JP2005267577A - System for distributing content, content management server, and method of content distribution - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a user not to take much trouble for acquiring content information. <P>SOLUTION: The user of a portable terminal 104 transmits data which includes key information corresponding to the content which the user has interest, to a content management server 105. The content management server 105 extracts the key information from the data transmitted from the portable terminal 104 and generates key information related to the extracted key information. A content storage is retrieved based on the pieces of key information. Menu information of the user who transmits the key information among the menu information which are provided at every user and kept in a clue server 107 is updated by the content information which indicates the content storage. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a content distribution system, a content management server, and a content distribution method for distributing content such as video information via a network, and in particular, a content distribution system that enables distribution of content that matches the needs of content users. The present invention relates to a content management server and a content distribution method.

  As a content distribution system that distributes video information as content according to the user's preference, the program keyword that the user is interested in is transmitted from the mobile terminal to the server, and the server extracts the program based on the program keyword. There is a system that distributes video information of extracted programs to users (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In addition, there is a system in which an access menu used when a mobile terminal accesses content via the Internet is set for each user, and the access menu for each user is automatically updated according to the user's preference (for example, , See Patent Document 2).

  According to such a system, an access menu provided for each user of the mobile terminal can be matched to each user's preference by transmitting a keyword that the user is interested in to the server. Can be updated.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-179907 (paragraphs 0007-0016, FIG. 9) Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2002-324074 (paragraphs 0020-0026, FIG. 4)

  However, in the system described in Patent Document 1, program information that matches a program keyword transmitted by the user is extracted from a program database prepared in advance, and the extracted program information is provided to the user. Select the program information provided. Then, the program information desired by the user is not provided unless the user selects a program keyword appropriately. As a result, the user repeatedly transmits the program keyword, and it takes time to find the program that the user wants. Moreover, the system described in Patent Document 1 is merely intended for the convenience of user program reservation. In the system described in Patent Document 2, although the access menu provided for each user is automatically updated, the basis of the update is the user's past access history. Then, an access menu that does not necessarily match the current user's preference may be created.

  It is an object of the present invention to take away from the point of view of the convenience of program reservation for the user, and to collect a wide range of content information that the user thinks that he / she wants, so that the user has trouble in obtaining the content information. It is an object to provide a content distribution system, a content management server, and a content distribution method that can prevent the application of a content.

  In the content distribution system according to the present invention, a content management server extracts key information from data transmitted from a mobile terminal, and generates key information related to the extracted key information, and key information extraction means Content search means for searching the storage location of the content based on the extracted key information and the generated key information, and information indicating the storage location of the content searched by the content search means are provided exclusively for the user of the portable terminal Distribution menu creating means for adding to the existing menu information.

  The content distribution system may include menu storage means for storing menu information for each user, and user registration means for performing user registration processing.

  It is a terminal device for a user to use content, and may include a viewer terminal having a display unit having a larger screen than the display unit of the mobile terminal.

  The viewer terminal preferably has storage means for storing the content downloaded from the content storage location.

  A content management server according to the present invention is a content management server that is communicably connected to a mobile terminal via a communication network, and extracts key information from data transmitted from the mobile terminal and relates to the extracted key information Key information extraction means for generating key information to be performed, content search means for searching for the storage location of the content based on the key information extracted by the key information extraction means and the generated key information, and storage of the content searched by the content search means Distribution menu creation means for adding information indicating the location to menu information provided exclusively for the user of the portable terminal is provided.

  The key information extraction means may include character recognition means and voice recognition means, and may be configured to extract key information from text information, voice information, or image information transmitted from the mobile terminal.

  In the content distribution method according to the present invention, the mobile terminal transmits key information to the content management server via the communication network, and the content management server extracts the key information from the data transmitted from the mobile terminal and the extracted key. Generates key information related to the information, and the content management server searches the storage location of the content based on the extracted key information and the generated key information, and carries menu information including information indicating the storage location of the content. Created exclusively for the user of the terminal, the viewer terminal downloads the content from the storage location of the content selected from the menu information.

