JP2004072403A - Streaming viewing operation analyzer and advertisement inserting position determination device based on the analysis result - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To analyze in which part of digital contents a banner advertisement and a gap advertisement is inserted and to accurately acquire the utilization frequency of the digital contents by recognizing at which part of one certain stream file a viewer performs playback / temporary stoppage / fast forwarding / rewinding on the basis of information recorded in a streaming distribution log file. <P>SOLUTION: A streaming distribution system for distributing the digital contents through a network matched with each viewing operation of the digital contents by a user and recording the each viewing operation in a log file comprises: a log file input means for reading the log file; a calculation means for respectively acquiring a start file position, an end file position, start time and end time for each viewing operation in a streaming file corresponding to the digital contents from the log file read by the log file input means; and a display control means for illustrating the start file position, the end file position, the start time and the end time for each viewing operation in the streaming file. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

【００３０】
以上の関係などを用いて、ステップＳ５において計算部２４０が必要なデータを補完した後、ステップＳ６において表示制御部２５０がデータの処理結果を表示する。
【００３１】
図１は本実施の形態による処理結果の表示例である。この処理結果は、表示部２６０によって表示される。図１において、１１０は視聴開始からの経過時間をプロットする縦軸であり、１２０は視聴開始時点を時刻０とした場合の経過時間である。また１３０はストリームファイルのファイル位置をプロットした横軸であって、１４０はファイル位置の先頭を時刻０とした場合の経過時間である。１５０は利用者の視聴動作を示す矢印であって、矢印１５０のそれぞれには対応する視聴動作の種類（「再生」、「一時停止」、「早送り」など）を文字列で表示する。この矢印１５０は、利用者がストリームファイルのどの部位をどの程度の時間をかけて利用したかを示すものである。また１６０はストリームファイルの視聴開始時刻であって、１７０は利用者が視聴したストリームファイル名である。
【００３２】
以上のように、本実施の形態によれば、あるストリームファイルについての視聴状況を表示することができるため、このストリームファイルの利用状況を直感的に把握できるようになり、このストリームファイルの特性を分析することが可能となる。
【００３３】
実施形態２．
実施形態１では、ある視聴者の１回の視聴状況を視覚的に表示する機能を提供するが、本実施の形態では、ある特定のストリームファイルに対して複数回の視聴状況を同時に視覚的に表示する実施形態を示す。複数回の視聴とは、一の視聴者による複数回の視聴、複数人による視聴、及びそれらが混在したものである。なお、本実施の形態は実施形態１と計算部２４０の処理内容が異なるが、構成については実施形態１と同じであるため、構成図としては図２と図３を用いる。
【００３４】
