JP2003141397A - System and method for providing viewer information - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a viewer information providing system and method capable of clipping for viewers introduction information to the viewers by television and the radio currently viewed by the viewers, for example, mail order selling information, etc. SOLUTION: Information about mail order merchandise introduced by broadcasting and its broadcasting time are stored in a mail order information center 300. When a viewer viewing the broadcasting accesses the mail order information center 300 with communication equipment 410 such as a telephone, an information distribution destination is specified from identification information of the communication equipment 410, an information reprieving device 360 of the mail order information center 300 retrieves mail order merchandise broadcasted at the time when the mail order information center 300 is accessed, and distributes information about the merchandise to the distribution destination corresponding to the communication equipment 410.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a viewer information providing system for providing a desired introduction information to a viewer from among the introduction information addressed to the viewer contained in the broadcast video or audio from a broadcasting station. Regarding the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the case of mail-order sales conventionally broadcast on television or radio, when a viewer wants to purchase the introduced product, he / she generally makes an application (order) for purchasing the product by telephone or FAX. It is carried out. But for that,
Mail order information such as purchase method and price must be recorded on the spot while watching the information. At that time, the program (that is, the screen on which this mail order information is displayed) progresses before the memo is copied, or it becomes a stage to actually place an order by telephone or fax, There are often inconveniences such as losing the memos you put.

On the other hand, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 11-275255, when a viewer presses a button, the sales company of the product introduced on the TV screen currently being viewed is automatically called to place an order processing. There is disclosed a television mail ordering device for performing the following. In digital broadcasting, there is also a data broadcasting service in which a set-top box can be operated to order mail-order products currently being broadcast.

[0004]

However, these conventional techniques have the following problems. First, if the viewer forgets or loses the memo of the mail order information, it will cause a survey on the mail order information itself. As a result, the viewer not only takes extra time, such as inquiring to the broadcasting station that has broadcast the mail-order information, but also has to deal with the inquiry side.

Further, in the case of the television mail ordering device described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-275255, a product currently being broadcast is ordered on the spot. Therefore, if you want to think slowly and purchase after the broadcast, you will still order by phone or fax as before. In addition, it is necessary to store in advance in the TV mail ordering device installed in each home information such as when and on which channel mail order (hereinafter referred to as mail order) is performed. It will not only be costly, but it will also be difficult to deal with small changes in the broadcast schedule.

When using the data broadcasting service, a screen for inputting and confirming an order is displayed on the screen of the television. However, since TV is a medium that has the character of being viewed together by several people, such as a family member, unless you are all in consultation and shopping, you can operate the TV at your own convenience in order to buy your own. , Displaying information about product purchase in front of everyone means
Not good for communication. Further, when the data broadcast screen is operated to place an order, the original flow of the program is interrupted there, so that the enjoyment of viewing the program is impaired even when watching the program alone.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object thereof is to provide viewers with a television or radio currently watching, such as mail order information. It is an object of the present invention to provide a viewer information providing system and method capable of clipping introduction information addressed to a user with a simple operation. Another object of the present invention is to provide a viewer information providing system and method capable of clipping introduction information addressed to a viewer without interrupting a program currently being viewed. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a viewer information providing system and method capable of delivering introduction information addressed to a viewer only to a viewer who needs it.

[0008]

In order to solve these problems, a viewer information providing system according to the present invention is a viewer information providing system for distributing introduction information contained in broadcast video or broadcast audio. Therefore, the reception means for receiving an inquiry with its own identification information from the viewer and recording the reception time of the inquiry, the introduction information included in the broadcast video or audio and the broadcast time of the introduction information are Information for searching from the viewer information storage means for the viewer information storage means stored correspondingly and the introduction information broadcast at the inquiry broadcast time set based on the reception time recorded by the reception means. It is characterized by comprising a search means and a distribution means for distributing the introduction information searched by the information search means to viewers based on the identification information received by the reception means.

