JP2005328400A - Information providing system, device and method, recording medium, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide data concerning a program broadcasted already in the form of EPG. <P>SOLUTION: An upload data totalizing section 71 acquires information concerning a recorded program (program information such as channel and broadcast time zone) from a user side terminal. A program information totalizing section 72 totalizes acquired program information to create past EPG, i.e. information concerning a program broadcasted already. The acquired program information includes information of recorded programs and already reproduced programs and statistics, e.g. the total number of recording users, are obtained from these pieces of information. That statistics are also reflected on the past EPG. When the past EPG is provided, a mark indicating completion of recording is displayed in a column corresponding to a program recorded by the user. The invention is applicable to a server handling data of the EPG. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an information providing system, an information providing apparatus and method, a recording medium, and a program, and in particular, uses information acquired at a past time to restore information at a past time and The present invention also relates to an information providing system, an information providing apparatus and method, a recording medium, and a program suitable for use in creating and providing information useful for a user.

  In recent years, hard disk recorders, DVD recorders, and the like are becoming popular, and electronic program guides called EPG (Electric Program Guide) are also becoming popular. Some hard disk recorders and the like have a function that makes it easy to make a recording reservation using an EPG.

The EPG can also be viewed on a personal computer or the like via the Internet, etc., and the user can check what programs will be broadcast in addition to recording reservations, and details of programs of interest. You can browse information. With such use, the use of EPG is becoming common, and various services using EPG have been proposed. (See Patent Document 1)
JP-A-11-164276

  One reason for providing a program (the side of a television broadcasting station) to provide EPG is to promote the program for viewing (recording) the program. In addition, the side that manufactures hard disk recorders and the like that can handle EPGs can easily make recording reservations and the like by using EPGs, and therefore manufactures devices that can handle EPGs. doing.

  This is considered as the reason why EPG is provided. This means that it is assumed that information related to a program broadcast at a time (future) after the current time is provided and used. Therefore, the EPG is configured not to provide information related to programs that have been broadcast. Another reason for this configuration is that the EPG management side deletes old data in order to effectively use the storage area for storing the EPG.

  In addition, there is a contract form in which the EPG license must be deleted after the broadcast ends, and a past EPG cannot be provided.

  As described above, since the past EPG cannot be used, for example, there is a problem that it is not possible to know from the EPG when and what kind of program has been broadcast for a broadcast program that has not been stored on the user side. It was. Therefore, if you want to search for past programs, you have to confirm them using paper media such as newspapers and magazines. In addition, there is a problem that a great deal of effort must be taken for processing such as confirming future information such as the next broadcast schedule, recording reservation, etc. from past information described in such paper media. there were.

  For example, detailed information of a program that has become interesting after the broadcast cannot be confirmed by EPG through a content recording / playback apparatus (for example, a hard disk recorder), and a predetermined program (continuous broadcast with interest) The next broadcast schedule of a program to be broadcasted (eg, a program to be played) has to be actively searched for (for example, by comparing with information obtained from a paper medium) from the EPG.

  Further, even if the user has acquired information from the EPG and stored the program, the information obtained (acquired information) is relatively coarse information such as the program name and explanation about the program, The evaluation of other users on the program obtained after the broadcast (after viewing) could not be confirmed.

  Similarly, the evaluation of other users could not be confirmed for the broadcast scheduled program.

  In addition, it is conceivable to store and use the EPG after the broadcast ends on the server side, but the EPG used in the content recording / playback apparatus (the EPG used on the user side) and the EPG managed on the server side However, there is a problem that the genre of the program genre may be different, and therefore, a search or the like must be executed with a different genre of the genre that the user has recognized.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object thereof is to provide data relating to a program that has already been broadcast in an EPG format. In addition, the information to be provided includes user evaluation and the like, and aims to provide more useful data than a conventional EPG. Another object of the present invention is to make settings related to the future such as recording reservation from past information.

  An information providing system of the present invention is an information providing system including a first information processing apparatus that records content and a second information processing apparatus that acquires information from the first information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus includes storage means for storing the accompanying information of the content and supply means for supplying the accompanying information stored in the storage means to the second information processing apparatus. Information relating to processing performed on the content on the first information processing apparatus side from the accompanying information supplied by the means, and calculating means for calculating the total number of times of processing; The gist of the present invention is to provide an EPG (Electric Program Guide) that includes the total calculated by the calculation means as information.

  The information providing apparatus according to the present invention includes, firstly, an acquisition unit that acquires accompanying information related to the recorded content from a recording device that records the content, and a creation unit that creates an EPG related to the content from the accompanying information. The gist.

  Secondly, in addition to the first gist, the accompanying information acquired by the acquisition unit includes first information including at least information on a channel on which the content is broadcast and information on a date on which the content is broadcast. This is the gist.

  Third, in addition to the second gist, the accompanying information includes, in addition to the first information, status information indicating whether the content is scheduled to be recorded, recorded, or reproduced, and the user's preference for the content of the recording device Second information including at least one of preference information, protect information indicating whether or not to maintain the state in which the content is recorded, and viewing number information indicating the number of times the content is reproduced after being recorded. Is further included.

  Fourth, in addition to the third gist, the information processing device further includes a calculation unit that extracts second information from the accompanying information acquired by the acquisition unit and calculates a total based on the second information, and the generation unit includes: The gist is to create an EPG including information on the total calculated by the calculation means.

  Fifth, in addition to the first gist, the creating means creates an EPG including information related to content broadcast at a time later than the time when the EPG is created.

  The content may be a program broadcast by television broadcasting, and the recording device may be configured to record the program. In addition, since the EPG is created by acquiring the accompanying information related to the program recorded in the recording device, the created EPG can be an EPG related to the already broadcasted program.

