JP2002176401A - Method and system for generating program-related information - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and system for generating program-related information that can generate the program-related information in a data broadcast service at a low cost in a short time and flexibly cope with even a state change in real time broadcasting. SOLUTION: The system consists of a 1st database storing various data being sources of the program-related information, a 2nd database 102 storing generation rules that defines index information acting like a generation trigger of the program-related information and generation functions to generate the program-related information in cross-reference with each other, a trigger detection means 103 that receives the index information provided to contents to detect the index information stored as the generation trigger, and a program- related information generating means 104 that references the various data in the 1st database on the basis of the generation trigger and the generation functions corresponding thereto when the detection means 103 detects the generation trigger so as to generate the program-related information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a program-related information creating method and a program-related information creating system for creating program-related information to be distributed in synchronization with a main program content in a broadcasting service. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for generating program-related information to generate and distribute program-related information linked to the content when the content is distributed by broadcasting, and a program-related information generating system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, digitalization of broadcasting has been rapidly progressing on a worldwide scale, and BS (Broadcast Sa) has been developed.
In digital broadcasting and digital terrestrial broadcasting, realization of a data broadcasting service is expected. The data broadcasting service means a service that broadcasts various data and uses it in any form on a receiver.However, usually, when broadcasting a stream type video / audio service such as a television or radio alone, Generally, it is not included in the category of data broadcasting services. Also, many data broadcasting services are designed to synchronize with other contents (mostly television programs).

In the ARIB STD-24 of the Radio Industries and Businesses Association, data services are broadly divided into broadcast services and functional services. Among the broadcast services, those that synchronize with the main program are called program-related services. Examples of the program-related services include the following.・ Electronic program guide ・ Program index ・ Subtitles ・ Commentary audio (information for visually impaired, etc.) ・ Program supplementary information (performers, synopsis, etc.) ・ Multi-view TV (multiple camera angles) ・ Participatory programs (shopping, questionnaire, etc.) )

[0004] In the above service, viewers are required
By operating a remote control button as needed on the receiver, program-related information (data for providing a program-related service, hereinafter referred to as program-related information) is displayed, and the program is used interactively. You can do it.

In order to make such a program-related service practical, it is necessary to efficiently create program-related information. As a conventional technique for efficiently generating program-related information, the following IplusTV systems are provided. Kazuo Okamura, et al .: IplusTV: "Data broadcasting system using time-series hypermedia and its implementation", IPSJ Transactions Database, Vol. 40, no. S
IG5 (TOD2). pp. 91-102 (199
9). Yoshiyuki Miyabe: "The whole picture of next-generation digital television-Challenges in the broadcasting, communication and computer industries-, Nikkei New Media Separate Volume, pp. 22-32 (1997).
Carousel DVX for data transmission and its application,
Advanced Database Symposium '99 (A
DBS '97), Tokyo, pp. 23-30 (199
7).

[0006] This IplusTV system has been adopted in the digital CS service "DIRECTVJAPAN" and has a track record of actually providing services. Ipl
In usTV, program-related information (PRI: Program)
We have devised and implemented a method for expressing related information in a hypermedia format and have evaluated it. While slowly synchronizing with the main program of the primary data, the broadcast band and retransmission are manually specified to transmit the hypertext (program-related information) as the secondary data. Specifically, first, a hypertext for data broadcasting is manually created, and then the hypertext is manually and time-divided and logically divided and transmitted for distribution.

[0007]

However, according to the above-mentioned prior art, since the time division and the logical division of the broadcast band of the program-related information (PRI) are manually performed, it takes time and cost to prepare. There was a problem that it took. In particular, due to the widespread use of data broadcasting services,
When a large amount of program-related information (PRI) needs to be created, the cost of creating the program-related information becomes a large burden. Another problem is that the program-related information cannot be broadcast in synchronization with the main program broadcast in real time.

