JP2004129245A - Receiving apparatus and the method, and viewing rate prediction method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a variety of services utilizing predicted viewing rate and viewers before or during broadcasting a program. <P>SOLUTION: A broadcast receiving apparatus is for receiving television broadcast and comprises a setting means for setting timer reservation for recording or viewing the program, a transmission means for transmitting the reservation information relating to the timer reservation set by the setting means, and a receiving means for receiving information relating to a reservation condition of the program generated based on the reservation information of a plurality of broadcast receiving apparatuses including the reservation information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

The present invention relates to a digital television device, and more particularly to a receiving device and a method capable of executing and confirming program viewing reservation and recording reservation via a network or the like.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a DTV device, in addition to the conventional analog broadcasting, digital broadcasting by satellite of BS and CS, digital broadcasting by cable, network broadcasting by the Internet and the like, and terrestrial digital broadcasting, and multi-channels have been advanced, and users have been increasing. It is becoming difficult to find a program suitable for the viewing purpose or preference and to select a desired program only by an electronic program guide (hereinafter abbreviated as EPG) composed of program service information sent together with the broadcast. Therefore, in order to extend the viewing support function and the operation support function of the DTV device, an agent function for assisting the user's operation is mounted, and a program suitable for the user's purpose and preference is recommended based on the user's individual hobbies and preferences. A mechanism for performing such operations is being installed in DTV devices. Also, regarding the agent function mounted on the main body of the DTV device, available resources are limited due to product cost and processing capacity problems, and the capability itself is limited. There is also an EPG service that has a large amount of information, has a high search capability, and uses a more accurate agent function by connecting to a host that has a higher capacity and has abundant program-related additional information. ing.

Providers providing DTV devices and EPG services equipped with such networks support not only the network communication between the DTV device and the service provider but also the network communication between the mobile terminal or mobile phone and the service provider. The user can browse the EPG and make a reservation or a recording reservation for a necessary program while outside the computer, so that the above-mentioned setting of the reservation or the recording reservation can be made for the DTV device at home via a network. Things are possible.

In addition, information on the audience rating is acquired in real time from a broadcast program audience rating research company via a network connected to the DTV device, and the user of the DTV device is encouraged to recommend a program with the highest audience rating. There are systems that provide information as a program and systems that display and notify a child screen of a program with a high audience rating as shown by 1203 to 1205 in FIG. Patent Document 1 discloses a display control device that receives and displays audience rating information.
JP 2001-8119 A

However, in the above configuration, no matter how excellent an EPG service is provided by using a host device, the reference program service information is provided by a broadcaster providing program contents. Basically, there is a tendency for the user to be always interested and want to watch the program, and personal profile information consisting of user's hobbies and preference information possessed by the agent function is basically Even if it is accurately reflected, there is a reality that the program is not always truly enjoyable for the user.

In addition, information about ratings, which is a proof that many viewers are watching the program, may already have passed the highlights of the ratings when the results arrived from the research company mentioned above. Even if the user starts watching the program later based on the information of the high audience rating, the possibility that the user wants to watch the program is not always high.

Furthermore, for broadcasters, although it is possible to predict the audience rating of each program in advance, the actual audience rating depends on various factors such as the balance with the programs of other stations, the weather on the day, the time station, etc. As a result, unexpected results may be obtained, and the effects of commercials and explanations to sponsors that use the assumed audience rating, as well as various effects related to the program, will be some sort of damage due to the fact that it is far from expected. Was suffering.

In addition, network broadcasters broadcasting over recent networks predict the number of viewers because the load on the server at the broadcast station fluctuates greatly depending on the number of viewers of the program. It is necessary to increase the sending capacity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a receiving apparatus and a method capable of preparing various services using an estimated audience rating and a viewer demographic before or during a broadcast of a program, and an audience rating prediction method. Aim.

The receiving device of the present invention is a receiving device for receiving a program, and transmits setting information for setting a reservation for recording and / or viewing of the program, and reservation information relating to the reservation set by the setting device. It is characterized by comprising transmitting means, and receiving means for receiving information relating to the reservation status of the program generated based on the reservation information and the reservation information of another plurality of receiving devices.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the receiving unit receives the information on the reservation status before the broadcast end time of the program.

Further, in the present invention, it is preferable that the information on the reservation status is audience rating information predicted based on the reservation information.

{Preferably, the audience rating is predicted by weighting each of the recording reservation information and the viewing reservation information in the reservation information.