次に、本実施の形態による処理について説明する。図７は本実施の形態による処理のフローチャートである。まず、ステップＳ１１０においてログファイル入力部２３０は、ログファイルを読み込む。次にステップＳ１２０において計算部２４０は、読み込まれたログファイル２２０の先頭からレコードを順に検索していき、ある一回の視聴についてのデータが存在するかどうかを確認する。存在しない場合（ファイルの最後だった場合）終了する（Ｓ１２０：ＮＯ）。次の視聴データが存在する場合は（Ｓ１２０：ＹＥＳ）、ステップＳ１３０に進む。ステップＳ１３０において計算部２４０は、その中から本発明の実施に必要となる一回の視聴についてのデータ（視聴開始時刻、ストリームファイル名、ストリームファイルの長さ（秒）、総視聴時間、及び一回の視聴においてこの利用者が視聴動作（再生、一時停止、巻き戻し、早送り）を行ったか、さらに各視聴動作の開始時間、開始ファイル位置、終了時間、終了ファイル位置）をログファイル２２０から抽出する。続いてステップＳ１４０において計算部２４０は、それらの値が全て取得できたかどうかを確認し、ステップＳ１６０において必要に応じて欠如しているデータの補完を行い、ステップＳ１７０において表示制御部２５０がグラフの表示を行う。Ｓ１４０からＳ１７０までの処理については、Ｓ１４０が実施形態１のＳ３、Ｓ１５０が実施形態１のＳ４、Ｓ１６０が実施形態１のＳ５、Ｓ１７０が実施形態１のＳ６に相当し、それぞれ同一の処理を行うため、詳細については説明を割愛する。本実施の形態においては、Ｓ１７０が終了した後処理が再びＳ１１０に戻り、他の一回の視聴についてのデータの処理を続行する。
【００３５】
図６に本実施の形態による処理結果の表示例を示す。この処理結果は、表示部２６０に表示される。図６において、図１と同一の符号を用いた構成要素については、図１と同一であるため説明を省略する。図６が図１と異なる点は、図１では１回の視聴を表示していたのに対して、図６では複数回の視聴を同時に表示していることである。図６における再生・一時停止・早送り・巻き戻しは図１と同様に矢印（再生は実線、それ以外は点線）で示す。また各一回の視聴ごとに線の色を変えることによって、個別の一回の視聴の様子も判別することができる。
【００３６】
以上のように、本実施の形態によれば、あるストリームファイルについての複数の視聴状況を同時に表示することができるため、利用者個人個人の嗜好の差を丸めたデジタルコンテンツの視聴状況を把握することができ、広告を挿入する位置を決定する上でより精度の高い判断材料を提供することができる。
【００３７】
実施形態３．
実施形態１及び実施形態２では、ストリームファイルの位置を横軸、視聴開始からの経過時間を縦軸にとり、視聴者がそれらのどの部分を再生・一時停止・早送り・巻き戻し・停止したか矢印で示すものであるが、本実施の形態では、複数回の視聴動作のうち”再生”に注目して、ファイル位置毎のデジタルコンテンツの利用頻度及び視聴開始からの経過時間毎の利用頻度を集計し、デジタルコンテンツのどの部位が最も利用者の関心を惹くものであるかを分析する手段を提供するものである。なお、本実施の形態は実施形態１及び実施形態２と計算部２４０の処理内容が異なるが、構成については実施形態１及び実施形態２と同じであるため、構成図としては図２と図３を用いる。
【００３８】
次に、本実施の形態による処理について説明する。図８は本実施の形態による処理のフローチャートである。まずステップＳ２１０においてログファイル入力部２３０はログファイル２２０を読み込む。次にステップＳ２２０において計算部２４０は、ログファイル２２０が有する各視聴動作の終了時間５８０と開始時間５６０との差（各視聴動作の時間長さ）の最大値を求め、この値を変数ＭＡＸにセットする。次にステップＳ２３０において計算部２４０は、変数ｔに１をセットする。続いてステップＳ２４０において計算部２４０は、ｔとＭＡＸの値を比較し、ｔの方が小さい場合に（Ｓ２４０：ＹＥＳ）Ｓ２５０とＳ２６０の処理を実行する。ステップＳ２４０において計算部２４０は、ログファイル２２０の有する各視聴動作のうち、再生を視聴動作５５０とするレコードであって、ファイル位置ｔを含む再生レコード（開始位置５７０＜ｔ＜終了位置５９０を満たすレコード）の個数をカウントし、その値を配列ｈｉｓｔ［ｔ］にセットする。続いてステップＳ２６０において計算部２４０は、ｔを１増加し、Ｓ２４０に戻る。ステップＳ２４０において計算部２４０は、ｔがＭＡＸ以上となる場合、Ｓ２７０に進む。ステップＳ２７０において計算部２４０は、ＭＡＸより大きく、ストリームファイルの長さより小さい全ての正数ｔに関して、ｈｉｓｔ［ｔ］を０にセットする。最後にステップＳ２８０において表示制御部２５０は、カウントした度数ｈｉｓｔ［ｔ］を用いて度数グラフを表示する。
【００３９】
さらに本実施の形態では、視聴開始からの経過時間に対する利用頻度についても集計する。この利用頻度はデジタルコンテンツの視聴開始からの経過時間ごとの再生視聴動作の頻度を集計するものである。デジタルコンテンツの視聴では、一時停止や早送り、巻き戻しなどの視聴動作があるため、視聴開始からの経過時間と利用頻度の関係は一様ではない。本集計は視聴開始からどの程度の時間帯において利用者がデジタルコンテンツを再生しているかを分析するために用いることができる。視聴開始からの経過時間に対する利用頻度の集計の処理は、ファイル位置ごとの利用頻度の集計における開始位置５７０を開始時間５６０に置換し、終了位置５９０を終了時間５８０に置換する以外については、ファイル位置に対する利用頻度の集計の処理方法と全く同じである。