  According to the present invention, there is an effect that a user can be prevented from taking time and effort to obtain content information.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing a configuration example of a content distribution system according to the present invention. In the system shown in FIG. 1, the viewer terminal 106 can access a large number of content distribution servers 108 and 109 via a communication network (hereinafter referred to as a network) 101 such as the Internet. The viewer terminal 106 is, for example, a personal computer or a television receiver having an Internet access function, and has a large screen display compared to the portable terminal 104. In addition, the viewer terminal 106 preferably includes a large-capacity storage device such as a hard disk for storing downloaded content.

  A mobile terminal 104 such as a mobile phone is connected to the network 101 via a base station 103 and a gateway 102. A content management server 105 and a clue server 107 are connected to the network 101. When the key information is notified from the mobile terminal 104, the content management server 105 searches for related content based on the key information, creates menu information including content information (for example, URL), and transmits the menu information to the clue server 107. To do. The clue server 107 stores menu information. Menu information is created for each user. Further, the content management server 105 and the clue server 107 may be realized by one server device. Further, FIG. 1 shows one mobile terminal 104 and two content distribution servers 108 and 109, but any number of them may be provided.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the mobile terminal 104. Here, a mobile phone is assumed as the mobile terminal 104. In the example illustrated in FIG. 2, the mobile terminal 104 communicates with the base station 103 via a control unit 201 that controls the entire apparatus, a storage unit 202 that stores programs and data, a display unit 203 such as a small LCD, and an antenna 205. A wireless unit 204 that performs imaging, a camera unit 206 that has an imaging function, an operation unit 207 that includes numeric keys and function keys, a transmission / reception unit 208 that converts analog audio signals and audio data, a speaker 209 that is connected to the transmission / reception unit 208, and A microphone 210 is included.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the content management server 105. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the content management server 105 extracts key information from data transmitted from the communication unit 1050 and the mobile terminal 104 that communicate with other devices via the network 101 and generates related key information. The key information extraction unit 1051 to search for, the content distribution server holding the content that matches the key information extracted by the key information extraction unit 1051 and the generated key information, and specifies the storage location of the content (corresponding to content information such as URL) And a distribution menu creation unit 1053 that performs processing for adding newly specified content information to the menu information stored in the clue server 107.

  The key information extraction unit 1051 includes a character recognition unit that recognizes text information from an image, and a voice recognition unit that converts a voice signal into text information. Further, the key information extraction unit 1051 includes a key information generation unit that generates related key information based on the extracted key information. The key information extraction unit 1051 outputs the extracted key information and the generated key information to the distribution menu creation unit 1053.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the clue server 107. In the example illustrated in FIG. 4, the clue server 107 includes a communication unit 1070 that communicates with other devices via the network 101, a menu storage unit 1072 provided for each user, a user registration and menu storage unit 1072. A registrant management unit 1071 is included. Menu information is stored in the menu storage unit 1072.

  Next, the operation of the content distribution system will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. The user accesses the clue server 107 in advance and performs registration processing. As a registration processing method, for example, the clue server 107 prepares a Web page for registration processing. That is, the user operates the mobile terminal 104 to download a registration processing Web page. The registration processing Web page is displayed on the display unit 203. The user fills in necessary items (name, e-mail address, etc.) on the displayed screen, and transmits it to the clue server 107.

  In the clue server 107, the registrant management unit 1071 registers information transmitted from the mobile terminal 104 and secures a menu storage unit 1072 corresponding to the user of the mobile terminal 104 in the storage device. As described above, the process for registering the user of the portable terminal 104 is completed (step S1).

  When the user is carrying the mobile terminal 104 and acting, when the user remembers the content desired to be viewed or finds information related to the content desired to be viewed, the information related to the content is key information To the content management server 105 (steps S2 and S3). The following transmission methods are available.

  For example, the user transmits key information of text information to the content management server 105 as an e-mail. In that case, the key information extraction unit 1051 in the content management server 105 recognizes the content of the text of the email as key information. Further, the content management server 105 may prepare a Web page for key information input. In that case, the user downloads a Web page for key information input using the portable terminal 104. A key information input Web page is displayed on the display unit 203. The user inputs key information on the displayed screen and transmits it to the content management server 105.

