled multiplexing ratio with a video signal and an audio signal by a method according to  claim 30  and displaying the EPG data together with the video signal, the information receiving method comprising:
 a separating step of separating the EPG data that is multiplexed with the video signal and the audio signal;   a storing step of storing the EPG data separated by the separating means; and   a control step of controlling operations of the separating step and the storing step in accordance with a transmission rate of the EPG data;   wherein the control step controls the operations of the separating step and the storing step so that the EPG data is acquired only in a prescribed period when the transmission rate of the EPG data is temporarily higher.   
   
   
       34 . A computer-readable program for causing an Information receiving apparatus which receives EPG data that is multiplexed at a controlled multiplexing ratio with a video signal and an audio signal and displays the EPG data together with the video signal to execute an information receiving method according to  claim 33 . 
   
   
       35 . A broadcasting system having an information transmitting apparatus according to  claim 29  for transmitting EPG data after multiplexing it with a video signal and an audio signal and an information receiving apparatus for receiving the EPG data that is multiplexed with the video signal and the audio signal and displaying the EPG data together with the video signal. 
   
   
       36 . An information transmitting apparatus operable to transmit program information to an information receiving apparatus, the information transmitting apparatus comprising:
 program information data generating means operable to generate program information data including information of a transmission status of the program information;   first multiplexing means operable to multiplex an encoded video signal and an encoded audio signal to generate a multiplexed audio-video signal;   second multiplexing means operable to multiplex the program information data with a multiplexed audio-video signal generated by the first multiplexing means to generate a signal to be transmitted to the information receiving apparatus; and   a controller operable to control the first and second multiplexing means to control the data rate of program guide data of the program information data, wherein the transmission status information indicates availability of a predetermined transmission scheme for program guide data.   
   
   
       37 . An information transmitting apparatus according to  claim 36 , wherein the transmission status information comprises a predetermined transmission scheme version data. 
   
   
       38 . An information transmitting method for transmitting program information to an information receiving apparatus, the information transmitting method comprising:
 a program information data generating step for generating program information data including information of a transmission status of the program information;   a first multiplexing step far multiplexing an encoded video signal and an encoded audio signal to generate a multiplexed audio-video signal;   a second multiplexing step for multiplexing the program information data with a multiplexed audio-video signal generated by the first multiplexing step to generate a signal to be transmitted to the information receiving apparatus; and   a controlling step for controlling the first and second multiplexing steps to control the data rate of program guide data of the program information data,   herein the transmission status information Indicates availability of a predetermined transmission scheme for program guide data.   
   
   
       39 . A computer program comprising program code for carrying out a method according to  claim 38 . 
   
   
       40 . An information receiving apparatus operable to receive program information comprised of program information data multiplexed with a multiplexed audio-video signal, the multiplex audio-video signal being an encoded video signal multiplexed with an encoded audio signal the information receiving apparatus comprising:
 demultiplexing means operable to demultiplex the program information; and characterized by   extracting means operable to extract information of a transmission status of the program information that is included in the program information data demultiplexed by the demultiplexing means,   wherein the transmission status information indicates availability of a predetermined transmission scheme for acquiring means to acquire program guide data.   
   
   
       41 . An information receiving apparatus according to  claim 40 , wherein the transmission status information comprises predetermined transmission scheme version data. 
   
   
       42 . An information receiving method for receiving program information comprised of program information data multiplexed with a multiplexed audio-video signal, the multiplex audio-video signal being an encoded video signal multiplexed with an encoded audio signal, the information receiving method comprising:
 a demultiplexing step for demultiplexing the program information; and   an extracting step for extracting information of a transmission status of the program information that is included in the program information data demultiplexed by the demultiplexing step,   wherein the transmission status information indicates availability of a predetermined transmission scheme for acquiring program guide data.   
   
   
       43 . A computer program comprising program code for carrying out a method according to  claim 42 . 
   
   
       44 . A broadcasting system comprising:
 an information transmitting apparatus according to  claim 36 ; and   an information receiving apparatus;   the information transmitting apparatus being operable to transmit program information to the information receiving apparatus.