Further, according to the above-mentioned conventional technology, it is necessary to create a data broadcast hypertext (program related information) in advance, in other words, it is necessary to create program related information to be distributed in advance. Therefore, if the situation changes instantaneously or unexpected situations occur in real-time broadcasting, it is not always possible to transmit appropriate program-related information, or program-related information can be flexibly responded to changes in the situation. There is a problem that information cannot be transmitted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above, and is capable of creating program-related information in a data broadcasting service in a short time and at low cost, and flexibly coping with a change in the status of real-time broadcasting. And a program-related information creating system.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, a method for creating program-related information according to claim 1 is a program for synchronizing and distributing a program which is a main program in a broadcasting service. A method for creating program-related information for creating related information, wherein specific index information is defined in advance as a generation trigger, and is attached to the content when the content, which is the main program, is distributed by broadcasting. It is characterized in that it is determined whether or not the generation trigger is included in the index information, and when index information serving as a generation trigger is given to the content, the program-related information is created using the corresponding index information as a trigger.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for creating program-related information for creating program-related information to be distributed in synchronism with the content of a main program in a broadcasting service. In advance, a plurality of generation rules in which index information serving as a trigger for generating program-related information and generation functions for generating program-related information are defined in advance, and the content as the main program is distributed by broadcasting. At this time, the index information serving as the generation trigger is detected from the index information given to the content, and when the index information serving as the generation trigger is detected, a generation function associated with the generation rule is used. Fetches various data from a database that stores various data that is the source of program-related information, Characterized in that it formed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the method for creating program-related information according to the second aspect, the generation rule has the same index information as a generation trigger and a generation function of the generation function. There are a plurality of different generation rules.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the method for creating program-related information according to any one of the first to third aspects, the index information is generated in the content. The event information is created, and the creation of the program-related information is of an event-driven type using the event information as a generation trigger.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program-related information creating system for creating program-related information to be distributed in synchronization with a content as a main program in a broadcasting service, A first database storing various data that is a source of program-related information such as text data, moving images, still images, graphs, and tables, and index information serving as a trigger for generating program-related information and generating program-related information. A second database storing a plurality of generation rules defined in association with a generation function, and index information given to the content are input, and from the input index information, a generation trigger is generated in the second database. Trigger detecting means for detecting the stored index information; and a trigger generated by the trigger detecting means. Program-related information generating means for generating program-related information by referring to various data in the first database based on index information serving as the generation trigger and a generation function corresponding to the index information. It is characterized by the following.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the program related information creating system according to the fifth aspect, the first database includes the program related information created in advance together with the various data. Is stored, and the program-related information stored in the first database can be directly specified by the generation function. If specified, the relevant program-related information is used as the generated program-related information.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the program-related information creating system according to the fifth or sixth aspect, the generation rule has the same index information as a generation trigger and a generation function of the generation function. There are a plurality of different generation rules, and the program-related information generating means includes:
When there are a plurality of generation rules for one piece of index information serving as a generation trigger, program-related information is created using the generation functions of the corresponding plurality of generation rules.

In the program-related information creating system according to claim 8, in the program-related information creating system according to any one of claims 5 to 7, the index information may include event information generated in the content. And
The creation of the program-related information is of an event driven type using the event information as a generation trigger.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the program related information creating system according to any one of the fifth to eighth aspects, the program related information is a digest video. .

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the program-related information creating system according to any one of the fifth to ninth aspects, the generation rule includes the index information and the generation trigger. In addition to the generation function, index information serving as an extinguishing trigger to stop the distribution or temporary storage of the program-related information generated by the relevant generation function, and the relevant program-related information assumed by the rule definer who defined the relevant generation rule And the degree of user's request for is defined.

[0020]

(Summary of the present invention)

 [Functions Provided by the Program-Related Information Creation System of the Present Invention] [Related Technology Used in the Present Invention] [Program-related Information Creation System of the Present Embodiment] will be described with reference to the drawings.

[Summary of the Present Invention] First, in the method and system for creating program-related information of the present invention,
Assuming that index information (program index) is assigned to a broadcasted program (content), when creating program-related information to be distributed in synchronization with the content of the main program in a broadcasting service, , Index information is used as a trigger (generation trigger) for generating program-related information.

That is, a specific index information is defined in advance as a generation trigger, and when a content, which is a main program, is distributed by broadcasting, whether or not there is a generation trigger in the index information attached to the content. If it is determined that the content is provided with index information serving as a generation trigger, program-related information is created using the corresponding index information as a trigger. The index information is event information (event information) generated in the content, and the creation of the program-related information is of an event driven type using the event information as a generation trigger.

FIG. 1 shows a claim correspondence diagram of the program-related information creating system according to the present invention. A second database 102 storing a plurality of generation rules defining a database 101 and index information serving as a generation trigger of program-related information and a generation function for generating program-related information in association with each other.
And trigger detection means 103 for inputting index information given to the content and detecting index information stored as a generation trigger in the second database 102 from the input index information. When a generation trigger is detected,
Program-related information generating means 104 for generating program-related information by referring to various data in the first database 101 based on the index function serving as the generation trigger and the corresponding generation function.

The first database 101 stores, in addition to various data, program-related information 1 created in advance.
01a, and the program-related information 101a stored in the first database 101 by the generation function.
Can be specified directly. As described above, when the program-related information 101a is directly specified by the generation function, the program-related information generation unit 104 outputs the relevant program-related information 101a as the generated program-related information.

The program-related information 101a is program-related information created manually in advance, and is stored in the first database 101 on the assumption that it is used as needed. The program-related information 101a can be easily used by searching and extracting the first database 101 when broadcasting is desired. For example, baseball players' performance data and profile data are manually input (created) in advance. In the case of a program in which a difficult term such as a lecture frequently appears, the term explanation data can be registered in advance and the first database 101 can be used as the term explanation database.

With respect to the program-related information 101a, the program-related information generated by the program-related information generating means 104 with reference to various data in the first database 101 may be referred to as automatically generated program-related information. it can. For example,
There is a case where a search for a scene determined by a generation function is performed based on index information, and the result (digest video) is generated as program-related information. In particular,
When Matsui hits HR (home run) in a baseball program, based on the index information indicating the home run of Matsui, a search is made for a scene in which Matsui hit HR in recent several games by a generation function, and an HR scene collection is retrieved. Created as program-related information. The viewer can enjoy the program-related information by comparing Matsui's HR form and the like. Also, when the pitcher strikes out, it is desired to create a digest of the strikeout so far of the game. These pieces of program-related information can be automated by performing a scene search defined by a generation function based on the index information.

