JP2002112235A - Program providing support system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a program providing support system that can publicly support provision of a program in a way that a viewer can view a past program having not been viewed and a sponsor of the program can make sufficient advertising activities to viewers. SOLUTION: In the program providing support system, a time frame-by-time frame program management means (a) manages time frame-by-time frame program data 1 where program main bodies Pa and commercial parts Pb being components of a series of programs P having already broadcast at a broadcast time frame Px and a series of programs P broadcasting at present by a broadcast station Z are stored while being made to correspond to at least the broadcast station Z for each broadcast time frame Px and the time frame-by-time frame program data 1 corresponding to the program P designated by a viewer device 2 are provided by a program data provision means (b).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a program providing support system for suitably supporting a program broadcasted by a broadcasting station to a viewer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, a television program broadcasted from a broadcasting station has been unilaterally distributed to viewers at the time of the broadcast. However, in recent years, with the advancement of digital broadcasting technology using broadband (broadband) technology, digital broadcasting has been promoted not only in satellite broadcasting but also in terrestrial broadcasting, and it is not limited to unilateral program distribution from broadcasting stations. It has become a reality that the viewer side can access the broadcast station side.

[0003] Such a television program is composed of a program main unit which forms the basis of the program, especially in a private broadcasting station, and a commercial unit for advertising and advertising a company sponsoring the program. Usually, a commercial part is intermittently inserted several times into a program main part. Furthermore, at present, the main source of income relating to program broadcasting of private broadcasting stations depends on funds provided from sponsor companies and the like as compensation for broadcasting such commercial parts. Also, in public broadcasting, the main source of income depends on the reception fee collected from general viewers, so in order to encourage viewers to pay the reception fee and appeal their programs, private broadcasting stations say However, there is a case where something similar to the commercial part is broadcast.

[0004]

By the way, in the life of a busy modern person, it is often the case that a desired program cannot be watched during the broadcast time for various reasons such as a late return time. As a countermeasure against such a problem, a method of recording the program on a video or the like has been often adopted. However, in the case of video recording, some VTRs have a so-called CM cut function of recording only the program main part and not selectively recording the commercial part. Even when recording, depending on the viewer, there is a case where a usage method is used in which the commercial portion is fast-forwarded and only the program main portion is viewed when the recorded program is reproduced. Also,
Even if you have forgotten to schedule a recording or intend to record a video of a program, if there is an emergency broadcast or if a previously broadcast live sports broadcast is extended, the broadcast time of the desired program will be extended. It may happen that the program cannot be completely recorded by deviation.

[0005] On the other hand, the motivation to sponsor a program for a sponsor company or the like that provides funding for the program is that the sponsor wants to carry out advertising and promotion activities to the audience that is expected to watch the program. However, if the commercial part is skipped on the viewer side as described above, there is a problem that the commercial part cannot exert a sufficient advertising function.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention enables viewers to view past programs that could not be viewed, and provides sufficient advertising and promotional activities for program sponsors. And a program providing support system that is useful to both parties.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A program providing support system according to the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, uses a communication line to broadcast a program P broadcasted by a broadcast station Z to a viewer Y. Is a program providing support system for supporting providing to a consumer device 2, a series of programs P broadcasted by a broadcasting station Z in a predetermined broadcast time frame Px and a series of programs P broadcast at the present time. A time frame-based program management means a which manages the time frame-based program data 1 stored in association with at least the broadcast station Z for each broadcast time frame Px, which are constituent elements of Program data providing means (b) for providing, to the viewer device (2) that has specified at least one program (P), the program data (1) for each time frame corresponding to the specified program (P). To do That.

The communication line may be either a digital line or an analog line, and may be one that transmits and receives signals using radio waves or one that transmits and receives signals using a wired line. In the case of a radio wave, it may be a terrestrial wave or a signal via an artificial satellite. In addition, a telephone line or the like partially used is also included.