Further, the receiving method of the present invention sets a reservation for recording and / or viewing of a broadcasted program, transmits reservation information relating to the set timer reservation, and receives the reservation information and another plurality of broadcast receptions. And receiving information on a reservation status of the program generated based on the reservation information of the device.

In addition, the reservation status transmitting method of the present invention is configured to receive, in a plurality of receiving devices, reservation information related to a timer-reserved viewing reservation and / or recording reservation, and to transmit information relating to a program reservation status based on the received reservation information. It is characterized by generating and transmitting the generated information on the reservation status to at least one broadcast receiving device.

In addition, the audience rating prediction method of the present invention collects information on a viewing reservation and / or a recording reservation in a plurality of receiving apparatuses, and broadcasts a program to be broadcast based on the collected information and time information until a broadcast start time. It is characterized by predicting the audience rating in.

Further, in the present invention, the information on the viewing reservation and the recording reservation are separately tabulated, and the results obtained by performing weighting by the coefficients are summed up, and the program information is obtained by the summation point and the time information until the broadcast start time. Is preferably predicted.

Then, in the present invention, the status of the viewing reservation and the recording reservation immediately before the broadcasting of the program is predicted based on the displacement of the counting result of the viewing reservation and the recording reservation at a plurality of specific times of the program to be broadcast. It is preferable to predict the audience rating of the program based on the predicted reservation status.

Further, in the present invention, it is preferable that user profile information is collected and the audience rating of the program is predicted for each viewer user group that can be identified in the user profile.

In the present invention, it is preferable to set a reservation for a receiving device connected to a network from a mobile terminal connected to the network via a host computer that provides an EPG service.

Further, in the present invention, based on the collected information on the viewing reservation and / or the recording reservation, before the operation based on the reservation is executed in the receiving device, the mobile terminal associated with the receiving device that made the reservation is provided. On the other hand, it is preferable to give an advance notice of the execution of the reservation.

In the present invention, a plurality of types of commercial advertisements different from each other are prepared for commercial advertisement spaces to be inserted in a program whose audience rating is predicted, and data of a reservation rate used for the prediction of the audience rating is prepared. It is preferable to select a commercial advertisement to be used at the time of broadcasting a program, based on the configuration content of the user profile included in.

In the present invention, it is preferable to select a program advertisement to be broadcast in a prepared program advertisement frame based on the predicted audience rating of the program.

In the present invention, a plurality of types of commercial advertisements that can be inserted are prepared for a program whose audience rating is predicted, and among the information used for the prediction, a configuration of a viewing reservation and a recording reservation is provided. Calculating the ratio, determining whether the calculated composition ratio of the recording reservation is greater than a predetermined specific value, and determining that the composition ratio is greater than a specific commercial advertisement among the plurality of types of commercial advertisements. Preferably, the advertisement is selected for insertion into the program.

According to the present invention, when a user selects a program in a receiving device such as a DTV device, not only the conventional EPG including only program-related information but also a reservation rate based on many identified user layers is used. Based on the information on the predicted audience rating of a program, it is possible to select a program more meaningful to the user. Also, by obtaining a predicted audience rating of a program in advance, a broadcaster can more effectively operate a commercial advertisement or the like. It is also possible to provide various services and perform advanced control such as optimal arrangement of programs in the server.

One embodiment of the present invention is connected to a receiving device such as a DTV device or the like for each user, when viewing reservation or recording reservation for a program is made directly or via a network means. By collecting and analyzing the above-mentioned various reservation information via the network means, the audience rating for each individual program is predicted, and each user is notified as program information based on the predicted information. , Or as additional information used in an EPG or an agent function, or a broadcaster is provided with a predicted audience rating or viewer-specific information.

Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a broadcast receiving apparatus for receiving a television broadcast, wherein a setting unit for setting a timer reservation for recording or viewing of a program and a timer reservation set by the setting unit. The transmission device includes transmission means for transmitting reservation information, and reception means for receiving information relating to the reservation status of the program generated based on reservation information of a plurality of broadcast receiving apparatuses including the reservation information.