The generation rules stored in the second database 102 include a plurality of generation rules having the same index information serving as generation triggers and different generation functions. For this reason, when there are a plurality of generation rules for index information serving as one generation trigger, the program-related information generation unit generates program-related information using the generation functions of the corresponding plurality of generation rules. . In other words, a plurality of pieces of program-related information may be generated from one piece of index information (generation trigger).

The generation rule includes, in addition to the index information and the generation function serving as a generation trigger, index information serving as an extinction trigger for stopping distribution or primary storage of the program-related information generated by the relevant generation function, and The user's request degree for the program-related information assumed by the rule definer who defined the generation rule is defined.

Next, with reference to FIG. 2, the relationship between the generation trigger, the extinction trigger, and the generated program-related information will be conceptually described. In the figure, a to d indicate index information added to a program (content). Also,
It is assumed that the following eight generation rules are defined as generation rules. Generation rule A1: Index information a (generation trigger) Generation function A1 Index information c (extinction trigger) Generation rule A2: Index information a (generation trigger) Generation function A2 Index information c (extinction trigger) Similarly, generation rules A3 to A5 ( Index information a, generation functions A3 to A5, index information c) generation rule B1: index information b (generation trigger) generation function B1 index information d (extinction trigger) generation rule B2: index information b (generation trigger) generation function B2 Index information d (extinction trigger) Generation rule B3: Index information b (generation trigger) Generation function B3 Index information d (extinction trigger)

First, it is assumed that index information a is detected from a program (content). Of the above eight generation rules, the generation rules A1 to A5 use the index information a as a generation trigger. Therefore, when the index information a is detected, the generation rules A1 to A
5 is fired (activated) to generate program-related information based on the generation functions A1 to A5, respectively. FIG. 2 shows these five pieces of program-related information as program-related information using index information a as a generation trigger.

Next, assume that index information b is detected from a program (content). Of the above eight generation rules, the generation rules B1 to B3 use the index information b as a generation trigger. Therefore, when index information b is detected, generation rules B1 to B
3 is fired (activated), and generates program-related information based on the generation functions B1 to B3, respectively. FIG. 2 shows these three pieces of program-related information as program-related information using index information b as a generation trigger.

Thereafter, it is assumed that index information c is detected after some index information (not shown) is detected. This index information c is defined in the generation rules A1 to A5 as a disappearance trigger. When the index information c is detected, the generation rules A1 to A5
The distribution of the five pieces of program-related information generated by is stopped. As described above, the period from the index information a (generation trigger) to the index information c (extinction trigger) is the valid period of the program-related information generated by the generation rules A1 to A5. During this valid period, the program-related information is repeatedly delivered. The receiver that has received the program-related information temporarily stores the program-related information in the storage device during the valid period.

Similarly, assume that index information d is detected. The index information d is defined in the generation rules B1 to B3 as a disappearance trigger. When the index information d is detected, the distribution of the three pieces of program-related information generated by the generation rules B1 to B3 is stopped.
Thus, the generation rule B is between index information c (generation trigger) and index information d (extinction trigger).
The valid period of the program-related information generated in 1 to B3.

[Functions Provided by the Program-Related Information Creation System of the Present Invention] In the data broadcasting service,
By operating a remote control button as needed on the V receiver, program-related information is displayed, and the program can be used interactively. In order to make such a program-related service practical, it is necessary to efficiently create program-related information. The following two problems are encountered when efficiently creating the program-related information.

A method of synchronizing with the main program (content): Most program-related information needs to be transmitted in synchronization with the content. Normally, a loose synchronization with a tolerance within a few seconds is sufficient. However, in an authoring system or the like, it may be necessary to take strict synchronization in MPEG2 frame units. Receiver buffer management method: Digital broadcasting assumes storage-type viewing. However, since the buffer capacity of a TV receiver is limited, buffer management is required for efficient use.

The program-related information creation method and program-related information creation system of the present invention can solve the above-mentioned problems, can create program-related information in a data broadcasting service in a short time and at low cost, and can realize the status of real-time broadcasting. In order to be able to respond flexibly to changes, (A)
(B) function is provided.

(A) Automatic Creation Function of Program-Related Information Automatically generating program-related information synchronized with a program (content) in an event-driven manner automatically and automatically generates program-related information (PRI) synchronized with the program. Generate at low cost. As a result, it is possible to solve the problem of synchronization with the main program, and to reduce the cost of creating program-related information.

(B) Automatic extinction control function of program-related information An extinction period is set in the program-related information. By using the expiration date, each program-related information can be automatically deleted on the receiver after the expiration date has passed. In other words, storage of each program-related information in the receiver can be managed, and the buffer capacity can be used efficiently. As a result, the problem of buffer management of the receiver, which is a problem of the present invention, can be solved.

[Related Technology Used in the Present Invention] As described above, in the present invention, it is assumed that a program index (index information) is added to a broadcasted program (content). Index information is a broadcast metadata description method that enables various program information descriptions, such as program structure information and association between scenes, as well as program table information. For example, marking of event information that has occurred can be performed.

