JP2004015087A - Viewer participating type two-way communication service system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a two-way communication service system of a TV viewer participation type, which can acquire information about the preferences of viewers for a broadcast program or commercial, during broadcast or the number of participated viewers on a real-time basis and which can also conduct information exchange and the like. <P>SOLUTION: A part of additional information, displayed on the display screen of a monitor 20 for display of a television broadcast signal, is commonly used in both sides of a broadcasting device and a receiving device. Thereby, the viewer can express own will using the additional information, establish communication with his colleagues, or acquire additional information provided from a broadcasting station side on a real-time basis. The broadcasting station side can find out viewers' opinions, reactions, etc. using the additional information on a real-time basis and can harness the knowledge in program making. etc. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a viewer-participatory interactive communication service system that allows a viewer to participate in television broadcasting.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in television broadcasting, a program created by a broadcast station is unilaterally transmitted from a broadcast station to a viewer, and the viewer has only passively viewed a broadcast program. Further, in the existing television broadcasting, there is no television broadcasting which has a function of sharing part of the broadcast screen with the viewer to express the viewer's intention or communicating with friends.
[0003]
By the way, in recent years, cable television (hereinafter referred to as “CATV”) broadcasting services have become widespread. However, if this cable network is used, not only transmission of programs from a broadcasting station to viewers but also broadcasting from viewers can be performed. Predetermined information can be transmitted to the station as needed. By using the CATV broadcasting service, for example, it is possible to realize a two-way communication service such as an electronic program guide, online shopping, electronic direct mail, chat, download / down-up of various information, etc. corresponding to a viewer participation type program. It becomes possible. In addition to the CATV broadcasting service, a broadcasting service that allows a television to be connected to a telephone line and participate in various broadcasting programs using the Internet has been started soon, and a situation is becoming widespread.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the service screen in such an existing two-way communication service has a menu format, and the viewer can only select one of the options prepared in advance by the broadcast station. Therefore, even if the viewer is interested in people, objects, music, and the like appearing in programs being broadcast or commercials, there is a problem that the preference information cannot be transmitted to the broadcast station side in real time.
[0005]
Also, with existing two-way communication services, viewers sometimes want to know in real time the number of people watching the same program while watching TV (the number of TVs). Did not have. Furthermore, a function to know how much interest other people are watching about people, objects, music, etc. appearing in the program, or the viewers Neither did it have a function as an information exchange plaza for exchanging opinions and seeking information.
[0006]
On the broadcast station side, on the other hand, the viewer's preference information for people, things, and music appearing in the program currently being broadcast is very important information for creating the program, There was no function that could be obtained in real time by a system without human intervention.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and its purpose is to enable viewers to acquire information on the program preference and commercials being broadcast and the number of participants in real time, An object of the present invention is to provide a viewer-participating two-way communication service system in which information can be exchanged between viewers.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A viewer participatory interactive communication service system according to the present invention includes a monitor having a display screen for displaying a television broadcast signal as an image, and a television capable of simultaneously displaying program information and additional information on the display screen of the monitor. A broadcast device that transmits a broadcast signal and has a two-way communication unit that receives a signal from a viewer, and receives a signal to display an image on the monitor from the broadcast device and transmits a participation information signal from the broadcast viewer to the broadcast device. A receiving device provided with a two-way communication unit for sending out to the broadcasting device and an input operation unit for sending an operation command to the two-way communication unit, wherein one of the additional information displayed on the display screen of the monitor is provided. In this case, the section can be shared between the broadcasting device side and the receiving device side. According to this, if a part of the additional information displayed on the display screen of the monitor can be shared between the broadcasting device side and the receiving device side, the viewer side can use the additional information to express his or her will, Communication with friends and acquisition of additional information provided by the broadcasting station can be performed in real time. On the other hand, on the broadcast station side, by using the additional information, the opinions and reactions of the viewers can be known in real time, which can be utilized for program creation and the like.
[0009]
In the viewer participation type two-way communication service system of the present invention, the television broadcast signal is displayed on the display screen of the monitor by distinguishing between an area for displaying a predetermined program and a viewer participation area for displaying additional information. So that According to this, the area for displaying the predetermined program and the viewer participation area for displaying the additional information are distinguished, so that the viewer can easily watch the broadcast on the monitor.
[0010]
The viewer-participating two-way communication service system of the present invention enables a character selected by a viewer to be registered and displayed as the additional information in the broadcasting device. According to this, by seeing one's own character on the monitor, the awareness of participating in the program is increased, and the affinity for the program is increased. If the characters are classified by gender, age, etc., the broadcasting station can know in real time the reaction of the program currently being broadcast. Further, the viewer's affinity for the program is also increased.
