JP2002353924A - Broadcasting system, server device and control program therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To promote viewing or reading by a larger number of users and to objectively comprehend the result on an information transmitting medium, such as TV broadcasting or communication network. SOLUTION: In the broadcasting system for transmitting broadcast data containing data related to a program to the receiver of a user, the broadcast data contains the control program for controlling the receiver of the user. The control program controls the receiver of the user, so as to be set within the broadcasting time of the program and to function as a display means for displaying action acceptance mark on the receiver of the user within an action accept time zone for accepting action by the user, as a detection means for detecting that the action is performed by the user, and as a storage means for generating action result data, and storing them in the receiver, when the action has been performed by the user within the action accept time zone.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a television (T)
V) Belongs to the technical field of information transmission media such as broadcasting, the Internet, etc., and in particular, acts on a user who watches TV broadcasting such as terrestrial broadcasting, satellite broadcasting or CATV, and browses information via the Internet or other communication networks. And collecting a result regarding whether or not the action has been performed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art It is an important issue for a TV broadcast station how to have many users watch a program. In addition, not only TV broadcasts, but also companies that have established websites on the Internet, likewise, want as many users as possible to view their websites. In order to have as many users as possible view and browse, various companies make various efforts and efforts when providing programs and information on TV broadcasts and websites.

[0003]

On the other hand, there is a demand on the company side to objectively know the extent to which the effects of such efforts and innovations have appeared.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to enable a greater number of users to view and browse on an information transmission medium such as a TV broadcast and the Internet, and to objectively grasp the results.

[0005]

According to one aspect of the present invention, in a broadcasting system for transmitting broadcast data including data related to a program to a user's receiving device, the broadcast data is transmitted to the user's receiving device. A control program for controlling, wherein the control program is set within a broadcast time slot of the program and notifies the user that the action is being accepted during an action acceptance time slot for accepting an action by the user. Detecting means for detecting that an action has been performed by the user; storage means for generating action result data and storing it in the receiving device when an action by the user has been performed during the action reception time slot And controls the user's receiving device to function as.

According to the same aspect, in a control program for transmitting to a user's receiving device together with broadcast data including data related to a program and controlling the user's receiving device, the program includes the program Notification means for notifying the user that the action is being taken during the action reception time slot that is set within the broadcast time zone and that receives an action by the user, and that detects that the user has performed an action. Means for controlling the receiving device of the user to function as storage means for generating and storing action result data in the receiving device when an action by the user is performed within the action reception time slot .

According to the above aspect, a program for controlling a user's receiving device is transmitted from a broadcasting system such as a broadcasting station to a user's home receiving device together with program data. The program is executed on the receiving device of the user's home to notify the user of the fact during the action reception time slot. When the user performs a corresponding action, it is detected. When the detected action by the user is performed within the action reception time zone, action result data corresponding to the action is generated and stored in the user's receiving device.

According to another aspect of the present invention, in a broadcasting system for transmitting broadcast data including data related to a program to a user's receiving device, the broadcast data includes a control program for controlling the user's receiving device. The control program is set within the broadcast time slot of the program and, during an action reception time slot for receiving an action by the user, a notification means for notifying the user that the action reception time is in progress; Detecting means for detecting that the action has been performed, when the action by the user is performed during the action reception time period, transmitting means for generating action result data and transmitting it to the broadcasting system, Control the user's receiving device.

According to the same aspect, in a control program transmitted from a broadcasting system to a user's receiving device together with broadcast data including data related to a program and controlling the user's receiving device, A notification means for notifying a user that the action is being accepted during an action reception time slot that is set within the broadcast time slot of the program and accepts an action by the user, and that the action has been performed by the user. The receiving device of the user to function as detecting means for detecting, and transmitting means for generating action result data and transmitting to the broadcasting system when an action by the user is performed within the action reception time slot. Control.