  Further, the user may transmit key information to the content management server 105 by voice. In that case, the mobile terminal 104 establishes a call with the content management server 105 via the mobile phone network, and inputs key information to the content management server 105 by voice according to voice guidance from the content management server 105, for example. In that case, the key information extraction unit 1051 in the content management server 105 performs voice recognition processing to convert the voice signal into text information (key information).

  Further, the user may transmit the key information to the content management server 105 using an image. In that case, the user first operates the mobile terminal 104 to capture an image including information related to the content. Then, for example, the image is transmitted to the content management server 105 as an email attachment file. A key information extraction unit 1051 in the content management server 105 performs character recognition processing on the transmitted image to extract text information (key information).

  Note that an image may be transmitted to the content management server 105 via a Web page in the same manner as when the key information of the text information is transmitted to the content management server 105. Here, text information is extracted from the image in the content management server 105, but the image may be used as key information as it is. Further, not only a still image but also a moving image may be used as key information. Further, the user captures, for example, a signboard or an advertisement existing in the city as an image including information related to the content.

  The key information extraction unit 1051 in the content management server 105 extracts the key information from the data when the data including the key information is sent from the portable terminal 104 (step S11), and based on the extracted key information, Related key information is generated (step S12). Then, the extracted key information and the generated key information are output to the distribution menu creating unit 1053. Note that the key information extraction unit 1051 outputs only the extracted key information to the distribution menu creation unit 1053 when the related key information cannot be generated.

  The distribution menu creation unit 1053 searches for a content distribution server that holds content using one or a plurality of input key information as a search key, and specifies a storage location (corresponding to content information such as a URL) of the content (step S13). . Here, a case where a URL is specified is taken as an example. Also, the distribution menu creation unit 1053 can know the storage location of the content by using a search service provided by an existing information search server, for example. Then, the obtained URL is added to the menu information of the user stored in the clue server 107 (step S14).

  Examples of key information generated by the key information extraction unit 1051 include a group name to which the talent belongs and a production company name when the key information sent from the mobile terminal 104 is a talent name. In addition, there is video information such as a movie in which the talent appears as content. In this embodiment, since the key information related to the key information sent from the mobile terminal 104 is also created, the distribution menu creation unit 1053 does not introduce the talent name, for example, but the group to which the talent belongs It is possible to extract content information that introduces the menu information, and it can be expected that menu information that matches the user's desire will be created. The correspondence relationship between the talent name, the group name, the production company name, and the like is stored in advance in the key information extraction unit 1051 as a database.

  FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of menu information. In the example illustrated in FIG. 7, the user has transmitted “AAA” as key information to the content management server 105. Then, it is shown that the distribution menu creation unit 1053 has found two pieces of content information. Further, it is indicated that a Web page on which an article including the key information “AAA” is posted and added to the menu information is not video information matching the key information “AAA”. The delivery date and time is added to the content that is delivered on a specific date and time. The notification location is a location where the user has transmitted key information. For example, when the content management server 105 includes a map database and the mobile terminal 104 includes a GPS receiver, the latitude and longitude information specified based on the received signal of the GPS receiver is transmitted to the content management server 105. The content management server 105 can know the notification location by searching the map database based on the received latitude and longitude information.

  The user accesses the clue server 107 from the viewer terminal 106 at home, for example, and downloads menu information provided for himself / herself. The menu information is displayed on the display unit of the viewer terminal 106. Then, the menu information is viewed (step S5), the content storage location displayed in the menu information is accessed, the content is downloaded and viewed (step S6).

  As described above, in this embodiment, the content management server 105 can create menu information that suits the user's preference according to each user. At that time, the user simply transmits the key information to the content management server 105. For example, when the user finds key information related to the content that he / she wants to watch on the go, it is difficult to view the content using the display unit of the portable terminal 104 he / she is carrying (because the screen is small). For example, the key information may be transmitted to the content management server 105 as if it were a note of the key information. After returning home, the content corresponding to the key information can be used on the viewer terminal 106 by checking the menu information. Therefore, even when the key information is forgotten before returning home, the user can use the content.