  An information providing method of the present invention is an information providing method of an information providing apparatus including at least means for communicating with a recording apparatus for recording content and means for storing created data, and controls the means for communicating, and the recording apparatus The present invention includes an acquisition step of acquiring accompanying information related to the content recorded in the above and a creation step of creating an EPG related to the content from the accompanying information acquired in the processing of the acquiring step.

  The recording medium of the present invention is a recording medium recording a computer program for controlling an information providing apparatus including at least means for communicating with a recording apparatus for recording content and means for storing created data, Including an acquisition step of controlling the means for acquiring the content information related to the content recorded in the recording device, and a creation step of creating an EPG related to the content from the additional information acquired in the processing of the acquisition step. Is recorded.

  A program according to the present invention is a computer program for controlling an information providing apparatus including at least means for communicating with a recording apparatus for recording content and means for storing created data, and controls the means for communication to control the recording apparatus. The present invention includes an acquisition step of acquiring accompanying information related to the content recorded in the above and a creation step of creating an EPG related to the content from the accompanying information acquired in the processing of the acquiring step.

  In the information providing system, information providing apparatus and method, and program of the present invention, information related to the content recorded in the recording device is acquired, and an EPG related to the content already broadcast is created from the information.

  According to the present invention, program information can be provided. The provided information can be related to content broadcast in the past.

  According to the present invention, an EPG relating to content that has already been broadcast can be created from information recorded by the user. If the user's preference is included in the information recorded on the user side, it is possible to provide an EPG related to a past program in a form reflecting the user's preference.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to associate a program broadcast in the past with a program broadcast in the future. For example, it is possible to make a recording reservation for a program broadcast in the future related to a program broadcast in the past. It becomes.

  BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The best mode of the present invention will be described below. The correspondence relationship between the disclosed invention and the embodiments is exemplified as follows. Although there is an embodiment which is described in the specification but is not described here as corresponding to the invention, it means that the embodiment corresponds to the invention. It doesn't mean not. Conversely, even if an embodiment is described herein as corresponding to an invention, that means that the embodiment does not correspond to an invention other than the invention. Absent.

  Further, this description does not mean all the inventions described in the specification. In other words, this description is an invention which is described in the specification and which is not claimed in this application, that is, in the future, it will be filed in division, appearing by amendment, or added. It does not deny the existence of the invention.

  The information providing system of the present invention includes a first information processing apparatus (for example, the content recording / playback apparatus 4 in FIG. 1) that records content and a second information processing apparatus that acquires information from the first information processing apparatus ( For example, the information providing system is configured by the past EPG server 2) of FIG.

  The first information processing apparatus includes a storage unit (for example, a viewing history storage unit 127 in FIG. 8) for storing content accompanying information (for example, the viewing history table 141 in FIG. 9), and an associated storage stored in the storage unit. Supply means (for example, the transmission / reception unit 121 in FIG. 8) for supplying information to the second information processing apparatus, and the second information processing apparatus performs first information processing from the accompanying information supplied by the supply means. On the device side, information relating to the processing performed on the content is extracted, and a calculation means (for example, the correspondence information counting unit 73 in FIG. 3) for calculating the total number of processing times, and a calculation means relating to the content from the accompanying information The gist of the present invention is to provide a creation means (for example, the application unit 61 in FIG. 3) for creating an EPG (Electric Program Guide) including the total calculated by the above.

  The information providing apparatus (for example, the past EPG server 2 in FIG. 3) of the present invention acquires acquisition information (for example, the viewing history storage unit 127 in FIG. 8) related to the recorded content from the recording apparatus that records the content. Means (for example, the upload data collection unit 71 in FIG. 3 that executes the processing in step S11 in FIG. 10) and creation means (for example, the processing in step S13 in FIG. 10) that creates EPG related to the content from the accompanying information 3 of each application unit 61).

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[overall structure]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a system to which the present invention is applied. A past EPG (Electric Program Guide) server 2, a future EPG server 3, and a content recording / reproducing apparatus 4 are connected to a network 1 constituted by the Internet, a local area network (LAN), or the like.

  Both the past EPG server 2 and the future EPG server 3 manage the EPG. The past EPG server 2 manages information about programs broadcast at a past time when the current time is used as a reference, and the future EPG server 3 manages information about programs broadcast at a future time. However, here, even if “time” is described, it does not matter until the hour and minute, but the day is a problem. For example, when the current time is April 1, the past EPG server 2 manages information related to programs broadcast before April 1, and the future EPG server 3 includes April 1 and includes April 1 Manage information about programs broadcast after the day.

  The EPG managed by the past EPG server 2 (hereinafter referred to as “past EPG” as appropriate) is constructed from information accumulated on the user (viewer) side by the processing described later. The EPG managed by the future EPG server 3 (hereinafter referred to as “future EPG” as appropriate) is created and managed by a broadcasting station or the like that performs television broadcasting, and is managed by the existing server and the server. EPG can be used.

  The content recording / playback apparatus 4 is a user-side apparatus. The content recording / playback apparatus 4 receives content via an antenna (not shown) or receives content distributed via the network 1 and records the received content. The content recording / playback apparatus 4 also has a function of playing back recorded content. The content recording / playback apparatus 4 is configured to be able to exchange data with the past EPG server 2 and the future EPG server 3 via the network 1.

  For convenience of explanation, FIG. 1 shows only one past EPG server 2, future EPG server 3, and content recording / playback apparatus 4, but it is of course possible to have a plurality of each. . In particular, the content recording / playback apparatus 4 is a terminal of a viewer, and a plurality of content recording / playback apparatuses 4 are connected to the network 1.

