Information communication system

Abstract

The present invention provides a system capable of individually controlling each of receiving devices while making full use of the advantages of broadcasting. Simultaneous transmission is carried out from a broadcasting device 2 to a plurality of receiving devices 6 via a broadcasting path. Further, the broadcasting device 2 sends operation control data to the receiving device 6 through a communication path. The receiving device 6 changes its operation in accordance with the operation control data when received broadcasting is decoded. In this way, each of the receiver devices 6 can be controlled individually using the operation control data while making full use of the advantages of broadcasting.

1 . An information communication system comprising: 
 a broadcasting device transmitting a broadcasting signal; and    a receiving device receiving the broadcasting signal from the broadcasting device via a broadcasting path,    wherein the broadcasting device comprises:    a broadcasting transmission part for transmitting the broadcasting signal simultaneous to a plurality of receiving devices via the broadcasting path; and    a control data transmission part for transmitting operation control data controlling an operation mode of the receiving device through a communications path which is different from the broadcasting path; and    wherein the receiving device each comprises:    a broadcasting receiving part for receiving the broadcasting signal via the transmission path;    a control data receiving part for receiving the operation control data from the control data transmission part through the communications path; and    a control part performing a control process including a decoding process in which the broadcasting signal received by the broadcasting receiving part are decoded and the decoded signals are outputted to a user, the control part changing the control in accordance with the operation control data received by the control data receiving part.    
     
     
         2 . A broadcasting device simultaneously performing broadcasting to a receiving device and designating an operation mode related with reception of the broadcasting to a desired receiving device, the broadcasting device comprising: 
 a broadcasting transmission part for transmitting a broadcasting signal simultaneous to a plurality of receiving devices via the broadcasting path; and    a control data transmission part for transmitting operation control data controlling an operation mode of the receiving device through a communications path which is different from the broadcasting path.    
     
     
         3 . A receiving device, for receiving a broadcasting signal transmitted from a broadcasting device via a broadcasting path, and for decoding the received signals and outputting the resultant signals, the receiving device comprising: 
 a broadcasting receiving part for receiving the broadcasting signal via the broadcasting path;    a control data receiving part for receiving the operation control data from the broadcasting device through a communications path which is different from the broadcasting path; and    a control part performing a control process including a decoding process in which the broadcasting signal received by the broadcasting receiving part are decoded and the decoded signals are outputted to a user; and    wherein the control part changes the control in accordance with the operation control data received by the control data receiving part.    
     
     
         4 . The receiving device in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein the communications path includes one of a public telephone network and the Internet communications network.  
     
     
         5 . The receiving device in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein the operation control data is transmitted to the receiving device as an electronic mail.  
     
     
         6 . The receiving device in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein the operation control data is transmitted in a form of an electronic mail installing the operation control data in its header region.  
     
     
         7 . The receiving device in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein the broadcasting device notifies a specific receiving device via the broadcasting path that the broadcasting device has sent an electric-mail toward the specific receiving device through the communications path, and 
 wherein the receiving device, after confirming the notification, establishes a communication link to obtain the electric-mail.    
     
     
         8 . The receiving device in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein the receiving device changes the control assigned to each operation button in accordance with the received operation control data.  
     
     
         9 . The receiving device in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein the operation control data includes a description for making a reservation for recording a program to be transmitted via the broadcasting path and another description for assigning a function of making a reservation for recording the program to which of the operation button, and 
 wherein the receiving device assigns the function of making a reservation for recording the program to one of the operation buttons in accordance with the description of the operation control data.    
     
     
         10 . The receiving device in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein the operation control data is sent from the broadcasting device to the receiving device in a form of an electronic mail, and 
 wherein the receiving device displays a recommended program in accordance with a description of informing a recommended program included in the electronic mail and displays that the function of making a reservation for recording is assigned to which one of the operation buttons in accordance with the operation control data.    
     
     
         11 . The receiving device in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein the receiving device performs a control process in which a determination is made whether viewing of a predetermined broadcasting program is allowed or not in accordance with the received operation control data.  
     
     
         12 . The receiving device in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein a user of the receiving device sends a request of permission for viewing the broadcasting program to the broadcasting device through the communications line by operating the receiving device, and 
 wherein the broadcasting device sends operation control data for allowing view of the broadcasting program to a receiving device upon receipt of the request in accordance with predetermined criteria.    
     