The program main unit Pa is configured to broadcast predetermined contents such as news and drama to the viewer Y and broadcasted. The commercial unit Pb provides funding to the program main unit Pb. A program such as a 30-minute or 1-hour program is formed by the sponsor of a company or the like and configured to broadcast the program, and a series of programs P is formed from the program body Pa and the commercial section Pb. Is broadcasted in a predetermined time frame Px. The commercial portion Pb may be intermittently inserted in the middle of the program main body Pa and broadcast, or may be broadcast at the beginning or end of the program main body Pa at a time. Is also good. Furthermore, the commercial part Pb may be broadcast in a state sandwiched between the programs P. In this case, the commercial part Pb belongs to one of the preceding and following programs P. Think. Each program P having such a configuration is stored as the program data 1 for each time frame, and is managed by the program management means a for each time frame. Here, the program P is a concept including various forms such as a television program, a radio program, and a teletext program.

[0010] On the other hand, the program data providing means b is for providing the program data 1 for each time frame related to the program P when the program P is specified by the viewer Y. By means b, the program P desired by the viewer Y, that is, the program body Pa and the commercial portion Pb are provided integrally to the viewer device 2.

Specifically, the present system includes, for example, each broadcasting station Z
Is managed independently, or is managed by a distributor who collectively manages data relating to programs broadcasted by the broadcast stations Z and distributes the data to viewers. Also, viewer Y
Equipment for viewers such as television receivers owned by each person
May be a form corresponding to the present system. In this case, the viewer device 2 may be linked to a personal computer or the like, or the viewer device 2 may be a television receiver provided with a storage device or the like.

With such a configuration, the program P already broadcasted from the broadcasting station Z or the program P currently being broadcast at present is managed by the time frame-based program management means a as the time frame-based program data 1. For example, if the viewer Y misses the already broadcasted program P, the user designates the program P to view the program P at his / her own device 2 at an arbitrary time. As a result, the inconvenience of the video recording described above is eliminated. At this time, since the program P viewed by the viewer Y includes both the program main part Pa and the commercial part Pb, the commercial part is provided to the viewer Y unless the viewer Y changes the channel. Since Pb can be shown almost certainly, it becomes possible for the sponsor who targets the audience of the program P to perform the advertisement without fail as intended.

[0013] In particular, the present system enables the viewer equipment 2
In order to be able to provide an appropriate program without imposing a heavy load on the viewer device 2, the system sends a signal indicating that the program P is specified in the viewer device 2 from the viewer device 2. A program providing instruction means c for receiving and instructing the program data providing means b to provide the program data by time frame 1 for the program P to the viewer device 2. desirable.

[0014] In any case where the present system is implemented, managing past programs over a long period of time imposes a heavy burden on maintenance and management. In order to avoid such a problem effectively, the time-frame-based program management means a determines the time-frame-based program data 1 of the program P currently being broadcast by the broadcast station Z from the time-frame-based program data 1 to a predetermined time in the past. It is desirable to manage up to program data 1 for each time frame related to the broadcasted program P. Here, the predetermined time in the past can be arbitrarily set, for example, one day, one week, one month, one year, and the like.

Furthermore, in the current situation where multi-channels by digital broadcasting are progressing, in order to appropriately manage the program data 1 for each time frame and to make it easy for the viewer Y to select a desired program, it is necessary to set the The program management means a is broadcast station Z
It is preferable to manage the program data 1 for each time frame by classifying the program data 1 for each time frame or for each channel ch managed by the broadcasting station Z.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

In the program providing support system of this embodiment, the distribution company X who manages the television programs P broadcast from the private television broadcasting stations ZA, ZB. It is constructed by the computer system 3.

In this embodiment, the transmission and reception of the program P between the broadcasting stations ZA, ZB... And the computer system 3 and the distribution of the program P from the computer system 3 to the viewer Y side are performed by using a terrestrial wave as a communication line. Digital signal transmission and reception. Information exchange between the viewer Y and the computer system 3 other than program distribution is performed by digital signals using the telephone line 5, but each communication line is not limited to these as described above. is there.