As application examples of the program index, there are known digest viewing for quickly searching for and viewing an important portion from stored programs, and an example for reserving a plurality of programs. As a related technique using the program index (index information), the present applicant is also conducting research on a digest creation system using the program index, and based on the basic event information described by the program index, viewing and listening is performed. We are developing a system that creates digest videos that reflect the tastes of the elderly.

The following technology developed by the present applicant is applied to the program related information creating method and the program related information creating system of the present invention. (1) Takahashi Hashimoto, Yukari Shirada, et al .: "A Search Method for Video Information Using Terms with High Abstraction", Advanced Database Symposium '97 (ADBD'97),
Tokyo, pp. 23-30 (1997). (2) Takako Hashimoto, Yukari Shiratora, et al .: "Digest viewing system for TV receivers", IPSJ Transactions: Database, Vol. 41, NoSIG3 (TO
D6), pp. 71-84 (2000).

A program-related information creating system using the technique (1) will be described. First, as a premise, the creator of the program-related information has an image in advance that, when such an event sequence occurs, generate the program-related information using such a function. It is defined as a generation rule for generating information. This generation rule is referred to as a “program-related information generation rule”.
and a PRI generation rule ”.

In describing an event for activating a PRI generation rule, basic event information alone does not have sufficient description capability. For example, if the content is a baseball program, a simple hit event is not enough to express the context of the hit in which situation, so it is "reversing", "two consecutive hits" Want to be able to describe.

In order to describe the event in which a more detailed situation can be understood as described above, there is provided a mechanism capable of "event description in terms of a high degree of abstraction (hereinafter, referred to as an abstract event)" using the technique (1). Realize. In this event description, a term with a high degree of complex abstraction is defined by a regular expression of an event sequence. At this time, the video scene is defined as the search range of the event sequence, thereby improving the search efficiency.

Here, "event description using terms having a high degree of abstraction" will be specifically described. The target program (content) is a structured video, and the structured video includes, as index information, a structure index for dividing the video into a meaningful group and an event that has occurred in the video. An event index (corresponding to event information) for specifying the content and location of the event is provided.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are explanatory diagrams showing the relationship between the structure index and the event index. In FIG. 3, for example, assuming that video data (video scene) in a section indicated by the structure index of structure 1 represents an entire video, the video is a structure 2 below structure 1.
a, a structure 2-b, a structure 2-c... Here, the structure 2-a, the structure 2-b,
The section indicated by each structure index such as the structure 2-c is a section obtained by dividing the entire video shown by the structure 1,
In addition, when all of these divided sections are connected, they match the section of the entire video which is a higher section.

Further, below the structure 2-a, the structure 3-a
a, a structure 3-ab, a structure 3-ac, etc. are provided. Similarly, the section indicated by each structure index such as the structure 3-aa, the structure 3-ab, the structure 3-ac... Is a section obtained by dividing the section indicated by the structure 2-a, and When all the sections are connected, they match the section of the structure 2-a which is the upper section.

The section indicated by the structure index of the highest-order structure 1 is a structure unit indicating the entire image, and is defined by the following structure indexes such as structure 2-a, structure 2-b, structure 2-c, etc. The indicated section is a structural unit of the structure 2 level, and the section indicated by each structure index such as a lower structure 3-aa, structure 3-ab, structure 3-ac... Is a structural unit of the structure 3 level. .

As described above, the video (structure 1) is structured using the video scene of the section divided by the structure index as a video structure unit and using a plurality of hierarchically structured units.

In contrast to the structure index representing the structure of the video, the event index represents an event that has occurred on the video. As described above, the structure index indicates a logical section of a video, whereas the event index (event information) is an index basically having no section. This event index is basically added to a place where an event has occurred in a video as information indicating the content of the event. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, when an event occurs in the flow of a video (change in a time axis), the event index may be assigned as an event index 3aa-1 to 3aa-4, or as shown in FIG. The event index 3aa-1 to 3aa-4 may be added to the structure index 3aa where the event has occurred.

Next, the structure of the state transition table, which is an important element when describing an event using a meaning (term) having a high degree of abstraction, will be described in detail. In order to search for a desired video scene using a meaning (term) having a high degree of abstraction, a state transition pattern expressing the term is defined using structure information (structure index and event index) of the video.

The state transition table is, as shown in FIG.
The following (3-1) to (3-4) are set correspondingly. (3-1) Term: A search term having a high degree of abstraction, which is set as a character string representing the meaning of the corresponding video scene. A term with a high degree of abstraction (a search term) is a term having a fragmentary meaning used as an event index that can be associated with one event on a video, but corresponds to only one event on a video It is a term that can not be expressed and can be expressed by a combination of a plurality of events. In other words, a term with a high degree of abstraction (search term) is meaningful only when the occurrence of a plurality of events in a certain section becomes clear.

