JP2003153304A - Visual and audio information providing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To grasp the statistic positioning of broadcasting observed by each viewer by grasping the statistic visual and audio information of broadcasting real time by the viewer. SOLUTION: A broadcasting receiver 3 functions as a terminal unit, and provides visual and audio broadcasting information representing the broadcasting during viewing and listening for a central unit 5. The unit 5 generates the statistic visual and audio information regarding the broadcasting during the broadcasting based on the information collected from the multiple receivers 3. The generated statistic information is provided for the viewer by the receivers 3. The statistic information may be the audience rating of each channel. More preferably, the statistic information is the audience rating sequence of the channel during viewing and listening at each terminal. The missing of the program having good reputation by the viewer is easily avoided by knowing the real time audience rating sequence.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system for providing viewing statistics information, which is statistical information of broadcast viewing, to respective viewers, and more particularly, to a system for providing information on broadcasting during broadcasting. Regarding

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, the audience rating is most frequently used as the statistical information of broadcast viewing. The audience rating is
It is used as a barometer by broadcasters, program producers, and people involved in advertising to express their reputation regarding the popularity and fun of programs. Further, the audience rating is also interesting information for the viewer. Even in information programs on TV, the section that introduces the ratings of past programs is gaining popularity.

Conventionally, audience rating information is provided as follows. That is, an appropriate number of home receivers are equipped with a device for detecting the channel being viewed. Information on the detected channels is collected. From the information collected,
Audience ratings are sought and announced. The audience rating is provided to the viewer through a newspaper article on the next day, for example. Alternatively, it is introduced to the viewer on an information program on television.

[0004]

As described above, the statistical information represented by the audience rating is provided through the newspaper articles on the next day after the broadcast is completed. That is, the viewer can only obtain information about past programs. what if,
Being able to know in real time statistical information about the current broadcast will be more interesting to the viewer. Then, since the viewer does not miss a popular program, such real-time information is considered to be useful for the viewer.

Furthermore, if real-time information provision becomes possible, if the viewer can know the statistical positioning of the broadcast he is watching, such positioning becomes interesting information for the viewer. . And, it is considered that such positioning information makes it easier to avoid missing a popular program.

[0006] The present invention has been made under the above background, and an object thereof is to provide a technique for allowing a viewer to grasp statistical information of broadcast viewing in real time. A further object of the present invention is to provide a technique that enables a viewer to grasp the statistical positioning of the broadcast he or she is watching.

[0007]

A viewing information providing system of the present invention includes a plurality of terminal devices for providing viewing statistics information, which is statistical information of broadcast viewing, to each viewer, and the plurality of terminals. A central unit in communication with the device. The terminal device may be provided in the receiver. Each of the plurality of terminal devices provides the central device with viewing broadcast information indicating a broadcast being viewed. The central device generates viewing statistic information on a broadcasting being broadcast based on the viewing broadcast information acquired from the plurality of terminal devices, and provides the statistical information to the plurality of terminal devices. In this way, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide the viewer with viewing statistics information regarding the broadcasting being broadcast.

[0008] In the present invention, "broadcast during broadcasting" means
A broadcast provided to viewers. The “broadcast currently being viewed” refers to a broadcast provided by an individual viewer among a plurality of “broadcasts being broadcast”. "Broadcast" may be represented by a channel or a program. The broadcast may be specified by another expression, for example, a program of the XX genre.

[0009] The viewing statistics information is, for example, information on audience rating. The invention may simply provide audience ratings for multiple broadcasts. More preferably, the system of the present invention provides, as the viewing statistical information, information indicating the rating order of the broadcast being viewed.

The information indicating the ranking of the rating of the broadcast being viewed is
It may be determined in the central unit. In this case, the audience rating rank of each broadcast being broadcast is obtained from the viewing broadcast information acquired from a plurality of terminal devices. In addition, the viewing broadcast information identifies the broadcast being viewed with respect to each terminal device. Therefore,
For each terminal device, information indicating the rating order of the broadcast being viewed is generated. The generated information is provided to the terminal device.

Further, the information indicating the ranking of the rating of the broadcast being viewed may be obtained by the terminal device. In this case, the central device provides each terminal device with information indicating the ranking of the ratings of a plurality of broadcasts being broadcast. The broadcast being viewed is specified by the terminal device. The information indicating the viewership ranking of the specified broadcast is obtained from the information provided by the central device and provided. The information provided by the central device may represent a plurality of audience ratings. This may be the audience rating of each broadcast, the audience rating rank itself, the number of viewers, or other information.

According to the present invention, as described above, it is possible to provide the viewer with the viewing statistics information regarding the broadcasting being broadcast.
According to the present invention, the viewer can obtain new interesting information such as the audience rating statistical information of the broadcasting being broadcast, whereas the viewer can obtain only the audience rating statistical information of the past broadcasting.

In the past, since only viewing statistics information on past broadcasts was available, the viewer was
You may find that another broadcast had a better reputation than the one you watched. At this time, the viewer may wish to watch another program. On the other hand, according to the present invention, the viewer can obtain the statistical information of the broadcast being broadcast, so that the viewer does not miss the popular broadcast.

In particular, the preferred system of the present invention, as described above, provides information indicating the rating order of the broadcast being viewed by each viewer. It provides viewers with interesting information that has never been seen, such as the rating ranking of the broadcast they are watching. Further, the viewer can easily understand the degree of the reputation of the broadcast that he or she is watching among a plurality of broadcasts being broadcast. Therefore, the viewer can easily avoid missing a popular broadcast.