【００４０】
図９は、本実施の形態による処理結果を示す図である。図において、６８０は図６で示した複数ユーザの視聴状況を示すグラフと同じものであって、９２０は横軸（ファイル位置）において視聴者が再生した部分の度数を示すグラフであり、９３０は縦軸（視聴開始からの経過時間）において視聴者が再生した部分の度数を示すグラフである。この結果は表示部２６０によって表示される。
【００４１】
通常、ストリームファイルはファイルの先頭から視聴されるため、図９の９２０のグラフはファイル位置０に近いほど度数が多く、ストリームファイルの末尾に近いほど度数が少なくなると考えられる。また、図９の９３０のグラフも同様に視聴開始からの経過時刻が長くなればなるほど度数が減少することが考えられる。このようなグラフを、ストリームファイルごとに表示し比較することで、その映像や音声に対する利用者の評価を得ることができる。
【００４２】
また、一つのストリームファイルに複数の映像や音声が含まれる場合、例えば１０個のニュースが一つのストリームファイルに含まれており、各ニュースの先頭にインデックスが設定してあり、視聴者は選択したニュースの先頭から視聴できるような場合、視聴者は視聴したいニュースのみを選択することが考えられる。そのような場合、実施の形態３で説明したグラフを用いることで、どのニュースが多く視聴されたか知ることができる。
【００４３】
実施形態４．
以上の実施形態では、ストリームファイルに対する複数回の視聴動作のうち”再生”部分を横軸、縦軸の片方、または両方に射影し度数分布をとったグラフを表示するものであるが、本実施の形態は、ストリームファイルの各区間のアクセス度数から、動的にバナー広告、隙間広告などの広告を挿入する位置を自動的に決定する手段を提供するものである。
【００４４】
ストリームファイルの中の再生回数を取得するには以下の方法がある。まず、ストリームファイルを多数の区間に分割する（実際にファイルを分割するのではなく区間を定義する）。各区間の幅は一定で、例えば、６０秒のストリームファイルであれば、０〜１秒、１〜２秒、・・・、５９〜６０秒の６０区間を定義する。次に、ログファイルから全ての区間の再生回数をカウントする。この方法は実施の形態３で示した通りである。
【００４５】
図１０は本実施の形態の構成図である。図において、１０１０はログファイル２２０を解析してデジタルコンテンツの所定部位ごとの再生度数を分析する区間再生度数分析プログラムである。また１０２０は区間再生度数分析プログラム１０１０が出力する区間度数データである。なお本実施の形態において、実施形態１乃至実施形態３と同じ符号を付した構成要素については、これらの実施形態と同じであるため、説明を省略する。
【００４６】
区間度数データ１０１０は、区間毎の再生度数を保持している。このうち、再生度数の高い区間を選択して、その区間のデジタルコンテンツを利用者が再生しようとすると、デジタルコンテンツの配信に合わせて広告も配信することが、本実施の形態の目的である。したがって本実施の形態では、現時点までのデジタルコンテンツの区間ごとの利用頻度のうち、頻度の高い区間に広告を挿入する必要があるため、区間度数データ１０２０を短い間隔で更新する必要がある。そこで区間再生度数分析プログラム１０１０は、短い間隔でログファイル２２０の解析処理を行う。ログファイル２２０の解析処理については、例えば実施形態２や実施形態３で説明したものを使用する。
【００４７】
この区間度数データ１０１０に基づいて広告を挿入する具体的な方法としては、所定の再生度数を超える区間を広告挿入区間とする方法や、再生度数の高い区間の上位からスポンサの数と同数の順位までの区間を、スポンサ料として支払った金額の順にそれぞれのスポンサの広告を割り当てていく方法の他、隣接する区間の再生度数が高い場合にそのどちらにも広告を挿入すると、デジタルコンテンツの視聴が見づらくなることが考えられるので、隣接する区間のいずれか一のみに広告を表示するように制御する方法、再生度数の高い区間に広告を挿入する権利をシェアするために、一回の視聴の間にある利用者がその区間を何度も再生した場合には、異なるスポンサの広告を挿入する方法などが考えられる。
【００４８】
以上のように本実施の形態によれば、人手を介さずにデジタルコンテンツの視聴頻度に応じて広告を挿入すべき位置を決定することができるため、ストリーミング配信システムにおいても、効果的な広告を実施することが可能である。またデジタルコンテンツの部分的な再生に合わせて、その都度広告を配信するので、配信漏れを防ぐことが可能であり、デジタルコンテンツの印象的なシーンなどに合わせて広告を挿入するので、高い広告効果が期待できる。
【００４９】
【発明の効果】
本発明は、ストリーミング配信システムのログファイルが記録する開始ファイル位置と終了ファイル位置、開始時間、終了時間をそれぞれ取得し、これらを図示することとしたので、利用者によるデジタルコンテンツの視聴動作の傾向を直感的に把握することが可能となるという効果を有する。
【００５０】