  An application program for periodically accessing the clue server 107 and confirming the menu information may be mounted on the viewer terminal 106 including a control unit (CPU) and a program storage unit. When the application program further detects that new information has been added to the menu information, the application program may be configured to download content from the URL indicated by the new information and store it in the storage device. Here, when the information on the delivery date is included in the new information, the download is executed on the delivery date. In such a configuration, the user can immediately view the content stored in the storage device of the viewer terminal 106 when the user returns home. Therefore, the time for the user to search for the content is shortened, and the time until the user actually views the content is also shortened.

  The content that can be handled by the system according to the present invention is not limited to video information. For example, the content may be a web page. In that case, when the user finds the key information while going out, detailed information corresponding to the key information can be obtained on the large screen at home. Further, the key information related to the key information extracted from the data transmitted from the mobile terminal 104 is not limited to human information (in the above example, an affiliated group or affiliated company). For example, various modifications such as a place related to key information and a genre related to key information can be considered.

  In addition, when a user downloads paid content, the user may pay the fee to the operator of the content management server 105 in a lump. The operator of the content management server 105 not only paid the content fee to the operator of the content distribution server that provided the content from the fee collected from the user, but also provided the content information posted in the menu information (content A predetermined fee may also be paid to the operator of the content distribution server (which has not been provided).

  FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a correspondence relationship between key information stored in the key information extraction unit 1051. In the example shown in FIG. 8, a talent name, a group name to which the talent belongs, and a production company name are associated with each other. For example, when the user inputs “arrow” from the portable terminal 104 as key information, the key information extraction unit 1051 sets “... Daughter” and “ΔΔΔΔ” as key information. Generate as Then, with respect to the three key information, a content distribution server that distributes content (in this example, video information) and a specific content storage location (URL) are searched. If there is a Web page that matches the three keywords, it is also extracted. These URLs are added to the menu information of the user who transmitted the key information.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, as the menu information, a program menu corresponding to the preference conveyed by the user using the key information is created.

  The present invention is meaningful when the user of the mobile terminal and the viewer terminal uses the content that he / she is interested in on the viewer terminal, and shortens the time until the user obtains the content he / she is interested in. You can build a system that can.

1 is a system configuration diagram illustrating a configuration example of a content distribution system according to the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of a portable terminal. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of a content management server. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of a clue server. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of a content delivery system. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of a content delivery system. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of menu information. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the correspondence of key information.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Network 102 Gateway 103 Base station 104 Portable terminal 105 Content management server 106 Viewer terminal 107 Clue server 108,109 Content distribution server

Claims (7)

A mobile terminal, and a content management server connected to the mobile terminal via a communication network so as to be communicable,
The content management server extracts key information from the data transmitted from the portable terminal, and generates key information related to the extracted key information;
Content search means for searching for a storage location of content based on the key information extracted by the key information extraction means and the generated key information;
A content distribution system comprising: distribution menu creation means for adding information indicating a storage location of the content searched by the content search means to menu information provided exclusively for a user of the mobile terminal. The content distribution system according to claim 1, further comprising: a menu storage unit that stores menu information for each user; and a user registration unit that performs a user registration process. The content distribution system according to claim 1, further comprising a viewer terminal that is a terminal device for a user to use content and has a display unit having a larger screen than a display unit of a mobile terminal. The content distribution system according to claim 3, wherein the viewer terminal has storage means for storing the content downloaded from the storage location of the content. A content management server that is communicably connected to a mobile terminal via a communication network,
Key information extraction means for extracting key information from the data transmitted from the portable terminal and generating key information related to the extracted key information;
Content search means for searching for a storage location of content based on the key information extracted by the key information extraction means and the generated key information;
A content management server comprising: distribution menu creation means for adding information indicating a storage location of the content searched by the content search means to menu information provided exclusively for a user of the mobile terminal. Key information extraction means
Including character recognition means and voice recognition means,
The content management server according to claim 5, wherein key information is extracted from text information, audio information, or image information transmitted from a portable terminal. The mobile terminal sends key information to the content management server via the communication network,
The content management server extracts key information from data transmitted from the mobile terminal, and generates key information related to the extracted key information,
The content management server searches the storage location of the content based on the extracted key information and the generated key information,
Create menu information specifically for mobile device users, including information about where content is stored,
A content distribution method, wherein the viewer terminal downloads content from a storage location of content selected from the menu information.

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