The present technology relates to a distribution device, a distribution method, a reception device, a reception method, a program, and a content distribution system that enable signaling of an ROI identifier of a video distributed by at least one of broadcast distribution or net distribution. A distribution device according to a first aspect of the present technology includes a segment filing unit configured to make a video stream of each of areas obtained by imaging an imaging range divided into a plurality of the areas into a segment file, a distribution unit configured to supply the segment file of the video stream of each of the areas to a reception side by at least one of net distribution or broadcast distribution, and a notification unit configured to notify, in a case where an ROI including one or more of the areas is set to the imaging range, the reception side of an ROI identifier for identifying the belonging ROI as attribute information related to the segment file corresponding to the area included in the ROI. The present technology can be applied to streaming distribution using DASH.

A method and an apparatus are used to target interactive virtual objects to subscribers in a television delivery system. Programs are selected and virtual object locations are defined in the selected programs. The virtual objects available for targeting are categorized and the categories are correlated to subscriber information to determine the optimum targeting of the virtual objects. The virtual objects may be targeted based on individual subscriber information or on information related to groups of subscribers. When a frame of a program includes a virtual object location, a default or an alternate virtual object is displayed. The virtual object location may change over space or time. The virtual object may be interactive, and may be used to link a subscriber to a remote location, such as an Internet web site. An operations center or a cable headend may generate a group assignment plan that assigns the subscribers' television terminals to groups, based on factors such as area of dominant influence and household income. A retrieval plan is then generated that instructs the television terminals to select the desired virtual object for display. The television terminals record which virtual objects were displayed, and report this information to the cable headends and the operations center. The reported information is used to generate billing for commercial advertisers, and to analyze viewer watching habits. Interactive virtual objects are received by the television terminal with directions on actions to be taken upon selection of the interactive virtual object. Actions may result in the initiation of processes locally at the television terminal, or communication with a remote site for the initiation of processes to be performed remotely. The invention uses upstream data reception hardware, databases and processing hardware and software, and corresponding features in the televisions to accomplish these functions.

A method and an apparatus are used to target interactive virtual objects to subscribers in a television delivery system. Programs are selected and virtual object locations are defined in the selected programs. The virtual objects available for targeting are categorized and the categories are correlated to subscriber information to determine the optimum targeting of the virtual objects. The virtual objects may be targeted based on individual subscriber information or on information related to groups of subscribers. When a frame of a program includes a virtual object location, a default or an alternate virtual object is displayed. The virtual object location may change over space or time. The virtual object may be interactive, and may be used to link a subscriber to a remote location, such as an Internet web site. An operations center or a cable headend may generate a group assignment plan that assigns the subscribers' television terminals to groups, based on factors such as area of dominant influence and household income. A retrieval plan is then generated that instructs the television terminals to select the desired virtual object for display. The television terminals record which virtual objects were displayed, and report this information to the cable headends and the operations center. The reported information is used to generate billing for commercial advertisers, and to analyze viewer watching habits. Interactive virtual objects are received by the television terminal with directions on actions to be taken upon selection of the interactive virtual object. Actions may result in the initiation of processes locally at the television terminal, or communication with a remote site for the initiation of processes to be performed remotely. The invention uses upstream data reception hardware, databases and processing hardware and software, and corresponding features in the televisions to accomplish these functions.

A broadcast signal receiver capable of displaying relation information corresponding to a broadcast signal in real time.

A broadcast signal receiver capable of displaying relation information corresponding to a broadcast signal in real time.

Different applications are activated for respective multiple programs. A component demultiplexing unit (34) that receives an MH-AIT (141) indicating an application corresponding to each of packages, a combining unit (38) and an audio decoding unit (36) that reproduce one of the packages, and a data broadcasting control unit (37) that controls an application corresponding to a package, which is being reproduced, by referring to the MH-AIT (141) are included.

Different applications are activated for respective multiple programs. A component demultiplexing unit (34) that receives an MH-AIT (141) indicating an application corresponding to each of packages, a combining unit (38) and an audio decoding unit (36) that reproduce one of the packages, and a data broadcasting control unit (37) that controls an application corresponding to a package, which is being reproduced, by referring to the MH-AIT (141) are included.

Disclosed is a reception device configured to acquire second metadata including a flag, the flag indicating whether or not there is a component stream transmitted from a server via the Internet for a service. The reception device is also configured to acquire first metadata based on the second metadata, the first metadata including information related to a component stream for the service transmitted in a broadcast signal using an Internet Protocol (IP) transmission scheme. Finally, the reception device is configured to access the component stream transmitted in the broadcast signal based on the first metadata, and control reproduction of the component stream transmitted in the broadcast signal.

Disclosed is a reception device configured to acquire second metadata including a flag, the flag indicating whether or not there is a component stream transmitted from a server via the Internet for a service. The reception device is also configured to acquire first metadata based on the second metadata, the first metadata including information related to a component stream for the service transmitted in a broadcast signal using an Internet Protocol (IP) transmission scheme. Finally, the reception device is configured to access the component stream transmitted in the broadcast signal based on the first metadata, and control reproduction of the component stream transmitted in the broadcast signal.

A method and system for digital marketing and the provision of digital content allows a user to express, using an application executed on a computing device while a piece of content is being broadcast using an analog or digital signal by an analog or digital radio or television station system, an interest in the broadcast piece of content that is communicated to a backend system. The backend system selects an end point destination that is a pointer to further digital information associated with the broadcast piece of content and communicates the end point destination for the broadcast piece of content to the user who can access the digital information.