また本発明は、複数の利用者による各視聴動作について同時に図示することとしたので、デジタルコンテンツの各部分の人気や注目度を判断するための材料を提供できるという効果を有する。
【００５１】
また本発明は、各視聴動作について前記利用者ごとに異なる色を割り当てて図示することとしたので、視認性が向上し、また個別の視聴動作の分析と利用者毎の個人差を排除した分析の両方を同時に行うことができるという効果を有する。
【００５２】
また本発明は、ストリーミングファイルのファイル位置に基づいて所定の幅の区間に区切り、その区間毎の再生頻度を図示することとしたので、多数の視聴動作分析に基づく区間毎の視聴の度合いを統計的に分析することを可能とし、広告の挿入位置を決定したり、利用者に好まれるデジタルコンテンツを作成する上での客観的なデータを提供できるという効果を有する。
【００５３】
また本発明は、デジタルコンテンツの視聴開始時から視聴終了時までの時間を所定の幅の区間に区切り、各区間毎の再生頻度を図示することとしたので、デジタルコンテンツ利用における実時間帯による分析も可能とし、また各利用者の視聴行動の把握を可能とするという効果を有する。
【００５４】
また本発明は、ストリーミングファイルのファイル位置に基づいて所定の幅の区間に区切り、これら区間毎の再生頻度に基づいて広告を配信すべき区間を選択するので、デジタルコンテンツのうち最も利用者に視聴される部分に効率的に広告を挿入できるという効果を有する。
【００５５】
また本発明は、前記区間の頻度が所定の値を超える区間を広告を配信すべき区間として選択するので、広告の効果を保証することができ、広告媒体としてのデジタルコンテンツの有用性を高めることができるという効果を有する。
【００５６】
また本発明は、再生度数の高い区間の上位から広告スポンサの支払ったスポンサ料の金額に応じて前記広告スポンサの広告を順に挿入するので、複数のスポンサの広告を効果的に挿入することができるという効果を有する。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の実施の形態１の処理結果の説明図である。
【図２】本発明の実施の形態１乃至実施の形態３における視聴分析マシンの構成図である。
【図３】本発明の実施の形態１乃至実施の形態３におけるストリーミング配信システムの構成図である。
【図４】本発明の実施の形態１による処理のフローチャートである。
【図５】本発明の実施の形態１乃至実施の形態４におけるログファイルの構造図である。
【図６】本発明の実施の形態２の処理結果の説明図である。
【図７】本発明の実施の形態２による処理のフローチャートである。
【図８】本発明の実施の形態３による処理のフローチャートである。
【図９】本発明の実施の形態３の処理結果の説明図である。
【図１０】本発明の実施の形態４の構成図である。
【符号の説明】
２００：視聴分析マシン　２２０：ログファイル　２３０：ログファイル入力部
２４０：計算部　２５０：表示制御部　２６０：表示部
３００：ストリーミング配信システム　３１０：サーバシステム
３３０：ネットワーク　３４０：クライアント
１０１０：区間再生度数分析プログラム　１０２０：区間度数データ[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus for analyzing a viewing situation in streaming distribution and an apparatus for determining an advertisement insertion position in streaming distribution based on the analysis result.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Currently, the most popular means of providing video and audio are TV and radio, but TV and radio do not acquire the price for viewing and listening to programs from viewers and listeners, but instead broadcast advertisements. In many cases, the advertisement fee covers the cost required for broadcasting. In determining the advertising fee for a program, the audience rating and the listening rate play an important role. This is because the effect of the advertisement can be improved by inserting the advertisement into the program that many consumers view and listen to.