FIG. 1 is a diagram best representing the features of a DTV device as a receiving device according to the present invention. Here, 101 and 108 indicate individual homes where DTV devices are installed, in which 102 and 109 are DTV devices, 103 and 110 are remote control devices, and 104 and 111 are communication devices for receiving terrestrial broadcasting. Antenna devices as means, 105 and 112 are antenna devices for receiving satellite broadcasting, and 106 and 113 are cable devices as communication means for receiving cable broadcasting. Reference numeral 114 denotes a provider that provides a high-performance EPG service to a subscriber, and is connected to individual homes by network means 107 and 110. Here, reference numeral 115 denotes a host computer for performing information storage, arithmetic processing, and EPG application services for providing services, and 116 denotes an antenna device for receiving various information. Reference numeral 117 denotes a portable terminal device which can receive 114 services outdoors, and is connected to various wireless communication means 118. Reference numeral 119 denotes a satellite for transmitting broadcasts and performing various kinds of communication, and performs reception and communication with 105, 112, and 116. Reference numeral 151 denotes a program server transmission system for broadcasting a program on the Internet or the like other than radio waves and cable devices, and is connected to each of the homes 101 and 108 via network means 107 and 110. Also, it is connected to the provider 114 so that information can be obtained.

FIG. 2 is a remote control device for operating the DTV device according to the present invention, 201 is a remote control device main body, 202 to 206 are up / down / left / right movement buttons and a center execution button for operating various setting menu screens of the DTV device. , 207 are color buttons used for data broadcasting at the time of digital broadcasting, 208 is a channel up / down button for up / down channel, and 209 is an up / down button for controlling the volume of the DTV device.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of a DTV device according to the present invention, where 301 is an antenna device for receiving digital broadcast radio waves, and 302 is a tuner for selecting and tuning radio waves received from an antenna. Device, 303 is a demodulation circuit device for demodulating a selected radio wave and converting it into a signal, 304 is a TS decoder circuit for separating a TS signal from the demodulated signal, and 305 is a video decoder for the separated TS signal. 306 is an audio decoder circuit that performs a code by audio from a TS signal, 307 is a data broadcast decoder circuit that also decodes a data broadcast from a TS signal, and 308 is information from various control devices of the main body of the DTV device. An OSD circuit for displaying an image, 309 indicates various applications mounted on the DTV device, and 310 indicates a DTV An image synthesizing unit for synthesizing and outputting various kinds of video information created inside the device, 311 is a monitor device serving as a display screen of the DTV device, 312 is a program for various controls of the DTV device and a program of an installed application and A ROM device 313 for storing various data stores a program for various controls of the DTV device, a program of an installed application and various data, and a RAM device serving as a work for operating the application. 314 is a CPU device for executing various control and application of the DTV device, 315 is a modem device for communication between the DTV device and an external device, and a modem device for receiving a program from a server device, and 316 is a limited reception operation of the DTV device. Authentication when exchanging, or exchanging various information with external devices 317 is a bus device for transmitting information between circuit blocks of the DTV device, and 318 is an interface for exchanging high-speed data including image data with an external device connected to the DTV device. A circuit 319 is a remote control device for transmitting various commands to the DTV device.

Hereinafter, the operation of the host computer on the provider side that provides the expected audience rating information and that is network-connected to the DTV device according to the present invention will be described in detail while describing the operation of the actual DTV device.

In the DTV device according to the present invention, it is assumed that the user has previously made a contract with a provider for providing his / her own profile information and program reservation information and receiving a service for providing expected audience rating information. I do.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an EPG application mounted on the DTV device according to the present invention, where 401 is a display screen of the DTV device, 402 is a line showing the channel ID of the broadcaster, and 403 and 404 are Shows the name, broadcast time, and program information of the program scheduled to be broadcast on the channel indicated by the channel ID. Reference numeral 405 denotes a focus frame indicating a program currently selected by the user, which can be moved between programs by using a cursor movement key of the remote control device. In this figure, for the sake of simplicity, all programs are described as being broadcast in the same time frame regardless of the channel, but it is needless to say that this is not a limitation.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example in which a context menu for performing an operation related to a selected portion is opened in the program selection state of FIG. 4, and the context menu is displayed by a dialog box 506. Now, in the EPG application according to the present embodiment, after selecting a program, by opening a context menu, three programs of “see detailed program information”, “reserve viewing of this program”, and “reserve recording of this program” are provided. Operation is possible.

