CN114651247A - Data collection device and information processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

The data collection device of the present application has an acquisition unit and a classification unit. The acquisition unit acquires device information indicating a connection device connected to the television receiver and usage time information indicating a usage time for the connection device to use the television receiver. The classification unit classifies a type of classification representing each of the connection devices connected to the television receiver by a category representing a usage tendency attribute of the connection device on a television receiver basis based on the usage time information for each of the connection devices. The present application can calculate the usage tendency attribute of each type of connection device for each television receiver, instead of calculating the usage tendency attribute of each connection device connected to the television receiver.

Description

Data collection device and information processing system

Cross Reference to Related Applications

This application claims priority from Japanese patent application No. 2020-157363, filed on 9/18/2020. The entire contents of this japanese patent application are incorporated herein by reference.

Technical Field

Embodiments of the present application relate to a data collection device and an information processing system.

Background

In recent years, there has been known an advertisement distribution format which estimates user preferences based on viewing history of content viewed by a television receiver and provides advertisements (CM) corresponding to the estimated preferences. For example, patent document 1 (japanese patent application laid-open No. 2009-147679) discloses a content processing device that can more appropriately reflect the preference of a user and can recommend content that is rich in changes. Thus, by providing an advertisement corresponding to the preference of the user, a greater promotional effect can be expected.

In recent years, a television receiver can be connected to various external devices such as a game machine, a personal computer device, a recorder device, and the like. Therefore, it is desirable to detect the connection status and the use status of each connected device connected to the television receiver and use them as user attributes in advertisement distribution. However, in data of each connection device connected to the television receiver, when a plurality of connection devices are classified into the same type, if the connection condition and the use condition of the connection devices of the same type are largely changed, it is difficult to explain the use tendency attribute of the user, and it is not suitable for use of various data.

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problem to be solved by the present application

The data collection apparatus of the embodiment of the present application is capable of calculating the usage tendency attribute of each type of connection device within each television receiver, instead of calculating the usage tendency attribute of each connection device connected to the television receiver, to solve the above-described problem.

Technical scheme for solving technical problem

The data collection device according to an embodiment of the present application includes an acquisition unit and a classification unit. The acquisition unit acquires device information indicating a connection device connected to a television receiver and usage time information indicating a usage time for the connection device to use the television receiver. The classification section classifies types representing classifications of all connection apparatuses connected to the television receiver by categories representing usage tendency attributes of the connection apparatuses in units of the television receiver based on usage time information of each connection apparatus connected to the television receiver.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a data collection system according to embodiment 1.

Fig. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a television receiver provided in the advertisement distribution system of embodiment 1.

Fig. 3 is a functional block diagram of a television receiver.

Fig. 4 is a schematic block diagram of a data collection device provided in the data collection system of embodiment 1.

Fig. 5 is a functional block diagram of a data collection device.

Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of an actual audiovisual data transmission operation of the television receiver.

Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing a flow of an information generating operation, the information indicating a usage tendency of each television receiver in the data collecting apparatus.

Fig. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the type determination result of the HDMI apparatus.

Fig. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a category classification result based on the utilization degree of the HDMI device.

Fig. 10 is a diagram for explaining information indicating a usage tendency of each television receiver.

Fig. 11 is a system configuration diagram of the advertisement distribution system according to embodiment 2.

Fig. 12 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of the advertisement distribution apparatus.

Fig. 13 is a functional block diagram of each function realized by the CPU of the advertisement distribution device executing the advertisement processing program.

Fig. 14 is a functional block diagram of the television receiver in embodiment 2.

Fig. 15 is a flowchart showing a flow of an information transmission operation of the television receiver according to embodiment 2.

Fig. 16 is a flowchart showing a flow of an advertisement distribution operation in the advertisement distribution apparatus.

Description of the symbols

A television receiver, a 2.. data collection device, a 3.. network, a 4.. HDMI device, a 11.. television receiver's CPU, a 14.. actual audiovisual data collection section, a 15.. HDMII/F, a 16.. received information processing section, a 17.. display section, a 31.. device information acquisition section, a 32.. use time detection section, a 33.. image quality mode detection section, a 34.. actual audiovisual data collection control section, a 35.. communication control section, a 36.. advertisement output control section, a 41.. data collection device's CPU, a 42.. communication section, a 43.. ROM, a 51.. communication control section, a 52.. acquisition section, a 53.. judgment section, a 54.. operation section, a 55.. advertisement classification section, a 56, a 61.. advertisement selection section, a 61.. advertisement device distribution section, and a 17.. advertisement distribution device, A CPU, 73 … ROM, 74 … HDD, 81 … communication control section, 82.. an acquisition section, 83.. a distribution advertisement selection section of a communication device, 71 … advertisement distribution apparatus.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, a data collection device and an information processing system according to an embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[ embodiment 1 ]