According to the above aspect, a program for controlling a user's receiving device is transmitted from a broadcasting system such as a broadcasting station to a user's home receiving device together with program data. The program is executed on the receiving device of the user's home to notify the user of the action during the action reception time slot. When the user performs a corresponding action, it is detected. When the detected action by the user is performed within the action reception time slot, action result data corresponding to the action is generated and transmitted to the broadcasting system.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, a transmitting apparatus for transmitting broadcast data including data related to a program to a receiving apparatus of a user, and a server apparatus capable of communicating with a terminal apparatus of the user via a communication network In the broadcasting system, the broadcast data is set within the broadcast time slot of the program, and during an action reception time slot for receiving an action by the user, a notification unit that notifies the user that the action reception time is being performed. A control program that controls the user's receiving device to function as the server device, the server device obtains action reception time zone information from the transmitting device, and an action is performed through the user's terminal device. Detecting means for detecting that the time has elapsed, and the time of the action detected by the detecting means. Compared to Deployment reception time zone information, and a storage means for storing action result data when the action by the user is performed in the action reception in time zone.

According to the above aspect, a program for controlling a user's receiving device is transmitted from a broadcast station or the like to a user's home receiving device together with program data. The program is executed on the receiving device of the user's home to notify the user of the action during the action reception time slot. On the other hand, the server device acquires action reception time zone information from the broadcast device. When the user performs an action on the server device using his / her terminal device or the like, the action is detected and compared with the action reception time zone information acquired from the broadcast device. When an action by the user is performed within the action reception time slot, action result data corresponding to the action is generated and stored.

In one embodiment, the control program includes:
The notification means includes the action reception time zone information, and the notifying unit can notify the user that the action reception time is currently being received by referring to the action time zone information. In another embodiment, the broadcast data includes the start instruction data of the action reception time zone, and the notifying unit notifies the user that the action reception time zone is in effect when the start instruction data is received. be able to.

[0014] The notifying means can perform the notification by displaying an action acceptance mark on the receiving device of the user and / or by outputting a sound from the receiving device of the user. Further, the notifying means,
The notification can be made by reproducing an audio or video message included in the broadcast content of the program.

The action reception time zone can be set at random during the broadcast time zone of the program. As a result, the user can be expected to view the program for a longer time.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, in a server device capable of communicating with a user terminal through a communication network, means for presenting information to the user in response to a request from the user, and an action for receiving an action by the user During the reception time period, notification means for notifying the user that the action reception time is being received, means for detecting that an action has been performed by the user, and an action by the user has been performed within the action reception time period Means for storing the action result data.

According to a similar aspect, a control program executed in a server device capable of communicating with a user terminal through a communication network includes:
A means for presenting browsing information to the user in response to a request from the user, a notifying means for notifying the user that the action is being accepted during the action acceptance time period for accepting an action by the user, and an action performed by the user The server device can be caused to function as detection means for detecting the fact, and storage means for storing action result data when an action by the user is performed within the action reception time slot.

According to the above aspect, when the action reception time zone is visited while the user connects to the server device and browses the browse information on a website or the like, the user is notified of the fact. When the user performs an action using the terminal device, the action is detected. When the action is performed within the action reception time slot, the action result data is stored in the server device. Further, in a CATV or the like using a communication network, the same processing can be performed between a CATV server device and a user's receiving terminal.

It should be noted that the action result data can be a point number determined in advance for each of the action reception time zones. Thereby, it is possible to promote viewing of a program by broadcasting and browsing of information by a communication network.

[0020]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The basic idea of the present invention is to set a time zone for receiving an action by a user who is viewing or browsing in broadcasting a TV program or providing information on an Internet website, and setting the user's time during that time zone. By detecting the action (1), the user is encouraged to view or browse, and the result is grasped. [1] First Embodiment FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a broadcast system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The first embodiment is an example in which the present invention is applied to TV broadcasting.

