JP2002204413A - Video recording substitute method and video recording substitute system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a video recording substitute method and a video recording substitute system that can video-record a program even when a user forgets to reserve video recording or a video deck is not in a standby state. SOLUTION: A personal digital assistants (PDF) 10 receives broadcast area selection data (s11) and displays a broadcast area selection image (s12). Then the PDF 10 transmits broadcast area data to a server 30 (s14) when a broadcast area is designated (s13: YES). The PDF 10 receives a program guide of the area designated by the broadcast area data sent from the server 30 receiving the broadcast area data. Upon the receipt of the program guide and program information (s15: YES), the PDF 10 displays the program guide (s16) and when a program is designated (s17: YES), the program information is displayed (s18). When a link 14c is selected (s19: YES), the PDF 10 generates program designation data (s20) and transmits the data to the server 30 (s21).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording substitute system used when recording a program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At present, a program to be broadcast is reserved for recording by a video deck.

[0003]

However, conventionally, when a user goes out of a house while forgetting to make a recording reservation, the program cannot be recorded. In order to solve this problem, there was a case where the video recorder could be made to record by making a call from outside. Could not record.

According to the present invention, the user may forget to make a recording reservation,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording proxy method and a recording proxy system that can record a program even when the video deck is not in a standby state.

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention In order to solve the above problems, a recording substitute method according to claim 1 is a recording substitute method in which a recording substitute performs recording of a program desired by a user. Can display a program table composed of program contents, broadcast time and broadcast channel,
Program designation data indicating a designated program by designating a program that the user desires to record by using a user-side information terminal capable of designating at least one program among programs constituting the program table. Is transmitted from the user side information terminal to the agent side information terminal, and on the recording agent side, the program is recorded on a recording medium based on the program designation data, and the recording medium is delivered to the user. Features.

[0006] As the user side information terminal used in this recording substitute method, a computer system, a portable information terminal, a portable telephone having a display screen, or the like can be used. Further, as a configuration for the user side information terminal to display the program guide, for example, using a function of an OS capable of performing an interactive operation by a GUI, a configuration of a display device provided in the user side information terminal is used. What is necessary is just to comprise so that a program guide may be displayed on a part or all of a screen.

The agent side information terminal only needs to be able to receive the program designation data transmitted from the user side information terminal. For example, a well-known computer system can be used. In this recording proxy method, first, the user side information terminal displays a program table. The program guide is, for example, a table format in which a plurality of programs are arranged by taking time in the vertical direction and channels in the horizontal direction, as used in an electronic program guide. This program guide is, for example, data transmitted from a transmission source (such as a server) via a communication network, a CD-ROM or a floppy (registered trademark) when the user operates the user side information terminal. Data read from a recording medium such as a disc,
The user side information terminal displays a program guide based on the data.

Next, the user designates at least one of the programs constituting the program table. Although the method of designating a program is arbitrary, for example, a method of designating each program in a program table using a pointing device such as a mouse may be used. Next, the user side information terminal generates program designation data. The program designation data indicates that the user has designated a program to be recorded. The specific data configuration is not particularly limited as long as the program can be specified. For example,
The program designation data only needs to be composed of character information such as the broadcast (or distribution) time of the program and the channel number, or coded information.

Next, the user information terminal transmits the program designation data to the proxy information terminal. The program designation data is transmitted via a communication network such as a telephone network or the Internet. When transmitting program designation data via the Internet, the program designation data is transmitted to the agent side information terminal via some servers. This server is
It is sufficient that the program specification data is transmitted without changing the content of the transmitted program specification data, but if necessary, some servers may change the content of the program specification data. May be configured. As a specific example, if the program can be specified by the program specification data, but the data necessary for recording is insufficient, the server will use the program specification data to store the data necessary for recording from the database in the server. It may be configured to read and change the contents of the program designation data based on the data.