[Configuration of past EPG server]
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an internal configuration example of the past EPG server 2. For the past EPG server 2, a device called a personal computer or the like can be used. A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 21 of the past EPG server 2 executes various processes according to a program stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 22. A RAM (Random Access Memory) 23 appropriately stores data and programs necessary for the CPU 21 to execute various processes. The input / output interface 25 is connected to an input unit 26 including a keyboard and a mouse, and outputs a signal input to the input unit 26 to the CPU 21. The input / output interface 25 is also connected with an output unit 27 including a display and a speaker.

  The input / output interface 25 is also connected with a storage unit 28 composed of a hard disk and a communication unit 29 that exchanges data with other devices (for example, the future EPG server 3) via the network 1. Yes. The drive 30 is used when reading data from or writing data to a recording medium such as the magnetic disk 41, the optical disk 42, the magneto-optical disk 43, and the semiconductor memory 44.

  The future EPG server 3 can also be configured with a personal computer or the like, similar to the past EPG server 2, and the configuration can be basically configured similarly to the past EPG server 2. Here, the description is continued assuming that the past EPG server 2 and the future EPG server 3 have the same configuration, and the description of the internal configuration example of the future EPG server 3 is omitted.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining functions of the past EPG server 2 and a database managed by the past EPG server 2. In FIG. 3, the functions of the past EPG server 2 are shown in the application unit 61, and the database managed by the past EPG server 2 is shown in the database unit 62.

  A predetermined application is stored in the storage unit 28 (FIG. 2), the stored application is expanded in the RAM 23, and the CPU 21 controls each unit based on the expanded application, whereby the past EPG server Each function of 2 is realized.

  Each function of the past EPG server 2 will be described. Since details of data handled in each unit will be described later, the description here will be simplified. The upload data collecting unit 71 is a function for collecting data (details will be described later, but data relating to viewing history) from the content recording / playback apparatus 4 that is a viewer-side terminal.

  The program information totaling unit 72 extracts information related to the program from the data collected by the upload data collecting unit 71. The correspondence information counting unit 73 performs counting (counting) on information provided to the user as information accompanying the program such as the number of recorded cases. The next program candidate search unit 74 executes processing such as searching for the next scheduled broadcast date of the program, for example, for a program that has been broadcast in a predetermined time frame.

  The user viewing history totaling unit 75 extracts information from the data collected by the upload data collecting unit 71 that can determine the evaluation of the program such as the number of times the user has viewed the program. The presentation information transmission unit 76 executes processing for transmitting (providing) the past EPG to the user (content recording / reproducing apparatus 4).

[About database]
Next, a database managed by the past EPG server 2 will be described. The past EPG server 2 manages four databases in the database unit 62. The user information database 81 manages a user registration information table 101 in which information about users as shown in FIG. 4 is described.

  In the user registration information table 101, information corresponding to each item such as a user ID, a name, a region, and a plan is managed in association with each other. For example, the name of a user who is assigned “01” as the user ID is “User A”, the area where “User A” lives is “Tokyo”, and the “User A” is “Economy”. The user registration information table 101 describes that the contract is made according to the plan “”.

  Information described in the user registration information table 101 is provided in advance from the user side via the network 1 or using a paper medium such as mail.

  The past EPG database 82 (FIG. 3) stores past EPGs created using data stored on the user side, as will be described later. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the past EPG table 102 managed by the past EPG database 82. Information described in the past EPG table 102 depends on information that can be acquired from the user side (content recording / playback apparatus 4).

  “Depends on information that can be acquired from the user side” means, for example, a situation where privacy is not allowed due to a problem such as privacy or a contract with the user side, or a future EPG is provided Information that is determined to be information that should not be acquired (information that cannot be acquired) due to a situation in which it is not permitted to be held on the user side due to a contract with the existing side, even if the past EPG table 102 is configured in FIG. It is not acquired even if it is shown as one item. The past EPG table 102 illustrated in FIG. 5 is an example and does not indicate limitation. Of course, the other tables similarly show an example, not a limitation.

  The past EPG table 102 shown in FIG. 5 includes a program ID, a channel number, a broadcast start date / time, a broadcast end date / time, a program title, a next broadcast candidate program ID, a reserved number, a recorded number, a reproduced number, and an overall preference level. Items such as the total number of protects, the total number of viewing times, the user comment index, and the URL of the related external DB are provided.

  “Program ID” is an ID assigned to a predetermined program so that the predetermined program can be uniquely identified. “Channel number” is a number indicating a broadcasting station that broadcasts the program indicated by the program ID. “Broadcast start date and time” is information indicating the date and time when the broadcast of the program indicated by the program ID is started. “Broadcast end date and time” is information indicating the date and time when the broadcast of the program indicated by the program ID ends. “Program title” is information indicating a title attached to the program indicated by the program ID.

  “Next broadcast candidate program ID” is information indicating the program ID of a program that will be broadcast next time (next week) on the same channel in the same time zone. The “reserved number” is the total number of users (the number of content recording / playback apparatuses 4) who have reserved recording of the program represented by the program ID. Since this information is information related to the recording reservation, it is information related to the future. However, if the viewing history acquired from the user side also includes information related to the recording reservation, that information is also used, and the user side Provide it as one piece of information.

  “Recorded number” is a program that has already been broadcast, and indicates the total number of times that the program corresponding to the program ID has been recorded on the user side. “Reproduced number” is a program that has already been recorded, and indicates the number of times the user has already performed the reproduction process. The “total preference level” is information indicating the degree of preference (like or dislike) for the program indicated by the program ID.