In FIG. 1, a broadcast wave from a broadcast station 1 is:
The signal is received by an antenna 5 installed at home and sent to a set-top box 7 for receiving a television (TV) broadcast through a cable 6. In the case of satellite broadcasting, the broadcast wave reaches the antenna 5 via the satellite. Also, the following description is based on the set-top box 7 and the TV for convenience.
An example in which a TV broadcast is viewed with the receiver 8 will be used.
Of course, it is also possible to use a TV receiver incorporating the function of the set-top box 7.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the configuration of the set-top box 7. Note that the example of FIG. 2 assumes a case where digital satellite broadcasting is received. In FIG. 2, a set-top box 7 includes a tuner 20 and a data separation unit 2.
1, a video / audio reproduction unit 22, and a controller 2
3 and a point memory 24.

The tuner 20 performs necessary processing such as demodulation, tuning and decoding on the received signal supplied from the antenna 5 to extract broadcast data of a channel selected by the viewer, and sends it to the data separation unit 21. .

FIG. 3 schematically shows an example of the broadcast data.
Broadcast data 30 is generally prepared for each program, and includes a video data file 32, an audio data file 34,
And a data broadcast file 36. The video data file 32 includes video data that has been compressed and encoded by a predetermined method, and the audio data file 34 includes audio data that has been compressed and encoded by a predetermined method. . Here, the video data file 32 and the audio data file 34 can include not only data of a so-called main program of a TV broadcast but also data of a commercial (CM).

The data broadcast file 36 is a so-called data broadcast file. The data broadcast file 36 is
It includes trigger data 40 and a control program 42. The data broadcast file 36 is continuously broadcast from the broadcast station 1 during the broadcast of the TV program, and is received by the home antenna 5. The control program 42 and the trigger data 40 are included in the data broadcast file 36 when necessary and transmitted to the home. The control program 42 and the trigger data 40
Will be further described later.

[0027] The data separation unit 21 stores the broadcast data 3
0 to audio data file 34, video data file 3
2 and the data broadcast file 36 are separated, the audio data file 34 and the video data file 32 are supplied to the video / audio reproduction unit 22, and the data broadcast file 36 is supplied to the controller 23. The video / audio reproduction unit 22 reproduces audio data and video data by performing necessary decompression and decoding processes on the audio data file 34 and the video data file 32, and converts the audio data and the video data into a television signal. 8 The controller 23 basically has a role of controlling each unit in the set-top box 7.

In this embodiment, a user's action (for example, the user presses a specific button on a remote controller) is accepted in a specific time zone determined by the broadcast station.
This time zone is hereinafter referred to as “action reception time zone”. When the user watching the TV broadcast performs a specific action during the action reception time zone, and the broadcast station recognizes the action, based on the result, a certain service or privilege is transmitted from the broadcast station to the user. To be given.
By doing so, a user who is interested in the service or privilege will perform an action during as many action reception time periods as possible. By effectively setting the action reception time zone, the broadcasting station allows a greater number of users to view programs for a long time, and particularly to a greater number of users to view programs and information that the viewers want to see It is possible to do. As an effective method, if the action reception time zone is set as randomly as possible within the entire TV broadcast time zone, it becomes difficult for the user to predict the action reception time zone, and as a result, the action reception time zone becomes as long as possible. You can expect to watch the broadcast of that station over time. In addition, when there is a program or information that a large number of users particularly want to see as a broadcast station side, by informing the viewer in advance that a large number of action reception time zones are set in the program, It can be expected that the audience rating of the program will increase.

Referring back to FIG. 3, the trigger data 40 is data for defining the above-mentioned action reception time zone. The control program 42 is a kind of program included in the data broadcast file 36, transmitted to the home set-top box 7, and executed by the controller 23. The controller 23 includes a CPU, an MPU, and the like, and executes a control program 42 to perform a process described below, such as displaying an action reception mark.