Next, the recording agent receives the program designation data and records the program on a recording medium based on the program designation data. When recording a program, the program may be recorded by a procedure such that the operator operates the recording device according to the contents of the program designation data, or the agent information terminal has a recording function, or If the substitute information terminal can control the recording device, a program may be automatically recorded based on the program designation data. As a recording medium, a magnetic tape,
A magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a semiconductor memory and the like can be considered.

Then, the recording agent delivers the recording medium on which the program has been recorded to the user. The recording medium may be delivered using a post office or a carrier. According to the recording proxy method configured as described above, it is possible to record a program even if the user forgets to make a recording reservation or is not in a standby state in which a recording medium is set in a recording device owned by the user. Can be.

When the recording of a program by the recording substitute method is a method (service) that can be used only by a registered user, the recording medium may be delivered to a destination registered for each user-side information terminal. In addition, it may be configured so that the user can arbitrarily specify the destination of the recording medium. Specifically, the user inputs the destination before or after transmitting the program designation data from the user side information terminal. What is necessary is just to make it possible to transmit this data to the agent side information terminal.

By the way, as a broadcast form of a program, there is a broadcast form in which a broadcast channel that can be received and viewed differs for each predetermined area. In this broadcasting mode, if the user wants to record a program on a broadcast channel in a remote area, or if the recording agent is in an area where the user cannot receive or view the program that the user wants to record, the recording agent must record the program. Can not. Further, as another broadcast mode, there is a broadcast mode in which broadcast channels that can be received and viewed for each predetermined broadcast route are different. The broadcast path is a path through which a program from the program distribution side to the user side is sent, and is a cable physically attached or a radio wave that can be received by an antenna owned by the user side. In this broadcast mode, even when the broadcast channel of the program that the user wants to record is a program on a broadcast route that cannot be used by the recording agent, the program cannot be recorded.

Therefore, as in the recording proxy method according to the second aspect, there are a plurality of recording proxy agents whose broadcast channels that can be recorded are different from each other, and the user-side information terminal is set to the broadcast channel of the designated program. Preferably, a recording agent capable of recording the broadcast channel is selected from a plurality of recording agents based on the selected recording agent, and the program designation data is transmitted to the agent information terminal of the selected recording agent.

[0015] Further, as another configuration for solving the above-mentioned problem, as in the recording proxy method according to claim 3, there are a plurality of recording proxy agents, each of which has a different broadcast channel that can be recorded. A server capable of data communication with the both is disposed between the proxy side terminal, the server receives the program designation data transmitted from the user side information terminal, and is designated by the program designation data. A recording agent capable of recording the broadcast channel is selected from a plurality of recording agents based on the broadcast channel of the program, and the program designation data is transferred to the agent information terminal of the selected recording agent. Send it.

In these recording substitute methods, in order to select a recording substitute, for example, a different recording substitute is associated with each broadcast channel in the program guide, and associated with the broadcast channel of the program selected by the user. What is necessary is just to comprise so that the program designation data may be transmitted to the recording agent as a transmission destination. Further, if the program designating data includes data of a recording agent to be a transmission destination, the program may be configured to receive and record a program on the basis of this data and transmit the program to a recording agent capable of recording.

According to the recording substitute method configured as described above, in a broadcast mode in which broadcast channels that can be received and viewed in different predetermined regions are different, when a user wants to record a program on a broadcast channel in a remote region. Since the program designation data is transmitted to a recording agent in an area where the program can be recorded, even a program on a broadcast channel in a remote area can be recorded. Also, in a broadcast mode in which broadcast channels that can be received and viewed differ for each broadcast route, a recording that allows the broadcast route to be used according to the broadcast route for receiving and viewing the broadcast channel of the program that the user wants to record. Since the program designation data is transmitted to the agent, the program can be recorded.

Further, the recording substitute method according to the fourth aspect is characterized in that:
The recording agent records the advertisement information on the recording medium. In this recording substitute method, the advertisement information may be composed of moving images, still images, characters, and the like. Also, only the advertisement information may be reproduced before or after recording the program.