(System configuration)

Fig. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a data collection system according to embodiment 1. As shown in fig. 1, the data collection system is configured by connecting a plurality of television receivers 1 and data collection devices 2, which are respectively provided in each user's home, to each other via a prescribed Network (NW)3 such as the internet. As an example of the external device, a plurality of HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) devices 4 are connected to the television receiver 1, and 1 st to nth (n is a natural number of 2 or more) HDMI devices are shown. As The HDMI equipment 4, which is one example of connection equipment such as ott (over The top), a game machine, a personal computer device (PC), a recorder device, and The like, are connected to each other via an HDMI cable.

(hardware construction of television receiver)

Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the hardware configuration of the television receiver 1. As shown in fig. 2, the television receiver 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit)11, a ROM (Read Only Memory)12, a RAM (Random Access Memory)13, an actual audio-visual data collection Unit 14, and an HDMI (HDMI I/F) 15. Further, the television receiver 1 includes a received information processing section 16, a display section 17, a timer 18, a speaker section 19, and a communication section 20.

The received information processing unit 16 acquires, for example, broadcast waves of digital broadcasts received by the antenna device, and outputs video via the display unit 17 and audio via the speaker unit 19. The HDMI I/F15 has a plurality of HDMI terminals, and connects the HDMI apparatus 4 such as the above-described game machine and recorder device. The actual viewing data collection unit 14 collects device information of each HDMI device 4 and "actual viewing data" containing the usage time of each HDMI device using the television receiver 1. The communication unit 20 transmits the collected "actual viewing data" to the data collection device 2 via the network 3.

(functional Structure of television receiver)

Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a functional configuration of the television receiver 1. The CPU11 of the television receiver 1 functions as the device information acquisition section 31, the usage time detection section 32, the actual av data collection control section 34, and the communication control section 35 shown in fig. 3 by executing the data collection program stored in the ROM 12.

The CPU11 acquires the device information of the connected HDMI device 4 by functioning as the device information acquisition section 31.

The CPU11 detects time information indicating the time at which each HDMI apparatus 4 uses the television receiver 1 by functioning as the usage time detection section 32.

The CPU11 controls the actual audio-visual data collection unit 14 to collect the actual audio-visual data by functioning as the actual audio-visual data collection control unit 34.

The CPU11 transmits the collected actual av data to the data collection apparatus 2 by functioning as the communication control section 35. The data collection apparatus 2 generates and supplies "information indicating a usage tendency" of each television receiver 1, which indicates a usage tendency of each HDMI device 4 connected to the television receiver 1, based on actual audiovisual data acquired from each television receiver 1.

The functions of the device information acquisition unit 31, the used time detection unit 32, the actual viewing data collection control unit 34, and the communication control unit 35 may be implemented by software based on a data collection program by the CPU12, or may be implemented by hardware as a part or all of the functions. The functions described above may be implemented by storing the data collection program in a computer-readable electronic medium, and causing a computer to read the data collection program from the electronic medium. The electronic medium includes a flash memory, a removable medium, and the like, in addition to a recording medium such as a CD-ROM. Further, the components may be distributed and stored in different computers connected via a network, and communication may be performed between the computers that function the components. Further, it may also be configured such that: the data collection program is stored in a computer connected to a network such as the internet and is provided by being downloaded via the network.

(hardware configuration of data collecting apparatus)

Fig. 4 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of the data collection device 2. As shown in fig. 4, the data collection device 2 includes a CPU41, a communication unit 42, a ROM43, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive)44, and a RAM 45. In addition, an SSD (Solid State Drive) may be provided instead of the HDD44, or an SSD and the HDD44 may be provided.

The HDD44 stores therein an "actual audiovisual data processing program". Further, the HDD44 stores therein device determination condition data for determining the type of the HDMI device 4. The actual av data processing program and the device determination condition data may be stored in the SSD. The CPU41 determines the type of the HDMI device 4 connected to each television receiver 1 by referring to the device determination condition data.

(functional Structure of data collecting device)

Fig. 5 is a functional block diagram of each function realized by the CPU41 of the data collection apparatus 2 executing an actual audiovisual data processing program. As shown in fig. 5, the CPU41 realizes the functions of the communication control unit 51, the acquisition unit 52, the determination unit 53, the calculation unit 54, and the classification unit 55 by executing an actual viewing data processing program.