The control program 42 is a BML (Broa) used in data broadcasting such as satellite broadcasting.
dcast Markup Language). In that case, the description itself of the BML for controlling the viewer's receiving device constitutes the control program 42 in the present application. Further, the trigger data 40 can be an event message (Event Message) used in BML. The event message is often used for inserting a specific message into a broadcast screen at a predetermined timing. However, since the event message has a function of giving a specific timing to a user's receiving device side by data broadcasting, the present invention Can be used as trigger data 40 in. It should be noted that it is of course possible to realize the present invention using programs, data, and the like other than the above as the control program and the trigger data.

The form of the control program 42 differs according to the setting of the action reception time zone. This is because the action reception time zone may be determined in real time according to the progress of the program during the broadcast of the program, or may be determined before the broadcast of the program.

If the action reception time zone is determined in real time during the broadcast of the program, the control program 42
Is described so as to start an action reception time zone when the trigger data 40 is received and to display an action reception mark or the like. The broadcast data 30 is continuously transmitted during the broadcast of the program. If the broadcast station determines the action acceptance time zone during the broadcast of the program, the broadcast station 1 generates the trigger data 40 and the broadcast data. 30 and transmitted to the home set-top box 7. The set-top box 7 constantly monitors the arrival of the trigger data 40 by executing the control program 42 received in advance, and when the trigger data 40 is received,
Inform the viewer that the action is open. In addition, as a method of notification, a method of visually performing by displaying an action acceptance mark or the like on the screen of the viewer's receiving device, a predetermined sound (for example, emitting a specific sound, playing a specific music, etc.) Is emitted audibly from the viewer's receiving device. Also, the announcement can be included in the program content itself (for example,
Performers comment on the start and end of the action reception time during the program, etc.).

On the other hand, when the action reception time zone is determined before the broadcast of the program, the action reception time zone can be set in the control program in the form of time data. That is, the action reception time zone is described in the control program, such as from what time what minute what time to how many seconds. The controller 23 in the home set-top box 7 executes the control program 40, and when the time arrives, starts the action reception time zone and sets the TV.
An action acceptance mark or the like is displayed on the screen of the receiver. Therefore, in the case of a program of a type in which the action reception time zone is determined in advance, the broadcast station 1 does not need to transmit the trigger data 40 shown in FIG.

In FIG. 2, a point memory 24 stores points calculated according to an action performed by a user. For example, when the user performs a predetermined action (for example, pressing a specific button on the remote controller) during the action reception time slot, a predetermined number of points are given and stored in the set top box 7 of the user. .
This point accumulation processing is also performed by the controller 23 executing the control program 40. Although points are illustrated here, it is sufficient to store some form of data indicating that the user has performed a predetermined action, and in that sense, the user has performed actions in various forms other than points. Can be recorded.

Next, the processing in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 shows an action reception process performed based on broadcast data 30 transmitted from the broadcast station 1, and particularly shows a process for a type of program for which an action reception time zone is not set in advance.
FIG. 4 shows an example in which a method of notifying a viewer of an action reception time zone by displaying an action reception mark on a screen of a viewer's receiving device is adopted. FIG. 5 shows a process of registering the points stored in the home set-top box 7 with the broadcast station. FIG. 6 shows an example of a display screen appearing on the TV receiver 8 during the processing.

First, referring to FIG. 4, when a broadcast time of a certain program comes, the broadcast station 1 (a control device thereof) starts transmitting broadcast data 30 for the program (step S).
1). The broadcast data 30 transmitted at this time includes the control program 42 shown in FIG. Thereafter, the broadcasting station transmits broadcast data 3 including the video data file 32, the audio data file 34, and the data broadcast file 36 of the program.
0 is continuously transmitted to the home set-top box 7. Then, when the action reception time zone comes, the broadcast station 1 includes the trigger data 40 in the broadcast data 30 and transmits it to the home (step S2).

The controller 23 in the home set-top box 7 executes necessary processing including monitoring of arrival of trigger data according to the control program 42. When the trigger data 40 is received, the controller 23 sets the action acceptance mark to the TV.
It is displayed on the screen of the receiver 8 (step S3). FIG. 6A shows one display example of the action reception mark. FIG.
In the example of (A), “Push” is used as the action reception mark.
Mark is displayed.