Further, in the viewer information providing method according to the present invention, the introduction information included in the broadcast video or broadcast audio is provided to the viewer from the viewer information providing center provided independently of the broadcasting station. A method of providing viewer information, the process of receiving inquiry broadcast time and own identification information from the viewer, and accumulating introduction information included in broadcast video or audio of each of a plurality of broadcast stations in association with the broadcast time. A step of retrieving the introductory information broadcast at the accepted inquiry broadcast time from the stored viewer information storage means, and the retrieved introductory information to an address corresponding to the accepted identification information by e-mail. And a step of delivering in.

According to the viewer information providing system and method according to the present invention, the viewer is now viewing by simply issuing a simple inquiry to the viewer information providing center having the viewer information providing system. Introductory information to the viewer included in the broadcast video or audio can be easily clipped, and the viewer will slowly examine the contents of the introductory information such as product purchase even after the program ends. can do. Further, on the side of the introduction information provider, the present invention can reduce the loss of the opportunity to use the introduction information, which is caused by the viewer forgetting to make a memo or losing the memo. Further, although the broadcast program disappears with the passage of time, since the distributed information remains as characters and the like, it is possible to prevent troubles due to viewer error and the like.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the accompanying drawings,
According to the viewer information providing system and method of the present invention, when the introduction information to the viewer included in the broadcast video or audio from the broadcast station is the purchase information of the mail-order product broadcast on TV or radio, This will be described in detail as an example.

[0012] In the present embodiment, a mail-order service that provides viewers with purchase information of mail-order products such as purchase methods and prices of mail-order products broadcast on television and radio independently of broadcasting stations and mail order companies. Information center is operating. In the present embodiment, this mail order information center is a viewer information providing center that provides the viewer with introduction information for the viewer included in the broadcast video or audio from the broadcast station. In addition, in this embodiment, the viewer can access the mail order information center from a home phone or mobile phone and receive the mail order product purchase information such as the mail order product purchase method and price by email. Has become.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention.
It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the viewer information provision system about the purchase information of mail order goods. In FIG. 1, 100
Is a broadcasting station. In the broadcasting station 100, the program management device 12
0 controls program contents 111 such as broadcast programs and advertisements according to a broadcast schedule 112, and the distribution device 19
It is sent from 0 to each home 400 or the like. The program management device 120 also creates and manages mail-order program information 113 related to the broadcasting of mail-order products, appropriately generates necessary information from the mail-order program information 113, and from the communication device 130 to the network 10. It is transmitted to a mail-order information center 300, which will be described later, connected via the.

On the other hand, in the mail-order trader 200, the product information 21
The product management device 220 that manages 1 transmits the information about the method of purchasing the broadcast mail-order products from the communication device 230 to the mail-order information center 300 described later, which is also connected via the network 10. . On the other hand, the mail-order information center 300 is provided independently of the broadcasting station 100 and the mail-order trader 200 described above in the present embodiment.

The mail order information center 300 includes a plurality of broadcasting stations 1.
00 and a plurality of mail order companies 200 provide the above-mentioned information, and the purchase method and price of each mail order product of the mail order company 200 broadcast by each broadcasting station 100.
We provide a service that provides information on how to purchase mail-order products.

Therefore, the mail-order information center 300 receives, at the communication device 330, information transmitted from the communication device 130 of each broadcasting station 100 and the communication device 230 of each mail-order trader 200 via the network 10, and also receives this information. In addition, mail order information 31 provided as a database file
1. The product information 312 is created and updated. Further, the mail-order information center 300 stores the information about the viewer who made the inquiry in the user information 313 provided as a data file each time there is an inquiry.

Then, in the mail order information center 300, if an inquiry from a viewer is received by the communication device 330,
The response device 340 responds, and the timer 350 records the inquiry reception time (T) at which there is an inquiry from the viewer as the inquiry broadcast time, and the mail order information 311 related to the information search device 360 based on the inquiry broadcast time. Search the product information 312,
The mail server 370 delivers the search result to the viewer by email.

Further, the mail order information center 300 is provided with an input device 381, a display 382, and a speaker 383, which manage the information stored in the mail order information 311, the product information 312, and the user information 313, respectively. Besides being used for making an inquiry, it is also used for the operator to directly respond to the viewer when the response device 340 cannot respond to the inquiry from the viewer.