That is, this computer system 3
A receiving device 32 for receiving the program P broadcasted from the broadcasting stations ZA, ZB,..., A database device 34 for storing and managing the received program P, a distribution device 33 for distributing the program P to the viewer Y, At least a main computer 31 that communicates information with the viewer device 2 used by each viewer Y and integrates each device is provided, and these devices cooperate integrally to provide the program of the present embodiment. Make up a support system. In addition, each apparatus may be dispersedly arranged at a plurality of places, or may be arranged at one place.

Each of the broadcasting stations ZA, ZB,... That produces, arranges, edits, etc. the program P, broadcasts the program P to the viewer Y or the distributor X as a digital signal.
It has. Each program P is composed of a program body Pa and a commercial part Pb related to the sponsor of the program P.
In a state in which it is intermittently inserted in the middle of a predetermined time frame Px
Is broadcasting program P. In addition, each broadcasting station Z
A, ZB... Are channels ch for broadcasting program P
Respectively.

Each viewer Y is provided with a viewer device 2 for receiving and outputting the program P. In the present embodiment, the viewer device 2 is connected to the computer system 3 of the distributor X through the telephone line 5 and exchanges information, in addition to the antenna 22 and the receiver 21 for receiving and outputting the broadcast of the program P. And a computer 23 that can perform the operations.
The operation of the viewer device 2 performed by the viewer Y is performed by a suitable means (not shown) such as a remote controller, a keyboard, and a touch panel.

In the present embodiment, the computer system 3 on the distributor X side converts the programs P into data, stores and manages the programs P by time frame, and the viewer device 2
, A program data providing means b for providing program data 1 to a viewer device 2 based on the contents of communication with the viewer device 2 Is provided.

Hereinafter, an outline of how the viewer Y can view the past program P using the present system will be described.

First, at each broadcasting station ZA, ZB,.
Is always broadcast. At the time of broadcasting, these programs P can be viewed as real-time broadcasts by each viewer Y on their own viewer device 2. On the other hand, these programs P
Is received by the computer system 3 on the distributor X side, the computer system 3 sequentially stores each program P as the program data 1 for each time frame. The program data 1 for each time frame includes broadcast stations ZA, ZB,.
The program P is classified for each channel ch to which the program P belongs, and is managed in association with the broadcast stations ZA, ZB,.
The program data 1 for each time frame is composed of program body data 1a corresponding to the program body Pa and commercial data 1b corresponding to the commercial part Pb.
These program body data 1a and commercial data 1b
Is a series of program data for each time frame. Such program data 1 for each time frame stores data relating to the program P broadcasted at the present time to data relating to the program P broadcasted over the past week.

On the other hand, the viewer Y in this embodiment is
For example, assume that the user wants to view the program PA1 broadcasted on the channel ch1 of the broadcasting station A in the time frame from 9:00 pm to 10:00 pm on the previous day (March 8). When the user operates the viewer device 2 to access the computer system 3 of the distributor X through the telephone line 5, the computer system 3 reads out the program data 1 for each time frame managed at that time and reads the program data 1 for the viewer. , And displayed on the viewer device 2 as a list 21a as enlarged in FIG. This list shows each program P as broadcast station Z
A, ZB,..., And channel ch. The viewer Y specifies a program PA1 in a desired time frame (9:00 to 10:00 pm) in the channel ch of the broadcast station A from the displayed list.
Since the specified information is transmitted from the viewer device 2 to the computer system 3, the computer system 3 picks up the time-based program data 1 of the program PA1 and views the time-based program data 1. To the consumer device 2. Further, the viewer device 2 that has received the time frame-based program data 1 transmits the time frame-based program data 1.
Is displayed on a screen of a television receiver or the like.
Of course, the same applies to voice. In this way, the viewer Y can view the desired past program PA1.
That is, the viewer Y has the program body P related to the program PA1.
a and the commercial part Pb.

Since the present embodiment has the above-described structure and has the above-described effects, the viewer Y can surely see the desired program even in the program P already broadcast. At this time, since the viewer Y is provided to the commercial section Pb together with the program main body section Pa and views the same, the sponsor of the program P who wants to perform the advertising activity by the commercial section Pb for the viewer Y of the program P Can reliably achieve its intended purpose.