[0011]
The viewer-participating two-way communication service system of the present invention displays the character when the viewer selects a corresponding channel and starts viewing, and can display the character while viewing. The display is ended when is ended. According to this, the broadcast station side and other viewers can know in real time who has participated and who has left. Regarding the “who participates”, the “who” may use a handle name or the like so that a specific person cannot be specified.
[0012]
The viewer-participating interactive communication service system of the present invention has a chat function as the additional information. According to this, communication is widened via the chat of the program, and the number of program users can be increased, that is, the audience rating can be improved.
[0013]
The viewer-participating interactive communication service system of the present invention enables the viewer to download and store the additional information presented on the broadcast station side. According to this, by downloading the additional information, the information can be immediately obtained and utilized.
[0014]
The viewer-participating interactive communication service system of the present invention displays the additional information presented on the broadcast station side in a state of moving from a determined start position to an end position on the monitor display screen. To According to this, it is possible to notify the viewer of the existence of the additional information by motion, and it is possible to present different information one after another by moving the additional information.
[0015]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a CATV broadcasting system to which an embodiment of a viewer-participating interactive communication service according to the present invention is applied. The CATV broadcasting system includes a receiving device 2 installed at each viewer's home and a broadcasting device 3 installed at a CATV broadcasting station, which are connected via a two-way communication network 1. The receiving device 2 receives the television broadcast transmitted from the broadcasting device 3 and additional information described below via the two-way communication network 1. The receiving device 2 transmits the viewing information of the viewer as additional information to the broadcasting device 3 via the two-way communication network.
[0016]
The two-way communication network 1 is an information communication network including an optical cable and the like. The broadcasting device 3 transmits a multi-channel program to the receiving device 2 via the two-way communication network 1. Further, the broadcasting device 3 generates additional information of a specific viewer, and transmits the additional information to the receiving device 2 corresponding to the viewer via the two-way communication network 1.
[0017]
FIG. 2 shows a detailed configuration example of the receiving device 2. The receiving device 2 receives program information (AV data) and additional information transmitted from the broadcasting device 3, performs predetermined processing, and transmits viewer viewing information (additional information) to the broadcasting device 3. The box 11 includes a remote controller 21 (hereinafter, referred to as a “remote controller 21”) in which a viewer inputs a command to the set-top box 11 and additional information on the viewer side.
[0018]
The remote controller 21 includes a transmission unit 22 and an input unit 23. Although not shown, the input unit 23 is provided with a ten-key button and the like in addition to the power button. In addition, various input means such as a keyboard and a voice input member may be provided. The power button is operated when turning on / off the power of the set-top box 11. The ten-key buttons are used not only for indicating a channel number or the like, but also for inputting characters when chatting or the like. That is, in the input unit 23 of the remote controller 21, when a command operation is performed using the numeric keypad, the viewing information generation unit 15 of the set-top box 11 receives the command operation and converts it into a character signal or a figure (for example, a character). Instead of a message or the like, a simple mail in a text format is created, and a chat or the like can be performed using this mail function. The transmission unit 22 converts an operation command or the like input from the input unit 23 into, for example, an infrared signal and transmits the infrared signal to the reception unit 12 of the set-top box 11. When an operation command is sent from the input unit 23 to the transmission unit 22 and a specific function such as an e-mail is to be used, an operation is performed after inputting a user ID or password given in advance from the broadcast station side. .
[0019]
The receiving unit 12 of the set-top box 11 receives a signal (for example, an infrared signal) such as an operation command transmitted from the remote controller 21 and outputs the signal to the storage unit 13 and the control unit 14.
[0020]
The storage unit 13 stores operation commands and the like input from the reception unit 12. The viewing information generation unit 15 reads out the additional information stored in the storage unit 13 to generate a viewing information packet, and outputs the packet to the two-way communication unit 16. Note that, for example, when the receiving device 2 is installed in a family of four, the viewing information generating unit 15 has a function of identifying which one of the four is an operation command or the like. The character registered by the person is transmitted together with the information of the operation command.
[0021]
The two-way communication unit 16 transmits the viewing information packet input from the viewing information generation unit 15 to the broadcasting device 3 via the two-way communication network 1. The two-way communication unit 16 outputs program information received from the broadcasting device 3 via the two-way communication network 1 to the program information processing unit 17, and outputs additional information from the broadcasting device 3 to the additional information processing unit 18. Output to Note that the additional information here is commercial information, viewing information, chat information, mail information, and the like.
