JP2008199124A - Video image distribution system performing related information distribution corresponding to view history in combination - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a video image distribution system capable of effectively performing distribution of video image contents and related information carried out in combination with distribution of the video image contents. <P>SOLUTION: The video image distribution system includes a plurality of view terminals and a video image distribution server which distributes a plurality of video image contents to the view terminals through an IP network. The video image distribution system extracts at least one video image content from the plurality of video image contents for each view terminal based upon display priority levels previously set by the video image contents, and displays extracted contents on the display screen of the view terminal. Then the video image distribution system detects selection input of at least one of the displayed video image contents as a selected video image content, records a view history of the selected video image content in response to the detection of the selection input, and updates the display priority level set for the view terminal based upon the view history. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a video distribution system that distributes video content via a data network such as the Internet capable of video data communication, and in particular, a video that enables distribution of related information such as advertisement information along with the video content distribution. It relates to a distribution system.

Video distribution services that distribute video content such as movies for free via the Internet are used. The business model of such a free video distribution service is a business form in which revenue is generated by distributing advertising information in conjunction with video content distribution. Selection of what kind of advertisement information is distributed is usually required by viewers to input in a questionnaire format at the time of prior viewer registration, and different advertisements for each viewer based on personal information such as preferences obtained Is made. For example, Non-Patent Document 1 is referred to in practice of the business model embodiment. For a technique for simultaneously displaying a plurality of video contents, Patent Document 1 is referred to.
Portal site provided by USEN Co., Ltd. (http://www.gyao.jp/) JP 2004-32341 A

  As described above, in the usage mode of the conventional free video distribution service, registration and update of personal information are usually required. However, in such a form, there is a problem that not only there is a risk of privacy infringement for the viewer, but also the usage procedure is cumbersome.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a video distribution system capable of effectively distributing video content and related information performed in conjunction with video content distribution.

  A video distribution system according to the present invention is a video distribution system that includes a plurality of viewing terminals and a video distribution server that distributes a plurality of video contents to the viewing terminals via an IP network. Video content display means for extracting at least one video content from the plurality of video content based on a display priority set in advance for each video content, and displaying the video content on a display screen of the viewing terminal; For each terminal, selection input detecting means for detecting a selection input using at least one of the video contents displayed on the viewing terminal as the selected video content, and the selected video according to the detection of the selection input Selection history recording means for recording content viewing history, and for each viewing terminal, the viewing terminal is attached to the viewing terminal based on the recorded viewing history. Characterized in that it comprises a display priority updating means for updating the set display priorities.

  The video distribution system according to the present invention provides a configuration for distributing video content and related information recommended based on the viewer's past viewing history. As a result, it is possible to effectively distribute video content and related information.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention, and shows an overall configuration including a video distribution system according to the present invention. The video distribution system 10 includes a plurality of viewing terminals 201 to 20n (n is a positive number), a portal site server 40, and a video distribution server 50, each connected to the Internet 30. The Internet 30 is an IP network that is open to the public, but may instead be an intranet that is limited to a specific audience.

  A related website server 60 is connected to the Internet 30. The related website server 60 provides a shopping site directly to each of the viewing terminals 201 to 20n, and sells various products according to purchase inquiries and purchase requests from each of the viewing terminals 201 to 20n. It is.

  The portal site server 40 is a server that provides an entrance site that is accessed when each of the viewing terminals 201 to 20n receives a video distribution service, that is, a portal site. Connected to the portal site server 40 is a content information database 41 that holds video information of each of a plurality of video contents and related URL information. The video distribution server 50 is a server that directly distributes a plurality of video contents covering various genres to each of the viewing terminals 201 to 20n. Each of the plurality of video contents is identified by video information such as a content ID determined for each video content. In the present embodiment, as an example, one each of the portal site server 40, the video distribution server 50, and the related website server 60 is shown, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and there are a plurality of each of them. May be.

  The portal site server 40 is connected to a viewing history database 42 that records and holds a viewing history of video content viewed for each viewer. As a viewing history acquisition method, a CGI (Common Gateway Interface) program in the portal site server 40 is started in response to a video content selection input by the viewer to the viewing terminal, and the video from which the CGI program is selected. This can be realized by capturing the content ID and viewing time of the content and registering it in the viewing database for storage.

  Each of the plurality of viewing terminals 201 to 20n is a normal personal computer, and particularly has a function capable of simultaneously displaying a plurality of video contents on one display screen. As a method for realizing such a function, it is conceivable that one Web browsing function is provided with a plug-in function for simultaneous display, or one video viewer is provided with a plurality of Web browsing functions.