When the viewer Y specifies a desired program P from his / her own viewer device 2, the computer system 2 of the distributor X receiving the specified information manages the program by time frame. Since the corresponding data among the data 1 is automatically transmitted to the viewer device 2, the viewer can view the desired program P by an extremely simple operation.

The program data 1 for each time frame managed by the computer system 3 includes the program P from the currently broadcasted program to a predetermined time in the past (one week in this embodiment).
, And are further classified according to the broadcasting stations ZA, ZB,... That broadcast the program P, and the channel ch, so that the efficiency of data management is improved and the convenience of the viewer Y is also improved. be able to.

The program providing support system according to the present invention comprises:
Not limited to those managed by the distributor X, but each broadcasting station ZA, Z
.. May be individually managed, or may be realized by the viewer device 2 if the storage capacity of the viewer device 2 permits. Also, program data 1 for each time frame
May be classified and managed for each genre of programs such as news, drama, and sports.

In addition, the specific configuration of each part is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0031]

The present invention is embodied in the form described above and has the following effects.

That is, if the program providing support system of the present invention is used, a program already broadcasted from a broadcasting station or a program currently broadcasted is stored and managed as needed.
A viewer can specify a previously broadcasted past program and view it on his or her own viewer device. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the inconvenience of, for example, recording a program on a video as in the related art. On the other hand, since the program provided to the viewer includes both the program main part and the commercial part, even if the broadcast is not a real-time broadcast, the sponsor of the program through the commercial part receives the program as intended. It is possible to reliably carry out its own advertisement to the viewers of the program.

Further, the present system having the above-mentioned configuration receives a signal designating a specific program from the viewer device and provides the program data for each time frame related to the program to the viewer device. In the case where the program providing instruction means for instructing the program data providing means is provided, it is possible to provide an appropriate program and prevent a heavy load on the viewer device.

In the case where the above-mentioned program management means for each time frame manages program data for each time frame from a program currently being broadcasted to a program broadcasted up to a predetermined time in the past, Thus, the burden of data management can be reduced and the provision of programs can be smoothly supported.

Further, if the program data for each time frame is classified and managed for each broadcasting station or each channel by the program management means for each time frame, the management of the program data for each time frame can be simplified. It is also possible to make it easier for the viewer to select a desired program.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram for describing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the configuration of the program.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration explanatory view schematically showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an operation explanatory view of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of program data for each time frame in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view showing a part of FIG. 4;

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: Program data by time frame 2: Equipment for viewers P: Program Pa: Program main unit Pb: Commercial unit a: Program management means by time frame b: Program data providing means c: Program providing instruction means Z (ZA, ZB) )… Broadcaster ch… Channel

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A program providing support system for supporting providing a program broadcasted by a broadcasting station to a viewer device used by a viewer using a communication line, wherein the system is provided with a predetermined broadcast time frame. For each of the broadcast time frames, the program main unit and the commercial unit, which are components of the series of programs already broadcast by the broadcast station and the series of programs currently being broadcast, are stored at least in association with the broadcast station. A time-frame-based program management means for managing program data; and at least one viewer-designated device for a program,
A program data providing means for providing program data for each time frame corresponding to the designated program. 2. A signal indicating that a program has been designated in the viewer device is received from the viewer device, and the program data providing means transmits the program data by time frame relating to the program to the viewer. 2. The program providing support system according to claim 1, further comprising a program providing instruction means for instructing the device to provide the program to the device. 3. A program management means for each time frame, wherein program data for each time frame relating to a program being broadcast by a broadcasting station at the present time to program data for each time frame relating to a program broadcast up to a predetermined time in the past. 3. The program providing support system according to claim 1, wherein the program management system manages the program. 4. The program management device according to claim 1, wherein the program management means for each time frame manages the program data for each time frame by classifying the program data for each broadcast station or for each channel managed by the broadcast station. 3. The program provision support system according to 3.