The control device 320 is a mail order information center 300.
It controls the operation of each of these parts. On the other hand, a broadcast receiving terminal 490 such as a television and a radio is provided, and an inquiry terminal 410 is provided in the home 400 in which various program contents 111 sent from each broadcasting station 100 are viewed by the broadcast receiving terminal 490. . Then, the viewer who is interested in the products introduced in the program being broadcast can operate the inquiry terminal 410 to access the mail order information center 300.

In this embodiment, this inquiry terminal 410 is used.
Is equipped with a display 482 and its communication device 430.
A telephone having a mail transmitting / receiving function, such as a home telephone or a mobile telephone, is used. Further, in the present embodiment, since the inquiry terminal 410 is a telephone, the mail-order information center 300 uses the inquiry terminal 410.
The inquiry terminal 410, that is, the viewer can be individually managed by using the caller's telephone number as the identification information.

The telephone as the inquiry terminal 410 is connected to the communication device 430 and an input device 481 for the viewer to input a telephone number for communication and to create a text of a mail or the like.
A speaker 483 and a microphone 484 used for conversation, a display 482 for displaying the telephone number of the called party, contents of mail, etc., a memory 485 for storing a telephone directory, received mail, etc., Each of these parts
It is controlled by the controller 420.

Further, in the present embodiment, the inquiry terminal 41
Since a telephone such as a mobile telephone is used as 0, communication between the inquiry terminal 410 and the mail order information center 300 is
The communication company 500 will intervene. Therefore, the communication company 500 manages the information about the inquiry terminal 410 and the viewer as the user as the subscriber information 511, and provides the service of the mailbox 512 to the viewer as the user. ing. The mail addressed to the user is accumulated in the mail box 512 and managed by the mail server 570.

These are controlled by the control device 520. When a viewer as a user makes a call from the inquiry terminal 410 to the mail order information center 300 in the caller number notification mode, the subscriber information is sent. Control is also performed from 511 to notify the telephone number used by the inquiry terminal 410 to the mail order information center 300 that is a communication partner.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of the mail-order information 311 used in the mail-order information center 300 described above to search for the mail-order products introduced by the broadcast contents at the inquiry broadcast time. FIG. 3 is a product information 3 storing detailed information about mail-order products introduced in each broadcast content.
It is a figure which shows an example of the data structure of 12. In the present embodiment, the same product may be introduced many times in different programs of other stations or in rebroadcasting of the program, so information about the broadcast status of the product and information about the product itself are The mail order information 311 and the product information 312 are separately managed.

According to the mail-order information 311 shown in FIG. 2, by designating the broadcast date and time, the mail-order products introduced in the broadcast at that time can be specified. That is, the broadcast date and time 311-Date is the date and time when the product is introduced in the broadcast, including the broadcast date, and the start time 311-ST.
And end time 311-ET are stored. In the storage, some programs are broadcast over dates, so in the present embodiment, in the case of a late-night program, a program before the end of one-day broadcasting is treated as a program on the previous day, for example, at 0:00 am
5 minutes is 24:05 on the previous day. In addition, the broadcast date 311-Date is the time when the product is introduced in the program, and is different from the start and end times of the program itself.

The broadcasting date 311-Date is set by the broadcasting station 1.
It is performed by registering the scheduled broadcast time at which the product is introduced based on the information generated by the program management device 120 described above that is supplied from 00 through the network 10. As for the scheduled broadcast time, the information retrieval device 360 searches the broadcast date and time 311-Date with the time when the viewer inquires as the inquiry broadcast time, so that the broadcast time is not fixed in live broadcasting. In the case of, the scheduled broadcast time is registered with a certain width. In addition, as another method, a flag indicating that the program is being broadcast, the end of the broadcast, or the like is provided for each product, and the scheduled broadcast time of the program that was being broadcast at the time of the search is the actual broadcast time when the broadcast ends. May be updated so that the search can be performed again after the broadcast time is fixed.