In the DTV device according to the present invention, in this state, it is assumed that any one of “reservation for viewing this program” and “reservation for recording this program” is selected. Then, the DTV device executes the selected reservation operation and transmits the reservation information such as the user profile information, the DTV device ID, the channel ID, and the event ID stored in the DTV device to the service provider as the contract partner. Send. Thus, the service provider is provided with a large amount of program reservation information from a user who is a contractor.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for estimating an audience rating based on program reservation information sent from a user who is a contractor in a host computer of a service provider. Now, when an instruction for calculating the expected audience rating of a specific program based on the collected program reservation information is executed for the host computer, control is transferred to step 601 in FIG. The rate prediction routine will be activated. In step 602, information on the designated program is selected, and in step 603, data on the total program reservation rate for the program is acquired. In step 604, the broadcast date and time information of the designated program and the current date and time information are obtained, and in step 605, assignment to the correspondence table shown in FIG. 7 is performed. FIG. 7 is a conversion table for calculating the expected reservation rate on the broadcast day from the program reservation rate calculated a number of days before the broadcast day and associating this with the calculated reservation rate to derive the expected audience rating. In the present embodiment, a table as shown in FIG. 7 is presented for the purpose of explanation. However, the table is actually derived using a calculation formula, and the curve shown in the table also shows the actual program reservation information with respect to the actual program reservation information. Needless to say, it is statistically determined based on the relationship between audience ratings. Now, in step 605, for example, assuming that the reservation rate of the program indicated by 711 has been calculated 14 days before the actual broadcast date, in step 606, the expected curve indicated by 707 in FIG. 7 is selected, and in step 607, The intersection indicated by the expected curve 707 and the expected reservation rate 705 on the day of the broadcast is obtained. In step 608, the value of the expected audience rating corresponding to the intersection is read, and in step 609, the audience rating estimation routine ends. In the present routine, when data 712 corresponding to seven days before the broadcast day indicated by 712 is obtained, the prediction curve 709 is selected in step 606, and as a result, a different predicted audience rating is calculated. As described above, the calculation of the estimated audience rating by the present algorithm enables the more accurate estimated audience rating to be calculated as the date approaches the broadcast day of the program. In this way, the host computer of the service provider appropriately calculates the expected audience rating for all programs scheduled to be broadcast, and can provide necessary information to the subscriber at any time.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing functional blocks of an agent function mounted on the DTV device according to the present invention. Here, reference numerals 801 to 803 denote information groups which can be normally obtained from the outside by the agent processing function 810, reference numeral 801 denotes a broadcast wave including program service information stored in 804, and reference numeral 802 denotes a user This is information on the operation performed by the user. With this, various kinds of user preference information stored in 805 and the program viewing / listening actually performed by the user's operation procedure stored in 806 using the time information in 803 are used. Creation of history information is performed. Reference numeral 811 denotes expected audience rating information that can be obtained from the previous service provider using network means. Reference numeral 807 denotes EPG display information retrieved and extracted by the agent processing function 810 based on the information of the stored information groups 804 to 806. Further, 808 is further extracted as a user's favorite program from the 807 EPG display. The favorite program presentation list 809 is a program with a high expected audience rating selected based on the expected audience rating information 811.

Note that the user appearing in the description of FIG. 8 may be a different user from the user who made the program reservation earlier, and even if the same user is selecting another program using the EPG. I do not care.

As described above, the agent function usually presents a favorite program to the user through the EPG based on the user's preference information, viewing history, and operation history. However, in the DTV device according to the present invention, it is unnecessary. Accordingly, it is also possible to present a program with a high expected audience rating using the expected audience rating information.

FIG. 9 shows the DTV device according to the present invention, in which the first to third programs in the same time frame are marked and presented as the above-mentioned programs with the highest expected audience rating.

As described above, in the EPG display of the DTV device, by identifying and posting the program with the highest anticipated audience rating, the user can not only receive information on the recommended program selected by the agent function, but also view many other viewers. You can find popular programs that will be there.

In addition, when extracting recommended programs by the agent function, by taking into account expected audience rating information, it is possible to provide not only recommended programs based on user preference information and habitual viewing, but also recommended programs that take into account trends in the world. It becomes possible.

In addition, when receiving the expected audience rating, depending on the aggregation method of the service provider, each group that can be classified based on the profile information of the subscriber who is the provider of the reservation information, such as gender, age, occupation, etc. It is also possible to receive provision of other popular program information.

In this embodiment, the user executes the program reservation using the EPG function attached to the main body of the DTV apparatus. However, the user uses the portable terminal as shown in FIG. The service provider may access the provider and make a program reservation for the EPG provided by the service provider from outside. In this case, the service provider makes a program reservation to the DTV device of the individual home via the network means. It is also possible to execute Of course, in this case, the DTV device that has remotely operated the program reservation does not need to transmit the information of the program reservation to the service provider.