As described above, the ranking of the ratings of the broadcasts being viewed may be obtained by the central device or the terminal device. The former is considered to be advantageous in that the terminal device may present the received information as it is, and thus the processing load on the terminal device is small. The latter is considered to be advantageous in that the load on the central device is small because the central device does not have to provide individual information for each terminal device.

Also preferably, the system of the present invention comprises:
The viewing statistics information is provided according to the attribute information of the viewer who is watching. The attributes are, for example, age, sex, address, hobbies, and family structure. Viewing statistics information that matches a combination of multiple attributes may be provided.

[0017] Typically, the central unit obtains different viewing statistics information depending on the attribute. In addition, the attribute of the viewer is acquired from the terminal device. Viewer attributes may be acquired and stored in advance. Then, the central device provides the terminal with the viewing statistics information corresponding to the attributes of the viewer. Alternatively, the terminal device, based on the attributes input by the viewer,
Alternatively, viewing statistic information corresponding to the attribute of the viewer may be extracted from the viewing statistic information provided by the central device based on the prestored attribute and provided to the viewer.

Here again, preferably, the audience rating ranking is provided as the audience statistical information. That is, the audience rating rank corresponding to the attribute of the viewer who is viewing is provided. For example,
Assume that the attribute is age. When the viewer is 40 years old,
For example, the ranking in the rating of viewers in their 40s is provided. Further, for example, the rating rank in the broadcasting for adults during broadcasting may be provided. In this case, the viewer rating rank in the broadcast corresponding to the viewer's attribute is provided.
Further, as described above, a plurality of attributes may be used in combination. For example, the rating ranks of the broadcasts being watched by the viewers among the viewer ratings of the 20s, males, and single viewers are provided.

According to the present invention, more interesting information can be provided by providing the information according to the attribute. Also,
Viewers do not miss broadcasts that are popular with viewers who have similar attributes to themselves, and thus can more reliably avoid missing broadcasts that are useful to them.

Further preferably, the system of the present invention provides the viewing statistics information according to the viewing history of the viewer who is watching. Based on the broadcast information that the viewer has watched so far, the viewing statistics information suitable for the viewer is provided.
Typically, the central device acquires information indicating the viewing history from the terminal device. Viewing broadcast information such as channels may be stored as viewing history. Then, the viewing statistics information based on the viewing history is provided to the broadcast receiver. Alternatively, the terminal device may accumulate the viewing history and extract the information to be provided to the viewer from the information sent from the central device based on the viewing history. For example, from the viewing history, the broadcast genre preferred by the viewer is sought. Then, the viewing statistics information of the broadcasting being broadcast in the genre is provided. Also in the present invention, it is preferable to send the audience rating rank as the audience statistical information.

According to the present invention, more interesting information can be provided by providing information according to the viewing history. Also, the viewer does not miss a broadcast that matches his viewing history, for example, a popular broadcast that he or she often sees, and thus can more surely avoid missing a broadcast that is useful to him.

The present invention is not limited to the above aspect of the viewing information providing system. Another aspect of the invention is, for example,
A central device and a terminal device which constitute the above system. Another aspect of the present invention is a method for providing information by these systems and apparatuses, a program for causing a computer to execute such a method, and a recording medium recording such a program.

[0023]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of the viewing statistics information providing system of this embodiment. The viewing statistics information providing system 1 includes a plurality of broadcast receivers 3 and a central device 5. Each broadcast receiver 3 functions as the terminal device of the present invention. Each broadcast receiver 3 communicates with the central unit 5 via the network N.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of one broadcast receiver 3 and the central unit 5. The broadcast receiver 3 has an antenna 10, a display 12, and a speaker 14. The reception output unit 16 receives a broadcast using the antenna 10 and outputs the received broadcast from the display 12 and the speaker 14. In this embodiment, a sanitary broadcast is received. The remote controller communication unit 18 receives information indicating a viewer's operation on the remote controller 20 by communicating with the remote controller 20.

The center communication unit 22 communicates with the central device 3. In the present embodiment, the network N is composed of the Internet, and the broadcast receiver 3 is always connected.

The viewing / broadcasting information providing unit 24 sends the viewing / broadcasting information representing the broadcasting being viewed by the receiver 3 to the center communication unit 22.
To the central device 5. In this embodiment, information indicating a channel is used as the viewing broadcast information.
The channel being watched is detected and notified to the center communication unit 22.

The viewing statistics information acquisition unit 26 acquires the viewing statistics information sent from the central unit 5. The acquired information is presented to the viewer using the display 14. In the present embodiment, the viewing statistics information is the audience rating of the broadcast being broadcast.

Here, in the present embodiment, “broadcasting on air” is broadcasting that is provided to a large number of viewers and is broadcasting on air (in the present invention, no radio wave is used. Broadcasting will be on air).
On the other hand, "broadcasting while watching" means multiple "broadcasting"
In the above, when the attention is paid to each viewer, the broadcast is provided to that viewer. “Broadcast” is represented by a channel as described above in this embodiment.

The "broadcast being broadcast" may be called "broadcast being provided" or "provided broadcast", and the "broadcast being viewed" may be called "viewing broadcast". In this case, the “viewing broadcast (for example, channel)” is one of a plurality of “provided broadcasts (for example, channel)” (such as simultaneous viewing of two channels).
There may be more than one).

On the other hand, in the central unit 5, the terminal communication unit 3
0 communicates with the broadcast receiver 3. Although not shown in FIG. 2, the terminal communication unit 30 individually communicates with a large number of broadcast receivers 3. The viewing broadcast information acquisition unit 32 acquires channel information as viewing broadcast information from each broadcast receiver 3 using the terminal communication unit 30. Information on the channel being viewed is collected from many broadcast receivers 3. The viewing statistics information generation unit 34 obtains the audience rating of each channel from the collected information. The viewing statistics information providing unit 36 provides the viewing rate information obtained by the viewing statistics information generating unit 34 to the plurality of broadcast receivers 3 using the terminal communication unit 30.

