JP4008837B2 - Content distribution support method, content distribution support device, and content distribution support program - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a content distribution support method and apparatus for creating information used for determining whether or not to perform content distribution in a video on demand format, and notifying the content provider, and the content distribution support technology. The present invention relates to a content distribution support program used for realization.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Content distribution can be broadly divided into two types of distribution: live distribution and video on demand distribution.
[0003]
Live content distribution is a distribution mode in which content is recorded and the content is distributed to the viewer as it is.
[0004]
On the other hand, the content distribution in the video on demand format is a distribution mode in which content distributed live is made into a file and distributed to the viewer each time in response to a request from the viewer (for example, , See Patent Document 1).
[0005]
In a WEB site connected to the Internet or the like, when performing content distribution by live distribution, it is determined whether or not to provide content distribution in the video on demand format, and content distribution in the video on demand format is provided. When the content is determined, the live-distributed content is edited into a file and distributed in a video-on-demand format in response to a request from the viewer.
[0006]
However, conventionally, no system for providing information for supporting this determination has been prepared. The actual situation is that the content provider unconditionally decides to provide content distribution in a video-on-demand format for the content that has been distributed live, and prepares for the distribution.
[0007]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-200729
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, according to such a conventional technology, even if a live-distributed content is prepared to be distributed in a video-on-demand format, only a very small number of viewers actually request the distribution of the content. There may be situations where you do not come.
[0009]
Preparation for enabling delivery in a video-on-demand format is a very burdensome task, and according to the prior art, there is a problem that it imposes a heavy load on the content provider.
[0010]
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and is a new technique for creating information used to determine whether or not to distribute content in a video-on-demand format and notifying the content provider. The purpose is to solve the problems of the prior art.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve this object, the content distribution support apparatus according to the present invention creates information for use in determining whether or not to perform content distribution in a video-on-demand format, and performs processing for notifying the content provider. In order to do this, (1) collection means for collecting the advance notice information of the content scheduled for live distribution, (2) storage means for accumulating the advance notice information collected by the collection means, and (3) content scheduled for live delivery from the viewer Selecting means for selecting the notice information that suits the viewer's preference from the notice information stored in the storage means when there is a request for providing the notice information, and (4) the notice information selected by the selecting means (5) Inquiry means for inquiring whether or not to request distribution in a video-on-demand format for the content having the notice information. (6) creating means for creating status information indicating the size of a request for distribution in a video-on-demand format for the content inquired by the querying means, And a notification means for notifying the content provider of the notice information collection source of the created status information.
In order to realize the content distribution support according to the present invention, the content distribution support apparatus of the present invention receives (i) the advance notice information of the content scheduled to be distributed from the live distribution apparatus and stores it in the storage means. And (b) when there is a request for provision of notice information from the viewer, the notice means stored in the accumulation means is searched using the pre-stored preference information of the viewer as a key, The selected notice by presenting to the viewer an inquiry screen describing the selected notice information, and (c) selecting the notice information that suits the viewer's preference from among the notice information stored in By presenting the information to the viewer and receiving a selection instruction for the notice information on the inquiry screen, the video on A step for inquiring whether to request delivery in the command format, and (d) a video on-demand format for the inquired content by recording the inquiry result in the response information recording unit and aggregating the recorded information And (e) performing a step of notifying the content provider of the notice information transmission source of the created situation information.
[0012]
The content distribution support method of the present invention realized by the operation of each of the above processing means can be realized by a computer program, and this computer program is recorded on an appropriate recording medium such as a semiconductor memory and provided. Or provided via a network, installed when implementing the present invention, and operated on a control means such as a CPU, thereby realizing the present invention.
[0013]
In the content distribution support apparatus of the present invention configured as described above, the collection unit collects notice information of the content scheduled for live distribution from various content providers scheduled for live distribution, It is stored in the storage means.
[0014]
In this way, the storage unit stores the advance notice information of the content scheduled for live distribution.
[0015]
In response to the accumulation of the advance notice information, when the viewer requests the delivery of the advance notice information, the selection means, based on the history information from the previous notice information accumulated in the accumulation means, the viewer In response to this, the inquiry means presents the selected notice information to the viewer, and video on demand is provided for the content scheduled to be distributed live with the notice information. Queries whether to request delivery by format.