[0003]
Television and radio broadcast ratings are analyzed by third parties. As a method of analyzing the audience rating and the audience rating, a monitor is installed on the television or radio of the audience / listener, and the channel selected by the audience / listener is automatically and regularly determined. This is done by monitoring. In this case, the characteristics of the viewers and listeners, such as age, gender, occupation, etc., are also collected in advance. Based on the information analyzed by the listener and which program the listener selects, the sponsor selects a program to broadcast his / her advertisement.
[0004]
As a means for providing moving images and sounds other than television and radio, there is a method of reproducing using a recording medium such as a video tape, a cassette tape, an LP, a CD, and a DVD. The provision of moving images and audio through these media often involves the collection of a fee from a consumer who is a user. The reason for this is that it is difficult to provide video or audio using these media, such as audience ratings or listening rates, which are indicators of the ability as advertising media such as television programs and radio programs. Another reason is that it is not possible to calculate the ability as an advertising medium, and it is difficult to recover the costs for providing moving images and audio through advertising revenue, such as television and radio. In the future, if these media can be found to be valuable as advertising media, a new video and audio distribution method will be adopted that will provide consumers with free video and audio by collecting costs through advertising fees. May be
[0005]
On the other hand, streaming distribution, especially on-demand distribution, has been attracting attention as a means of providing new video and audio, but at the same time, as with television and radio, the advertisements to be distributed can be dynamically changed. Attention has been paid. The streaming distribution is to provide (broadcast) the stored moving image / audio to an unspecified number of viewers via the Internet / intranet. However, in the provision of moving images and audio by streaming distribution, a method for analyzing viewing behavior has not been established yet.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In streaming distribution, especially on-demand distribution, each user can use video and audio in the same way as TV and radio, but because of the following characteristics that TV and radio do not have, The audience rating / listening ratio analysis method used cannot be used as it is. That is, in streaming distribution, particularly in on-demand distribution, it is possible for each user to perform not only the operation / audio reproduction, but also the viewing operation such as pause, fast forward, rewind, etc., and the viewing operation. The point is that the time reference for the analysis is not the absolute time but the relative time from the beginning of the content.
[0007]
The advertisement fee of a banner advertisement using the Internet is often calculated based on the number of page views (the number of accesses or the number of hits) of the Web page. This is because if more users view the advertisement, the effect as the advertisement can be expected to improve. Similarly, in streaming distribution, especially in on-demand distribution, the most frequently used parts of digital content to be distributed, such as goal scenes of soccer game relay and home run scenes of baseball game relay, are used. This scene can be viewed repeatedly by using superimposition or other image synthesis. (This makes it impossible to fast-forward the advertising portion and always displays it on the screen.) Yes), if an advertisement can be inserted, an advertisement with extremely high effect can be realized.
[0008]
Also, similar to the number of page views on a web page, this effect can be concretely supported, and in order to provide a numerical value on which an advertisement fee is calculated, a method of analyzing a digital content viewing operation in streaming distribution is analyzed. Is useful.
[0009]
Digital content, on the other hand, requires a certain amount of time to play back, so simply measuring the number of users who visited a Web page did not determine whether or not the content was actually used. The use frequency of the digital content cannot be known based on the number of page views of the page.
[0010]
The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems. Based on information recorded in a streaming distribution log file, a viewer can play, pause, and fast-forward which part of a single stream file. The object of the present invention is to make it possible to analyze in which part of the digital content the banner advertisement or the gap advertisement should be inserted by knowing whether the digital content has been rewound, and to accurately acquire the use frequency of the digital content.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention relates to a streaming distribution system that distributes digital content via a network in accordance with each viewing operation of digital content by a user and records each viewing operation in a log file, wherein log file input means for reading the log file; Calculating means for acquiring a start file position and an end file position, a start time, and an end time for each of the viewing operations in the streaming file corresponding to the digital content from the log file read by the log file input means, It is provided with display control means for illustrating a start file position and an end file position, a start time, and an end time for each viewing operation in a streaming file.
[0012]
Further, according to the present invention, the streaming distribution system distributes the digital content in accordance with each of the viewing operations by a plurality of users, and the display control means performs each of the viewing operations by the plurality of users on the streaming file. Is illustrated in FIG.
[0013]
Further, in the present invention, the display control means assigns different colors to the respective users for the respective viewing / listening operations by the plurality of users and illustrates the viewing operations.