Next, the operation of the viewing statistics information providing system 1 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

The viewing broadcast information acquisition section 32 of the central unit 5 is
As described above, the information of the channel being watched is collected from many broadcast receivers 3. Here, the channel currently being viewed is inquired to each broadcast receiver 3 by polling using the terminal communication unit 30. This inquiry is broadcast receiver 3
It is received by the center communication unit 22 of. In response to the inquiry, the viewing broadcast information providing unit 24 identifies the channel being viewed and transmits the information to the center communication unit 22. The channel information is sent from the center communication unit 22 to the central device 5.

The central unit 5 performs the above processing with a large number of broadcast receivers 3. As a result, the viewing broadcast information acquisition unit 32 acquires the channel being viewed by the large number of broadcast receivers 3. The viewing statistics information generation unit 34 obtains the audience rating of each channel from the collected information.

The audience rating is calculated by a well-known method. In this embodiment, the number of receivers viewing each channel is divided by the number of receivers that are polled. Central device 5 when the receiver does not respond to polling
Determines that the receiver is not watching the broadcast.

The viewing statistics information providing unit 36 of the central unit 5 is
The calculated audience rating information is sent to the broadcast receiver 3 using the terminal communication unit 30. In the broadcast receiver 3, the audience rating is received by the center communication section 22 and is obtained by the viewing statistics information obtaining section 26.

The above processing is repeatedly carried out at an appropriate relatively short interval (for example, 10 minutes). Therefore, the broadcast receiver 3 as the terminal device can obtain the audience rating of the channel being broadcast.

The viewer operates the remote controller 20 to request the display of the audience rating. At this time, for example,
The viewer requests a viewer rating display by pressing a predetermined button installed on the remote controller 20.
This request is received by the remote controller communication unit 18. In response to this, the audience rating statistical information acquisition unit 26 displays the audience rating information on the display 14.

FIG. 3 shows an example of audience rating information displayed on the display 14. In the example of FIG. 3, a table showing the audience rating of each channel is displayed in the corner of the screen. In a variant,
Only the audience rating of the channel currently being viewed may be displayed.
At this time, each broadcast receiver 3 may receive from the central device 5 only the audience rating of the channel being viewed by the broadcast receiver 3.

The above has described one embodiment of the present invention. The above embodiment provides the audience rating as the audience statistical information. The following embodiment provides the rating ranking as more useful viewing statistics information.

FIG. 4 shows the viewing statistics information providing system of this embodiment. The viewing statistics information providing system 40 of FIG. 4 has a configuration substantially similar to that of FIG. Compared with FIG. 2, the processing in the viewing statistics information generation unit 42 of the central device 5 is different.

The viewing statistics information generating section 42 calculates an audience rating based on the channel information collected from a large number of broadcast receivers 3. Then, the rating ranking of each channel is obtained.
The audience rating rank represents the highest audience rating of each channel.

Further, the viewing statistic information generating section 42 obtains, for each broadcast receiver 3, the rating order of the channel being viewed. It is assumed that a certain broadcast receiver 3 is watching the X channel. The information indicating the X channel is obtained through the network N from the viewing broadcast information providing unit 24 in the process of obtaining the audience rating. Therefore, the rating ranking of the X channel is obtained. This audience rating ranking is sent to the broadcast receiver 3 through the terminal communication unit 30 by the viewing statistics information providing unit 36.

The audience rating ranking is acquired by the audience statistical information acquisition unit 36. Then, the rating order is displayed on the display 12 in response to the viewer's request.

FIG. 5 shows an example of information acquired by the broadcast receiver 3 from the central unit 5. In the example (a), the broadcast receiver 3
Acquires only the rating ranking of the channel being viewed.
In the examples (b) and (c), the broadcast receiver 3 further acquires the audience rating ranks of other channels being broadcast. As shown in the figure, the display 12 displays the rating order of the channel being viewed using a different expression from the rating order of the other channels. For example, different colors are used as the different expressions.

In the above, another embodiment of the present invention has been described. In the present embodiment, the audience ratings are obtained after the audience ratings are obtained. However, the audience rating ranking may be directly obtained from the number of viewers. This is because the rank of the number of viewers is equal to the rank of the audience rating.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the central unit 5 obtains the information indicating the rating order of the channel being viewed for each broadcast receiver 3. In the following embodiment, each broadcast receiver 3
However, the viewership ranking of the channel being watched by itself is calculated.

FIG. 6 shows the viewing statistics information providing system of this embodiment. The viewing statistics information providing system 50 of FIG. 6 has a configuration similar to that of FIG. Compared with FIG. 2, the audience rating ranking determination unit 52 is added to the broadcast receiver 3.

In FIG. 6, the viewing statistics information acquisition unit 26 of the broadcast receiver 3 receives from the central unit 5 information indicating the ratings of a plurality of channels. This information is used as information indicating the ranking of audience ratings of a plurality of channels. That is, the audience rating ranking determination unit 52 obtains the audience ranking of each channel from the audience rating information.

Further, the audience rating ranking determining section 52 is notified by the viewing broadcast information providing section 24 of the channel being viewed. Upon receiving this notification, the audience rating ranking determination unit 52 obtains the audience rating ranking of the channel being viewed. The obtained rating order is displayed on the display 12 in response to a request from the viewer using the remote controller 20. The information as shown in FIG. 5 is presented.

