Method and apparatus for receiving Digital Audio Broadcast (DAB)

Abstract

 The invention relates to a digital audio broadcast receiver (1) for searching text data included in a digital audio broadcast signal for an HTTP address and acquiring HTML data at that address in the Internet (3).
The invention further relates to a broadcast receiver (1) for searching data added to a broadcast signal for an address and acquiring data at that address in a computer network.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to a digital audio broadcast receiving apparatus and, more particularly, to a digital audio broadcast receiving apparatus capable of reading an HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) address from text data included in a digital audio broadcast signal.

[0002] A broadcasting scheme for transmitting digital audio signals on the ground wave or through communications satellites is referred to as DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting). Especially, in Europe, DAB indicates digital audio broadcast directed to movable bodies. In this scheme, an audio signal is coded in a highly efficient manner and modulated by OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) to be broadcast.

[0003] In accompaniment of the DAB services, data called a dynamic label is transmitted. The dynamic label provides information about each service and is composed of text data of a maximum of 16 characters times 8 lines times 8 pages. The dynamic label provides the name of that broadcasting station and the title of music and may also provide HTTP addresses pointing to Internet home pages of that broadcast program and the broadcasting station.

[0004] However, conventional DAB receivers have neither an Internet browsing capability nor a capability of recognizing HTTP addresses included in the dynamic label. Therefore, conventionally, in order to obtain the data from an HTTP address listed on the dynamic label, there is no other means but to display the dynamic label on the monitor screen of a DAB receiver, read an HTTP address from the dynamic label, and manually input the HTTP address into an Internet compliant device.

[0005] DAB allows the transmission of data in HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) format in which data to be transmitted over the Internet can be included in DAB as HTML data. To implement this feature, however, the broadcasting station must construct a new system for this purpose. In addition, in order to browse the HTML data also after the broadcasting, a memory device for storing the HTML data must be provided on the DAB receiver and the HTML data must be stored in the memory device.

[0006] Thus, although conventional DAB receivers can read HTTP addresses contained in the dynamic label, accessing these HTTP addresses for obtaining data requires to manually input them into Internet compliant devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] It is therefore an object of the present invention to realize in comparatively simple method a DAB receiving apparatus capable of automatically search a dynamic label for HTTP addresses, storing retrieved HTTP addresses, output the stored HTTP addresses outside the DAB receiver or directly accessing the retrieved HTTP addresses.

[0008] In carrying out the invention and according to one aspect thereof, there is provided a digital audio broadcast receiving apparatus for receiving a digital audio broadcast signal including text data, searching the text data for an HTTP address, accessing HTML data on the basis of the HTTP address, and displaying the obtained HTML data.

[0009] In carrying out the invention and according to another aspect thereof, there is provided a broadcast receiving apparatus for searching data added to a broadcast signal for an address on a computer network and accessing desired data stored on the computer network at the retrieved address.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] These and other objects of the invention will be seen by reference to the description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a first preferred embodiment of a digital audio broadcast receiver according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a second preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned digital audio broadcast receiver;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a third preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned digital audio receiver;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart indicative of a digital audio broadcast receiving method in any of the above-mentioned preferred embodiments; and

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a broadcasting system realized by developing the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] This invention will be described in further detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0012] Now, referring to FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a DAB receiver according to the present invention. Reference numeral 2 denotes HTML data stored in a server. Reference numeral 3 denotes the Internet. Reference numeral 11 denotes a receiving circuit of the DAB receiver 1. Reference numeral 12 denotes a dynamic label received by the receiving circuit 11. Reference numeral 13 denotes an HTTP address retrieving means for taking only a portion indicative of an HTTP address from the dynamic label 12. Reference numeral 14 denotes an Internet access means. Reference numeral 15 denotes a display means for displaying the HTML data 2 and so on obtained by the Internet access means 14.

[0013] Thus, in the first preferred embodiment, the HTTP address retrieving means 13 and the Internet access means 14 connected to the Internet 3 for obtaining data therefrom by use of an HTTP address are installed in the DAB receiver 1.

[0014] Retrieval by the HTTP address retrieving means 13 of an HTTP address from the text data of the dynamic label 12 can be simply realized by searching for a character string starting with "http://" and ending with ".html" for example. The retrieval may also be performed by use of a common format such as enclosing a character string with predetermined symbols for example.

[0015] Data acquisition from the Internet 3 by use of an HTTP address can be realized by use of an unsophisticated WWW (World Wide Web) browser for data display for example.

[0016] As described, DAB transmits, for each service, service-associated information such as music titles as the text data called a dynamic label. The dynamic label may convey an HTTP address only for the sake of information. Conventionally, however, data acquisition by use of an HTTP address requires to read the dynamic label on the display monitor and manually input the HTTP address contained in the HTTP address into an Internet compliant device.

[0017] The first preferred embodiment of the present invention is configured so that the DAB receiver 1 retrieves a portion indicative of an HTTP address from the dynamic label and, on the basis of the retrieved HTTP address, the desired data can be accessed automatically.

[0018] Referring to FIG. 2, components similar to those previously described with reference to FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals. Namely, reference numeral 1 denotes a DAB receiver according to the present invention. Reference numeral 2 denotes HTML data stored in a server. Reference numeral 3 denotes the Internet. Reference numeral 11 denotes a receiving circuit of the DAB receiver 1. Reference numeral 12 denotes a dynamic label received by the receiving circuit 11. Reference numeral 13 denotes an HTTP address retrieving means for taking only a portion indicative of an HTTP address from the dynamic label 12. Reference numeral 14 denotes an Internet access means. Reference numeral 15 denotes a display means for displaying the HTML data 2 and so on obtained by the Internet access means 14. The second preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 2 differs from the first preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1 lies in the provision of an HTTP address storage means 16 for storing an HTTP address acquired by the HTTP address retrieving means 13.