Next, the controller 23 detects whether or not the user has performed a predetermined action (in this example, pressing a predetermined button on the remote controller) (step S4).
When a user action is detected, the controller 23
Accumulates a predetermined point corresponding to the action in the point memory 24 (step S5). Next, the controller 23 determines whether or not it is time to end the action reception time zone started in step S3 (step S6). If it is not the end time, it means that the action reception time is still in progress, and the processes of steps S4 to S6 are repeatedly executed. On the other hand, when the action reception time period ends (Step S6; Yes), the controller 23 removes the action reception mark (Step S7). As described above, when the user performs a predetermined action during the action reception time zone, the corresponding point is recorded in the point memory 24 of the set-top box 7.

Thus, the trigger data 40 is transmitted to the home as needed until the broadcast end time of the program, and points are accumulated when the user performs a predetermined action. When the broadcast end time comes (step S8: Ye
s), the process ends. As a result, points corresponding to the action performed by the user are stored in the point memory 24 in the set-top box 7.

In step S6, it can be determined by various methods whether or not the time at which the action reception time zone ends is reached. One method is to include the length of the action reception time zone in the trigger data 40 or the like and transmit it from the broadcasting station to the home, and the controller 23 ends the action reception time zone after the lapse of the time. As another method, a method is also possible in which trigger data 40 indicating the end of the action reception time is transmitted from the broadcast station to the home, and the controller 23 ends the action reception time zone in response to the trigger data.

The example of FIG. 4 shows the processing for a program of a type for which the action reception time slot is not determined in advance. As described above, the transmission of the trigger data 40 is unnecessary, and the start time and the end time of the action reception time zone are described in the control program 42. Therefore, the controller 23 performs processing such as displaying an action reception mark and accumulating points with reference to those times.

Next, the process of registering the points stored in the point memory 24 in the set-top box 7 to a broadcasting station will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the broadcasting station 1 executes a control program 42 for controlling the controller 23 in the set-top box 7.
Is transmitted (step S10). This control program 4
2 includes a description such as an instruction for causing the controller 23 to perform the point registration process. By executing the control program 42, the controller 23 displays an image asking the viewer whether to register points (step S11). An example is shown in FIG. When the user instructs to perform registration (step S1)
2: Yes), the controller 23 transmits the number of points stored in the point memory 24 to the broadcast station 1, and clears the point memory 24 (step S13).

The broadcasting station 1 receives the data of the number of points and stores the number of points in the memory of the broadcasting station in association with the identification information of the user (step S14). Thus, the broadcast station can collect the presence or absence of the user's action as data. Since the fact that the user has performed an action means that the user has watched the program, the broadcast station can thereby grasp how much the user has watched the program. In addition,
If the data communication environment between the broadcasting station and each home is sufficiently widened, point data can be transmitted to the broadcasting station in real time whenever a user performs an action using a remote control or the like during the action reception time zone. In this case, the point registration process shown in FIG. 5 is not required.

[2] Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the first embodiment, the user performs an action of pressing a predetermined button on the TV remote control when the action reception mark is displayed on the screen of the TV receiver 8. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, an example is shown in which a user performs an action through a communication network including the Internet instead of using a TV remote control.

FIG. 7 shows a schematic configuration of a broadcast system according to the second embodiment. In the following example, a case where the Internet is used as a communication network will be described. In FIG. 7, a personal computer 15 is installed at home, and the personal computer 15 can be connected to a server 11 that operates a website 10 of the broadcasting station 1 via the Internet 13.
The Internet 13 also has a user's mobile phone 16.
Communication center 1 for connecting to the Internet 13
4 are connected.