The CPU41 functions as the communication control section 51 to the classification section 55 based on the actual viewing data processing program, thereby generating and providing information indicating the usage tendency of each television receiver 1 based on the actual viewing data received from the television receivers 1.

In more detail, the CPU41 functions as the acquisition section 52 by processing a program based on actual audiovisual data, thereby acquiring actual audiovisual data collected from each television receiver 1 and stored in a storage section such as the HDD 44. As described above, the actual audiovisual data contains device information indicating the device name or the device type of the HDMI device 4 connected to the television receiver 1 and usage time information indicating the usage time of the HDMI device 4 using the television receiver 1.

The CPU41 functions as the determination section 53 to determine the type of the HDMI apparatus 4 connected to the television receiver 1 based on the apparatus information contained in the actual audiovisual data.

Further, the CPU41 functions as a determination section that determines the availability representing the degree to which each HDMI apparatus 4 uses the television receiver 1. As the utilization degree, any value may be used as long as it is possible to determine the degree to which each HDMI apparatus 4 uses the television receiver 1, or a value calculated by any one of the arithmetic methods may also be used.

For example, the CPU41 may use the use time information (time itself) of each HDIMI apparatus 4 using the television receiver 1 as the utilization degree without performing calculation. In this case, since the usage time is the availability, the arithmetic processing can be omitted.

The calculation unit 54 is an example of the determination unit that the CPU41 uses as the determination unit, and other indices such as "absolute value of usage time" or "average value of usage time" can be calculated as the degree of utilization by the calculation unit 54.

Further, an example in which the CPU41 functions as the determination section is the operation section 54, and the ratio of the usage time of the HDMI apparatus to the average usage time of the same type of HDMI apparatus connected to other television receivers 1 nationwide is calculated by the operation section 54 and used as the "utilization degree". Note that, the following description will be given taking as an example a case where the CPU41 calculates the ratio by functioning as the arithmetic section 54 and functions as the utilization degree.

In addition, the CPU41 classifies the HDMI apparatuses 4 into categories corresponding to their respective availability degrees by functioning as the classification section 55. Also, information indicating the type and classified category of each HDMI device of each television receiver 1 is provided as information indicating the usage tendency of each television receiver 1.

The functions of the communication control unit 51 to the classification unit 55 are realized by software based on the actual viewing data processing program by the CPU41, but a part or all of each function may be realized by hardware. Further, the functions described above may be realized by storing the actual viewing data processing program in a computer-readable electronic medium and causing a computer to read the actual viewing data processing program from the electronic medium. The electronic medium includes a flash memory, a removable medium, and the like, in addition to a recording medium such as a CD-ROM. Further, the components may be distributed and stored in different computers connected via a network, and communication may be performed between the computers that function the components. Further, it may also be configured such that: the actual audio-visual data processing program is stored in a computer connected to a network such as the internet and is provided by being downloaded via the network.

(information transmission operation of television receiver)

Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of an information transmission operation of the television receiver 1. The CPU11 of the television receiver 1 executes each process shown in the flowchart of fig. 6 based on the data collection program stored in the ROM 12. First, in step S1, the device information acquisition section 31 shown in fig. 3 determines whether the HDMI device 4 is connected to the HDMI I/F15. When it is judged that the HDMI apparatus 4 has been connected to HDMII/F15 (step S1: yes), the process advances to step S2. In step S2, the device information acquisition section 31 acquires the device information of the HDMI device 4 connected to the HDMI I/F15.

For example, in the case of an HDMI device 4 conforming to the HDMI-CEC (Consumer electronics Control) standard, information indicating the type of device such as a player or recorder, information indicating the name of the device such as "Play Game 2", the name of the manufacturer that produces the HDMI device 4, and the like can be acquired as device information. The device information acquisition section 31 acquires such device information from each HDMI device 4.

Next, in step S3, the use time detection unit 32 detects the time at which the television receiver 1 is used for each HDMI apparatus 4 (the time at which the television receiver displays the video of the HDMI apparatus 4). Specifically, when the display section 17 of the television receiver 1 is occupied by any HDMI device 4, the used time detection section 32 counts the used time (used time information) of the occupied display section 17, and stores the count result in a storage section such as the RAM13 together with device information that can specify that HDMI device 4. As the use time information, only the use start time or only the use end time may be stored. In addition, both the use start time and the use end time may be stored. In step S3, the use time detection section 32 reads out the use time information of each HDMI apparatus 4 stored in the storage section.

Next, in step S4, the real av data collection control unit 34 controls the real av data collection unit 14 to collect the device information of the HDMI device 4 connected to the television receiver 1 read out in step S2 and the information of the usage time read out in step S3 as real av data. Then, in step S4, the communication control unit 35 controls the communication unit 20 to transmit the collected actual viewing data to the data collection device 2.