[0014]
Further, according to the present invention, the calculating means divides the streaming file into sections of a predetermined width based on the file position, and, among the viewing operations recorded by the log file, the start file position and the end file position. The number of viewing operations that are viewing and listening operations that include the section and are playback and viewing operations is calculated as the frequency of the section, and the display control unit illustrates the frequency of each section. .
[0015]
Also, in the present invention, the calculation means may divide the time from the start of viewing to the end of viewing of the digital content by the plurality of users into sections having a predetermined width, and The viewing operation including the section between the start time and the end time, and the number of viewing operations that are playback / viewing operations are calculated as the frequency of the section, and the display control unit performs It is a diagram illustrating frequency.
[0016]
The present invention also provides a streaming distribution system for distributing digital contents via a network in accordance with each viewing operation of digital contents by a user and recording each viewing operation in a log file. Acquiring a start file position and an end file position, a start time, and an end time for each of the viewing operations in the streaming file corresponding to the digital content from the log file read by the log file input means, Is divided into sections of a predetermined width based on the file position, and among the viewing operations recorded by the log file, a viewing operation in which the section is included between the start time and the end time, and Viewing that is a viewing operation A calculating means for calculating the number of work as a frequency of the section, but with an advertisement distribution section determination means based on the frequency of the section selecting section should deliver ads.
[0017]
In the present invention, the advertisement distribution section determining means selects a section in which the frequency of the section exceeds a predetermined value as a section to which an advertisement is to be distributed.
[0018]
Further, in the present invention, the advertisement distribution section determining means includes a sponsor fee list for each advertisement sponsor, and inserts the advertisements of the advertisement sponsors in order from the top of the section having a high frequency in descending order of the sponsor fee.
[0019]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a streaming distribution system that generates a log file according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 300 denotes a streaming distribution system according to the present embodiment. In the streaming distribution system 300, reference numeral 310 denotes a server system having digital contents and supplying the digital contents to a user via a network. The server system 310 is composed of one or more computers, a function of transmitting media files such as audio and video stored on a disk of the server system to users as stream data, and recording streaming distribution information in a log file. It has a function to do. A network 330 is used by the server system to transmit digital contents to users. The network 330 is configured by various media such as a metal cable, an optical fiber cable, and wireless, has a function of performing data communication between various types of terminals, and includes the Internet, an intranet, and a LAN. Reference numeral 340 denotes a client used by a user who uses digital contents. In the present embodiment, the client 340 includes an information terminal such as a personal computer, a mobile phone, and a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant). Reference numeral 200 denotes a viewing analysis machine for analyzing a viewing operation of a user according to the embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 220 denotes a log file stored on a disk connected to the server system 310.
[0020]
Next, the operation of the streaming distribution system 300 will be described. First, a user transmits a stream data distribution request to the server system 310 using a certain client 340. Next, the server system 310 receives the data distribution request from the client 340, and transmits the requested stream data to the requesting client 340. Subsequently, the client 340 receives the stream data and reproduces a moving image, a sound, and the like on the player.
[0021]
The user can perform a viewing operation such as reproduction, pause, rewind, fast forward, and the like a plurality of times for viewing one digital content. When the user performs these viewing operations, the client 340 transmits a request for reproduction, pause, rewind, and fast forward to the server system 310, and the server system 310 performs a stream distribution operation in response to the request from the client 340. Here, the stream distribution operation means that, for example, while the server system 310 is performing reproduction (transmission of stream data) in response to a request from the client 340, a pause is received from the client 340 as the next request. Reference numeral 310 denotes a process for temporarily stopping transmission of stream data.
[0022]
Such transmission and reception between the server and the client ends when the client 340 finishes one viewing. The end of one viewing is that the client 340 transmits a stop request to the server system 310, the server system 310 receives the request and stops transmitting the stream data, and the transmission between the server system 310 and the client 340 is stopped. This means that the session is disconnected.
[0023]
Next, processing of the viewing analysis machine 200 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the viewing analysis machine 200. In the figure, 220 is the same as the log file 220 in FIG. 3, and records information such as the time stamp, the IP address of the client 340, and the stream file name. A log file input unit 230 reads the log file 220. The log file 220 may be directly read from the server system 310 via a network, or may be once copied to a local disk of the viewing analysis machine 200 and then read. Reference numeral 240 denotes a calculation unit that analyzes the log file 220 and extracts information necessary for this processing. Reference numeral 250 denotes a display control unit that displays a processing result based on the information extracted by the calculation unit 240. FIG. 1 shows an example of the output result of the display control unit 250. Reference numeral 260 denotes a display unit that displays the result of this processing. The display unit 260 is generally configured by a CRT (Cathod Ray Tube) device, a liquid crystal display, or the like.