In the above configuration, the user operates the personal computer 1
5 or the mobile phone 16 can be used to access the website 10 operated by the broadcasting station. Therefore, when the action reception mark is displayed while watching the TV program by the home TV receiver 8, the user accesses the website of the broadcasting station using the personal computer 15 or the mobile phone 16, Perform an action such as clicking a predetermined button.

The website 10 of the broadcasting station receives the action reception time zone information of each program from the broadcasting station 1. For a program of a type in which the action reception time zone is determined in advance, the action reception time zone information can be acquired in advance before the program broadcast starts. In the case of a program of a type in which the action reception time zone is not determined in advance, at the same time as the trigger data 40 is transmitted from the broadcast station 1 to each home, the action reception time zone information is transmitted from the broadcast station 1 to the server 11. Can be sent. This transmission is
Various methods such as wireless, dedicated line, and via the Internet can be adopted.

The server 11 stores the action reception time zone information thus obtained. When a user watching a program operates the personal computer 15 or the mobile phone 16 to perform a predetermined action on the website 10 of the broadcasting station, the server 11 detects the action and refers to the action reception time zone information. Then, it is determined whether or not the action is performed within the action reception time slot. When an action is performed during the action reception time slot, the action is validated, and the corresponding point number is stored in a database or the like provided in the server. According to this method, points obtained by the user by performing an action are
It can be stored in the broadcast station server 11 in real time. Therefore, the point registration processing as shown in FIG. 5 becomes unnecessary.

Next, the action accepting process in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG.
First, broadcast data 30 is transmitted from the broadcasting station 1 to each home (step S21). The broadcast data 30 includes the first
Home set-top box 7 as in the embodiment
A control program for controlling the controller 23 is included. Next, the broadcasting station 1 transmits the trigger data 40 indicating the action reception time zone (step S2).
2). The home controller 23 receives this and sets the TV
An action reception mark is displayed on the receiver 8 (step S23).

The user looks at the action reception mark and performs an action using the personal computer 15 or the mobile phone 16 or the like. The server 11 that operates the website of the broadcasting station,
It is detected whether or not an action has been performed through the Internet 13 (step S24). If the action has been performed, it is further determined whether or not the action has been performed within the action reception time zone (step S25). When the action is performed within the action reception time slot, the server 11 stores the point together with the identification information of the user in a database or the like (step S26).

During the action reception time period, the server 11 monitors the action from the user, and when the action reception time ends (step S27: Yes), determines whether or not the broadcast end time of the program has come (step S2).
8). In this way, until the end of the broadcast of the TV program, the action reception time zone is repeatedly set according to the trigger data from the broadcast station 1, the action from the user is detected, and the corresponding points are accumulated in the server 11.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, it is possible for a user to perform an action using a personal computer or a mobile phone and accumulate points. If a mobile phone is used, for example, when a plurality of users watch the same TV program at the same time, each person can also collect points separately using their own mobile phones. In that case, the server 11 can accumulate points for each user in the database on the server side by acquiring the telephone number of the originating mobile phone and other user identification information at the time of detecting an action through the mobile phone, for example. it can.

It should be noted that the same processing can be performed for a program of a type in which the action reception time zone is determined in advance. In this case, since the server 11 has the action reception time zone information in advance, the process of step S25 may be performed using the information.

In the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the remote control of the TV receiver 8 is also enabled, and the action can be performed using any of the remote control, the personal computer, and the mobile phone. Of course it is possible. In addition, not only a personal computer or a mobile phone, but also various terminal devices such as a so-called personal digital assistant (PDA) that can be connected to a website of a broadcasting station through the Internet can be used.

[3] Third Embodiment Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the third embodiment, the action reception processing of the present invention is applied to browsing a website via the Internet. FIG. 9 schematically shows a system configuration for implementing the third embodiment.

In FIG. 9, a server 50 for operating a website, a user terminal 52, and a communication center 53 are connected via the Internet 51. The communication center 53 enables the mobile phone 54 to access the server 50. Further, the server 50 is connected to a database 55 for storing points of each user who has performed an action.