Further, the product ID 311-ID includes a broadcast date 311-
Corresponding to the Date, the identifier of the mail-order product introduced at the time of broadcasting, that is, the product ID is stored. This product I
By using D, it is used as an index when searching detailed information of the product from product information 312 described later. By the way, the mail-order information center 300 of the present embodiment
Since the information about the mail order of a plurality of broadcasting stations 100, ... Is provided, there is a possibility that different broadcasting stations may be broadcasting introductions of similar products at the same time depending on the inquiry time. .

Therefore, even in such a case, the mail order information 311 corresponds to the broadcast date / time 311-Date and the product ID 311-ID so that the viewer can accurately identify the desired product. A channel 311-CH and a program name 311-Pro are provided. The channel 311-CH stores information about the broadcasting station (channel) of the program in which the product is introduced, and the program name 311-Pro stores the program name that introduced the product.

Furthermore, in the mail-order information 311 of this embodiment, in addition to this channel 311-CH and program name 311-Pro,
Program information 311-Inf is also provided. This program information 311-I
nf contains information about the program that introduced the product (for example,
The moderator) is stored, and serves as a clue for the viewer who is the user to further memorize the program in which the product is introduced. On the other hand, according to the product information 312 shown in FIG. 3, by specifying the product ID, the mail order application information such as the purchase method and price of the product can be inquired.

The product ID 312-ID of this product information 312 is the product ID 311-ID specified in the mail order information 311.
The corresponding product ID is stored for the product ID of the mail-order product stored in. Since the mail order information center 300 in the case of the present embodiment provides information about mail orders for a plurality of broadcasting stations 100, ..., Product ID 312-ID
Can store a plurality of product IDs separately provided for each broadcasting station 100 for the same mail-order product.

Further, the product name 312-PN, the price 312-Pri, the manufacturer name 312-MN, the specification 312-Spe and the product introduction of the product information 312.
The 312-Int stores detailed information about each product, and the inquiry address 312-Ref stores information about a mail-order company that sells this product. Then, the order deadline 312-OP and the order method 312-OM store information necessary for purchasing a product such as the order deadline, the payment method, and whether or not the product can be returned.

These mail order information 311 and product information 312
Each of the data is received by the communication device 330, is transmitted from the broadcasting station 100, and is generated by the program management device 120 based on the program content 111, the broadcast schedule 112, and the mail order program information 113, and the mail order. It is set by the control device 320 based on the information regarding the purchase application of the broadcast mail-order product which is generated based on the product information 211 and transmitted from the trader 200. Of course, the configuration of these tables 311 and 312 is only an example, and other configurations are also possible.
For example, in the product information 312, if there is an item whose content is changed depending on the broadcast date and time or the program, it is appropriate to manage it by the mail order information 311.

Further, in the present embodiment, the processing for the inquiry during the program broadcasting is explained, but the mail order information 3
Of course, it is possible to provide a search service for inquiries after the end of broadcasting by using 11 and product information 312. In this case, in the present embodiment, mail order information 31
1 is the broadcast date and time 311-Date corresponding to the product ID 311-ID
Not only the channel 311-CH, the program name 311-Pro, and the program information 311-Inf are also provided, so that at least one of these stored data is broadcast date 311-Da.
Mail order information 311 as inquiry index with te
The ID of the desired mail-order product can also be accessed by accessing
Can be searched.

In addition, in this case, the program information 311-Inf
May be subdivided into more detailed items so that the program content, performers, etc. can be searched in addition to the broadcast date and time and the program name. Then, in these cases, it is possible to take a large constant width (-t ₀ , + t ₁ ) before and after the inquiry time (T) described later without lowering the search accuracy. In addition, in the mail-order information 311, an inquiry frequency is provided to record the inquiry frequency as data corresponding to the product ID 311-ID, and the data is incremented each time the product ID becomes a search result. For example, it is possible to provide the mail order company 200 of the product with the interest status of the viewer.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of the user information 313 that stores the information about the viewer who made the inquiry. In the user information 313,
The user ID 313-ID is identification information used in the mail order information center 300 for managing viewers who are users. The name 313-Na and the address 313-Add are personal information registered by the user. In the present embodiment, since the service is provided in a form that anyone can use, the partial address such as the prefecture name only can be used. Information and blanks are also possible. For example, if it is a membership-based service, more detailed information can be input at the time of membership registration in advance.