(3-2) Search granularity: An appropriate structural unit is set as a search target unit when searching for a video. That is, by setting the minimum structural unit that satisfies the meaning of the term ((3-1)) as the search granularity, the search target unit can be narrowed down and the search can be performed efficiently. (3-3) State transition pattern: Term ((3-1) above)
Based on the occurrence pattern of the event expressing the event, an event corresponding to the term ((3-1)) as an input string of a plurality of event indexes that occur continuously in the search granularity ((3-2)) Defines a list. (3-4) Key index: At least one event index among the event indexes existing in the state transition pattern ((3-3)) is specified as a key (center event) for starting a search. .

That is, the state transition table is used to efficiently define the meaning of the video contents by listing the event index list in a logical unit (search granularity) on a certain structure, and a character string representing the meaning of the contents. And expressed as a pair with the key index of A search is to discover (parse) a state transition pattern on the state transition table for an image structured by an index.

To explain further with reference to FIG. 5, for a character string "xxx" representing a meaning, first, the term is represented by an input sequence of a plurality of events, and an event list " Event 1, Event 2, Event 3 "are set. This event list is
As shown in FIG. 6, event 1 occurs in state A, then event 2 occurs, then event 3 occurs, and the state transitions to state B.

When an event list for a term is created,
An event that symbolically represents the term among the events 1 to 3 existing in the event list or an event suitable for specifying the term is designated as a key index. Here, event 1 is specified as a key index. continue,
In the structural unit of the structured video, the smallest structural unit in which events 1 to 3 existing in the event list can occur as the meaning of the term is selected and set as the search granularity.
Here, it is described as particle size 1.

Similarly, the character string "0000 ...
For “0”, the term is first represented by an input sequence of a plurality of events, and an event list “event 1, event 2, event 4” is set. As shown in FIG. 6, the event list indicates that event 1 occurs in state A, event 2 occurs next, event 4 occurs, and the state shifts to state C.

When an event list for a term is created,
Among the events 1, 2, and 4 present in the event list, an event that symbolically represents a term or an event suitable for specifying the term is designated as a key index. Here, event 4 is specified as a key index. Subsequently, in the structured unit of the structured video, the smallest structural unit that can be generated as the meaning of the terms of events 1, 2, and 4 present in the event list is selected and set as the search granularity. Here, it is described as particle size 2.

As shown in FIG. 5, the granularity 1 and the granularity 2 set as the search granularity for different terms may be the same structural unit. An optimal search granularity may be selected for each term, and a plurality of structural units having the same search granularity may exist.

In the case of retrieving video content that means a term using the state transition table, for example, the search efficiency can be improved by narrowing down the search to a structural unit having a search granularity corresponding to the term. Furthermore, after the corresponding event is parsed using the key index, it is possible to perform a high-speed and efficient search by determining whether or not the event list is established in the structural unit of the specified search granularity.

In the program related information creating system of the present invention,
Applying the technique of (1) above, an abstract event represented by terms with a high degree of abstraction, such as “reversal” and “reversal home run”, is used as a generation trigger.

For example, in the case of a baseball program, an abstract event (index information) such as “2 run home runs”, “reverse run”, and “reverse 2 run home runs” is generated according to the progress of the event. The generation event “reversal home run” includes the abstract events “reversal solo home run”, “reversal 2 run home run”, “reversal 3 run home run”, “reversal full home run”, and the like.

A generation rule is defined for each type of the generation trigger. Depending on the type of each generation trigger,
Since the importance of the generated program-related information is different, a definition for calculating the importance is also described in the generation rule.

For example, it can be described in the generation rule that the program related information generated by the generation trigger “reverse home run” has a higher importance than the generation trigger “reverse”.

Here, an example of a generation rule using an abstract event will be conceptually described. For the generation trigger “reverse”, a rule is defined that “searches for the reversal scene of the corresponding team in the previous game of this season and generates program-related information”.
When the abstract event “reversal” occurs, the reversal scene in the game so far is automatically generated as the program-related information. For the generation trigger "continuous hit", a generation rule of "search for the hit scene of the immediately preceding turn at bat and generate it as program-related information" is defined. When the abstract event “two consecutive hits at bat” occurs, the immediately preceding hit scene is automatically generated as program-related information.

Next, the technique of "a technique for calculating the importance of video scenes" disclosed in the above (2) "Digest viewing system for TV receiving terminal" is used for the program-related information creating system of the present invention. The method will be described. The transmission of the program-related information involves the problem of the buffer management of the receiver described above. In considering an algorithm to solve this, it is necessary to know the importance level of each generated program-related information. For this reason, the importance determination mechanism of the digest creation system developed by the present applicant in (2) above is used.

In the digest creation system, a "scene feature amount" depending on a program is defined in advance. When the digest creation process is started, the system analyzes the event description from the beginning and calculates a feature amount. In general, there are a plurality of types of feature amounts, and these feature amount values are weighted and added to calculate “scene importance”.
In the program-related information creation system of the present invention, the "scene feature amount" and "scene importance" calculated by the digest creation system are used as follows, and the importance level (importance value) of each program-related information is determined. Ask.