In this embodiment, while the user is browsing the website, the action reception time arrives, and the action reception mark is displayed for a predetermined time. When the user performs an appropriate action (for example, clicks on the action reception mark itself) while the action reception mark is being displayed, data indicating the action is stored in the server 5.
Sent to 0. The server 50 determines whether or not the action performed by the user has been performed within the action reception time slot. If the action has been performed within the time, processing such as accumulation of the corresponding points is performed. Points are stored in the database 55 for each user.

In this embodiment, the action reception time can be set in various forms. For example, it can be set to a certain time every day. In addition, it can be set every time a predetermined time elapses after the user starts browsing the website. It is also possible to set so that the action reception time starts when the user performs a specific operation while browsing the website (for example, when a user clicks a predetermined part). Also, expecting users to continue browsing the site for as long as possible,
The action reception time can also be set completely at random.

Next, the processing in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. First, the user enters the user terminal 5
2 and the mobile phone 54 to connect to a website operated by the server 20 and browse (step S3).
1). When the action reception time zone arrives, the server 50 performs an action reception display (step S32). Next, it is monitored whether or not the user has performed an action (step S33).
It is determined whether or not the action has been performed within the action reception time (step S34).

If the operation is performed within the time, the server 50 stores the point in the database 55 together with the identification information of the user (step S35). In this way, the action from the user is monitored until the end of the action reception time zone, and the corresponding points are accumulated.

When the action reception time has expired, it is determined whether or not the user has input an instruction to end browsing the website (step S37). Thus, the action reception mark is displayed while the user is browsing the website, and the corresponding points are accumulated when the user performs an action within the reception time. Thus, the user can be expected to continue browsing the website.

Note that also in the third embodiment, various terminal devices such as a PDA can be used as user terminals.

In the above example, the case of browsing information using the Internet has been described. Alternatively, the present embodiment can be realized by an information communication system using a communication network other than the Internet. Also,
The configuration of the present embodiment can also be applied to CATV.
In that case, the CATV server 50 and the user's receiving terminal 5
2 may be connected through the cable network 51. Thus, the viewer of the CATV broadcast can perform an action using the receiving terminal, the mobile phone, or the like.

[0065]

As described above, according to the present invention,
A greater number of users are encouraged to view TV broadcasts or view information through websites or other networks to take action, and consequently provide some services or benefits. It can be expected to keep watching and browsing for a long time.

Further, since the action taken by the user is collected as data in the form of points or the like, it is possible to objectively grasp how much the user has actually watched or browsed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a broadcast system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of a set-top box shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 schematically shows a data structure of broadcast data broadcast from a broadcast station.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an action receiving process according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a point registration process according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a display screen in an action accepting process and a point registering process of the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 shows a schematic configuration of a broadcast system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an action receiving process according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 shows a schematic configuration of a system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an action receiving process according to the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Broadcasting station 5 Antenna 6 Cable 7 Set-top box 8 TV receiver 9 Remote control 11, 50 Server 13, 51 Internet 15 Personal computer 16, 24 Mobile phone 23 Controller 55 Database

Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI Theme coat II (reference) H04N 7/081 H04N 7/173 610Z 7/16 17/00 Z 7/173 610 7/08 Z 17/00 F term ( Reference) 5C025 AA30 CA02 CA09 CB10 DA10 5C061 BB03 5C063 AA01 AB05 AC01 AC05 AC10 CA23 CA36 DA07 DB10 5C064 BA01 BB10 BC18 BC23 BC25 BD03 BD08 BD09