Further, in the present embodiment, the audience rating of each program is predicted based on the program reservation information in a plurality of DTV devices. However, the program reservation information in a plurality of DTV devices is totaled, and the reservation status of each program is calculated. May be transmitted to each DTV device.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to not only browse the EPG based on the conventional program service information attached to the broadcast wave or the information from the EPG provider, but also reserve the program, By adding information based on the expected audience rating based on the program reservation information of other users, it is possible to expand the range of information for the user to select the program to be viewed, and want to see from many channels This is important information when selecting a program.

In the above-described embodiment, the viewing reservation for receiving the notification of the start of the program from the DTV device in some form, and the user is out of the office during the broadcast time of the program or is at home during the broadcast time of the program. Also, even if an unexpected accident was met, the recording reservations that would never be overlooked were grouped under the same conditions as the reservation rate, but as shown in FIG. Independently, further, each numerical value is multiplied by a specific coefficient, weighted, and then summed up. This is used as a reservation rate point. Based on the reservation rate point, an expected curve is selected as shown in FIG. By calculating the expected audience rating after that, it is possible to calculate the expected audience rating more accurately in consideration of the user's thoughts on the viewing reservation and the recording reservation.

In any of the above-described embodiments, a curve is selected from a correspondence table based on the reservation rate at a specific time before the broadcast day, and the expected audience rating is uniquely calculated thereby. As the broadcast time approaches, unexpected information is communicated by word of mouth, program-related events are excited, or the program is intensively advertised, so the selection of a curve based on the reservation rate at a specific time is selected. Then there are some cases that do not suit the actual situation.

In the present embodiment, the coefficients constituting the curve are sequentially changed based on the rates of increase in the reservation rate at two specific times, such as 14 days before and 7 days before the broadcast date and time, and a value closer to the actual audience rating Can be calculated in advance, thereby making it possible to more accurately calculate the expected audience rating.

In any of the above-described embodiments, even if the user has made a viewing reservation, the user forgets the fact that the user has made a viewing reservation, and if the user is not near the DTV device on the day of the program, the user uses the highly functional EPG service. Even if they do, or even if they make a reservation using a portable terminal from outside, there is a case where the user is uncomfortable.

In this embodiment, when a viewing reservation is made, an EPG service provider schedules a viewing notice alarm to the user's portable terminal device connected through the network means at the date and time when the viewing reservation is set. By doing so, it is possible to eliminate the risk that the user misses the program reserved for viewing.

In each of the above embodiments, a user who has made a contract with an EPG service provider has merits, but the predicted audience rating can be used on the broadcaster side.

In the present embodiment, based on the viewer's personal profile collected by the EPG service provider, for a specific program, a user group having a high predicted audience rating is identified, and the identification result is determined in advance when the program is broadcast. By replacing the commercial advertisement of the sponsor company with a commercial advertisement suitable for a user group with a higher predicted audience rating, it is possible to enhance the effect of the commercial advertisement.

In addition, when there is a program with a particularly low predicted audience rating, it is possible to improve the actual audience rating of the program by effectively broadcasting a program notice in advance for the program itself in advance. Thereby, it is possible to maintain the value of the commercial advertisement frame in the program.

Further, among the program reservation information collected in advance, for a program having a high recording reservation ratio, the time at which the program is played and viewed at each home is assumed in advance, and the time at which the program is assumed to be played and viewed. By inserting a commercial advertisement in advance, the effect of the commercial advertisement can be enhanced at a time different from the broadcast time.

In addition, since the predicted audience rating for all programs can be obtained in advance, the effective introduction of the program announcement enables the control of the audience rating on an actual program basis, and the sponsor company can plan commercials. Advertiser pricing and sales activities are possible.

In the present embodiment, the reservation audience rating is used by a broadcaster who performs network broadcasting.

In the present embodiment, a network broadcaster and a provider that collects information from each home are affiliated with each other, and based on the reservation audience rating information collected by the provider, an area with a high reservation audience rating, For a program with a large size, measures are taken such that the sending capability of the server of the program in the 151 server system to which the program is sent is set high in advance, or the network from other servers is strengthened. As a result, it is possible to prevent the server from being excessively installed, and to prevent the viewer from being unreceivable due to the overload of the server, disturbing the image, and the like, and reliably broadcast the program.