[0022]
The program information processing unit 17 performs predetermined processing (for example, decoding processing) on the program information input from the two-way communication unit 16 and outputs the result to the display control unit 19. Additional information input from the two-way communication unit 15 and additional information generated by the viewing information generation unit 15 and output to the broadcasting device 3 via the two-way communication unit 15 are input to the additional information processing unit 18. Then, the additional information is subjected to predetermined processing and output to the display control unit 19. The display control unit 19 controls the monitor 20 so that the monitor 20 displays images and sounds corresponding to the program information and the additional information input from the program information processing unit 17 or the additional information processing unit 18.
[0023]
The control unit 14 responds to operation commands (for example, a command to switch channels, a command to increase or decrease the volume, a command to create text data for mail, etc.) input from the reception unit 12, and the like. Control.
[0024]
FIG. 3 is a configuration block diagram of the broadcasting device 3. The broadcasting device 3 includes a broadcast program library 31, a program output unit 32, a two-way communication unit 33, a viewing information database 35, an additional information database 36, an additional information generation unit 37, and the like. The broadcast program library 31 stores audio and video data of broadcast programs and commercials, that is, program information. The program output unit 32 reads out program information and commercial AV data from the broadcast program library 31 based on a predetermined broadcast program, performs predetermined processing (for example, encoding), and outputs the processed data to the two-way communication unit 33. .
[0025]
The two-way communication unit 33 receives, via the two-way communication network 1, the program information that has been subjected to the predetermined processing input from the program output unit 32 and the additional information that is input from the additional information generation unit 37. Transmit to the device 2. The two-way communication unit 33 receives the viewing information packet transmitted by the receiving device 1 via the two-way communication network 1 and outputs the packet to the viewing information registration unit 34. Note that the additional information generated by the additional information generating unit 37 is commercial information, viewing information, chat information, mail information, and the like.
[0026]
The viewing information registration unit 34 classifies information included in the viewing information packet input from the two-way communication unit 33 for each viewer and stores the information in the viewing information database 35. The additional information database 36 stores information corresponding to the participatory information transmitted from the viewer. The additional information generator 37 extracts a signal corresponding to the additional information from the viewer. The AV data (television broadcast signal) incorporating the additional information is transmitted to the corresponding receiving device 2.
[0027]
(Example 1)
In the CATV broadcasting system configured as described above, a program in which a viewer participates is performed, for example, as follows. FIG. 4 schematically shows the first embodiment 1 as a program in which the viewer participates. In the case of the first embodiment, a program area 41 of a television program and a viewer participation area 42 for surrounding a television viewer or the like surrounding the outside of the program area 41 are provided on the screen of the monitor 20. ing.
[0028]
When the viewer operates the remote controller 21 to tune to a predetermined channel (program), a character registered in advance by the viewer is added as additional information by the viewing information generating unit 15, and this is added to the bidirectional communication unit 16. It is sent to the broadcasting device 3 via the two-way communication network 1. Then, on the broadcast device 3 side, the viewer's character 43 is added to the AV data (television broadcast signal) in the additional information generation unit 37, and this is received by all the viewers who have subscribed to CATV broadcasting. It is sent to the device 2. Therefore, the character 43 is displayed in addition to the existing character in the viewer participation area 42 of the monitor 20 of the receiving device 2 in all the homes selecting the channel. That is, all viewers watching the same channel can confirm the number of viewers watching the same program by watching the number of characters. In addition, the character 43 can know the age group and the number of people who are watching by adding gender, age, and the like. Conversely, when the channel is switched to another channel, the character disappears from the program of the previous channel.
[0029]
Also, chat rooms 44a, 44b, 44c, 44d, and 44e are provided in the viewer participation area 42, and the user enters one of the chat rooms 44a to 44e to show program contents, performers, and the like. Can exchange information with each other using a conversation style. This conversation is performed by inputting characters from the input unit 23 of the remote controller 21 in each home.
[0030]
Therefore, in the case of the first embodiment, the broadcast station and the viewer can easily know the popularity and the support layer of the program by looking at the number and types of the characters 43 participating in the viewer participation area 42. Can be. In addition, by causing the character 43 selected by the user to appear on the screen, the feeling that he or she is also participating becomes stronger, and the program can be made more familiar. Further, by opening a chat room to exchange opinions, exchange information, and the like, it is possible to increase the staying rate on the channel and improve the audience rating.