The communication control unit 35 may transmit the data to the data collection device 2 when the above-described use start time is obtained, transmit the data to the data collection device 2 when the use end time is obtained, or transmit the data to the data collection device 2 at the time of obtaining the data.

The CPU11 of the television receiver 1 transmits the actual audiovisual data to the data collection apparatus 2 by repeatedly executing the processing of steps S1-S4.

(Generation operation of information indicating tendency to use)

Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing a flow of an operation of generating information indicating a usage tendency of each television receiver 1 in the data collection device 2. The CPU41 of the data collection apparatus 2 stores the actual audiovisual data transmitted from each television receiver 1 in a storage section such as the HDD 44. Thereby, a database based on the actual audiovisual data transmitted from each television receiver 1 is formed in the storage section. In step S21 of the flowchart of fig. 7, the acquisition unit 52 acquires actual viewing data collected from a predetermined television receiver 1 from a storage unit such as the HDD 44.

Next, in step S22, the determination section 53 determines the type of the HDMI apparatus 4 connected to the television receiver 1 based on the apparatus information contained in the acquired actual av data. Fig. 8 is a diagram showing one example of the determination result of the type of the HDMI apparatus 4 determined by the determination section 53. The device information included in the actual audio-visual data collected from the television receiver 1 includes various pieces of information such as large classification information indicating "device type" of recorder apparatus, player apparatus, and the like, device name (device name), and vendor identification information (vendor ID), for example.

Further, the device determination condition data shown as the device determination conditions in fig. 8 is stored in the ROM43 of the data collection device 2 in association with the type name. This fig. 8 shows an example of The HDMI device 4 determined as ott (over The top), which is a rod-shaped HDMI device that can view video content via a network, and whose device name (device name) is a network TV rod or a PCTV rod. Similarly, fig. 8 also shows an example in which the HDMI device 4 is determined as a game machine, the HDMI device 4 being a television game capable HDMI device and the device name (device name) being Play name 2.

Also, this fig. 8 shows an example in which the HDMI apparatus 4 is determined as a personal computer device (PC), the HDMI apparatus 4 being a personal computer device (PC) having an HDMI terminal, and the apparatus name (device name) being a notebook PC. Also, fig. 8 shows an example in which the HDMI apparatus 4 whose apparatus name (device name) is a TV recorder HDMI apparatus 4 is determined as a recorder device and the HDMI apparatus 4 whose apparatus name (device name) is a disc player is determined as a player device.

In step S22, the determination section 53 detects the type name associated with the device determination condition that is met, based on the device name (device name) included in the acquired device information, and with reference to the device determination condition data, thereby determining the type of the HDMI device 4 of the acquired device information.

When the device name (device name) included in the acquired device information is not included in the device determination condition data (does not match any of the device determination condition data), the determination unit 53 determines that the HDMI device 4 is of the "other/unknown" type.

Next, in step S23, the arithmetic unit 54 calculates the availability (boost value) of the HDMI apparatus 4 based on the usage time information included in the actual viewing data collected from the television receiver 1. Specifically, the calculation unit 54 calculates, for example, a ratio of the usage time of the OTT-type HDMI device to the average usage time of the OTT-type HDMI device nationwide, and sets the ratio as a "boost value (utilization degree)". This boost value (utilization degree) becomes an index representing the usage tendency attribute of each HDMI apparatus 4 of each television receiver 1.

Next, in step S24, the classification unit 55 classifies each HDMI apparatus 4 into, for example, 5 categories based on the utilization degree calculated by the calculation unit 54. In the present example, the case where each HDMI device 4 is classified into 5 categories has been described, but the HDMI device may be classified into any number of categories such as 6 or 9 categories. Further, the degree of utilization calculated by the calculation unit 54 can be used as it is to perform stepless classification.

Fig. 9 is a diagram showing an example of 5 categories. As shown in fig. 9, in the case of an unused HDMI apparatus 4 (HDMI apparatus 4 having a degree of availability of "0"), the classification unit 55 classifies the HDMI apparatus 4 into the category "0".

Further, when the calculated boost value is less than 0.5, the classification section 55 classifies the HDMI apparatus 4 into the category "1", and when the calculated boost value is 0.5 or more and less than 1.0, the classification section 55 classifies the HDMI apparatus 4 into the category "2". Further, the classification unit 55 classifies the HDMI device 4 into the category "3" when the calculated boost value is 1.0 or more and less than 2.0, and the classification unit 55 classifies the HDMI device 4 into the category "4" when the calculated boost value is 2.0 or more.

