Information providing method

An information provision apparatus comprising:

• a database configured to store a plurality of associated information concerning an on-air program broadcasted by a broadcasting station;
• a searching unit configured to search the database for associated information concerning the on-air program broadcasted by the broadcasting station;
• an acceptance unit configured to accept an acquisition request for the associated information from a broadcast receiver to receive a broadcast signal for the program;
• an assignment unit configured to assign a service session ID to the broadcast receiver and a valid period for the service session ID, said service session ID assigned at each acquisition request to identify a current communication connection;
• an authentication unit configured to performing an authentication process on the acquisition request based on the session ID and the valid period and provide an indication that the authentication process was successful or unsuccessful, said authentication unit indicating that the authentication process was unsuccessful when the valid period is expired;
• a transmitter configured to read the associated information stored in the database synchronously with timing to accept the acquisition request by the acceptance unit as transmitted information and to transmit the associated information to the broadcast receiver if the authentication unit indicates that the authentication process was successful;
• and
• a resetting unit configured to reset the transmitted information which should be read from the database for transmission when the on-air program changes to a next program.

A storage medium, when accessed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising:

• searching associated information from a database storing a plurality of associated information concerning an on-air program broadcasted by a broadcasting station;
• accepting an acquisition request for the associated information from a broadcast receiver to receive a broadcast signal for the program;
• setting the associated information stored in the database with timing to accept the acquisition request as transmitted information;
• assigning a service session ID to the broadcast receiver and a valid period for the service session ID, said service session ID assigned at each acquisition request to identify a current communication connection;
• performing an authentication process on the acquisition request based on the session ID and valid period, said authentication process failing when the valid period is expired;
• transmitting the associated information to the broadcast receiver if the authentication process is successful;
• and when the on-air program changes to a next program, resetting the transmitted information as associated information of the next program for transmission.