[0031]
(Example 2)
FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing a second embodiment as a program in which a viewer participates. Also in the case of the second embodiment, the screen of the monitor 20 includes a program area 41 of a television program and a viewer participation area 42 provided so as to surround the outside of the area 41 for a television viewer or the like to participate. Provided.
[0032]
When the viewer operates the remote controller 21 to tune to a predetermined channel (program), the program on that channel starts. In this program, for example, various contents such as presents, product information, and commercial information from the program are put on the sasa boat 45 and are moved in the viewer participation area 42 so as to flow in one direction. In this example, the movement is started so as to flow from the upper right position to the lower left. Further, when reaching the lowermost end, the content disappears from the screen, and the content or the like riding on the boat 45 reaching the lowermost end is accumulated in the storage unit 13 in the set-top box 11 for a certain period. Then, the information stored in the storage unit 13 can be called up later as needed and can be viewed again. Further, information that is of interest to the viewer is stored in the storage unit 13 of the set-top box 11 by operating the remote controller 21 in the middle of the flow while the information is being distinguished from other information. You can call and see again.
[0033]
Therefore, in the case of the second embodiment, the conventional commercials, advertisements, and the like are produced by the push type, but the viewer can select them. In addition, it is possible to know which layers of people have shown interest in the information and advertisements that have been flown, and it is possible to provide an advertisement that is advantageous to advertisers.
[0034]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the viewer participation type two-way communication service system of the present invention, as is clear from the above embodiment, a part of the additional information displayed on the display screen of the monitor is transmitted to the broadcast device side. And the receiving device side, the broadcast station can transmit the contents of the program being broadcast and information about the viewer's preference for commercials in real time, so it is very important information for creating a program. Can be obtained. On the other hand, the viewers can use the additional information to express their own intentions, communicate with peers, or obtain additional information provided by the broadcasting station in real time. The effect can be expected.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram of a CATV broadcasting system to which an embodiment of a viewer participation type two-way communication service of the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a configuration block diagram of a receiving device in a CATV broadcasting system of the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a broadcasting apparatus in the CATV broadcasting system according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is an image diagram showing a first example of a program in the CATV broadcasting system according to the embodiment. Image diagram showing a second embodiment of a program in a CATV broadcasting system.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Two-way communication network 2 Receiving device 3 Broadcasting device 11 Set-top box 12 Receiving unit 13 Storage unit 14 Control unit 15 Viewing information generating unit 16 Bidirectional communicating unit 17 Program information processing unit 18 Additional information processing unit 19 Display control unit 20 Monitor 20a TV screen 21 Remote control (remote control)
22 transmission unit 23 input unit 31 broadcast program library,
32 program output unit 33 bidirectional communication unit 34 viewing information registration unit 35 viewing information database 36 additional information database 37 additional information generation unit 41 area of TV program 42 viewer participation area 43 character

Claims (7)

A monitor having a display screen for displaying a television broadcast signal as an image,
A broadcast device having a bidirectional communication unit for transmitting a television broadcast signal capable of simultaneously displaying program information and additional information in a display screen of the monitor, and receiving a signal from a viewer,
A two-way communication unit for receiving a signal to display an image on the monitor from the broadcast device and sending a participation information signal from the broadcast viewer toward the broadcast device; and an operation command for sending an operation command to the two-way communication unit. A receiving device provided with an input operation unit,
A viewer-participating interactive communication service system, wherein a part of the additional information displayed on the display screen of the monitor can be shared by the broadcasting device and the receiving device. 2. The viewing / listening system according to claim 1, wherein the television broadcast signal is displayed on a display screen of the monitor while distinguishing between an area for displaying a predetermined program and a viewer participation area for displaying additional information. Participant interactive communication service system. 3. The viewer-participatory interactive communication service system according to claim 1, wherein a character selected by a viewer is registered and displayed as said additional information in said broadcasting device. The character is displayed when the viewer selects a corresponding channel and starts viewing, and can be displayed while watching, and the display ends when viewing is completed. The viewer-participating interactive communication service system according to claim 3, wherein: The viewer-participating interactive communication service system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a chat function is provided as the additional information. 3. The viewer-participating interactive communication service system according to claim 1, wherein the additional information presented by the broadcasting station can be downloaded and stored by the viewer. 7. The viewer according to claim 6, wherein the additional information presented on the broadcast station side is displayed in a state of moving from a predetermined start position to an end position on the display screen of the monitor. Participatory two-way communication service system.

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