Also, as shown in fig. 10, the classification section 55 associates the type of each HDMI apparatus 4 and the category of each HDMI apparatus 4 connected for each television receiver 1, and stores it in a storage section such as the HDD44 as "information indicating a usage tendency" for each television receiver 1.

This fig. 10 shows an example in which OTT, game machine, PC, recorder, player, and "other/unknown" each type of HDMI device 4 are connected to each television receiver (device 1 to device n). Further, as shown in fig. 10, in the 1 st television receiver (device 1, OTT, player, and HDMI device 4 of each type "other/unknown" are not used and are classified into the "0" category, and the HDMI device 4 of the game machine type is classified into the category "3" indicating high utilization degree.

Also, as shown in fig. 10, in the case of the 1 st television receiver (device 1), the PC type HDMI device 4 and the recorder type HDMI device 4 are classified into the category "1" representing that the utilization degree is low.

Similarly, as shown in fig. 10, in the case of the nth television receiver (device n (n is a natural number of 4 or more)), the HDMI device 4 of each type of OTT, game machine, and PC is not used and is classified into the category "0". Further, as shown in fig. 10, in the case of the nth television receiver (device n (n is a natural number of 4 or more)), the HDMI apparatus 4 of the recorder type is classified into the category "2" because it is moderate utilization degree. In addition, as shown in fig. 10, in the case of the nth television receiver (device n (n is a natural number of 4 or more)), since the availability of the player type HDMI apparatus 4 is high, it is classified into the category "3". Further, as shown in fig. 10, in the case of the nth television receiver (device n (n is a natural number of 4 or more)), the HDMI device 4 of the "other/unknown" type is classified as an example of the category "1" because of low availability.

The data collection apparatus 2 provides such information indicating the type and classified category of each HDMI device connected to the television receiver 1 as information indicating the usage tendency of each television receiver 1.

Such information indicating the usage tendency of each television receiver 1 is provided to an enterprise or a broadcasting station or the like. The above-described information indicating the usage tendency indicates the preference of each television receiver 1, and therefore, a business or the like that receives the information indicating the usage tendency can be used to make a recommendation or the like of a content corresponding to the preference indicated by the information indicating the usage tendency. Further, on the broadcasting station side, the advertisement corresponding to the preference indicated by the information indicating the usage tendency may be distributed in the time zone in which the viewer of the television receiver 1 is watching the broadcast program with reference to the viewing information of the television receiver 1.

(Effect of embodiment 1)

As is apparent from the above description, the data collection system of embodiment 1 classifies each HDMI apparatus 4 connected to the television receiver 1 by type, and calculates the utilization degree based on the usage time of each type. Further, each HDMI apparatus 4 is classified into a category corresponding to each availability. Also, information indicating the type and category of each HDMI device connected to each television receiver 1 is provided as information indicating the usage tendency of each television receiver 1.

The combination of the HDMI devices in use is rich and varied, and the combination of the HDMI devices is unique, so that an individual can be identified according to the combination of the HDMI devices. Therefore, if comprehensive audio-visual data is externally provided to each HDMI device, there is a fear that the provider performs personal identification with the audio-visual data.

For example, when a user who connects A, B, C each HDMI device to a television receiver for use introduces an HDMI device that he or she is using on SNS (Social Networking Service) or the like, an individual can be identified by introducing an HDMI device on SNS. Further, even if only one HDMI device is connected to the television receiver, if the connected HDMI device is the only HDMI device, a person can be identified.

However, in the case of the data collection system of embodiment 1, classification is performed according to the type of the HDMI apparatus 4, and the utilization degree (usage time) of each television receiver 1 is calculated for each type, and each HDMI apparatus 4 is classified into a category corresponding to each utilization degree. Also, information indicating the type and classified category of each HDMI device connected to each television receiver 1 is provided as "information indicating a usage tendency" of each television receiver 1.

Therefore, it is possible to make it difficult to recognize the HDMI apparatuses 4 themselves, and it is possible to prevent inconvenience of personal recognition from occurring based on the combination of the respective HDMI apparatuses 4. In other words, the data collection system of embodiment 1 can easily create and provide an indication of higher utility value in a secure form without risk of revealing personal information.

(modification example)

The classification unit 55 classifies each HDMI apparatus 4 into a predetermined category based on the availability corresponding to the use time information of each HDMI apparatus 4 using the television receiver 1. However, each HDMI device 4 may be classified into a predetermined category based on the availability and the image quality mode corresponding to the use time information, the image quality mode being set in the television receiver when the HDMI device 4 uses the television receiver.