  FIG. 2 shows the internal configuration of the viewing terminal shown in FIG. Each of the viewing terminals 201 to 20n includes a network access unit 21, a Web display unit 22, a video playback unit 23, a video display unit 24, and a video selection unit 25. The network access unit 21 has a function of transmitting a content information acquisition request via the Internet 30 and a function of receiving content information, video content, and a Web page. The web display unit 22 has a function of simultaneously displaying the received web page on the display screen 29 together with the video content. The URL of the Web page is determined according to the content information (related URL information) received in advance.

  The video playback unit 23 has a function of decoding and expanding video content according to content information (video information) received in advance. The video display unit 24 has a function of simultaneously displaying a plurality of reproduced video contents on the display screen 29. The video selection unit 25 has a function of detecting a video content selection input that is input by moving the cursor on the display screen 29 and clicking. With this detection function, it is possible to arbitrarily change how each of the plurality of video contents is allocated and displayed in each of the plurality of partial display frames surrounded by the display frame of the display screen 29.

  FIG. 3 shows a configuration example of the content information database shown in FIG. The content information database 41 includes tables 411 to 413 in which video information of a plurality of video contents for each of the plurality of content groups A to C is preset in an order according to their display priorities. In the present embodiment, three tables 411 to 413 are shown as an example, but the content information database 41 may include a number of tables corresponding to three or more content groups. One content group can be a group that displays a plurality of video contents such as baseball, soccer, and motor sports in a sports genre in a multi-view.

  Referring to the table 411, video information and related URL information are set for each of a plurality of video contents included in the content group A. The video information includes at least a content ID, a distribution server name, a service port, and a protocol determined for the video content. The distribution server name is a name for identifying the distribution source of the video content. In this embodiment, the distribution server name indicates the video distribution server 50 (see FIG. 1). The service port is a number determined by the transmission method of the video content. 2 illustrates a compression encoding protocol for video content. In the related URL information, the URL of the Web page of the Web site related to the video content is set.

  FIG. 4 shows a configuration example of the viewing history database shown in FIG. The viewing history database 42 is a database that records and holds a history of video content viewed for each of a plurality of viewers. Referring to the configuration example of this figure, for example, for each of three viewers a, b and c, the viewing time, the content ID of the video content viewed during the viewing time, and the content group to which the video content belongs are as follows: Every time a new video content is selected, it is registered. Thereby, it is possible to determine the viewing tendency of the viewer by referring to the registered viewing history.

  FIG. 5A shows a processing procedure performed jointly by the servers constituting the video distribution system. Here, a description will be given below on the assumption that one viewing terminal 20 receives provision of a video distribution service from the video distribution system 10 on behalf of the plurality of viewing terminals 201 to 20n shown in FIG.

  First, the viewing terminal 20 accesses the portal site server 40 that is an entrance for receiving a video distribution service via the Internet 30 and displays an entrance screen distributed from the portal site server 40 (step S1). FIG. 6 is referred to as a display example of the entrance screen. Next, the viewing terminal 20 requests the portal site server 40 to acquire content information via the Internet 30 by selecting video content including genre selection for the entrance screen (step S2). In response to this, the portal site server 40 transmits content information to the viewer of the viewing terminal 20 to the viewing terminal 20 (step S3).

  Next, the viewing terminal 20 extracts at least one video content from a plurality of video content having a higher display priority from the received content information (step S4). Next, the viewing terminal 20 requests the video distribution server 50 to distribute the video content based on the extracted video information of the video content (step S5). The video content distribution request specifies, for example, a content group including a plurality of video contents according to selection according to a viewer's genre.

  In response to the distribution request, the video distribution server 50 distributes a plurality of video contents to the viewer terminal 20, and the viewer terminal 20 simultaneously displays them on the display screen (step S6). In this case, video content having a high priority among a plurality of contents is preferentially displayed on the main screen of the display screen of the viewing terminal 20.

  Here, it is assumed that a specific video content is selected from among a plurality of video contents displayed on the sub-screen. The viewing terminal 20 detects the selection input and displays the video content on the main screen (step S7). At the same time, the portal site server 40 detects the selection input, fetches the viewing time and content ID of the selected specific video content from the viewing terminal 20, and registers them in the viewing database (step S8).

  Next, the viewing terminal 20 makes a distribution request for the Web page of the Web site related to the video content displayed on the main screen (step S9). Here, it is assumed that the Web page of the Web site is a Web site provided by the related Web site server 60. Therefore, the viewing terminal 20 makes a distribution request to the related website server 60. Next, communication for providing related information via the related screen is performed between the viewing terminal 20 and the related website server 60 according to the operation of the viewer (step S10).

  FIG. 5B shows a further processing procedure following the processing procedure shown in FIG. 5A. The above processing procedure is repeated every time the viewer views. Therefore, it is assumed that the viewing history over a certain period is acquired.