  The “total number of protections” is recorded by the content recording / reproducing apparatus 4 so that the user can record the program indicated by the program ID and protect the recorded program so that the recorded program is not accidentally deleted. If configured, this is information indicating the total number of protects applied to the program. The “total number of viewing times” is information indicating the total number of times that the program indicated by the program ID is recorded on the user side and the recorded program is viewed on the user side.

  “User comment index” is information indicating an index of a comment given by the user to the program indicated by the number ID. The comments themselves are accumulated in the user comment database 83. “URL of related external DB” is information indicating the address of a home page describing information related to the program, such as the address of the home page related to the program indicated by the program ID, the address of the home page of a performer appearing in the program It is.

  Such information regarding each item described in the past EPG table 102 is information itself described in the viewing history provided from the content recording / reproducing apparatus 4 or obtained as a result of totaling the information. is there.

  For example, in order to create the past EPG table 102, the user viewing history table 103 for managing information as shown in FIG. 6 may be created and managed by the user information database 81 or the past EPG database 82. The user viewing history table 103 is provided with items such as a user ID, a program ID, a viewing state, a user preference level, a protection, and a viewing count, and information corresponding to these items is managed in association with each other.

  “User ID” is information described in the user registration information table 101, and “Program ID” is information described in the past EPG table 102. The “viewing state” is information used when calculating “reserved number”, “recorded number”, and “reproduced number” of the past EPG table 102. The “user preference level” is information used when calculating the “total preference level” in the past EPG table 102.

  “Protect” is information used when calculating the “total number of protects” in the past EPG table 102, and the information “FALSE” shown in FIG. 6 is information that is written when protection is not applied. , “TRUE” is information that is written when protection is applied. The “view count” is information used when calculating the “total view count” in the past EPG table 102.

  The user viewing history table 103 in which such information is written may be managed as information for creating the past EPG table 102. In addition, when the user viewing history table 103 is created and managed, when providing the past EPG to the user, personal information such as that the user is a recorded program, for example, together with the past EPG. Can be provided with reference to the user viewing history table 103. In order to provide a finer service, the user viewing history table 103 may be provided. Here, the description will be continued by taking the case where it is provided as an example.

  Returning to the description of the configuration of the database unit 62 shown in FIG. 3, the user comment database 83 accumulates comments made by the user regarding the program and supplies them to the user side (content recording / reproducing apparatus 4) as necessary. . The external content information database 84 stores information provided to the user accompanying past EPGs, such as a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of a homepage related to a predetermined program and a performer who appeared in the program, for example.

  In addition, as information that the past EPG server 2 provides to the user side as necessary, there is information on the future EPG. The future EPG is managed by the future EPG server 3, and the past EPG server 2 reads the future EPG managed by the future EPG server 3 as necessary. In order to perform such processing, the future EPG may be managed on the past EPG server 2 side as well.

  When the past EPG server 2 also manages the future EPG, all information described in the future EPG may be managed, or only a part of the information may be managed. . When only a part is managed, it is composed of information that can uniquely determine information described in the “next broadcast candidate program ID” in the past EPG table 102, for example, as shown in FIG. The broadcast schedule program table 104 may be managed.

  The broadcast scheduled program table 104 includes items such as a scheduled program ID, a program title, a broadcast station name, a channel number, a broadcast start date and time, and a broadcast end date and time.

[Configuration of content recording / playback apparatus]
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an internal configuration example of the content recording / playback apparatus 4. A program broadcast as a television broadcast and content provided via the network 1 are received by the transmission / reception unit 121. The program (content) received by the transmission / reception unit 121 is supplied to the recording / playback unit 123 under the control of the control unit 122. The recording / playback unit 123 causes the content recording unit 124 to record the supplied content. The content recording unit 124 includes a hard disk drive (HDD) built in the content recording / playback apparatus 4 and a removable recording medium (for example, a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc)).

  The recording / playback unit 123 not only performs control when recording content in the content recording unit 124 but also performs control when playing back content recorded in the content recording unit 124.

  The operation unit 125 receives an instruction from the user and supplies the instruction to the control unit 122. The control unit 122 controls each unit in the content recording / playback apparatus 4 based on an instruction from the operation unit 125. The operation unit 125 includes a plurality of buttons provided on the main body of the content recording / playback apparatus 4 and a remote controller (all not shown) configured separately.

  When receiving a content playback instruction from the operation unit 125, the control unit 122 instructs the recording / playback unit 123 to read the instructed content from the content recording unit 124. As a result, the content read from the content recording unit 124 is supplied to the control unit 122 via the recording / playback unit 123. The control unit 122 supplies the supplied content to the display control unit 126.

  The display control unit 126 supplies an image or video based on the supplied content to the external display 131.

  The control unit 122 causes the viewing history recording unit 127 to store a viewing history such as whether or not the content recorded (recorded) in the content recording unit 124 has been played back. In addition, the control unit 122 reads information regarding the viewing history stored in the viewing history recording unit 127 as necessary, and transmits the read information to the past EPG server 2 via the transmission / reception unit 121.

  Note that the content recording / playback apparatus 4 is not limited to being configured with only the units illustrated in FIG. 8.

[Viewing history table]
The viewing history storage unit 127 manages a viewing history table 141 as shown in FIG. The viewing history table 141 includes items such as a user ID, a channel number, a broadcast start date and time, a broadcast end date and time, a program title, a viewing state, a user preference level, a protection, and a viewing count, and corresponding information is associated with each other. Are described. Information corresponding to these items is accompanying information related to the content, and is acquired and recorded when a predetermined content is recorded.