At this time, the data collection device 2 includes, in the actual viewing data, image quality mode information indicating an image quality mode set in the television receiver 1 when the television receiver 1 is used for each HDMI device 4, and transmits the image quality mode information to the television receiver 1. As described above, the classification unit 55 of the data collection device 2 calculates the degree of utilization, and performs the classification with reference to the calculated degree of utilization and the image quality mode information. This makes it possible to classify each HDMI device into a category that more closely corresponds to the usage tendency attribute of each HDMI device 4, and in addition, the same effects as described above can be obtained.

[ 2 nd embodiment ]

Next, an advertisement distribution system of embodiment 2 that distributes advertisements by using the data collection device 2 described in embodiment 1 will be described.

(System configuration)

Fig. 11 is a system configuration diagram of the advertisement distribution system according to embodiment 2. As shown in fig. 11, the advertisement distribution system according to embodiment 2 is configured by connecting an advertisement distribution device 61 and a communication device 62 to a network 3 to which the television receiver 1 and the data collection device 2 are connected.

(hardware construction of advertisement delivery device)

Fig. 12 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of the advertisement distribution device 61. As shown in fig. 12, the advertisement distribution device 61 includes a CPU71, a communication section 72, a ROM73, an HDD74, and a RAM 75. The ROM73 stores therein an "advertisement processing program". Further, the HDD74 stores therein various advertisement data. The CPU71 selects and distributes optimum advertisement data (distribution information) based on the information indicating the usage tendency (and viewing information for each television receiver 1, etc.) received from the data collection device 2.

The distribution destination of the advertisement data may be the television receiver 1 or the communication device 62 such as a smart phone, a tablet terminal device, a notebook personal computer apparatus, a desktop personal computer apparatus, or a server apparatus on the cloud or the like. The communication device 62 shown in fig. 11 shows such an electronic device having various communication functions.

(functional Structure of advertisement distribution device)

Fig. 13 is a functional block diagram of the functions realized by the CPU71 of the advertisement distribution apparatus 61 executing the advertisement processing program. As shown in fig. 13, the CPU71 realizes the functions of the communication control unit 81, the acquisition unit 82, and the distributed advertisement selection unit 83 by executing an advertisement processing program.

The CPU71 functions as the communication control section 81 to the distributed advertisement selection section 83 based on the advertisement processing program, thereby distributing advertisement information (distribution information) selected based on the information indicating the usage tendency received from the data collection device 2 to the television receiver 1, the communication device 62, or the like.

More specifically, the CPU71 functions as the acquisition section 82 based on the advertisement processing program to acquire the above-described information indicating the usage tendency of each television receiver 1 from the data collection device 2.

The CPU41 functions as the distributed advertisement selection section 83 to select advertisement data (distribution information) based on information indicating a usage tendency of the television receiver 1. The communication control section 81 performs communication control of the communication section 72 to distribute the selected advertisement data to the television receiver 1 or the communication device 62 described above.

The functions of the communication control unit 81 to the distributed advertisement selection unit 83 are realized by the CPU71 in software based on the advertisement processing program, but a part or all of each function may be realized by hardware. The advertisement processing program may be stored in a computer-readable electronic medium, and the functions may be realized by causing a computer to read the advertisement processing program from the electronic medium. The electronic medium includes a flash memory, a removable medium, and the like, in addition to a recording medium such as a CD-ROM. Further, the present invention can be realized by distributing and storing the components in different computers connected via a network, and performing communication between the computers that cause the respective components to function. Further, it may also be configured such that: the advertisement processing program is stored in a computer connected to a network such as the internet and is provided by being downloaded via the network.

(functional Structure of television receiver)

The television receiver 1 has a hardware configuration shown in fig. 2. In the case of embodiment 2, the television receiver 1 realizes the following functions by the CPU11 executing the data collection program stored in the ROM12 shown in fig. 2: as shown in fig. 14, the device information acquisition unit 31, the used time detection unit 32, the actual viewing data collection control unit 34, the communication control unit 35, the image quality pattern detection unit 33, and the advertisement output control unit 36 are described above.

As will be described in detail later, the CPU11 functions as the picture quality mode detection section 33 to detect the picture quality mode of the television receiver 1, which is set when each HDMI apparatus 4 uses the television receiver 1.

Further, when the advertisement distribution device 61 distributes an advertisement, the CPU11 functions as the advertisement output control section 36 to output and control the distributed advertisement to the display section 17.