A condition relating to “scene feature amount” is described as a firing condition of a generation trigger of a generation rule. For example, it is specified that the firing should be performed only when the value of the feature value A is more than or equal to. At this time, a rule for calculating the importance value of the program-related information based on the scene feature amount can be described in the generation rule. At a certain point in the broadcast, there are a plurality of types of program-related information that are broadcast candidates. The reason is that once the program-related information is generated, it is repeatedly broadcast in the data carousel system during the valid period of the data. Therefore,
At the time of retransmission in the data carousel method, the importance of each program-related information is calculated based on the “scene importance”, and the program-related information having a higher importance value is scheduled to be broadcast with priority. Also, in the buffer management of the viewer's TV receiver, the program related information is discarded in ascending order of importance.

[Program-Related Information Creation System of the Present Embodiment] Next, an embodiment of the program-related information creation system of the present invention will be specifically described. FIG. 7 shows a schematic configuration diagram of a data broadcasting service system incorporating the program-related information creating system of the present embodiment.

The data broadcasting service system 700
A broadcasting station site 70 that generates program-related information in synchronism with the program (contents) and distributes the program by broadcasting.
1 and a plurality of receiver sites 702 for receiving programs broadcast from the broadcast station site 701 and program-related information. 703 is BS (Broadcas)
t Satellite).

In the broadcast station site 701, the program index adding system 704, the digest creating system 70
5. The subsystems of the program-related information creation system 706 and the program-related information scheduling system 707 operate.

The digest creation system 705 is originally a system that operates on a home TV receiver (receiver site 702) to create a personal digest. However, in this embodiment, the digest creation system 705 is used for program-related information. Is used on the broadcast station site 701. There are the following two methods for using the digest creation system 705 on the broadcast station site 701.

First, the program index (index information) is analyzed, and when a target generation trigger occurs, the generation rule is fired. Second, a digest video is created as one of the program-related information according to the instruction of the generation rule.

The digest creation system 705 always monitors the program index (index information) added to the program in order to fulfill the first role.
The function of the trigger detecting means 103 of the present invention indicated by the symbol is achieved. The second role is to create a digest video in the digest creation system 705 and return the digest by a function call for a digest creation request from the program related information creation system 706.

Next, a description will be given of a subsystem operating at the broadcasting station site 701. On broadcast station site 701,
First, program index addition processing is performed, and then the digest creation system 705 performs analysis, and passes the result to the program-related information creation system 706 as a trigger message (generation trigger). The program index adding process is performed in advance or when the program index is added in real time. In either case, the program index is analyzed, and when a program index matching the generation trigger is detected, the program-related information is added. Notify the creation system 706.

The data input from the digest creation system 705 to the program related information creation system 706 is only the data of the program index and does not include video data.
This is because no video is required in the process of analyzing the program index and firing the generation rule.
Since the program index includes information indicating related video data, it is possible to associate the program index with the program video later.

The digest creation system 705 and the program related information creation system 706 refer to the following three types of data. -Program index schema information-Program-related information generation rules-Context, scene features, and scene importance

Next, a trigger message (generation trigger) used in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The digest creation system 705 analyzes the stream of the program index flowing in real time, and checks whether there is anything that will trigger the generation of program-related information. When the digest creation system 705 finds the corresponding program index, it calculates context data indicating the feature amount of the scene and the situation at that time. The digest creation system 705 uses them as trigger messages shown in FIG.
Pass to.

In the “trigger type” in the generation trigger of FIG. 8, a trigger type such as “reverse” and “reverse home run” is described. "Events"
Describes event information such as home runs and hits that actually occurred on the program. The event information also includes an abstract event automatically generated by the digest creation system 705. Each event has its attribute value. For example, the attributes of the home run event are a batter's name, a pitcher's name, and the like.

The "feature value list" is a list of scene feature values (usually, a plurality of feature values) calculated in a scene including the corresponding event, and values at the time of occurrence of the corresponding event. The “context data list” represents various context data when the corresponding event occurs. For example, in the case of a baseball program, the information includes the number of innings, the name of the attacking team, and the score.

Next, a generation rule of the program related information used in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. When a trigger message (generation trigger) is issued from the digest generation system 705, the program-related information generation system 706 generates program-related information based on the generation rule defined for the relevant generation trigger.
This generation rule is created in advance by the program creator of the broadcast station site 701 and registered in a generation rule DB (corresponding to the second database 102 in FIG. 1) not shown.

By specifying the “trigger type” in FIG. 9, it is specified which type of generation trigger is to be fired when issued. Also,
The “PRI generation function” indicates a function called to generate program-related information when the generation rule is fired. When this generation rule is actually fired, the event attribute and context data in the trigger message are used as arguments of the PRI generation function.

Further, in the PRI generation function, the reference of the event attribute and the context data can be described by using the following reference variables starting with “@”. -Event attribute: An event type and its attribute are described by separating them with ".". For example, “＠ Start of turn at bat.
Batter's name ”-Context data: Enter as it is. For example,
“＠ attack team name”.

The “destruction trigger type” describes the type of a trigger that ends the expiration date of the program-related information. The generated program-related information is stored in a temporary storage DB (not shown) from the time of generation to the time when the disappearance trigger is issued. The disappearance trigger is also checked when the digest creation system 705 checks the program index. When the corresponding program index comes, the target program-related information is deleted from the storage DB.