  Since the “user ID” is an ID assigned to each user (content recording / playback apparatus 4), the ID described in the viewing history table 141 is basically the same ID as shown in FIG. The However, for example, when a user can be registered in the content recording / playback apparatus 4 and a plurality of users are configured to control recording and playback for each user, a user ID is assigned to each user. As a result, it is conceivable to perform recording and reproduction for each user. In such a case, a plurality of user IDs are written even in the viewing history table 141 managed by one content recording / reproducing apparatus 4. May be. Therefore, a column for describing the user ID is provided in the viewing history table 141.

  A program can be uniquely specified from “channel number”, “broadcast start date / time”, and “broadcast end date / time”, and the title of the specified program is written in the column of the item “program title”. The state relating to viewing, which indicates whether the user has made a recording reservation, has been recorded, or has been played back, is recorded in the column “viewing state”. It is.

  “User preference degree” is information indicating how much a user has a preference for a uniquely specified program. The method of calculating the user preference level is not described here, but a method adopted in, for example, a hard disk recorder can be used.

  In a hard disk recorder or the like, for example, a function of automatically recording a program that is determined to match the user's preference based on a keyword input by the user (without the user performing a recording reservation or the like) There is. In order to make such a function work effectively, it is necessary to accurately determine the user's preference. Therefore, in order to accurately determine the user's preference, a preference level is calculated. The method used for the calculation can be adopted as a method for creating information described in the “user preference” column of the viewing history table 141 in the present embodiment.

  In the column corresponding to the item “Protect”, if the program is uniquely specified and the recorded program is protected so as not to be accidentally deleted, “TRUE” is set. Is written and “FALSE” is written when protection is not applied. In “Number of Views”, the number of times a program uniquely identified is recorded and then reproduced is written.

  Such information is written in the viewing history table 141, and the viewing history table 141 is managed in the viewing history storage unit 127 of the content recording / playback apparatus 4.

[System operation]
Next, operations related to the past EPG server 2 and the content recording / playback apparatus 4 in the system shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Note that. The operations described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 10 are schematic, and detailed operations related to the past EPG of the past EPG server 2 will be described later with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S <b> 11, the past EPG server 2 issues a request for information acquisition to the content recording / playback apparatus 4. Information acquired from the content recording / playback apparatus 4 is information described in the viewing history table 141 shown in FIG. In step S21, when the content recording / playback apparatus 4 receives a request from the past EPG server 2, in step S22, the content recording / playback apparatus 4 reads the viewing history table 141 and provides it to the past EPG server 2 that has issued the request.

  In step S12, the past EPG server 2 receives the information provided from the content recording / playback apparatus 4, and creates a past EPG based on the received information. The created past EPG is provided from the past EPG server 2 to the content recording / playback apparatus 4 in step S14. The provided past EPG is received by the content recording / reproducing apparatus 4 in step S23.

  Such processing is performed periodically. For example, the past EPG server 2 periodically issues information acquisition requests to the content recording / playback apparatus 4. This request is issued for each content recording / reproducing apparatus 4 connected via the network 1. Therefore, the past EPG server 2 acquires information such as viewing history from the plurality of content recording / playback apparatuses 4.

  The past EPG may be provided from the past EPG server 2 to the content recording / reproducing apparatus 4 periodically (for example, once a week), or may be requested from the content recording / reproducing apparatus 4. It may be provided to the content recording / reproducing apparatus 4 that has issued the request only when there is a message.

  The content recording / playback apparatus 4 holds the provided past EPG, and provides the held past EPG to the user side when there is an instruction from the user. Here, the provision to the user side means, for example, that the past EPG is displayed on the display 131 (FIG. 8) connected to the content recording / reproducing apparatus 4 so that the user can view the EPG. .

[Past EPG creation process]
Next, the past EPG creation process performed by the past EPG server 2 (FIG. 3) will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In step S <b> 31, the upload collection unit 71 acquires the viewing history table 141 from the content recording / playback apparatus 4. As described above, the past EPG server 2 is configured to be able to exchange data with a plurality of content recording / playback apparatuses 4 via the network 1 (FIG. 1).

  A viewing history table 141 that is connected to one of the plurality of content recording / reproducing devices 4 and managed by the connected content recording / reproducing device 4 is acquired as the process of step S31. The past EPG server 2 sequentially connects to the content recording / playback apparatus 4 and acquires the viewing history table 141. The order of the connection is determined based on a predetermined rule, for example, in the order of user ID.

  When the viewing history table 141 is acquired from the content recording / playback apparatus 4 in step S31, information related to the first program among the information described in the viewing history table 141 is acquired in step S32. For example, the viewing history table 141 has information as shown in FIG. 9, and the example shown in FIG. 9 shows an example in which information regarding three programs is described. Thus, since the information of a plurality of programs is described in the viewing history table 141, the information is read for each program.

  In step S33, the program information totaling unit 72 refers to the read information for one program, and determines whether the information exists in the past EPG table 102 (FIG. 5). In the viewing history table 141, “channel number”, “broadcast start date / time”, and “broadcast end date / time” are described. It is determined whether or not information that matches these information exists in the past EPG table 102. By determining, the process in step S33 is executed.

  In step S33, when it is determined that the read program information is already written in the past EPG table 102, the process proceeds to step S34, and the corresponding information count unit 73 counts the corresponding item count ( Total) is updated. Referring to the viewing history table 141 in FIG. 9, by referring to the information of “viewing state” in the viewing history table 141, whether or not the program is reserved for recording, has been recorded, or It can be determined whether or not the reproduction has been completed.

  With reference to this “viewing state” information, any one of the “reserved number”, “recorded number”, or “reproduced number” information in the past EPG table 102 (FIG. 5) counts up by one. Is done.