[0019] Thus, storage of the retrieved HTTP address into the HTTP address storage means 16 allows the user to access desired data stored at that HTTP address even after the end of the broadcast.

[0020] Referring to FIG. 3, components similar to those previously described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals. Namely, reference numeral 1 denotes a DAB receiver according to the present invention. Reference numeral 2 denotes HTML data stored in a server. Reference numeral 3 denotes the Internet. Reference numeral 4 denotes an external device capable of accessing the Internet. Reference numeral 11 denotes a receiving circuit of the DAB receiver 1. Reference numeral 12 denotes a dynamic label received by the receiving circuit 11. Reference numeral 13 denotes an HTTP address retrieving means for taking only a portion indicative of an HTTP address from the dynamic label 12. Reference numeral 16 denotes an HTTP address storage means 16. Reference numeral 17 denotes an HTTP address output means for outputting to an external recording medium 18 the HTTP address acquired from the HTTP address retrieving means 13 or the HTTP address storage means 16.

[0021] In this configuration, the acquired HTTP address is recorded on the external recording medium 18, which is loaded in the Internet compliant external device 4, thereby allowing the user to use, on the Internet compliant external device 4, the HTTP address received by the DAB receiver 1. Consequently, the third preferred embodiment allows the user to use Internet-provided data services even with the DAB receiver 1 that cannot be linked to the Internet 3.

[0022] In the above-mentioned preferred embodiments, HTML data are acquired by retrieving an HTTP address from text data contained in DAB broadcast and by accessing the Internet, by way of example. It will be apparent that the broadcast receiving apparatus according to the invention may also have a configuration in which an address for accessing the computer network such as the Internet is retrieved from data accompanying a broadcast transmitted in a non-DAB scheme and the retrieved address is accessed through the computer network such as the Internet to obtain and display desired data.

[0023] Referring to FIG. 4, the flowchart outlines the processing steps in the preferred embodiments of the present invention.

[0024] Referring to FIG. 5, there is shown a configuration of a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention. A broadcasting station 31 transmits a broadcast signal accompanied by an HTTP address indicative of an Internet home page of a program sponsor 41 for advertising or order sale. The user can receive this broadcast through the DAB receiver 1 to access the HTTP address with ease. Then, following the guide provided by the home page of that HTTP address, the user can make commercial transactions such as ordering products. The broadcasting station 31 bills the sponsor 41 for the accompaniment of the HTTP address with the broadcast signal. Instead of billing the sponsor 41, the broadcasting station 31 itself may perform order-sale activities.

[0025] While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described using specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A digital audio broadcast receiving apparatus (1) comprising:

a receiving means (11) for receiving a digital audio broadcast signal including text data; and

an HTTP address retrieving means (13) for retrieving an HTTP address from said text data included in said digital audio broadcast signal received by said receiving means (11).

2. The digital audio broadcast receiving apparatus (1) according to claim 1, further comprising an HTTP address storage means (16) for storing said HTTP address retrieved by said HTTP address retrieving means (13).

3. The digital audio broadcast receiving apparatus (1) according to claim 1, further comprising an HTTP address output means (17) for outputting said HTTP address retrieved by said HTTP address retrieving means (13) to an external recording medium (18).

4. The digital audio broadcast receiving apparatus (1) according to claim 1, further comprising an Internet access means (14) for accessing the Internet (3) to acquire HTML data at said HTTP address retrieved by said HTTP address retrieving means (13).

5. The digital audio broadcast receiving apparatus (1) according to claim 4, further comprising a display means for displaying said HTML data acquired by said Internet access means (14).

6. The digital audio broadcast receiving apparatus (1) according to claim 5, further comprising an HTTP address storage means (16) for storing said HTTP address retrieved by said HTTP address retrieving means.

7. A digital audio broadcast receiving method comprising the steps of:

receiving a digital audio broadcast signal including text data; and

retrieving an HTTP address from said text data included in said digital audio broadcast signal.

8. The digital audio broadcast receiving method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of storing the retrieved HTTP address.

9. The digital audio broadcast receiving method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of outputting the retrieved HTTP address to an external recording medium (18).

10. The digital audio broadcast receiving method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of accessing the Internet (3) to acquire HTML data at the retrieved HTTP address.

11. The digital audio broadcast receiving method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of displaying the acquired HTML data.

12. The digital audio broadcast receiving method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of storing the retrieved HTTP address.

13. A broadcast receiving apparatus (1) comprising:

a receiving means (11) for receiving a broadcast signal accompanied by an address for accessing an computer network (3); and

an address retrieving means (13) for retrieving said address from the received broadcast signal.

14. The broadcast receiving apparatus (1) according to claim 13, further comprising an address output means (17) for outputting said address retrieved by said address retrieving means (13) to an external recording medium (18).

15. The broadcast receiving apparatus (1) according to claim 13, further comprising a computer network access means (14) for accessing said computer network (3) to acquire data at said address retrieved by said address retrieving means (13).

16. The broadcast receiving apparatus (1) according to claim 15, further comprising a display means for displaying the data acquired by said computer network access means (14).

17. The broadcast receiving apparatus (1) according to claim 13 or 16, further comprising an address storage means (16) for storing the address retrieved by said address retrieving means (13).

Drawing