The embodiment of FIG. 6 has been described above.
In the present embodiment, the audience ratings of a plurality of channels are provided from the central device 10 to the broadcast receiver 3 as information indicating the audience rating ranks of those channels. For example, central device 1
0 may provide other information as long as it is information indicating the ranking of audience ratings of a plurality of channels. The central device 10 may send the audience rating ranking itself. In addition, the central device 10
May send audience number information.

Next, some modifications within the scope of the present invention will be described.

In the present embodiment, the broadcast receiver 3 receives a sanitary broadcast. However, the broadcast receiver 3 may receive another broadcast, for example, a terrestrial broadcast, a cable television broadcast, or an internet television broadcast. Further, in the present embodiment, the broadcast receiver 3 and the central device 5 are connected via the Internet. However, any other communication means may be used. Furthermore, the communication means relating to the statistical information of the present invention,
It may be the same as the communication means for broadcasting. further,
The central device 5 may be integrated with the broadcasting device.

In the present embodiment, a terminal device for providing statistical information is incorporated in the broadcast receiver. This terminal device may be separate from the broadcast receiver. In addition, the terminal device preferably has a function of providing various program information (EPG) in addition to a function of providing statistical information. And the central device 5
However, it may be integrated with a device that provides program information.

In the present embodiment, "broadcasting on air" and "broadcasting on view" are expressed using channels. These may be expressed using a program. In this regard,
It is known to provide program information (EPG) to each broadcast receiver. This program information can be used to identify the program being viewed. Therefore, the program information may be used to send information (a program name, a program ID, etc.) identifying the program from the receiver to the central apparatus.

"Broadcast" may be expressed by expressions other than channels and programs. For example, "broadcast" may be represented using a program genre. The broadcast receiver uses the program information (EP
Based on G), the genre (for example, sports) of the program being viewed is specified. This genre is sent to the central device as viewing broadcast information. The central device obtains information such as audience ratings of each genre.

Regarding "broadcast", the same type of information may not be used throughout. For example, the "channel" is transmitted to the central device. The central unit determines the audience rating of each channel and sends it to the terminal unit. Based on this information, the terminal device displays the audience rating and / or the audience ranking of the program. At this time, the program information (EPG) is usefully used as information for associating channels with programs.

The "audience rating ranking" indicates, as described above, which channel has which audience rating. Within the scope of the present invention, the configuration that provides the audience rank is also included in the configuration that provides the audience rating. This is because both are substantially the same. For example, the system of the present invention may arrange a plurality of channels in the order of the number of viewers and obtain the ranking of the channels being viewed.

Referring to FIG. 7, the "ranking rating" is
It does not have to be represented by the number of "order". For example,
The audience rating rank is represented by three ranks such as “high”, “medium”, and “low”. In FIG. 7, the rank corresponding to the audience rating rank is displayed on the screen.

In the present embodiment, as described above, the statistical information of the current broadcast is provided to the viewer in real time.
However, in the above-described embodiment, the viewing broadcast information (channel) is periodically collected at an appropriate relatively short interval (for example, 10 minutes). The central unit uses this collected information to generate the statistical information obtained and returns it to the broadcast receiver. Therefore, it is not strictly real-time information provision. However, from the viewpoint of knowing the statistical information of the program being watched, it is possible to provide information in a sufficiently real time level. In particular, the present invention can sufficiently realize real-time information provision as compared with the past information obtained on the next day or later as in the past.

The viewing statistics information may not be displayed on the display. It may be presented to the viewer using other means. For example, it may be output from a speaker. It may be displayed on a display different from the display for broadcasting output, for example, the display of the remote controller.

The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above. According to the present invention, as described above, it is possible to provide the viewer with the viewing statistics information regarding the broadcasting being broadcast. According to the present invention, the viewer can obtain new interesting information such as the audience rating statistical information of the broadcasting being broadcast, whereas the viewer can obtain only the audience rating statistical information of the past broadcasting.

In the past, since only viewing statistics information on past broadcasts could be obtained, the viewer could later
You may find that another broadcast had a better reputation than the one you watched. At this time, the viewer may wish to watch another program. On the other hand, according to the present invention, the viewer can obtain the statistical information of the broadcast being broadcast, so that the viewer does not miss the popular broadcast.

[0064] In particular, the preferred embodiment of the present invention provides information indicating the rating order of the broadcast that each viewer is viewing. It provides viewers with interesting information that has never been seen, such as the rating ranking of the broadcast they are watching. In addition, the viewer
You can easily understand the reputation of the broadcast you are watching among multiple broadcasts. Therefore,
Viewers can easily avoid missing a reputable broadcast.

As described above, the ranking of the rating of the broadcast being viewed may be obtained by the central device (FIG. 4) or the terminal device (FIG. 6). The former is considered to be advantageous in that the terminal device may present the received information as it is, and thus the processing load on the terminal device is small. The latter is considered to be advantageous in that the load on the central device is small because the central device does not have to provide individual information for each terminal device.

Further, in another embodiment of the present invention, the central unit externally obtains information indicating the audience rating rank of the broadcasting being broadcast. The audience rating ranking itself may be obtained, the audience rating may be obtained, or the number of viewers may be obtained.
When the rating or the number of viewers is obtained, the ranking of the rating is obtained from the obtained information. Further, as described above, the rank of the number of viewers may be obtained as the rank of the audience rating. Then, the central device obtains information representing the broadcast being watched from each terminal device, and obtains the rating rate of the broadcast being watched,
Return to the terminal device. In this form, it is not necessary to obtain the audience rating ranking from the information collected from the terminal device. Also according to this mode, the advantage of the present invention can be obtained by presenting the viewers with the viewer ratings of the broadcasts that each viewer is watching.