The telephone number 313-Tel is a telephone number notified by caller number notification when a call request is made from the inquiry terminal 410, and the inquiry terminal 41 in the present embodiment.
This is information used as 0 identification information. The mail address 313-Mad stores the mail address to which the search result is delivered.

In the present embodiment, the information distribution by mail has been described, but other than that, for example, FAX distribution or the like can be considered. In addition, the inquiry terminal 4 is used as identification information.
If 10 IP (Internet Protocol) addresses are sent, HTTP (Hypertext Tra
It is also possible to deliver the search result as a message using the nsfer Protocol) or the like.

The inquiry record 313-Rec is an area for recording the date and time when the viewer used the inquiry service in the past.
In FIG. 4, only the most recent date and time are recorded for the sake of simplicity of the table, but of course detailed records including access history and search results so far may be kept.

Next, according to the viewer information providing system and method of the present embodiment configured as described above, in response to an inquiry from the viewer, the mail-order products that were broadcast at the time of the inquiry are searched. The process of answering the viewer with information regarding the purchase application for the mail-order product will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a process of searching the mail order information inquired by the viewer and delivering it to the viewer in the viewer information providing system and method according to the present embodiment. First, a viewer who is watching a broadcast program on the broadcast receiving terminal 490 and is interested in the mail-order products being introduced operates the inquiry terminal 410 to operate the mail-order information center 3
Call 00 to access.

Even when the user first accesses, the telephone number of the mail-order information center 300 is, for example, not shown separately in the program but is made public. Therefore, the telephone number is registered in the memory 485 of the inquiry terminal 410 in advance. By
Easy to use service. Also, if the inquiry terminal 4
Even if the telephone directory is not registered in the memory 485 of 10 in advance, the presence of the service is recognized by looking at the broadcast screen of the broadcast receiving terminal 490 as shown in FIG.
It is also possible to call 92.

FIG. 6 is an example of a screen of a mail order program displayed on the broadcast receiving terminal 490. On the screen 491, a method 492 for accessing the clipping service of the mail-order information center 300 to which the present invention is applied is shown along with product introductions and ordering methods. In this case, contact 492
Is common even if the broadcasting station 100, the mail-order business 200, and the mail-order products are changed, so that the recognition will not be hindered. On the other hand, in the mail-order information center 300 that receives a telephone inquiry from the viewer at the communication device 330 (step S
200), the control device 320 records the arrival time (T) as the inquiry time in the timer 350 (step S22).
0).

In this embodiment, since the caller number of the telephone line is used as the identification information of the inquiry terminal 410, if the inquiry from the viewer is not a call in the mode for notifying the caller number (step S204), The control device 320 sends a message from the response device 340 to the inquiry terminal 410 via the communication device 330 so as to call again in the notification mode.
To the destination (step S206) and disconnect the call (step S206).
208). At that time, the inquiry time (T) recorded by the timer 350 is cleared.

On the other hand, if the inquiry from the viewer is in the calling number notification mode, the notified telephone number is confirmed.
(Step S210). In the case of the present embodiment, since e-mail is used as the delivery method of the search result, the user information 3
The corresponding mail address is searched for from the confirmed telephone number from 13 (step S212).

When the user information 313 does not have a corresponding mail address for the telephone number (step S214), the control device 320 gives a guidance for registering the mail address from the response device 340 via the communication device 330. Output to the inquiry terminal 410 (step S216). Thereby, the mail-order information center 300 prompts the viewer to register his / her own mail address in the mail server 370.

This guidance is provided by the inquiry terminal 4
Since it is displayed on the display 482 of 10 or is output by voice from the speaker 483, the viewer inputs a mail address based on this guidance. Of course, when the service is used for the first time, the mail address is not yet registered in the user information 313, and even if the mail has been used, if the mail cannot be used and is returned, the registered address is deleted.