(information transmission operation of television receiver)

Fig. 15 is a flowchart showing a flow of an information transmission operation of the television receiver 1 according to embodiment 2. The CPU11 of the television receiver 1 executes each process shown in the flowchart of fig. 15 based on the advertisement processing program stored in the ROM 12. First, in step S31, the device information acquisition section 31 shown in fig. 14 determines whether the HDMI device 4 is connected to the HDMI I/F15. When it is determined that the HDMI apparatus 4 has been connected to the HDMI I/F15, the process advances to step S32. In step S32, the device information acquisition section 31 acquires the device information of the HDMI device 4 connected to the HDMI I/F15.

For example, in the case of the HDMI device 4 compliant with the HDMI-CEC (consumer electronics Control) standard, information indicating the type of device such as a player or recorder, information indicating the name of the device such as "Play game 2", the name of the manufacturer that produced the HDMI device 4, and the like can be acquired as the device information. The device information acquisition section 31 acquires such device information from each HDMI device 4.

Next, in step S33, the use time detection unit 32 detects the time at which the television receiver 1 is used for each HDMI apparatus 4 (the time at which the television receiver displays the video of the HDMI apparatus 4). Specifically, when the display section 17 of the television receiver 1 is occupied by any HDMI device 4, the used time detection section 32 counts the used time (used time information) of the occupied display section 17, and stores the count result in a storage section such as the RAM13 together with device information that can specify that HDMI device 4. In step S33, the use time detection section 32 reads out the use time information of each HDMI apparatus 4 stored in the storage section.

Next, in step S34, the image quality mode detection unit 33 is used to detect the image quality mode of the television receiver 1, which is used when the video of each HDMI apparatus 4 is displayed on the television receiver 1. Specifically, when a video of any one HDMI device 4 is displayed on the display unit 17 of the television receiver 1, the image quality mode detection unit 33 stores, in the RAM13 or the like, image quality mode information indicating the image quality mode of the television receiver 1 set at the time of displaying the video, together with device information that can identify the HDMI device 4.

Next, the device information of the HDMI device 4 connected to the television receiver 1 detected in step S32 and the usage time information detected in step S33 are stored in a storage section such as the RAM13 in association with each other. In step S35, the actual av data collection control portion 34 controls the actual av data collection portion 14 to collect the device information and the usage time information of each HDMI device 4 as actual av data.

Next, when the broadcast program is viewed in the television receiver 1, the actual viewing data collection unit 14 generates viewing information such as a channel and viewing time for specifying the viewed program and viewing time, and stores the viewing information in a storage unit such as the RAM 13. In step S36, the real viewing data collection control unit 34 reads viewing information from the storage unit such as the RAM 13.

Next, in step S37, the communication control unit 35 performs communication control of the communication unit 20 so as to transmit the actual view data, the image quality mode information, and the view information to the data collection device 2 via the network 3. The CPU11 of the television receiver 1 repeatedly executes the processing of steps S31 to S37 as described above, transmitting various information to the data collection apparatus 2.

In addition, in this example, the various information acquired in steps S32 to S36 are transmitted to the data collection apparatus 2 together in step S37, but the various information may also be transmitted to the data collection apparatus 2 one by one (or a plurality of) one or more (or a plurality of).

The data collection device 2 generates information indicating the usage tendency of each television receiver 1 based on the actual audiovisual data collected from each television receiver 1. The communication control unit 51 of the data collection device 2 performs communication control of the communication unit 42 so that the image quality mode information and the viewing information acquired from the television receiver 1 are added to the information indicating the usage tendency, and the information is transmitted to the advertisement distribution device 61.

(advertisement distribution operation of advertisement distribution device)

Fig. 16 is a flowchart showing a flow of an advertisement distribution operation in the advertisement distribution apparatus 16. In step S41, the acquisition unit 82 shown in fig. 13 acquires information indicating the usage tendency of the television receiver 1, image quality mode information, and viewing information transmitted from the data collection device.

In step S42, the distributed advertisement selection unit 83 selects an advertisement to be distributed by referring to the information indicating the usage tendency of each television receiver 1 (see fig. 10), the image quality mode information, and the viewing information. Then, in step S43, the selected advertisement is distributed to and controlled by each television receiver 1 or the communication apparatus 62 or the like through the communication control section 81.

In the television receiver 1 that has received the distributed advertisement, the advertisement output control unit 36 shown in fig. 14 overlaps on a menu screen, for example, or performs display control on the display unit 17 when the user designates display. The advertisement displayed in this way becomes an advertisement corresponding to the information indicating the usage tendency acquired from the television receiver 1 of the user. Accordingly, an advertisement more conforming to the user's preference can be provided. For example, as advertisement distribution, function notification, content recommendation for a user who frequently uses OTT, and the like may be included.