[0016]
In response to this inquiry, because the viewer comes to reply whether or not to request a delivery due to video-on-demand format, creating means, by aggregating the result of the inquiry, for the content of live distribution schedule create a situation information indicating the size of the request for delivery by the video-on-demand format, the notification means notifies the status information that created the collection source of the content provider of the advance notice information.
[0017]
In this way, according to the present invention, the content providers who are planning to live delivery, for content that is scheduled to be the live distribution, how much of the number of viewers request the delivery due to the video-on-demand format Since it becomes possible to know whether or not the video on demand format is distributed, it is possible to determine whether or not to perform the video on demand format distribution.
[0018]
As a result, according to the present invention, even if a live-distributed content is prepared to be distributed in a video-on-demand format, only a very small number of viewers actually request distribution of the content. Such a situation can be avoided.
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail according to embodiments.
[0020]
FIG. 1 illustrates a system configuration of a content distribution system to which the present invention is applied.
[0021]
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a VOD file creation support apparatus having the present invention, and 2-i (i = 1 to n) are live providing apparatuses that distribute contents by live distribution and Content distribution in a video on demand format, 3-j (j = 1 to m) is a viewer terminal that receives content distributed by the live providing device 2-i, and 4 is a network. Thus, the VOD file creation support device 1, the live providing device 2-i, and the viewer terminal 3-j are mutually connected.
[0022]
The VOD file creation support apparatus 1 of the present invention collects notice information of content scheduled for live distribution from the live providing apparatus 2-i ((1) in FIG. 1) and then from the viewer terminal 3-j. When there is access ((2) in FIG. 1), based on the collected notice information, inquiry information used for inquiring whether or not to request distribution in a video-on-demand format for the content scheduled to be distributed live is created. Then, by transmitting it to the viewer terminal 3-j that issued the access request ((3) in FIG. 1), a distribution request in the video on demand format for the content scheduled for live distribution from the viewer terminal 3-j. Is received ((4) in FIG. 1). Then, by summing up the request information obtained in this way, the status information of the distribution request in the video-on-demand format for the content scheduled to be distributed live is created and notified to the live providing apparatus 2-i. (5 in FIG. 1).
[0023]
According to this request status information, the live providing device 2-i can know how many viewers request video-on-demand delivery of the content scheduled for live delivery, With reference to this, it is determined whether or not to deliver the video on demand format.
[0024]
When adopting this configuration, the live providing device 2-i determines whether or not to request video-on-demand distribution for the content being live-distributed on the live-distribution screen during live distribution. By adopting a configuration in which a request button used for an inquiry is displayed and detecting the request button operation, how many viewers can directly view the content being live-distributed directly from the viewer terminal 3-j. A configuration may be used that obtains whether a video-on-demand distribution is requested.
[0025]
When this configuration is used together, the live providing device 2-i uses the request status information obtained from the VOD file creation support device 1 of the present invention and the request information obtained directly from the viewer terminal 3-j. , Know how many viewers are requesting video-on-demand delivery, and use that as a reference to decide whether to deliver video-on-demand .
[0026]
FIG. 2 illustrates an example of the device configuration of the VOD file creation support device 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 3 illustrates an example of the device configuration of the live providing device 2-i.
[0027]
First, the device configuration of the VOD file creation support device 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
[0028]
As shown in FIG. 2, the VOD file creation support apparatus 1 of the present invention includes a notice information collection unit 100, a notice information storage unit 101, a stored data deletion unit 102, a clock unit 103, and a viewer information management unit 104. A viewer preference specifying unit 105, a notice information selecting unit 106, an inquiry information creating unit 107, an inquiry information transmitting unit 108, a response receiving unit 109, a response information recording unit 110, and a request situation information creating unit 111. And a request status information notification unit 112.
[0029]
The notice information collection unit 100 collects notice information of content scheduled for live distribution from the live providing device 2-i.
[0030]
The advance notice storage unit 101 accumulates advance notice information of the content collected by the advance information collection unit 100.
[0031]
For example, the notice information collection unit 100 uses the distribution date and time, the content provider name, the live name (content name), the category to which the content belongs, the keyword that the content has, the topic information that the content has, and the characteristic that the content has, When collecting various scene images, the notice information storage unit 101 stores such information as shown in FIG.
[0032]
The accumulated data deleting unit 102 compares the calendar information timed by the clock unit 103 with the delivery date and time of the notice information, so that of the notice information stored in the notice information collecting unit 100, the content of the content for which live distribution has ended is stored. Detect the notice information and delete it.