According to the recording proxy method configured as described above, the recording proxy can perform the recording proxy at a lower cost than the case where the advertisement information is not recorded, by the advertisement cost obtained from the advertiser. . Advertisers can also expect advertising effectiveness. A recording substitute method according to a fifth aspect is characterized in that the recording substitute sends the advertising medium on which the advertising information is described to the user together with the recording medium.

The advertisement medium in the recording substitute method may be one in which the advertisement information is described. For example, a paper on which the advertisement information is described is delivered to the user together with the recording medium, or the advertisement information is printed on the packaging material of the recording medium. You only need to describe it. According to the recording proxy method configured as described above, the recording proxy can perform the recording proxy at a lower cost by using the advertisement cost obtained from the advertiser. Advertisers can also expect advertising effectiveness.

A recording substitute system according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is a recording substitute system comprising a user side information terminal and a substitute side information terminal. Program table display means capable of displaying a program table constituted by broadcast times and broadcast channels; and program designating means capable of designating one program desired by a user to be recorded among programs constituting the program table. Program designation data generating means for generating program designation data indicating that the program designation data has been designated; and transmitting the program designation data generated by the program designation data creation means to a transmission destination corresponding to the program designation data. And a program designation data transmitting means for transmitting the program designation data transmitted by the program designation data transmitting means to the agent side information terminal. Characterized in that the set-specification data receiving means is provided.

The information terminal on the user side and the information terminal on the substitute side in the recording substitute system have the same configuration as those used in the recording substitute method described above. In this recording substitute system, first, the program guide display means displays a program guide. The program guide is, for example, a table format in which a plurality of programs are arranged by taking time in the vertical direction and channels in the horizontal direction, as used in an electronic program guide.
This program guide is, for example, data transmitted from a transmission source (such as a server) via a communication network or a CD-ROM when the user operates the user side information terminal.
And data read from a recording medium such as a floppy disk. The program guide display means displays a program guide based on the data.

Next, the program specification data generation means generates program specification data for the program specified by the program specification means. The method of designating a program by the program designating means is arbitrary. For example, a method of designating each program in a program table using a pointing device such as a mouse may be used. The program designation data indicates that the user has designated the program to be recorded. The specific data configuration is not particularly limited as long as the program can be specified. For example, the program designation data only needs to be composed of character information such as a broadcast (or distribution) time of a program and a channel number, or coded information.

Next, the program designation data transmitting means transmits the program designation data to the proxy information terminal. The program designation data is transmitted via a communication network such as a telephone network or the Internet. Then, the program designation data receiving means provided in the agent side information terminal receives the program designation data.

According to the recording proxy system configured as described above, the recording proxy operator can perform a program recording operation based on the program designation data received by the proxy information terminal. Therefore, the program can be recorded even if the user forgets to make a recording reservation or is not in a standby state in which the recording medium is set in the recording device owned by the user. The user can receive the recording medium and view the program.

When recording the program, if the agent information terminal has a recording function, the recording may be performed by this recording function. If the agent information terminal does not include the recording means, the recording is optional. The recording may be performed by the recording device. When the recording of a program by the recording substitute method is a method (service) that can be used only by a registered user, the recording medium may be delivered to a destination registered for each user-side information terminal. In addition, it may be configured so that the user can arbitrarily specify the destination of the recording medium. Specifically, before transmitting the program designation data from the user side information terminal,
What is necessary is just to configure so that the destination can be input by the user and this data is transmitted to the agent side information terminal. The recording medium may be delivered using a post office or a carrier.

The recording substitute system according to claim 7, wherein the substitute information terminal records the program based on the program designation data received by the program designation data receiving unit. Is provided.

According to the recording proxy system configured as described above, it is not necessary for the operator of the recording proxy to perform the recording operation of the program, and the recording can be performed automatically.

[0029]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to an example. [Overall Configuration of Recording Proxy System 1] Recording Proxy System 1
As shown in FIG. 1, the portable information terminal 10 includes a portable information terminal 10 owned by a user, a server 30, and a recording device 50 owned by a recording agent. Note that the portable information terminal 10
-Between the server 30, between the server 30 and the recording device 50,
Data communication is possible via the Internet 100.