The present invention is used in a transmitting device and a receiving device for TV programs and the like and a network system including them.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a DTV device and a peripheral system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is an external view of a remote control device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Functional block diagram for explaining a first embodiment according to the present invention FIG. 2 is a view for explaining a first embodiment according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a view for explaining a first embodiment according to the present invention. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the first embodiment according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a view for explaining a first embodiment according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a view for explaining a first embodiment according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a view for explaining a first embodiment according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a view for explaining the operation of the second embodiment according to the present invention. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a second embodiment according to the present invention. Diagram explaining conventional technology

Explanation of reference numerals

101, 108 Frames representing individual homes 102, 109 DTV devices 103, 110 Remote control devices 104, 111 Terrestrial broadcast antennas 105, 112 Satellite broadcast antennas 106, 113 Wired broadcast cables 114 Frames representing service provider companies 115 Host computers 117 Portable terminal device 119 Broadcast communication satellite 201 Remote control device main body 202-205 Up / down / left / right movement button 206 Execute button 207 Data broadcast color button 208 Channel up / down button 209 Volume button

Claims (15)

A receiving device for receiving a program,
Setting means for setting a reservation for recording and / or viewing of a program;
Transmitting means for transmitting reservation information related to the reservation set by the setting means,
A receiving device, comprising: receiving means for receiving information on a reservation status of the program generated based on the reservation information and reservation information of another plurality of receiving devices. The receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the receiving unit receives the information on the reservation status before a broadcast end time of the program. The receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information on the reservation status is audience rating information predicted based on the reservation information. 4. The receiving apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the audience rating is predicted by weighting each of the recording reservation information and the viewing reservation information in the reservation information. Set a recording and / or viewing reservation for the broadcasted program,
Transmitting reservation information related to the set timer reservation,
A receiving method, comprising: receiving information related to a reservation state of the program generated based on the reservation information and reservation information of another plurality of broadcast receiving apparatuses. Receiving reservation information related to timer-reserved viewing reservation and / or recording reservation in a plurality of receiving devices,
Based on the received reservation information, generate information related to the reservation status of the program,
A reservation status transmitting method, wherein the generated information on the reservation status is transmitted to at least one broadcast receiving device. Information on viewing reservations and / or recording reservations in a plurality of receiving devices is collected, and a rating of a broadcasted program is predicted based on the collected information and time information until a broadcast start time. , Audience rating prediction method. Requests for summing up information on viewing reservations and recording reservations separately, summing up the results of weighting by coefficients, and predicting the audience rating of the program based on the summed points and time information until the broadcast start time. Item 8. The audience rating prediction method according to Item 7. The viewing reservation and the recording reservation status immediately before the broadcast of the program are predicted by the displacement of the counting result of the viewing reservation and the recording reservation at a plurality of specific points in time of the program to be broadcast, and the predicted reservation status is determined. The audience rating method according to claim 7, wherein the audience rating of the program is estimated based on the audience rating. 8. The audience rating prediction method according to claim 7, wherein user profile information is collected, and the audience rating of the program is predicted for each viewer user group that can be identified in the user profile. 6. The receiving method according to claim 5, wherein a reservation is set from a network-connected portable terminal to a receiving device connected to the network via a host computer that provides an EPG service. Based on the collected information on viewing and / or recording reservations,
The receiving device according to claim 1, wherein before the operation based on the reservation is executed in the receiving device, a notice of the execution of the reservation is given to a portable terminal associated with the receiving device that made the reservation. A plurality of types of commercial advertisements different from each other are prepared for a commercial advertisement space inserted in a program whose audience rating is predicted, and a configuration of a user profile included in data of a reservation rate used for the prediction of the audience rating. 8. The audience rating prediction method according to claim 7, wherein a commercial advertisement to be used at the time of program broadcasting is selected based on the content. 8. The audience rating prediction method according to claim 7, wherein a program advertisement to be broadcast in a prepared program advertisement frame is selected based on the predicted audience rating of the program. A plurality of types of commercial advertisements that can be inserted are prepared for the program whose audience rating has been predicted, and the composition ratio between the viewing reservation and the recording reservation among the information used for the prediction is calculated. It is determined whether or not the composition ratio of the recording reservation is greater than a predetermined specific value. If it is determined that the composition ratio is large, the commercial advertisement is selected from the plurality of types of commercial advertisements to be inserted into a program. The audience rating prediction method according to claim 7.

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