Further, in another embodiment of the present invention, the terminal device obtains from outside the information indicating the audience rating rank of the broadcasting being broadcast. The audience rating ranking itself may be obtained, the audience rating may be obtained, or the number of viewers may be obtained. The terminal device obtains the rating of the rating of the broadcast that the viewer is viewing from the obtained information. The requested information is presented to the viewer. In this form, the terminal device may obtain the information from anywhere outside. Further, the terminal device does not have to obtain the information generated based on the information sent by itself. That is, it does not have to be the audience rating related information obtained from the channel information sent by the user. Also according to this mode, the advantage of the present invention can be obtained by presenting the viewer ratings of the broadcast being watched by each viewer.

Further, another aspect of the present invention is a program that causes a central device to realize the functions described in the above embodiments. This program is stored in the computer,
It is incorporated and implemented, which constitutes the central unit of the invention.

Further, another aspect of the present invention is a program that causes a terminal device to realize the functions described in the above embodiments. This program is stored in the computer,
It is installed and executed, and the terminal device of the present invention is configured thereby. The program of the present invention may be provided by communication as appropriate. In the system for providing program information (EPG), the program of the present invention may be provided to the viewer side program information providing apparatus.

[Attribute Information] Also, preferably, the present invention provides viewing statistics information according to the attribute information of the viewer who is watching. Attributes include, for example, age, gender, address, hobbies,
It is a family structure. Viewing statistics information that matches a combination of multiple attributes may be provided.

An embodiment in which information is provided according to attributes in the system shown in FIG. 2 will be described. Here, age is considered as an attribute. The central device 5 stores in advance the age of the viewer of each broadcast receiver 3. Alternatively, information indicating the age of the viewer is sent from the center communication unit 22 to the central device 5 together with the channel being viewed.

In the central unit 5, the viewing statistics information generating section 34
Asks for viewing statistics information according to the attribute. In this embodiment, the audience rating of each broadcast is obtained for each age group such as teens and twenties.

The viewing statistics information providing unit 36 of the central unit 5
Using the terminal communication unit 30, the audience rating information is sent to each broadcast receiver 3. At this time, information according to the age of the viewer of each broadcast receiver 3 is sent. For example, when the age of the viewer of a certain receiver 3 is 40, the audience rating of the viewer in his 40s is sent.
This information is provided to the viewer. Therefore, in FIG. 3, the audience rating of each channel among the viewers in their 40s is displayed.

Alternatively, the central unit 5 may send the audience ratings of a plurality of generations together to the broadcast receiver 3. The broadcast receiver 3 acquires information indicating the age of the viewer. This age information may be input by the viewer from the remote controller 20. Information on age may be stored in advance. Then, the broadcast receiver 3 extracts the information corresponding to the age of the viewer, that is, the audience rating in the 40s in the above example, from the information obtained from the central device 5, and provides it to the viewer. Also in this case, in FIG. 3, the audience rating of each channel among the viewers in their 40s is displayed.

Thus, the selection of information according to the attribute is
It may be performed on the receiver side. This also applies to the systems shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 below.

Further, the present system may obtain the audience rating of the broadcast for children and the audience rating of the adult broadcast and provide it to the viewer. If the viewer is 40 years old (adult), an audience rating of the adult broadcast is provided. As in this example, in the present invention, the viewing characteristic information of the broadcast corresponding to the attribute of the viewer may be provided as the information according to the attribute.

The information according to the attribute is also suitably provided by the system shown in FIG. In this case, the viewing statistic information generation unit 42 obtains the rating order according to the attribute. In the present embodiment, the audience rating rank of each channel is obtained for each age such as teens and twenties. Then, the viewing statistics information providing unit 36 sends, via the terminal communication unit 30, the rating order corresponding to the age of the viewer to the broadcast receiver 3. For example,
When a 40-year-old viewer is watching channel X on a certain broadcast receiver 3, this information has already been acquired by the viewed broadcast information acquisition unit 32. Based on this information, 40
The viewership rankings of channel X among the viewers in their teens are obtained, sent to the broadcast receiver 3, and provided to the viewers. Therefore, in FIG. 5, the audience rating rank among the viewers in their 40s is displayed.

Further, in the present embodiment, the audience rating rank in the broadcast for children and the audience rating rank in the broadcast for adults may be obtained and provided to the viewer. 40 viewers
For ages (adults), ratings for adult broadcast ratings are provided. As described above, according to the present invention, the rating order in the broadcast corresponding to the viewer's attribute may be provided. This also applies to the system shown in FIG. 6 below.

The information according to the attribute is also suitably provided in the system of FIG. The application of the processing related to the attributes may be the same as the system in FIG. Viewing statistics information generation unit 34
In, the ranking of viewer ratings by age is required. And
The ratings of all channels in the age group of the viewer are sent to the broadcast receiver 3. On the side of the broadcast receiver 3, the rating order corresponding to the channel being viewed is selected and provided to the viewer.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide more interesting information by providing the information according to the attribute. Also, viewers should not miss broadcasts that are popular with viewers who have similar attributes to themselves,
Therefore, it is possible to more surely avoid missing a broadcast useful for oneself.

[History Information] Also, preferably, the system of the present invention provides viewing statistics information according to the viewing history of the viewer who is viewing.

An embodiment in which information is provided according to the viewing history in the system shown in FIG. 2 will be described. The central device 5 stores the information of the viewing history of each broadcast receiver 3. In the present embodiment, the channel information acquired by the viewing broadcast information acquisition unit 32 may be stored as the viewing history. This information provides information about which channel the viewer viewed and when.