(details of the selection operation of advertisement data considering the image quality mode information)

Here, the television receiver 1 generally performs predetermined signal processing on an image signal to obtain a clear image quality, and then displays the image signal. However, in the case of a game requiring a transient response such as a motion game, if the predetermined signal processing is performed on the image signal of the game, a time lag occurs between the time when the button of the controller is operated and the time when the game image is displayed.

Therefore, many television receivers are provided with a game-dedicated display mode for displaying a game image signal without performing predetermined signal processing on the game image signal. Also, users who enjoy playing motion games are likely to use such game-specific display modes. Further, similarly to the 1 st television receiver (device 1) shown in fig. 10, the user of the television receiver having a higher availability to the gaming machine is likely to be the user who plays the action game.

Therefore, the distributed advertisement selecting unit 83 selects advertisement data with reference to the picture quality mode information and the information indicating the usage tendency of the television receiver 1. Accordingly, an advertisement more conforming to the user's preference can be provided. For example, the advertisement distribution of the game may be notification of a new game.

(details of the selection operation of advertisement data considering actual audio-visual data)

The distributed advertisement selection unit 83 selects advertisement data with reference to the viewing information and information indicating the usage tendency of the television receiver 1 (which may include the image quality mode) as described above. For example, similarly to the 1 st television receiver (device 1) shown in fig. 10, it is a television receiver having a high availability for game machines, and in the case where it is detected from the viewing information that there is a large number of views of programs related to the history, the distribution advertisement selection section 83 selects advertisement data of a game related to the history and distributes the selected advertisement data to the corresponding television receiver 1 or the like. Thus, it is possible to provide an advertisement that is highly likely to better meet the preference of the user.

Further, when distributing advertisement data, the communication control unit 81 detects, for example, viewing time of a program related to a history based on viewing information of the television receiver 1, and selects and distributes advertisement data of a game related to the history among the programs related to the history. Thereby, the advertisement data can be distributed more efficiently.

(Effect of embodiment 2)

The advertisement distribution system according to embodiment 2 selects and distributes advertisements with reference to any one or two of information indicating the usage tendency of each television receiver 1, image quality mode information, and actual audiovisual data. Thereby, an advertisement more conforming to the user's preference can be provided, and the same effect as that of embodiment 1 described above can also be obtained.

The embodiments of the present application are one example and are not intended to limit the scope of the present application. The present application can be implemented in various other embodiments, and various omissions, substitutions, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present application. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the application, and are also included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

Claims (7)

1. A data collection device having:

   an acquisition section that acquires device information indicating a connection device connected to a television receiver and usage time information indicating usage time for the connection device to use the television receiver; and

   and a classification unit that classifies types representing classifications of all the connected devices connected to the television receiver by categories representing usage tendency attributes of the connected devices on a television receiver-by-television receiver basis based on the usage time information of each of the connected devices.
2. The data collection apparatus according to claim 1, having a determination section that determines availability of the connection device to the television receiver using the usage time information,

   the classification section classifies, for each type of all connected devices connected to the television receiver, it into a category corresponding to the degree of utilization determined by the determination section.
3. The data collection apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the determination section is an arithmetic section that calculates, as the degree of utilization, a ratio of a usage time indicated by the usage time information of each type of connected device to an average usage time of connected devices of the same type connected to a plurality of other television receivers.
4. The data collection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the acquisition unit acquires, in addition to the device information and the use time information, picture quality mode information indicating a picture quality mode set in the television receiver when the television receiver is used by the connected device,

   the classification unit classifies, on a television receiver-by-television receiver basis, types representing classifications of all connected devices connected to the television receiver according to a category representing a usage tendency attribute of the connected devices, based on usage time information and picture quality mode information for each connected device.
5. An information processing system having:

   the data collection device of any one of claims 1-4;

   a data acquisition section that acquires actual audiovisual data provided by the data collection apparatus, which represents a usage tendency attribute of a connected device of each television receiver;

   a selection section that selects distribution information based on a usage tendency attribute of a connected device of each television receiver represented by the actual audiovisual data acquired by the data acquisition section; and

   a distribution unit that distributes the selected distribution information.
6. The information processing system according to claim 5, wherein the data acquisition section acquires, in addition to the actual viewing data, picture quality mode information indicating a picture quality mode set in the television receiver when the connected device uses the television receiver,

   the selection unit selects distribution information based on the usage tendency attribute of the connected device for each television receiver indicated by the actual viewing data and the image quality mode information.
7. The information processing system according to claim 5, wherein the data acquisition section acquires audiovisual information corresponding to a broadcast program viewed with the television receiver in addition to the actual audiovisual data,

   the selection section selects distribution information based on the usage tendency attribute of the connection device of each television receiver represented by the actual audiovisual data and the audiovisual information.

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