[0033]
As shown in FIG. 5, the viewer information management unit 104 manages a category of content that the viewer is interested in and a keyword about the interest of the viewer in association with the viewer ID. To do.
[0034]
When there is an access from a viewer who operates the viewer terminal 3-j, the viewer preference specifying unit 105 searches the viewer information management unit 104 using the ID of the viewer as a key so that the viewer can By specifying the category of the content that interests the user and the keyword that the viewer is interested in, the preference information of the viewer is identified.
[0035]
The advance notice information selection unit 106 searches the advance notice information storage unit 101 using the viewer preference information specified by the viewer preference specification unit 105 as a key, and thus it is estimated that the viewer who has issued the access request is interested. Select the advance notice information.
[0036]
The inquiry information creating unit 107 uses the inquiry information (viewer terminal 3) for inquiring whether or not to request distribution in a video-on-demand format for content scheduled for live distribution based on the advance information selected by the advance information selection unit 106. Create an inquiry screen to be displayed on -j).
[0037]
FIG. 6 shows an example of the inquiry information created at this time. In the inquiry information shown in this figure, for each content presumed that the viewer requesting the access request is interested, the distribution date and time, the content provider name, the live name of the content, and the topic information (content content) And a creation request button for a VOD file (video on demand file) to be operated when requesting distribution of video on demand format for the content.
[0038]
The inquiry information transmitting unit 108 transmits the inquiry information created by the inquiry information creating unit 107 to the viewer terminal 3-j that is the access request source, thereby asking the viewer terminal 3-j as shown in FIG. Display the screen.
[0039]
When the creation request button of the inquiry screen as shown in FIG. 6 displayed on the viewer terminal 3-j as the access request source is operated, the response reception unit 109 performs video on for the content pointed to by the creation request button. The fact that there is a demand format distribution request is received and recorded in the response information recording unit 110.
[0040]
The request status information creation unit 111 operates in accordance with, for example, a prescribed cycle, and totals the distribution requests in the video on demand format recorded in the response information recording unit 110, so that each content provider has its content provider. The request status information as shown in FIG. 7 is created to record how many viewers have requested a video-on-demand format distribution request by a certain point in time.
[0041]
Here, the request status information creation unit 111 does not operate according to a specified cycle, but acquires a content name (live name) for which live distribution has ended in accordance with a notification from the accumulated data deletion unit 102, and about the content By counting only video-on-demand format distribution requests, we create request status information that records how many viewers requested video-on-demand format distribution requests for only that content. It may be.
[0042]
The request status information notification unit 112 notifies the request status information for each content provider created by the request status information creation unit 111 to the live providing device 2-i operated by the content provider.
[0043]
Next, the device configuration of the live providing device 2-i shown in FIG. 3 will be described.
[0044]
As shown in FIG. 3, the live providing apparatus 2-i includes a live distribution unit 200, a live distribution request receiving unit 201, a VOD file creating unit 202, a work file 203, a VOD file 204, and request status information input. A unit 205, a request status information recording unit 206, a request operation detection unit 207, a request operation totaling unit 208, and a VOD file creation determination unit 209.
[0045]
In response to the live distribution distribution request issued by the viewer terminal 3-j received by the live distribution request receiving unit 201, the live distribution unit 200 performs live distribution of content to the viewer terminal 3-j. . At this time, as shown in FIG. 8, a request button used for inquiring whether or not to request video-on-demand format distribution of the content being live distributed is displayed on the live distribution screen.
[0046]
The VOD file creation unit 202 uses the work file 203 to edit the content delivered by the live delivery unit 200, thereby creating a VOD file 204 for delivering content in a video on demand format.
[0047]
The request status information input unit 205 inputs the request status information notified to the VOD file creation support apparatus 1 according to the present invention (addressed to the content provider in FIG. 7), and the request status information recording unit The latest request status information is recorded in the request status information recording unit 206 by being recorded in the form of being overwritten on 206.
[0048]
The request operation detection unit 207 detects whether a request button (shown in FIG. 8) displayed on the screen of the viewer terminal 3-j has been operated by the live distribution unit 200.
[0049]
The request operation totaling unit 208 totals the number of request button operations detected by the request operation detection unit 207.