Then, the central unit 5 provides appropriate audience rating information that differs for each viewer based on the history information. In this embodiment, the audience rating information of an appropriate genre is provided as the audience rating based on the history information. The central device 5
From the history information of each broadcast receiver 3, the broadcast genre viewed by the viewer most frequently is obtained. Then, the audience rating of the broadcast of the genre is sent to the broadcast receiver 3 by the viewing statistics information providing unit 36 via the terminal communication unit 30. For example,
When a viewer watches a sports broadcast most frequently, the audience rating of each channel broadcasting the sports is the broadcasting receiver 3
Sent to.

Alternatively, each broadcast receiver 3 as a terminal device may store the viewing history. Each broadcast receiver 3
The information selected from the information provided from the central device 5 based on the viewing history is provided to the viewer. In the above example, the audience rating information of various genres of broadcasts is provided from the central device 5 to the broadcast receiver 3. And at the broadcast receiver 3,
The rating information of sports broadcasting is selected from the provided information and provided to the viewer.

Thus, the selection of information according to the history is
It may be performed on the receiver side. This also applies to the systems shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 below.

In the present embodiment, the audience rating may be calculated for each genre. For example, the audience rating of each channel within a range of a plurality of sports broadcasting channels being broadcast is obtained. This information is provided to the viewer.

The information provision according to the history is also suitably applied to the embodiment which provides the rating ranking. For example,
In the system of FIG. 4, the central unit 5 identifies the broadcast genre that the viewer sees most frequently, based on the viewing history of the viewer. Suppose this broadcast genre is sports. Further, it is assumed that the channel X that the viewer is watching is also broadcasting the sports broadcast. At this time, the central device 5
Provides the viewer with the viewership ranking of the currently watched channel X within the range of all the sports broadcasting being broadcast. Similar information is preferably applied to the system of FIG. In this case, the central device 40 sends to the broadcast receiver 3 information indicating the rating of each sports broadcast in the range of all sports broadcasts currently being broadcast. In the broadcast receiver 3, the channel being viewed is specified, and the rating order corresponding to that channel is selected.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide more interesting information by providing the information according to the viewing history. Also, the viewer does not have to miss a broadcast that matches his or her viewing history, for example, one with a good reputation in a genre that he or she often sees, and thus can more surely avoid missing a broadcast that is useful to him. .

[0089]

According to the present invention, the viewer can grasp the statistical information of broadcast viewing in real time. Further, according to the present invention, since each viewer provides information indicating the ranking of the rating of the broadcast being viewed, the viewer can grasp the statistical positioning of the broadcast he or she is watching.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a viewing statistics information providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the system of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of viewing statistics information provided by the system of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of real-time audience ratings, which is viewing statistics information provided by the system of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of audience rating ranking information using ranks.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Viewing statistics information provision system 3 Broadcast receiver 5 Central device 22 Center Communication Department 24 Viewing Broadcast Information Provider 26 Viewing Statistics Information Acquisition Department 30 terminal communication unit 32 Viewing Broadcast Information Acquisition Unit 34 Viewing Statistics Information Generation Unit 36 Viewing Statistics Information Department 40 Viewing statistics information provision system 42 Viewing Statistics Information Generation Unit 50 Viewing statistics information providing system 52 Audience rating ranking determination unit

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Izumi Suzuki             3-21-13 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo Randy             Fujii Building 3rd Floor Program Information Database             Center Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Chiharu Kumazawa             3-21-13 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo Randy             Fujii Building 3rd Floor Program Information Database             Center Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hironori Aoyagi             3-21-13 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo Randy             Fujii Building 3rd Floor Program Information Database             Center Co., Ltd. F term (reference) 5C061 BB03