The mail address to be registered is input by the button of the telephone as the inquiry terminal 410,
There is a method of inputting voice using the microphone 484 and using voice recognition. If it is difficult to use these, in the mail-order information center 300, a human operator may be used in turn, and input may be made by direct interaction with the viewer using the input device 381, the display 382, and the speaker 383. .
At this time, if the call is disconnected from the other party without registering the e-mail address (step S218), the process is terminated as it is. Also in this case, the inquiry time (T) recorded in the information retrieval device 360 described above is cleared.

If the mail address of the information delivery destination can be confirmed in the user information 313, the control device 320
Outputs a message to the inquiry terminal 410 via the communication device 330 that the inquiry has been received by the response device 340 (step S220), and disconnects the call (step S22).
2). Next, in the mail-order information center 300 that has received the inquiry, the control device 320 causes the information search device 360 to
The mail order information 311 is searched for a product broadcast at the inquiry time (T).

The control device 320 confirms the broadcast date based on the inquiry time (T) stored in the timer 350 and the broadcast start or broadcast end time of each station (step S224). Time zone with constant width (-t ₀ , + t ₁ ).
Search for products in which (T-t _{0 to} T + t ₁ ) and the time period from the start time to the end time when the introduction was broadcast overlap (step S
226). Here, if you do not search for pinpoints at the inquiry time (T), it seems that there is a time lag from the time you watch the program until the operation to make a call ends, so if you make an inquiry at the very end of the introduction, This is because it is possible that there is no corresponding product in the search, or only the information related to the product other than the product of interest, for example, the product introduced immediately after, is delivered.

At the mail-order information center 300, when there is no corresponding product in the search by the information search device 360 (step S
228), the control device 320 enlarges and changes the width (-t ₀ ', + t ₁ ', but -t ₀ '<-t ₀ , + t ₁ <+ t ₁ ') to be provided before and after the inquiry time. Then, the information search device 360 searches again (step S230).

As a result, with respect to the product corresponding to the search, the control device 320 determines the information search device 360 from the mail order information 311 and the product information 312 based on the product ID.
Create information to be distributed to viewers by
The created search result information 70 is transmitted from the communication device 330 to the delivery destination mail address (step S232). Even if there is no corresponding product in the re-search, it will be notified by email.

FIG. 7 is an example of a distribution screen by mail of the search result of mail order information. In the present embodiment, the received mail is displayed on the display 482 using the mail receiving function of the inquiry terminal 410. As shown in FIG. 7, the content of the distributed information includes information about broadcasting such as time and channel and information necessary for purchasing the product such as description of the product and ordering method. In the present embodiment, the contents introduced by broadcasting are distributed by email, but more detailed information that could not be explained within the broadcast time, introduction of related products, and the like may be included in the product information.

Further, the order sheet may be attached with an order sheet by e-mail, a website address for ordering from a telephone, or the like. As a result, since it is possible to smoothly operate the product purchase from the distributed information, it is possible to improve the convenience of the user and prevent a trouble such as an entry error at the time of ordering. Further, in the present embodiment, all the corresponding products are reported in the search, but when the service target area is wide, information about programs not broadcast in the viewer's residential area may be delivered. There is. In that case, it is conceivable that the address is also registered at the time of the first registration of the e-mail address and filtering is performed.

Finally, the controller 320 determines that the user information 3
The distribution log is stored in the inquiry record 313-Rec of 13 (step S234), and the process is terminated. In the present embodiment, a general service for broadcasting that can be received and viewed by anyone has been described, but the present invention can of course be applied to a cable television or the like. In that case, for example, by registering a telephone number and an e-mail address in advance when subscribing to a cable TV, it is only necessary to make a call from the first use.

Further, in the present embodiment, even when there are a plurality of search results, the information is delivered by e-mail as it is without any particular processing. However, the history of past inquiries and the actual purchase of goods from there are made. Based on the achievements, etc., for example, processing such as first introducing products introduced in programs that viewers are likely to see or products in genres that are likely to have an interest, It can also be delivered.