     
         13 . The receiving device in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the broadcasting program is a quiz program, 
 wherein a user sends an answer of a quiz to the broadcasting device through the communications path by operating the receiving device, and    wherein the broadcasting device sends operation control data for allowing view of the quiz program only to a predetermined receiving device based on a judgment in which a determination is carried out whether the received answer is correct or not.    
     
     
         14 . The receiving device in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein the operation control data includes one of a program and data, necessary for outputting content of a program in accordance with the broadcasting signal transmitted via the broadcasting path, and 
 wherein the receiving device outputs the content of the program using one of the program and the data.    
     
     
         15 . A computer-readable storage medium for storing a control program realizing a receiving device, for receiving a broadcasting signal transmitted from a broadcasting device via a broadcasting path, for decoding the received signal, and for outputting the decoded signal, using a computer, the program comprising the steps of: 
 performing a control process including a decoding process in which the broadcasting signal received by the broadcasting receiving part are decoded and the decoded signals are outputted to a user; and    changing the control in accordance with operation control data received through a communications path which is different from the broadcasting path.    
     
     
         16 . A communication method using a broadcasting device which transmits a broadcasting signal to a receiving device which receives the broadcasting signal from the broadcasting device via a broadcasting path, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a communications path, through which communications between the broadcasting device and the receiving device can be performed, separate from the broadcasting path;    at the broadcasting device: transmitting operation control data for controlling an operation mode of the receiving device; and    at the receiving device: receiving the operation control data; and changing control to the broadcasting signal received via the broadcasting path in accordance with the operation control data.    
     
     
         17 . A broadcasting method simultaneously performing broadcasting to a receiving device and designating an operation mode related with reception of the broadcasting to a desired receiving device, the method comprising the steps of: 
 transmitting a broadcasting signal simultaneous to a plurality of receiving devices via the broadcasting path; and    transmitting operation control data controlling an operation mode of the receiving device through a communications path which is different from the broadcasting path    
     
     
         18 . A receiving method, for receiving a broadcasting signal transmitted from a broadcasting device via a broadcasting path, and for decoding the received signals and outputting the resultant signals, the method comprising the steps of: 
 receiving the broadcasting signal via the broadcasting path;    receiving the operation control data from the broadcasting device through a communications path which is different from the broadcasting path; and    performing a control process including a decoding process in which the broadcasting signal are decoded and the decoded signals are outputted to a user; and    wherein the control process is changed in accordance with the received operation control data.    
     
     
         19 . A computer program product for a communication method using a broadcasting device which transmits a broadcasting signal to a receiving device which receives the broadcasting signal from the broadcasting device via a broadcasting path, and including one or more computer readable instructions stored on a computer readable medium and configured to cause one or more computer processors to perform the steps of: 
 providing a communications path, through which communications between the broadcasting device and the receiving device can be performed, separate from the broadcasting path;    at the broadcasting device: transmitting operation control data for controlling an operation mode of the receiving device; and    at the receiving device: receiving the operation control data; and changing control to the broadcasting signal received via the broadcasting path in accordance with the operation control data.    
     
     
         20 . A computer program product for a broadcasting method for simultaneously performing broadcasting to a receiving device and designating an operation mode related with reception of the broadcasting to a desired receiving device, and including one or more computer readable instructions stored on a computer readable medium and configured to cause one or more computer processors to perform the steps of: 
 transmitting a broadcasting signal simultaneous to a plurality of receiving devices via the broadcasting path; and    transmitting operation control data controlling an operation mode of the receiving device through a communications path which is different from the broadcasting path    
     
     
         21 . A computer program product for a receiving method for receiving a broadcasting signal transmitted from a broadcasting device via a broadcasting path, and for decoding the received signals and outputting the resultant signals, and including one or more computer readable instructions stored on a computer readable medium and configured to cause one or more computer processors to perform the steps of: 
 receiving the broadcasting signal via the broadcasting path;    receiving the operation control data from the broadcasting device through a communications path which is different from the broadcasting path; and    performing a control process including a decoding process in which the broadcasting signal are decoded and the decoded signals are outputted to a user; and    wherein the control process is changed in accordance with the received operation control data.