Claims (48)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of terminal devices for providing viewing statistics information, which is statistical information of broadcast viewing, to respective viewers; and a central device communicating with the plurality of terminal devices, wherein: Each of the terminal devices provides viewing broadcast information representing the broadcast being viewed to the central device, and the central device views viewing statistics about the broadcast being broadcast based on the viewing broadcast information acquired from the plurality of terminal devices. A viewing information providing system, wherein information is generated and provided to the plurality of terminal devices. 2. The viewing information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the central device provides, to one terminal device, information indicating a viewer rating rank of a broadcast corresponding to the viewing broadcast information acquired from the terminal device. A viewing information providing system, which is provided as the viewing statistical information. 3. The viewing information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the terminal device obtains an audience rating rank of the broadcast being viewed based on the information provided from the central device, and provides it to the viewer. A viewing information providing system characterized by. 4. A viewing information providing central device that communicates with a plurality of terminal devices for providing viewing statistics information, which is statistical information of broadcast viewing, to respective viewers, each of the plurality of terminal devices. From the plurality of terminal devices, and means for generating viewing statistics information about the broadcasting being broadcast, based on the viewing broadcast information acquired from the plurality of terminal devices. A means for providing information to the plurality of terminal devices, and a central device for providing viewing information. 5. The viewing information providing central apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the viewing statistics information is provided to one terminal device, the information indicating the viewer rating rank of the broadcast corresponding to the viewing broadcast information sent by the terminal device. A central device for providing viewing information, which is provided as. 6. The central device for providing viewing information according to claim 4, wherein the rating order of a plurality of broadcasts being broadcast is set for each terminal device to obtain the rating order of the broadcast being viewed. A central device for providing viewing information, characterized in that the information representing is provided to the plurality of terminal devices. 7. A viewing information providing terminal device that communicates with a central device for providing viewing statistics information, which is statistical information of broadcasting viewing, to each viewer, the viewing broadcasting representing a broadcasting being viewed. A unit that provides information to the central device, and a unit that acquires viewing statistic information related to a broadcast in progress generated from the central device based on viewing broadcast information acquired from a plurality of terminals. A viewing information providing terminal device. 8. The viewing information providing terminal device according to claim 7, wherein the information indicating the viewer rating order of the broadcast corresponding to the viewing broadcast information sent to the central device is acquired from the central device. Viewing information providing terminal device. 9. The viewing information providing terminal device according to claim 7, wherein information indicating the ratings of a plurality of broadcasts being broadcast is acquired from the central device, and the ratings of the broadcast being viewed are ranked. A viewing information providing terminal device, characterized by being obtained and provided to a viewer. 10. A central device for providing viewing information, which is a central device for providing viewing information, for communicating with a plurality of terminal devices for providing viewing statistical information, which is statistical information for viewing the broadcast, to respective viewers. On the basis of the information indicating the audience rating order, information indicating the audience rating order of the broadcast being viewed corresponding to each terminal device is provided to each of the plurality of terminal devices as the viewing statistics information. Central device for providing viewing information. 11. A viewing information providing central device that communicates with a plurality of terminal devices for providing viewing statistical information, which is statistical information of broadcast viewing, to each viewer, and an audience rating of a broadcast being viewed. A viewing information providing central apparatus, which provides information indicating the rating order of a plurality of broadcasts being broadcast to the plurality of terminal devices for the process of obtaining the ranking in each terminal device. 12. A viewing information providing terminal device for providing viewing statistics information, which is statistical information of broadcast viewing, to respective viewers, the information representing an audience rating rank of a plurality of broadcasts being broadcast. A viewing information providing terminal device, which provides a viewer with information, which is generated based on the above, and represents the ranking of the rating of the broadcast being viewed. 13. The viewing information providing terminal device according to claim 12, wherein information indicating a rating of a plurality of broadcasts being broadcast is acquired from the outside, and the acquired information and information representing the broadcast being viewed. A viewing information providing terminal device, characterized in that the information representing the rating order of the broadcast being viewed is obtained based on 14. Viewing information provision including a plurality of terminal devices for providing viewing statistics information, which is statistical information of broadcast viewing, to respective viewers, and a central device communicating with the plurality of terminal devices. A method of providing viewing information by a system, wherein each of the plurality of terminal devices provides viewing broadcast information representing a broadcast being viewed to the central device, and the central device acquires from the plurality of terminal devices. A viewing information providing method, comprising the step of: generating viewing statistical information about a broadcast being broadcast based on the viewed broadcasting information, and providing the viewing statistical information to the plurality of terminal devices. 15. The viewing information providing method according to claim 14, wherein the central device provides one terminal device with information indicating a viewer rating ranking of a broadcast corresponding to the viewing broadcast information acquired from the terminal device. A viewing information providing method characterized by providing the viewing statistics information. 16. The viewing information providing method according to claim 14, wherein the terminal device obtains an audience rating rank of the broadcast being viewed based on the information provided from the central device, and provides it to the viewer. A viewing information providing method characterized by: 17. A viewing information providing method for providing viewing statistic information, which is statistical information of broadcast viewing, to each viewer through communication with a plurality of terminal devices. From each of them, a step of acquiring viewing-and-listening broadcasting information representing a broadcasting being viewed, a step of generating viewing-statistical information on the broadcasting being viewed based on the viewing-broadcasting information acquired from the plurality of terminal devices, and the generated viewing-and-listening information. A method for providing viewing information, comprising: providing statistical information to the plurality of terminal devices. 18. The viewing information providing method according to claim 17, wherein, as the viewing statistics information, information indicating a viewer rating rank of a broadcast corresponding to the viewing broadcast information sent by the terminal device is sent to one terminal device. A viewing information providing method characterized by providing. 19. The viewing information providing method according to claim 17, wherein the rankings of a plurality of broadcasts being broadcast are displayed for the process of obtaining the ranking of the ratings of the broadcast being viewed by each terminal device. A viewing information providing method comprising providing information to the plurality of terminal devices. 20. A viewing information providing method by a viewing information providing terminal device for providing viewing statistics information, which is statistical information of broadcast viewing, to each viewer through communication with a central device. Providing viewing broadcast information representing the current broadcast to the central device, and obtaining, from the central device, viewing statistic information regarding the ongoing broadcast generated based on the viewing broadcast information obtained from a plurality of terminals. And a viewing information providing method comprising: 21. The viewing information providing method according to claim 20, wherein the information indicating the viewer rating rank of the broadcast corresponding to the viewing broadcast information sent to the central device is acquired from the central device. Information provision method. 