The portable information terminal 10 includes an operation button 12 and
Display screen 14, communication device 16, non-volatile memory 18
And The operation button 12 is a decision button 12
a, a cancel button 12b, and an arrow button 12c. The server 30 is configured by a known computer system, and includes a communication device 32 and a CPU.
34, a hard disk 36, a keyboard 38, and a display 40.

The recording device 50 is constituted by a well-known computer system, and includes a communication device 52, a television tuner 54, a CPU 56, and a hard disk 58.
, A keyboard 60, a display 62, and an optical disk recording device 64. In the television broadcasting, there are a plurality of areas (hereinafter referred to as broadcast areas) having different broadcast channels, program contents, and program schedules. Therefore, the recording devices 50 are installed in each of the plurality of areas.

[Recording reservation processing of portable information terminal 10] The procedure of recording reservation processing performed by the portable information terminal 10 will be described with reference to FIG. The recording reservation processing is performed by the user operating the portable information terminal 10 and the portable information terminal 10 and the server 30.
Started after connecting with.

First, the portable information terminal 10 receives the broadcast area selection data (s11). The broadcast area data received here is transmitted from the server 30 when the portable information terminal 10 connects to the server 30. Next, the portable information terminal 10 displays the broadcast area selection image on the display screen 14 (s12). The broadcast area selection image is information for allowing a user to select a broadcast area. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the broadcast area selection image displays a plurality of broadcast area names based on the received broadcast area selection data.

Next, the portable information terminal 10 waits until a broadcast area is designated (s13: NO). Display screen 14
As shown in FIG. 3, a cursor 14a which is moved by the arrow button 12c for each broadcast area name is displayed. By moving the cursor 14a to the desired broadcast area name and pressing the enter button 12a, the broadcast area is designated. When the broadcast area is specified (s
13: YES), the portable information terminal 10 transmits the broadcast area data to the server 30 (s14). The broadcast area data is data indicating the selected broadcast area. The server 30 that has received the broadcast area data transmits a program guide of the area specified by the broadcast area data.

Next, the portable information terminal 10 waits until a program guide and program information are received (s15: NO). The program guide is composed of program contents, broadcast time and broadcast channel. The program information is detailed character information of each program. When the program guide and the program information are received (s15: YES), the portable information terminal 10 displays the received program guide on the display screen 14 (s16). On the display screen 14, as shown in FIG. 4 (a), a tabular display composed of time vertically and broadcast channels horizontally based on the received program guide is displayed.

Next, the portable information terminal 10 waits until a program is designated (s17: NO). As shown in FIG. 4A, the display screen 14 displays a cursor frame 14b that is moved in units of programs by the arrow buttons 12c. Move the cursor frame 14b and press the enter button 1
By pressing 2a, the program is specified. When the program is specified (s17: YES), the portable information terminal 10 displays the program information on the display screen 14 (s1).
8). In the program information, as shown in FIG. 4B, a link 14c for transmitting data of a content for requesting a recording agent to record is displayed.

Next, the portable information terminal 10 transmits the operation performed on the portable information terminal 10 to the recording request link 14c.
It is checked whether this is the selection (s19). In this processing, when the enter button 12a is pressed, the link 14c of the recording request is selected. If the cancel button 12b is pressed in this process (s19: NO),
It returns to the process of s16. On the other hand, when the link 14c of the recording request is selected (s19: YES), the portable information terminal 10
Generates program designation data (s20). The program designation data includes the name of the program designated in the process of s17,
This is data constituted by a broadcast channel, a broadcast time and a broadcast area, and an owner name and an address of the portable information terminal 10. Note that the owner name and address of the portable information terminal 10 are registered in the nonvolatile memory 18 by the user in advance.

Then, the portable information terminal 10 transmits the program designation data to the server 30 (s21). This program designation data is transmitted to the server 30 in an e-mail data format. [Program Guide Transmission Process of Server 30]
Will be described with reference to FIG. In addition,
The program guide transmission process is started after the portable information terminal 10 connects to the server 30 by a user operation.