[0050]
The VOD file creation determination unit 209 determines the latest request status information input by the request status information input unit 205 recorded in the request status information recording unit 206 and the number of operation of the request button totaled by the request operation totaling unit 208. It is determined whether or not the video-on-demand format is to be distributed for the live-distributed content, and the determination result is notified to the VOD file creation unit 202.
[0051]
FIG. 9 illustrates a processing flow executed when the VOD file creation support apparatus 1 of the present invention configured as shown in FIG. 2 accepts an access request from a viewer. FIG. 10 shows a configuration as shown in FIG. The processing flow to be executed when the live providing device 2-i that has finished live distribution is illustrated.
[0052]
Next, the processing of the present invention will be described according to these processing flows.
[0053]
When an access request is issued from the viewer terminal 3-j, the VOD file creation support apparatus 1 of the present invention first inputs the access request in step 10, as shown in the processing flow of FIG. In the following step 11, the viewer ID specified by the input access request is extracted.
[0054]
Subsequently, in step 12, by using the extracted viewer ID as a key, the viewer information management unit 104 having a data structure as shown in FIG. 5 is searched to cope with the viewer who has issued the access request. Content category information / keyword information to be attached is acquired.
[0055]
Subsequently, in step 13, by using the acquired content category information / keyword information as a key, searching the notice information storage unit 101 having the data structure as shown in FIG. 4, the viewer who has issued the access request Select the notice information that is estimated to be of interest.
[0056]
Subsequently, in step 14, the inquiry information is created using the selected advance notice information, and is transmitted to the viewer terminal 6-j that is the access request issuer, whereby the viewer terminal 6 that is the access request issuer. An inquiry screen as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed for -j.
[0057]
Upon receiving this inquiry screen display, the viewer operates the corresponding creation request button on the inquiry screen when there is content that the video on demand format distribution request is desired. In step 15, after waiting for a reply from the viewer terminal 6-j that is the access request issuer, if there is a reply from the viewer terminal 6-j that is the access request issuer, It is determined whether or not it has been operated.
[0058]
When it is detected that a response requesting a distribution request in the video on demand format is detected by operating the creation request button according to this determination processing, the process proceeds to step 17 and the video on demand format returned is returned. Is recorded in the response information recording unit 110.
[0059]
In this way, when the information on the distribution request in the video-on-demand format is recorded in the response information recording unit 110, as described above, the request status information creating unit 111 operates according to a prescribed cycle, for example, By counting the distribution requests in the video-on-demand format recorded in the information recording unit 110, for each content provider, what content of that content provider is received from how many viewers up to that point. Request status information as shown in FIG. 7 for recording whether there is a video on demand format distribution request is created.
[0060]
In response to this, the request status information notification unit 112 notifies the request status information for each content provider created by the request status information creation unit 111 to the live providing device 2-i operated by the content provider. It is processed like this.
[0061]
As described above, the request status information input unit 205 of the live providing device 2-i inputs the request status information notified in this way, and records the request status information recording unit 206 in an overwritten form. The latest request status information is recorded in the request status information recording unit 206.
[0062]
In this way, upon receiving the latest request status information received from the VOD file creation support apparatus 1 of the present invention, the live providing apparatus 2-i ends the live distribution of a certain content, as shown in the processing flow of FIG. First, in step 20, by referring to the request status information of the content for which live distribution has been completed from the latest request status information recorded in the request status information recording unit 206, it is determined how much about the content. The number of viewers who have made a distribution request in the video-on-demand format is acquired.
[0063]
Subsequently, in step 21, the operation number of the request button (shown in FIG. 8) operated during live distribution is acquired.
[0064]
Subsequently, in step 22, the total number of requests for video-on-demand format for the content for which live distribution has ended is calculated by calculating the total value of the number of requests acquired in step 20 and the number of requests acquired in step 21. To do.
[0065]
Subsequently, in step 23, it is determined whether or not the calculated total number of distribution requests is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold. If the total exceeds the threshold, a VOD file 204 is created for the content for which live distribution has ended, On the other hand, if the threshold value is not exceeded, the process ends without creating the VOD file 204.
[0066]
In this way, the VOD file creation support apparatus 1 of the present invention collects the advance notice information of the content scheduled for live distribution from the live providing apparatus 2-i, and then accesses from the viewer terminal 3-j. Then, based on the collected notice information, inquiry information used for inquiring whether or not to request delivery of the video on demand format for the content scheduled for live delivery is created, and the inquiry information is used as a viewer terminal 3- By transmitting to j, the information on the distribution request in the video on demand format for the content scheduled to be distributed live is received from the viewer terminal 3-j. Then, by summing up the information obtained in this way, the request status information of the distribution request in the video-on-demand format for the content scheduled to be distributed live is created and notified to the live providing device 2-i. Is processed.