  Similarly, the “user preference” information in the viewing history table 141 is referred to, and the information in the “total preference” column of the past EPG table 102 is updated. Further, the “protection” information in the viewing history table 141 is referred to, the information in the “total number of protections” column of the past EPG table 102 is updated, the “viewing count” information in the viewing history table 141 is referred to, and the past Information in the “total number of viewing times” column of the EPG table 102 is updated.

  As described above, when the information read from the viewing history table 141 is already described in the past EPG table 102, processing for updating the information of the item to be counted is executed.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the information read from the viewing history table 141 in step S33 is not yet described in the past EPG table 102, the process proceeds to step S35, and the read information Is newly described in the past EPG table 102. At that time, an ID for uniquely identifying the program indicated by the newly described information is assigned. This ID is a “program ID” in the past EPG table 102.

  When the process of step S34 or step S35 is completed, the process proceeds to step S36. In step S36, the next program publicity search unit 74 searches for a program that will be broadcast next time, and the ID of the searched program is described in “next broadcast candidate program ID” of the past EPG table 102.

  The process in step S36 will be further described. Broadcast scheduled program table 104 (FIG. 7) using the channel number described in the “channel number” item of the past EPG table 102 and the character string (title name) described in the “program title” item as keywords. By searching for a program candidate to be broadcast next time.

  It is assumed that the program candidate scheduled to be broadcast next time is a program that satisfies the following conditions. First, it is the latest program and, among the items of “channel number” in the past EPG table 102, the channel number to be searched and the channel described in the “channel number” item of the broadcast scheduled program table 104. The numbers are equal.

  Of the items of “program title” in the past EPG table 102, the program title to be searched is the same as the program title of the item “program title” in the broadcast scheduled program table 104. However, the program title is searched when the program title can be acquired.

  The difference between the broadcast start time in the “broadcast start date” item of the past EPG table 102 and the broadcast start time in the “broadcast start date” item of the broadcast scheduled program table 104 is within one hour before and after.

  A program that satisfies such a condition is defined as a program scheduled to be broadcast next time. When such a next broadcast scheduled program is found as a result of the search, the scheduled program ID of the program is written in the corresponding column of the item “next broadcast candidate program ID” of the past EPG table 102. If no program satisfying the condition is found as a result of the search, it is determined that there is no corresponding program, and no information is described in the corresponding column of the item “next broadcast candidate program ID” in the past EPG table 102. .

  Returning to the description of the flowchart of FIG. 11, in step S <b> 37, the user viewing history totaling unit 75 writes the program ID and individual program information in the user viewing history table 103. In step S38, it is determined whether or not the viewing history table 141 acquired from the content recording / reproducing apparatus 4 side includes program information to be processed next to the program information that has been processed. If it is determined that it exists, the process proceeds to step S39.

  In step S39, the program information determined to exist is set as a new processing target. And the process after step S33 is repeated with respect to the set program information.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S38 that all the program information described in the acquired viewing history table 141 has been processed, the process proceeds to step S40, and the next user's viewing history table 141 exists. It is determined whether or not. For example, when the viewing history table 141 is acquired in the order of user IDs, whether or not there is a user ID next to the user ID that has been the processing target (the next user ID has already been assigned to a predetermined user) Whether or not) is determined.

  If it is determined in step S40 that the next user's viewing history table 141 exists, the process proceeds to step S41, and the viewing history table 141 of the user determined to exist is acquired. And the process after step S33 is repeated with respect to the acquired new viewing history table 141.

  If it is determined in step S40 that the next user's viewing history table 141 does not exist, the processing relating to creation of the past EPG table 102 shown in FIG. 11 is terminated.

  Such processing is executed at a predetermined cycle, for example, once a week.

  The past EPG created in this way is supplied to the content recording / playback apparatus 4 as described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The content recording / playback apparatus 4 displays the past EPG on the connected display 131 (FIG. 8) based on an instruction from the user.

[Past EPG]
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a past EPG image displayed on the display 131 under the control of the display control unit 126 (FIG. 8). On the display 131, the vertical axis shows time and the horizontal axis shows broadcasting stations (channels) arranged in a grid. The past EPG shown in FIG. 12 corresponds to, for example, to indicate that a predetermined program was broadcast in “4ch” (4 channels) from “20:00” to “21:00”. The portion is displayed with a predetermined color or the like.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 16, various information such as the program title and performers of the broadcast program may be displayed in the corresponding portion. The displayed information varies depending on the viewing history table 141 provided from the content recording / playback apparatus 4 to the past EPG server 2. That is, when the viewing history table 141 provided from the content recording / playback apparatus 4 to the past EPG server 2 includes an item as shown in FIG. 9, an item “program title” is provided. Therefore, as a result, the program title is also included in the past EPG, and the program title can be displayed also in the past EPG provided to the user side.

  Referring to the past EPG shown in FIG. 12, for example, information that a predetermined program was broadcast on 4 channels from 20:00 to 21:00 is the recording history of Mr. A (that is, Mr. A's viewing). It is obtained from the history table 141). Also, for example, information that a predetermined program was broadcast on 4 channels from 21:00 to 22:00 was obtained from Mr. B's recording history (that is, Mr. B's viewing history table 141). is there.

  In this way, the past EPG is created from information described in the plurality of viewing history tables 141.

  Here, description is added about the displayed information. As described above, the information displayed on the past EPG depends on the information described in the viewing history table 141. When “Channel number”, “Broadcast start date / time”, and “Broadcast end date / time” are described as program information in the viewing history table 141, the past EPG of the framework as shown in FIG. 12 is displayed. If such information is acquired, at least the program title scheduled to be broadcast next time can be displayed in the corresponding framework.