First, the server 30 transmits the broadcast area selection data (s31). This broadcast area selection data,
This is what the portable information terminal 10 receives in the process of s11 in FIG. Next, the server 30 waits until the broadcast area data is transmitted (s32: N
O). This broadcast area data is transmitted from the portable information terminal 10 in the process of s14 in FIG. When the broadcast area data is received (s32: YE
S), the server 30 selects and transmits a program guide according to the broadcast area data (s33). A plurality of program guides are stored on the hard disk 36 of the server 30 in a state of being associated with each broadcast area. In this process, the program guide associated with the broadcast area specified by the received broadcast area data is transmitted.

Next, the server 30 waits until the program designation data is received (s34: NO). The program designation data is transmitted from the portable information terminal 10 in the process of s21 in FIG. When receiving the program designation data (s34: YES), the server 30 transmits the program designation data to the recording device 50 based on the program designation data (s35). The hard disk 36 of the server 30 stores transmission destinations corresponding to the plurality of recording devices 50 in a state of being associated with each broadcasting area. In this process, the program designation data is transmitted to the transmission destination associated with the broadcast area designated by the received program designation data. The recording device 50 that has received the program designation data records the program based on the broadcast channel and the broadcast time included in the program designation data.

In the embodiment described above,
The portable information terminal 10 functions as a user-side information terminal in the present invention. Also, s1 in FIG.
The portable information terminal 10 that displays the program guide in the process of 6 functions as a program guide display unit in the present invention.

In the process of s17 in FIG. 2, the portable information terminal 10 for designating a program functions as program designation means in the present invention. The portable information terminal 10 that generates program designation data in the process of s20 in FIG. 2 functions as a program designation data generation unit in the present invention.

The portable information terminal 10 transmitting the program designation data in the process of s21 in FIG. 2 functions as the program designation data transmitting means in the present invention.
In the present invention, the recording device 50 functions as a proxy information terminal.

Further, the portable information terminal 10 which receives the program guide in the process of s34 in FIG. 5 functions as a program designation data receiving means in the present invention. [Operation and Effect] The recording substitute method using the recording substitute system described above is performed by the following procedure.

First, the user-side information terminal displays a program table based on the operation of the user. Next, the user selects at least one program from the programs constituting the program guide. Subsequently, the user side information terminal generates program designation data corresponding to the designated program, and transmits the program designation data to the agent side information terminal.

Then, the agent side information terminal receives the program designation data, and records the program by the optical disk recording device 64 based on the broadcast channel and the broadcast time included in the program designation data. The optical disk on which the program is recorded by the recording proxy system is delivered to the user by mail by the recording proxy. At this time, an advertisement is described in advance on the optical disk case. In addition, the optical disk is delivered in a state where a leaflet on which an advertisement is described is enclosed.

According to such a recording substitute method, a program is recorded even if the user forgets to make a recording reservation or is not in a standby state in which a recording medium is set in the recording device 50 owned by the user. Therefore, the user can receive the recording medium from the recording agent and watch the program.

Even if it is desired to record a program on a broadcast channel broadcast in a broadcast area other than the broadcast area where the user is located, the program designation data is transmitted to a recording agent in an area where the program can be recorded. Therefore, it is possible to record even a program in an area where the user cannot view.

Further, the recording agent can perform the recording agent at a lower cost than the case where the advertisement information is not recorded, by the advertisement cost obtained from the advertiser. Advertisers can also expect advertising effectiveness. In addition, the recording device 50
After receiving the program designation data, recording can be automatically performed without performing recording operation on the recording agent side.

[Modification] The present invention is not limited to the above-described specific embodiment, but can be implemented in various other forms. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the recording surrogate system has a configuration including the portable information terminal 10. However, instead of the portable information terminal 10, the recording proxy system is configured using a well-known computer system or a mobile phone including a display screen. You may.