[0067]
In response to this, the live providing apparatus 2-i refers to the request status information notified from the VOD file creation support apparatus 1 of the present invention, and determines whether or not to perform video-on-demand distribution for live-distributed content. Will be able to decide.
[0068]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, a content provider who intends to perform live distribution can distribute how many viewers distribute video-on-demand format for the content that is scheduled for live distribution. Since it becomes possible to know whether or not the request is made, it is possible to determine whether or not to deliver the video on demand format by referring to it.
[0069]
As a result, according to the present invention, even if a live-distributed content is prepared to be distributed in a video-on-demand format, only a very small number of viewers actually request distribution of the content. Such a situation can be avoided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a content distribution system to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a device configuration of a VOD file creation support device.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a device configuration of a live providing device.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of accumulated data in a notice information accumulating unit.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of management data of a viewer information management unit.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of inquiry information.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of request status information.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a live distribution screen.
FIG. 9 is a processing flow executed by the VOD file creation support apparatus.
FIG. 10 is a processing flow executed by the live providing apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 VOD file creation assistance apparatus 2 Live provision apparatus 3 Viewer terminal 4 Network 100 Notice information collection part 101 Notice information accumulation part 102 Accumulated data deletion part 103 Clock part 104 Audience information management part 105 Audience preference specification part 106 Notice information selection Unit 107 Inquiry information creation unit 108 Inquiry information transmission unit 109 Response reception unit 110 Response information recording unit 111 Request situation information creation unit 112 Request situation information notification unit

Claims (3)

A content distribution support method executed by a content distribution support apparatus that creates information used to determine whether or not to perform content distribution in a video on demand format and notifies the content provider,
The method comprising the steps of: accumulated in the accumulating unit receives the notice information of the content of which come, live delivery schedule is sent from the live distribution apparatus,
When there is a request for provision of the advance notice information from the viewer, the advance information stored in the storage means is searched using the pre-stored preference information of the viewer as a key, and stored in the accumulation means. that from the prior notice information, and the step to select the advance notice information that was in the taste of the audience,
By presenting a query screen that described above for the selected prior notice information to the audience, presents the notice information that you selected above Symbol to viewers, receiving a selection of instructions to the notice information to be described in the inquiry screen in the steps of the content with the advance notice information, the Awa question whether to require delivery by the video-on-demand format,
And recording the inquiry result to the response information recording unit, the by aggregating the recorded information, the status information indicating the size of the request for delivery by the video-on-demand format for content that was subjected to the above query creation And steps to
The status information created above that you and a step that notifies the sender of the content provider of the prior notice information,
A featured content distribution support method. A content distribution support apparatus that creates information used to determine whether to perform content distribution in a video on demand format and notifies the content provider,
A collection means to collect notice information of content scheduled for live distribution;
Storage means for storing the notice information collected by the collection means;
A selection means for selecting the notice information that suits the viewer's preference from the notice information stored in the storage means when there is a request to provide the notice information from the viewer;
Inquiry means for presenting the notice information selected by the selection means to the viewer and inquiring whether to request distribution in the video on demand format for the content having the notice information,
Creating means for creating status information indicating the size of a request for distribution in a video-on-demand format for the content inquired by the inquiry means by aggregating the inquiry results of the inquiry means;
Comprising notifying means for notifying the content provider that collected the notice information of the status information created by the creating means,
A featured content distribution support apparatus. A content distribution support program for creating information used for determining whether or not to perform content distribution in a video on demand format and performing processing for notifying the content provider,
Collecting notice information of content scheduled for live distribution and storing it in the storage means,
When there is a request to provide the advance notice information from the viewer, a process of selecting the advance notice information that suits the viewer from the advance notice information stored in the storage means;
A process of presenting the selected notice information to the viewer and inquiring whether or not to request delivery of the content having the notice information in a video-on-demand format;
A process of creating status information indicating the size of a request for distribution in a video-on-demand format for the content that has been inquired by counting the inquiry results;
A content distribution support program for causing a computer to execute a process of notifying the content provider of the notice information collection source of the status information.

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