  A program scheduled to be broadcast next time is searched by using “channel number”, “broadcast start date / time”, and “broadcast end date / time” as keys (step S36 in FIG. 11). Since the channel number and the broadcast date / time are used as keys, information such as what is broadcast on the same channel next week at the same time can be presented.

  Furthermore, when “program title” is included in the viewing history table 141, the program title can also be used as a search key. Therefore, as a program scheduled to be broadcast next time, not only can you present information such as what is broadcast on the same channel next week, but even if the broadcast time is different next week, It is possible to present the date and time when the same program is broadcast to the user side.

  In the past EPG shown in FIG. 13, in addition to the program title and the next broadcast, information such as “number of reproduced” is also displayed. The information “number of regenerated” is based on information described in the “number of regenerated” column of the past EPG table 102 shown in FIG. In addition, information such as “total preference” is also displayed in the past EPG shown in FIG. The information “total preference” is based on information described in the “total preference” column of the past EPG table 102 shown in FIG.

  Referring to the past EPG table 102 shown in FIG. 5, information such as “total number of times of protection” and “total number of times of viewing” is also described. Although not shown in FIG. 13, it is of course possible to display these pieces of information together.

  In the display example shown in FIG. 13, information such as “recorded” is also described. Such a description clearly indicates that a user who has been provided with a past EPG has recorded. Such information is information described in the user viewing history table 103 shown in FIG. Thus, different information can be presented for each user. In addition to clearly indicating “recorded”, a button such as “play” is also displayed, and if the button is operated, the program can be played back. It is possible to provide a user-friendly past EPG.

  Further, in the display example shown in FIG. 13, information such as “total preference” is also displayed, but displaying such information has the following advantages. For example, there is a content recording / reproducing apparatus 4 having a function of recording a program based on the keyword without the user's hand being troubled (automatically) when the user registers the keyword. When such a content recording / reproducing apparatus 4 is used, many programs are recorded, and there is a possibility that the user may not be able to see all the recorded programs.

  In such a case, by providing information such as “total preference” to the user, it is possible to provide evaluations from other users who have already viewed. Then, by browsing such other evaluations, if the evaluation is good, it is possible to make a decision such as watching (reproducing) yourself. That is, it is possible to determine a program to be viewed by referring to the evaluation of other users.

  In addition to the past EPG display shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the past EPG display as shown in FIG. 14 may be used. The past EPG shown in FIG. 14 is displayed in a state of being sorted in the order of the overall preference. In the present embodiment, since the past EPG table 102 as shown in FIG. 9 is created by sucking up information from the user side, the past EPG is reflected in such a manner that the preferences of a plurality of users are reflected. It is also possible to provide.

  When past EPGs are displayed in such a general preference order, only programs recorded by a user viewing the past EPGs may be displayed. Even if such control is performed, in the present embodiment, since the user viewing history table 103 as shown in FIG. 6 is created, the user viewing history table 103 and the past EPG table 102 are created. It is possible to implement easily by using together.

  The item of information displayed as the past EPG may be selectable on the user side. The display of the past EPG may be switched on the user side. For example, a mechanism in which the user can switch from the display shown in FIG. 13 to the display shown in FIG. 14 only by button operation on the user side may be provided.

  Further, information managed in the user comment database 83 and the external content information database 84 (FIG. 3) may be displayed as information displayed in the past EPG. When information managed in those databases is also displayed, information directly connected to information such as a URL may be displayed instead of displaying information directly.

  Further, when the future EPG is displayed on the display 131, information using the data of the user viewing history table 103 (FIG. 6) or the past EPG table 102 (FIG. 5) is displayed on the future EPG. May be. For example, the user viewing history table 103 and the past EPG table 102 manage information on programs that have been reserved for recording (information such as viewing state (FIG. 6) and the number of reserved items (FIG. 5)). You may make it display as incidental information of EPG.

  In the above-described embodiment, the past EPG is supplied to the content recording / reproducing apparatus 4. However, the past EPG is also supplied to an apparatus such as a personal computer so that the past EPG can also be viewed on the personal computer as the supply destination. Of course, a configuration is also possible.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the information of the original EPG can be completely or partially restored with respect to the broadcasted program. Further, since the program has already been broadcast, it can be provided to the user together with the evaluation by the viewing user. In other words, user-added information can be added and provided as program information in addition to EPG information for broadcasted programs.

  In addition, EPG information can be completely or partially restored for programs scheduled to be broadcast. In addition to the EPG information, it is possible to add and provide user additional information as program information for the broadcast scheduled program.

  The user can recognize the program by repeating the program based on the EPG used in the content recording / playback apparatus 4. That is, by using different EPGs, even if different programs are grouped, the user can execute the above-described process with the program grouping based on the EPG used in his / her content recording / playback apparatus 4. it can.

  The user can also confirm information (channel, broadcast time, program description, performers, etc.) regarding broadcasted programs other than the programs stored (recorded) in the content recording / playback apparatus 4. The user can also check information (channel, broadcast time, program description, performers, etc.) regarding the broadcast scheduled program.

  The user can also confirm a candidate for the next broadcast for a broadcasted program other than the program that has been stored (recorded) in the content recording / playback apparatus 4. Further, the user can confirm candidates for the next broadcast regarding the broadcast scheduled program.

  The user can use the reservation popularity, general preference, total protection number, total viewing count, title and program information entered by the user, comments, and evaluation as reference information for the scheduled broadcast program. For example, it is possible to check the evaluation of other users that cannot be obtained by the normal EPG.

  As reference information for viewing (playback) the program stored in the content recording / playback apparatus 4, the user can record popularity, playback popularity, total preference, total protect count, total view count, or It is possible to check the evaluation of other users that cannot be obtained by EPG, such as the title and program information input by the user, or comments and evaluation.