  The portal site server 40 monitors the viewing database and determines whether or not the acquisition of the viewing history has passed for a predetermined period, for example, 1 month has passed (step S11). If not, monitoring of the viewing database is continued. If the predetermined period has elapsed, the content information is updated based on the viewing history for the predetermined period (step S12). As the update of the content information, the display priority of the video content frequently viewed over a predetermined time is set higher than that of other video content.

  Next, when the viewer receives the video distribution service, the processing procedure of steps S13 to S18 is executed in the same manner as the processing procedure shown in FIG. 6A. In this case, the content information transmitted to the viewing terminal 20 is updated content information. In the updated content information, since the display priority of the video content has already been changed according to the viewing history, a video content distribution request is made in response to a change in viewer preference.

  7 and 8 show display examples on the display screen of the viewing terminal. Here, an example is shown in which a plurality of sports broadcasts belonging to sports as one genre are displayed as a plurality of video contents.

  Referring to FIG. 7, on the display screen 29, a baseball broadcast video is displayed on the main screen 291, and a plurality of subscreens 292 to 294 display golf, soccer, and F1 race videos during sports relay. Further, the related screen 295 displays a Web page of a Web site related to baseball broadcast.

  Referring to FIG. 8, there is shown an example of a screen that is displayed by performing a selection input in which a soccer broadcast video on the sub-screen 293 in FIG. 7 is instructed and clicked with a cursor 299. Here, on the main screen 291, the video of the soccer relay that has been displayed on the sub-screen 294 is displayed, and on the sub-screen 294, the video of the baseball relay that has been displayed on the main screen 291 until then is displayed. At the same time, on the related screen 295, a “Soccer Internet live broadcast” Web page is displayed as a Web page of the Web site related to the video content on the main screen 291.

  In the above embodiment, the portal site server, the video distribution server, and the related website server have been described as separate servers. However, the video distribution system according to the present invention has functions of the portal site server and the video distribution server. It is also possible to realize with one server that integrates the above.

  The video distribution system according to the present invention, for example, broadcasts video content such as baseball broadcast or motor sports belonging to a sports genre, and guides a viewer to a specific Web site related to the video content from a selected view. be able to. For example, when a baseball broadcast of a team is aired, an effective video distribution service can be realized in response to a change in viewer's preference by guiding to a website that publishes the performance information of the entire league. it can.

  Further, in the above-described embodiments, the form in which the related information related to the viewer's preference is displayed together with the display of the video content has been mainly described. However, the present invention is not limited, and various related information that is significant for the viewer. May be included together with video content.

It is a block diagram which shows the Example of this invention and shows the whole structure containing the video delivery system by this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the viewing-and-listening terminal shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the content information database shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the viewing-and-listening history database shown in FIG. It is a sequence diagram which shows the process sequence of a video delivery system. It is a sequence diagram which shows the further process sequence of a video delivery system. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the entrance screen of a portal site. It is a figure which shows the example of a display in the display screen of a viewing terminal. It is a figure which shows the example of a display when selection input is performed with respect to the example of a display of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Video distribution system 20, 201-20n Viewing terminal 21 Network access part 22 Web display part 23 Video | video reproduction part 24 Video display part 25 Video selection part 29 Display screen 30 Internet 40 Portal site server 41 Content information database 42 Viewing history database 50 Video | video Distribution server 60 Related Web site server

Claims (5)

A video distribution system including a plurality of viewing terminals and a video distribution server that distributes a plurality of video contents to the viewing terminals via an IP network,
A video for extracting at least one video content from the plurality of video content based on a display priority preset for each video content for each viewing terminal and displaying the video content on the display screen of the viewing terminal Content display means;
Selection input detection means for detecting a selection input in which at least one of the video contents displayed on the viewing terminal is selected video content for each of the viewing terminals;
Selection history recording means for recording a viewing history of the selected video content in response to detection of the selection input;
Display priority update means for updating the display priority set for the viewing terminal based on the recorded viewing history for each viewing terminal;
A video distribution system comprising:   The video content display means allocates at least two extracted video contents to each of a plurality of partial display frames surrounded by a display frame of the display screen, and simultaneously displays the assigned video content through a corresponding partial display frame. The video distribution system according to claim 1.   3. The video distribution system according to claim 2, wherein the video content display means displays a partial display frame to which the selected video content is allocated larger than other partial display frames.   2. The video distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the display priority update unit updates the display priority every predetermined period. URL holding means for holding a URL of at least one related Web server connected to the IP network in association with each of the plurality of video contents;
Web page display means for determining a URL corresponding to the selected video content and displaying a Web page distributed from the related Web server of the determined URL on the display screen of the viewing terminal;
The video distribution system according to claim 1, further comprising:

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