In the above embodiment, the recording device in the recording device 50 is provided with the optical disk recording device 64, but a video deck controllable by the CPU 56 may be used as the recording device.
Further, in the above embodiment, the program table displayed on the portable information terminal 10 is transmitted from the server 30. However, the program table is read from a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or a floppy disk. May be configured to be displayed on the portable information terminal 10.

Further, in the above embodiment, the program designation data transmitted from the portable information terminal 10 to the server 30 has been described in the form of an e-mail data format.
The data format of the program designation data may be a text format or any other format depending on the environment in which the program designation data is generated.

Further, in the above embodiment, the server 30 is configured to transmit the program designation data transmitted from the portable information terminal 10 to the recording device 50 as it is. Alternatively, the program designation data may be configured to be transmitted after changing the data format according to the recording device 50.

In the above-described embodiment, the recording device 50 is configured to record a program by receiving program designation data. After the operator confirms the content of the program designation data, the operator may manually perform the recording operation.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a recording substitute system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a recording reservation process performed by the portable information terminal.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a broadcast area selection image displayed on a display screen of the portable information terminal.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a program guide and program information displayed on a display screen of the portable information terminal.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a program guide transmission process performed by a server.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ・ ・ ・ Recording agency system, 10 ・ ・ ・ Portable information terminal,
12 ... operation buttons, 14 ... display screen, 16 ...
Communication device, 18 Non-volatile memory, 30 Server, 32 Communication device, 34 CPU, 36
... Hard disk, 38 ... Keyboard, 40
..Display, 50 ... Recording device, 52 ... Communication device, 54 ... TV tuner, 56 ... CP
U, 58: Hard disk, 60: Keyboard, 62: Display, 64: Optical disk recording device.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A recording substitute method in which a recording substitute substitutes for recording of a program desired by a user, wherein a program table constituted by program contents, broadcast time and broadcast channel can be displayed, and By using a user-side information terminal capable of designating at least one of the programs constituting the table, the user designates the program desired to be recorded, and the program designation data indicating the designated program is converted to the program designation data. The information is transmitted from the user information terminal to the agent information terminal, and the recording agent records the program on a recording medium based on the program designation data, and delivers the recording medium to the user. The recording agency method to do. 2. A plurality of recording agents each having a different broadcast channel that can be recorded, wherein the user-side information terminal selects the broadcast agent from among the plurality of recording agents based on a broadcast channel of a designated program. 2. The recording substitute method according to claim 1, wherein a recording substitute capable of recording a channel is selected, and the program designation data is transmitted to a substitute information terminal of the selected recording substitute. 3. There are a plurality of recording agents whose broadcast channels that can be recorded are different from each other, and a server capable of data communication with both is provided between the user information terminal and the agent terminal. A server receives the program designation data transmitted from the user side information terminal and records the broadcast channel from a plurality of recording agents based on a broadcast channel of a program designated by the program designation data. The recording substitute method according to claim 1, wherein a possible recording substitute is selected, and the program designation data is transmitted to a substitute information terminal of the selected recording substitute. 4. The recording proxy method according to claim 1, wherein the recording proxy records advertisement information on the recording medium. 5. The recording agent according to claim 1, wherein the recording agent sends an advertising medium in which advertisement information is described to a user together with the recording medium. Method. 6. A recording substitute system comprising a user-side information terminal and a proxy-side information terminal, wherein the user-side information terminal includes a program composed of program contents, broadcast time and broadcast channel. A program table display means capable of displaying a table; a program designating means capable of designating one program desired to be recorded by the user among the programs constituting the program guide; Program designating data generating means for generating the program specifying data shown; and program specifying data transmitting means for transmitting the program specifying data generated by the program specifying data generating means to a destination corresponding to the program specifying data. The proxy information terminal is provided with program designation data receiving means for receiving the program designation data transmitted by the program designation data transmitting means. A recording surrogate system characterized by the following. 7. A recording device for recording a program based on the program designation data received by the program designation data receiving means, wherein the agent side information terminal is provided. Item 7. A recording surrogate system according to Item 6.