  Users can enter titles, program information, comments or ratings

  The user can confirm the reservation popularity, the recording popularity, the general preference, the user's comment, etc. as reference information for the reservation of the next broadcast candidate program of the program.

  The user can confirm that the program scheduled to be broadcast is a reserved program.

  The user can confirm that the broadcasted program is a program already stored in the content recording / playback apparatus 4, and can also confirm whether or not the program has already been viewed. Similarly, the user's preference, the presence / absence of protection, the number of playbacks, and the like can be confirmed for the program.

  The user can obtain information related to the program (general evaluation, related content, etc.).

[About recording media]
The series of processes described above can be executed by hardware having respective functions, but can also be executed by software. When a series of processing is executed by software, various functions can be executed by installing a computer in which the programs that make up the software are installed in dedicated hardware, or by installing various programs. For example, it is installed from a recording medium in a general-purpose personal computer or the like.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the recording medium is distributed to provide a program to the user separately from a personal computer (in FIG. 2, the past EPG server 2), and a magnetic disk 41 (flexible disk) on which the program is recorded. Disc), optical disc 42 (including compact disc-read only memory (CD-ROM), DVD (digital versatile disc)), magneto-optical disc 43 (including MD (mini-disc) (registered trademark)), or In addition to a package medium composed of a semiconductor memory 44 or the like, it is configured by a hard disk or the like including a ROM 22 storing a program and a storage unit 28 provided to a user in a state of being preinstalled in a computer. .

  In this specification, the steps for describing the program provided by the medium are performed in parallel or individually in accordance with the described order, as well as the processing performed in time series, not necessarily in time series. The process to be executed is also included.

  Further, in this specification, the system represents the entire apparatus constituted by a plurality of apparatuses.

It is a figure which shows the structure of one Embodiment of the system to which this invention is applied. It is a figure which shows the example of an internal structure of the past EPG server. It is a figure which shows the function of the past EPG server. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a user registration information table. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the past EPG table. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a user viewing history table. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a broadcast schedule program table. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a content recording / reproducing apparatus. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a viewing history table. It is a flowchart explaining operation | movement of a system. It is a flowchart explaining the process regarding the production | generation of past EPG. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of past EPG. It is a figure which shows the other example of a display of past EPG. It is a figure which shows the other example of a display of past EPG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Network, 2 Past EPG server, 3 Future EPG server, 4 Content recording / reproducing apparatus, 61 Application part, 62 Database part, 71 Upload data collection part, 72 Program information total part, 73 Corresponding information count part, 74 Next program candidate search Section, 75 user viewing history counting section, 76 presentation information transmission section, 81 user information database, 82 past EPG database, 83 user comment database, 84 external content information database, 101 user registration information table, 102 past EPG table, 103 user viewing History table, 104 broadcast schedule program table, 121 transmission / reception unit, 122 control unit, 123 recording / playback unit, 124 content recording unit, 125 operation unit, 126 display control unit, 127 viewing history storage , 131 display

Claims (9)

In an information providing system including a first information processing apparatus that records content and a second information processing apparatus that acquires information from the first information processing apparatus,
The first information processing apparatus includes:
Storage means for storing accompanying information of the content;
Supply means for supplying the accompanying information stored by the storage means to the second information processing apparatus,
The second information processing apparatus
Calculating means for extracting information relating to the processing performed on the content on the first information processing apparatus side from the accompanying information supplied by the supplying means, and calculating a total relating to the number of processing times;
An information providing system comprising: creation means for creating an EPG (Electric Program Guide) that includes, as information, a total calculated by the calculation means regarding the content from the accompanying information. Acquisition means for acquiring accompanying information regarding the recorded content from a recording device for recording the content;
An information providing apparatus comprising: creation means for creating an EPG related to the content from the accompanying information. The incidental information acquired by the acquisition unit includes first information including at least information regarding a channel on which the content is broadcast and information regarding a date and time when the content is broadcast. The information providing apparatus according to the description. In the accompanying information, in addition to the first information, status information indicating whether the content has been scheduled for recording, recording, or playback, preference information regarding the user's preference level for the content, and the content are recorded. Second information including at least one of the protection information indicating whether or not to maintain the recorded state and the viewing count information indicating the number of times the content is reproduced after being recorded is further included. The information providing apparatus according to claim 3. Further comprising a calculating means for extracting the second information from the accompanying information acquired by the acquiring means and calculating a total based on the second information;
The information providing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the creating unit creates an EPG including information related to the total calculated by the calculating unit. The information providing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the creation unit creates an EPG that includes information related to content broadcast at a time later than the time when the EPG is created. In an information providing method of an information providing device, comprising at least means for communicating with a recording device for recording content, and means for storing created data,
An acquisition step of controlling the means for communicating and acquiring accompanying information relating to the content recorded in the recording device;
A creation step of creating an EPG related to the content from the accompanying information acquired in the processing of the acquisition step. In a recording medium recording a computer program for controlling an information providing apparatus comprising at least means for communicating with a recording apparatus for recording content and means for storing created data,
An acquisition step of controlling the means for communicating and acquiring accompanying information relating to the content recorded in the recording device;
And a creation step of creating an EPG related to the content from the accompanying information acquired in the process of the acquisition step. A computer program for controlling an information providing apparatus comprising at least means for communicating with a recording apparatus for recording content and means for storing created data,
An acquisition step of controlling the means for communicating and acquiring accompanying information relating to the content recorded in the recording device;
A creation step of creating an EPG related to the content from the accompanying information acquired in the processing of the acquisition step.

Images