The "importance value calculation definition" in the generation rule indicates designation of an expression or the like for calculating an importance value for the program-related information. The importance value is referred to at the time of scheduling for selecting program-related information to be broadcast next from a plurality of pieces of program-related information.

Here, the process of creating program-related information by the program-related information creating system 706 in the broadcast station site 701 will be described. The program-related information creation system 706 of the broadcast station site 701 includes the digest creation system 70
When the corresponding generation trigger is sent from 5, the following operation is performed.

· Applicable trigger (program index)
Generates program-related information based on the generation rule of the generation trigger. -Delete the program-related information for which the corresponding trigger (program index) is the disappearance trigger from the storage DB of the broadcast station site 701, and execute the client (receiver site 70
For (2), a message for deleting the relevant program-related information is transmitted. -Create and broadcast a menu button for program-related information used by the viewer. Until the next trigger (program index) comes, appropriate program-related information (for example, program-related information with high importance) is selected and broadcast from the program-related information currently held by scheduling.

Next, with reference to FIG. 10, a specific image of generating program-related information will be described with reference to an example in which program-related information is generated in real time for a baseball program broadcast. 10A shows an example of a screen on the broadcast station site 701 side, and FIG. 10B shows a client (receiver site 70).
2) shows an example of the screen on the side.

A button row 1001 on the screen shown in FIG. 9A shows program-related information transmitted from the broadcast station site 701. The button row 1002 on the right side of FIG.
It represents a set of program-related information transmitted from the broadcast station site 701 and currently operable by remote control on the client side.

This screen example shows that the viewer has selected “digest scene”, and that three scenes have been extracted as digests, as shown in the program-related information on the left side of the screen in FIG. Window 1003
It can be understood by: When a viewer selects one of the digest scenes, it is designed to be played in a small window.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide a method for creating event-related program-related information using a program index and a program-related information creating system. Can be created in a short time and at low cost, and it is possible to flexibly cope with a change in the situation of real-time broadcasting. More specifically, program-related information, which has conventionally been manually performed, can be automatically created, and the efficiency of creating program-related information and the efficiency of using a receiver buffer can be improved.

[0092]

As described above, according to the method for creating program-related information of the present invention (claim 1), specific index information is defined in advance as a generation trigger, and content as a main program is defined. When distributing by broadcasting, it is determined whether or not there is a generation trigger in the index information assigned to the content, and when index information serving as a generation trigger is assigned to the content, the corresponding index information is used as a trigger. Since the program-related information is created, the creation of the program-related information can be automated. In other words, program-related information in a data broadcasting service can be created in a short time and at low cost, and it can flexibly cope with a change in the status of real-time broadcasting.

Further, according to the method for creating program-related information of the present invention (claim 2), index information serving as a trigger for generating program-related information is associated in advance with a generation function for generating program-related information. A plurality of generation rules are defined, and when the content of the main program is distributed by broadcasting, index information serving as a generation trigger is detected from index information attached to the content, and index information serving as a generation trigger is detected. Is detected, using the generation function associated with the generation rule, the program-related information is created by extracting various data from the database storing the various data that is the source of the program-related information. Creation can be automated. In other words, it is possible to create program-related information in a data broadcasting service in a short time and at low cost, and to flexibly cope with a change in the status of real-time broadcasting.

Further, according to the method for creating program-related information of the present invention (claim 3), since a plurality of generation rules having the same index information as the generation trigger and different generation functions exist in the generation rules, A plurality of different program-related information can be generated by one generation trigger.

According to the method for creating program-related information of the present invention (claim 4), the index information is event information generated in the content, and the creation of the program-related information uses the event information as a generation trigger. Because it is an event-driven type, it can respond to events that occur in content more flexibly and in real time.

Further, the program-related information creating system of the present invention (Claim 5) includes a first database storing various data which is a source of program-related information such as text data, moving images, still images, graphs, and tables. A second database storing a plurality of generation rules in which index information serving as a trigger for generating program-related information and a generation function for generating program-related information are stored in association with each other; A trigger detecting means for detecting index information stored in the second database as a generation trigger from the input index information, and an index serving as the generation trigger when the generation detection is detected by the trigger detection means. The program is referred to by referring to various data in the first database based on the information and the corresponding generation function And program-related information generating means for generating serial information, so that program-related information in a data broadcasting service can be created in a short time and at low cost, and it is possible to flexibly cope with a change in the situation of real-time broadcasting. .

Further, according to the program-related information creating system of the present invention (claim 6), the program-related information created in advance is stored in the first database together with various data. 1 can directly specify the program-related information stored in the first database, and the program-related information generating means generates the corresponding program-related information when the program-related information is directly specified by the generation function. Since the program-related information is used as the program-related information, the creation of the program-related information can be automated, including the use of the program-related information created in advance by hand.

Further, according to the program-related information creating system of the present invention (claim 7), the generation rules include a plurality of generation rules having the same index information as the generation trigger and different generation functions. When a plurality of generation rules exist for one piece of index information serving as a generation trigger, the information generation unit generates program-related information using each generation function of the corresponding plurality of generation rules. A plurality of different program related information can be generated by a trigger. By broadcasting these, viewers have more freedom to select from a plurality of pieces of program-related information.