Further, in the present embodiment, an example of providing information on products introduced in a so-called mail order program or a mail order corner of a wide show has been described, but it is of course applicable to other than this. For example, by linking with an advertisement on TV or radio and making a call during advertisement broadcasting, it is possible to deliver detailed information about the product introduced in the corresponding advertisement or information regarding purchase. Also, as a service linked to normal programs such as dramas and news, if you call during broadcasting, you can provide information related to the program, such as synopsis up to the point just before the drama, or appearing on the screen at that time. You can also distribute product information and purchase information about people's costumes and props. As described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

[0057]

As described above, according to the present invention, the viewer only sends an inquiry including identification information to the viewer information providing system of the viewer information providing center, for example, one viewer. Just by calling the telephone number of the person information center,
Clipping can be done easily, and the contents of the introduction information such as product purchases can be examined slowly after the program ends.

Further, on the side of the introduction information provider, the present invention can reduce the opportunity loss of the use of the introduction information caused by the viewer forgetting to make a memo or losing the memo. Further, although the broadcast program disappears with the passage of time, since the distributed information remains as characters and the like, it is possible to prevent troubles due to viewer error and the like. In addition, the information related to the introduction information that is broadcast is managed by the viewer information providing center, and since the viewer can use the service from a home phone, mobile phone, etc., the operating cost of updating and managing the information and the use It is possible to keep the initial cost on the part of the worker low.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a viewer information providing system for purchase information of mail-order products as an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a data structure of mail order information 311 used in a mail order information center 300 to search for a mail order product introduced at a broadcast content at an inquiry broadcast time.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a data configuration of product information 312 that stores detailed information about mail-order products introduced in each broadcast content.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of user information 313 that stores information about an inquiring viewer.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a process of searching the mail order information inquired by the viewer and delivering it to the viewer in the viewer information providing system and method according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an example of a screen of a mail order program displayed on the broadcast receiving terminal 490.

FIG. 7 is an example of a distribution screen by mail of search results of mail order information.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 broadcasting stations 113 Mail order program information 200 mail-order vendors 211 Product information 300 mail order information center 311 mail order information 312 Product information 313 user information 340 responder 350 timer 360 information retrieval device 400 homes 410 inquiry terminal 490 Broadcast receiving terminal 500 telecommunications company

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Takashi Kawano             890 Kashimada, Sachi-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Stock             Hitachi, Ltd. Business Solutions             Within the department (72) Inventor Tomomi Ishii             890 Kashimada, Sachi-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Stock             Hitachi, Ltd. Business Solutions             Within the department (72) Inventor Tatsusen Kazumi             890 Kashimada, Sachi-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Stock             Hitachi, Ltd. Business Solutions             Within the department (72) Inventor Megumi Katagiri             890 Kashimada, Sachi-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Stock             Hitachi, Ltd. Distribution Systems Division F term (reference) 5C064 BB07 BC23 BD02 BD08                 5K101 KK02 KK16 KK17 LL01 LL12                       MM07 NN03 NN18 NN21 PP03

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A viewer information providing system for distributing introductory information contained in broadcast video or audio, receiving an inquiry from a viewer with his / her own identification information, and recording the reception time of the inquiry. Based on the reception time recorded by the reception means, the audience information storage means in which the introduction information included in the broadcast video or audio and the broadcast time of the introduction information are stored in association with each other. Information searching means for searching from the viewer information storage means for the introduction information broadcast at the inquiry broadcast time set by the user, and the identification information received by the receiving means for the introduction information searched by the information searching means. A viewer information providing system, characterized in that the viewer information providing system is provided with a delivery means for delivering to the viewer. 2. The viewer information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the inquiry broadcast time is set within a predetermined time range including the reception time of the inquiry recorded by the reception means. 3. A viewer information providing method for providing viewers with introduction information contained in broadcast video or broadcast audio from a viewer information providing center provided independently of a broadcast station, comprising: From the step of receiving the inquiry broadcast time and its own identification information from the viewer information storage means in which the introduction information included in the broadcast video or audio of each of the plurality of broadcast stations is stored in association with the broadcast time, A step of searching for the referral information broadcast at the accepted inquiry broadcast time; and a step of delivering the retrieved referral information to the destination corresponding to the accepted identification information by e-mail. How to provide viewer information.