22. The viewing information providing method according to claim 20, wherein information indicating the ratings of a plurality of broadcasts being broadcast is acquired from the central device, and the ranking of the broadcasts being viewed is obtained. And a viewing information providing method for providing the viewing information to a viewer. 23. A viewing information providing method for providing viewing statistics information, which is statistical information of broadcast viewing, to respective viewers through communication with a plurality of terminal devices, the method comprising: Based on the information indicating the rating order of the broadcast, information indicating the rating order of the broadcast being viewed corresponding to each terminal device is provided to each of the plurality of terminal devices as the viewing statistical information. How to provide viewing information. 24. A viewing information providing method for providing viewing statistic information, which is statistical information of broadcast viewing, to each viewer through communication with a plurality of terminal devices. A viewing information providing method, characterized in that, for a process of obtaining a rating ranking in each terminal device, information indicating the rating ranking of a plurality of broadcasts being broadcast is provided to the plurality of terminal devices. 25. A viewing information providing method by a viewing information providing terminal device for providing viewing statistical information, which is statistical information of broadcast viewing, to each viewer, wherein viewing of a plurality of broadcasts being broadcast A viewing information providing method, comprising: providing a viewer with information, which is generated based on information indicating a rating order, and indicates a rating order of a broadcast being viewed. 26. The viewing information providing method according to claim 25, wherein information representing a rating of a plurality of broadcasts being broadcast is acquired from the outside, and the acquired information and information representing a broadcast being viewed. A viewing information providing method, characterized in that the information representing the rating order of the broadcast being viewed is obtained based on the above. 27. A program executed by a computer to provide viewing statistic information, which is statistical information of broadcast viewing, to each viewer through communication with a plurality of terminal devices. From each of the devices, a step for obtaining viewing broadcast information representing the broadcast being viewed, based on the viewing broadcast information acquired from the plurality of terminal devices, a step of generating viewing statistics information about the broadcasting being broadcast, A program for causing a computer to realize a process including: a step of providing the generated viewing statistics information to the plurality of terminal devices. 28. The program according to claim 27, wherein information indicating a viewer rating rank of a broadcast corresponding to viewing broadcast information sent by the terminal device is provided to the one terminal device as the viewing statistics information. A program for causing the computer to execute a process for performing. 29. The program according to claim 27, wherein, in order to perform a process of obtaining an audience rating rank of a broadcast being viewed by each terminal device, the information representing the audience rating rank of a plurality of broadcasts being broadcast is provided. A program for causing the computer to execute a process for providing to a plurality of terminal devices. 30. A program executed by a computer as a viewing information providing terminal device to provide viewing statistics information, which is statistical information of broadcast viewing, to each viewer through communication with a central device. A step for providing to the central device viewing broadcast information representing a broadcast being viewed, and viewing statistics information on the broadcast being generated generated from the central device based on the viewing broadcast information acquired from a plurality of terminals. And a program for causing a computer to realize a process including: 31. The program according to claim 30, wherein the computer is caused to execute a process for acquiring, from the central device, information indicating a viewer rating rank of a broadcast corresponding to the viewing broadcast information sent to the central device. A program characterized by that. 32. The program according to claim 30, wherein information indicating the ratings of a plurality of broadcasts being broadcast is acquired from the central device, the ranking of the broadcasts being viewed is obtained, and the program is viewed. A program for causing a computer to execute a process for providing a person. 33. A program executed by a computer for providing viewing statistics information, which is statistical information of broadcast viewing, to each viewer through communication with a plurality of terminal devices, which is being broadcast. In order to provide each of the plurality of terminal devices, as the viewing statistic information, information representing the viewership ranking of the broadcast being viewed corresponding to each terminal device based on the information representing the viewership ranking of the plurality of broadcasts. A program that causes the computer to execute a process. 34. A program executed by a computer for providing viewing statistics information, which is statistical information of broadcast viewing, to respective viewers through communication with a plurality of terminal devices, the broadcast being viewed. In order to obtain the viewership ranking of each of the terminal devices, the computer is caused to execute a process for providing the plurality of terminal devices with information indicating the viewership ranking of a plurality of broadcasts being broadcast. Characteristic program. 35. A program executed by a computer as a viewing information providing terminal device for providing viewing statistics information, which is statistical information of viewing / listening to a viewer, to a plurality of broadcasts being broadcast. A program for causing the computer to execute a process for providing a viewer with information representing the audience rating rank of a broadcast being viewed, the program being generated based on the information representing the audience rating rank. 36. The program according to claim 35, wherein information representing the audience rating ranks of a plurality of broadcasts being broadcast is acquired from the outside, and based on the acquired information and information representing the broadcast being watched. A program for causing the computer to execute processing for obtaining information indicating a rating of a viewer rating of a broadcast being viewed. 37. A computer-readable recording medium storing the program according to any one of claims 27 to 36. 38. The viewing information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the viewing information providing system provides viewing statistics information according to attribute information of a viewer who is viewing. 39. The viewing information providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein viewing statistics information is provided according to viewing history of a viewer who is currently viewing. system. 40. The viewing information providing central device according to claim 4, 5, 6, 10 or 11, wherein viewing statistics information is provided according to attribute information of a viewer who is viewing. Provide central equipment. 41. The viewing information providing central apparatus according to claim 4, 5, 6, 10 or 11, wherein viewing statistics information is provided according to a viewing history of a viewer who is currently viewing. Central device for providing viewing information. 42. The viewing information providing terminal device according to claim 7, 8, 9, 12, or 13, wherein viewing statistics information is provided in accordance with attribute information of a viewer who is viewing. Provision terminal device. 43. The viewing information providing terminal device according to claim 7, 8, 9, 12 or 13, wherein viewing statistics information is provided according to a viewing history of a viewer who is currently viewing the content. Viewing information providing terminal device. 44. The viewing information providing method according to any one of claims 14 to 26, wherein viewing statistics information is provided according to attribute information of a viewer who is viewing. 45. The viewing information providing method according to any one of claims 14 to 26, wherein viewing statistics information is provided according to a viewing history of a viewer who is viewing the content. Method. 46. The program according to any one of claims 27 to 36, wherein the program provides viewing statistics information according to attribute information of a viewer who is viewing. 47. The program according to any one of claims 27 to 36, which provides viewing statistics information according to a viewing history of a viewer who is viewing the program. 48. A computer-readable recording medium storing the program according to claim 47 or 48.