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A broadcast system for transmitting broadcast data including data related to a program to a receiving device of a user, wherein the broadcast data includes a control program for controlling the receiving device of the user, and the control program includes: Notification means for notifying the user that the action is being accepted during the action reception time slot that is set within the broadcast time slot and receives the user's action, and that detects that the user has performed an action. Means for controlling the receiving device of the user to function as storage means for generating and storing action result data in the receiving device when an action by the user is performed during the action reception time slot. A broadcasting system characterized by the above. 2. A broadcast system for transmitting broadcast data including data related to a program to a user's receiving device, wherein the broadcast data includes a control program for controlling the user's receiving device, and wherein the control program comprises: Notification means for notifying the user that the action is being accepted during the action reception time slot that is set within the broadcast time slot and receives the user's action, and that detects that the user has performed an action. Means for controlling the receiving device of the user to function as transmitting means for generating action result data and transmitting the action result data to the broadcasting system when an action by the user is performed during the action reception time slot. A broadcasting system characterized by the following. 3. A broadcasting system comprising: a transmitting device for transmitting broadcast data including data related to a program to a receiving device of a user; and a server device capable of communicating with a terminal device of the user via a communication network. The data is set within the broadcast time slot of the program and, during an action reception time slot for receiving an action by the user, the reception of the user so as to function as a notification unit for notifying the user that the action reception time is being received. The server device includes a control program for controlling the device, the server device acquires, from the transmission device, action reception time zone information, a detection unit that detects that an action has been performed through the user terminal device, Comparing the time of the action detected by the detection means with the action reception time zone information A storage unit for storing action result data when the action by the user is performed within the action reception time slot. 4. The control program includes the action reception time zone information, and the notifying unit refers to the action time zone information to notify a user that the action reception time is being received. Item 4. The broadcast system according to any one of Items 1 to 3. 5. The broadcast data includes start instruction data of the action reception time zone, and the notifying unit notifies the user that the action reception time zone is in effect when the start instruction data is received. Claim 1
The broadcast system according to any one of claims 1 to 3. 6. The broadcasting system according to claim 1, wherein the notifying unit performs the notification by displaying an action reception mark on the receiving device of the user. 7. The broadcasting system according to claim 1, wherein the notification unit performs the notification by outputting a sound from a receiving device of the user. 8. The broadcast according to claim 1, wherein the notification unit performs the notification by reproducing an audio or video message included in the broadcast content of the program. system. 9. The broadcasting system according to claim 1, wherein the action result data is a point number predetermined for each of the action reception time zones. 10. The broadcasting system according to claim 1, wherein the action reception time period is set at random within a broadcasting time period of the program. 11. A server device capable of communicating with a user terminal through a communication network, comprising: means for presenting information to a user in response to a request from the user; Notification means for notifying the user that the action is being performed; means for detecting that an action has been performed by the user; and action result data when the action by the user has been performed within the action reception time slot. Means, and a server device. 12. The server device according to claim 11, wherein the action result data is a point number determined in advance for each of the action reception time zones. 13. A control program for transmitting to a user's receiving device together with broadcast data including data related to a program and controlling the user's receiving device, wherein the program is in a broadcast time zone of the program. Notification means for notifying the user that the action is being accepted during the action acceptance time period for receiving the action by the user, and detecting means for detecting that the user has taken an action; When the action is performed during the action reception time slot, the receiving device of the user is controlled to function as a storage unit that generates action result data and stores the generated action result data in the receiving device. Control program. 14. A control program transmitted from a broadcast system to a user's receiving device together with broadcast data including data related to a program to control the user's receiving device, wherein the program comprises: During an action reception time period that is set within the time period and receives an action by the user, a notification unit that notifies the user that the action reception time is being performed, a detection unit that detects that an action has been performed by the user, When the action by the user is performed within the action reception time slot, the receiving device of the user is controlled to function as a transmission unit that generates action result data and transmits the action result data to the broadcasting system. Control program. 15. A control program executed in a server device capable of communicating with a user terminal through a communication network, the program comprising: means for presenting browsing information to a user in response to a request from the user; Notification means for notifying the user that the action is being accepted during the action reception time slot, detection means for detecting that an action has been performed by the user, and an action by the user being performed within the action reception time slot. A control program for causing the server device to function as storage means for storing action result data when the action is taken.