In the program-related information creating system according to the present invention (claim 8), the index information is event information generated in the content, and the program-related information is created by an event-driven type using the event information as a generation trigger. Therefore, it is possible to respond more flexibly and in real time to an event that has occurred in the content.

According to the program-related information creating system of the present invention (claim 9), since the digest video is created as the program-related information, the number of program-related information that can be provided is increased, and the convenience of the viewer is improved. improves.

Further, according to the program-related information creating system of the present invention (claim 10), in addition to the index information and the generation function serving as the generation trigger, the generation rule determines the program-related information generated by the relevant generation function. Since index information that serves as an extinguishing trigger to stop distribution or primary storage and the degree of user request for the program-related information assumed by the rule definer that defined the relevant generation rule are defined, In addition to being able to create information in a short time and at low cost, and being able to flexibly respond to changes in the status of real-time broadcasting, it is also possible to apply the priority of distribution of program-related information and the scheduling function.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram corresponding to a claim of the program related information creating system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram schematically showing a relationship between a generation trigger, an extinction trigger, and generated program-related information according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between a structure index and an event index.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between a structure index and an event index.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a state transition table for explaining an event description using terms having a high degree of abstraction.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a state transition table for describing an event description using terms with a high degree of abstraction.

FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of a data broadcasting service system incorporating the program-related information creating system of the present embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a trigger message (generation trigger) used in the present embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a generation rule of program-related information used in the present embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen example in which program-related information is generated in real time for a baseball program broadcast;

[Explanation of symbols]

101 first database 102 second database 103 trigger detecting means 104 program related information generating means 700 data broadcasting service system 701 broadcasting station site 702 receiver site 703 BS (Broadcast Satellite)
e) 704 Program index addition system 705 Digest creation system 706 Program related information creation system 707 Program related information scheduling system

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 7/035 7/08 7/081 (72) Inventor Takako Hashimoto 1-3-3 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo No. 6 Inside Ricoh Company (72) Inventor Atsushi Iizawa 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo F-term (Reference) 5C063 AB03 AB05 AC01 AC05 AC10 CA38 DA01 DA03 DA13 EB01 5K061 AA03 BB06 BB07 BB17 FF00

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A method for creating program-related information for creating program-related information to be distributed in synchronization with the content of a main program in a broadcast service, wherein specific index information is defined in advance as a generation trigger. In addition, when distributing the content of the main program by broadcasting, it is determined whether or not the generation trigger is included in the index information assigned to the content, and the index information serving as the generation trigger is assigned to the content. And generating program-related information using the corresponding index information as a trigger. 2. A method for creating program-related information for creating program-related information to be distributed in synchronization with the content of a main program in a broadcast service, wherein index information is used as a trigger for generating program-related information in advance. And a plurality of generation rules in which a program and a generation function for generating program-related information are associated with each other. From the index information serving as the generation trigger is detected from, and when the index information serving as the generation trigger is detected, various data serving as a source of program-related information is stored using a generation function associated with the generation rule. Creating program-related information by extracting various data from the database and creating program-related information . 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the generation rules include a plurality of generation rules having the same index information as a generation trigger and different generation functions. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the index information is event information generated in the content, and the creation of the program-related information is an event-driven type using the event information as a generation trigger. 3. The method for creating program-related information according to any one of 3. 5. A program-related information creating system for creating program-related information to be distributed in synchronization with the content of a main program in a broadcasting service, comprising: text data, moving images, still images, graphs, tables, etc. A first database that stores various data that is the source of the program-related information, index information that triggers the generation of the program-related information, and a generation function that defines a generation function for generating the program-related information in association Trigger detection means for inputting a plurality of stored second databases and index information given to the content, and detecting index information stored as a generation trigger in the second database from the input index information. When a generation trigger is detected by the trigger detection means,
Program-related information generating means for generating program-related information by referring to various data in the first database based on a generation function corresponding to the index information serving as the generation trigger. Information creation system. 6. The first database stores program-related information created in advance together with the various data. The program-related information stored in the first database is directly stored by the generation function. When the program-related information is directly specified by the generation function, the program-related information generating means uses the corresponding program-related information as the generated program-related information. A program-related information creating system according to claim 5. 7. The generation rule includes a plurality of generation rules having the same index information serving as a generation trigger and different generation functions, and the program-related information generating means generates one index for each generation trigger. 7. The program-related information creating system according to claim 5, wherein when there are a plurality of generation rules, the program-related information is created using the respective generation functions of the plurality of generation rules. 8. The method according to claim 5, wherein the index information is event information generated in the content, and the creation of the program-related information is an event-driven type using the event information as a generation trigger. 7. The program-related information creating system according to any one of 7. 9. The system according to claim 5, wherein the program-related information is a digest video. 10. The generation rule includes, in addition to the index information and the generation function serving as the generation trigger, index information serving as an extinction trigger for stopping distribution or primary storage of the program-related information generated by the corresponding generation function; The program according to any one of claims 5 to 9, wherein a degree of user's request for the program-related information assumed by a rule definer who defines the generation rule is defined. Related information creation system.