[0024]
Next, processing in the viewing analysis machine 200 will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing this processing. First, in step S1, the log file input unit 230 reads the log file 220. Next, in step S2, the calculation unit 240 extracts all data recorded for one viewing of one viewer from the read log file 220. The log file 220 records sessions and viewing operations of all digital contents distributed by the server system 310, and each viewing operation is recorded for each record. In order to extract only records related to the viewing operation of one viewer from these records, the records may be selected based on, for example, an IP address or a user ID. Subsequently, in step S3, it is determined whether all the data necessary for analyzing the viewing operation of the one viewer in one viewing has been extracted. This processing is to determine whether or not all the data required at least for analyzing the viewing operation according to the present embodiment can be obtained from the log file 220. If it is determined that the data has been obtained (S3: YES), in step S6, the display control unit 250 displays a graph as shown in FIG. 1 based on these data. On the other hand, when it is determined that a part of the data cannot be obtained (S3: NO), the process proceeds to step S4 and thereafter to execute a calculation process of the missing data.
[0025]
Here, FIG. 5 shows the minimum data required for analyzing the viewing operation according to the present embodiment. In 5-1 of FIG. 5, reference numeral 510 denotes a viewing start time indicating a time at which the user started viewing a certain digital content. Reference numeral 520 denotes a stream file name for storing the contents of the digital content. The stream file name 520 is used to identify digital content used by the user. 530 is the length of the stream file indicating the size of the digital content identified by the stream file name 520. The length 530 of the stream file is represented by time. 540 is a total viewing time indicating how long the user has used the digital content. The total viewing time 540 is the length of the session maintained by the user with the server system 310 to use the digital content.
[0026]
In 5-2 of FIG. 5, each record corresponds to each viewing operation. 5-2 is an example of data of the log file 220 when a certain user performs reproduction → pause → fast forward → reproduction during one viewing. Reference numeral 550 denotes a viewing operation performed by the user. As the viewing operation, in addition to reproduction, pause, rewind, fast forward, and the like, an index may be provided in a part of the digital content, and the part may be viewed directly by searching the index. 560 is a start time of each viewing operation. Since the start time 560 indicates the time when each viewing operation has occurred, the start time of the first record is always 0. Reference numeral 570 denotes a start file position after the viewing operation. For the start file position 570, a numerical value representing time is used. Reference numeral 580 denotes an end time indicating a time when the viewing operation ends. Reference numeral 590 denotes an end file position at the end of the viewing operation.
[0027]
Viewing start time 510, stream file name 520, stream file length 530, total viewing time 540, viewing operation 550, start time 560, start file position 570, and end, which are data required for this processing shown in FIG. The time 580 is recorded in the log file 220 in principle. However, depending on the type of the log file, part of these data may not be recorded. In such a case, it is necessary to perform the processing by complementing the missing data using other data. The determination processing in step S3 in FIG. 4 is intended to detect the missing data.
[0028]
Next, after step S4, processing for the missing data is performed. In step S4, calculation unit 240 determines whether or not the missing data can be obtained using other data. If it is determined that the missing data can be obtained from other data (S4: YES), the process proceeds to step S5. On the other hand, if the data cannot be obtained from other data (S4: NO), the process is not allowed to continue any more, and the process ends.
[0029]
Next, the details of step S4 will be described. For example, among the data 5-1 and 5-2, the start time 510, the total viewing time 540, and the end time 580 satisfy the relationship shown in Expression 1, and two of the three data are read from the log file 220. If obtained, the remaining one data can be obtained.
(Equation 1)

[0030]
After the calculation unit 240 supplements necessary data in step S5 using the above relationships and the like, the display control unit 250 displays the data processing result in step S6.
[0031]
FIG. 1 is a display example of a processing result according to the present embodiment. This processing result is displayed on the display unit 260. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 110 denotes a vertical axis on which the elapsed time from the start of viewing is plotted, and reference numeral 120 denotes the elapsed time when the viewing start time is set to time 0. 130 is the horizontal axis plotting the file position of the stream file, and 140 is the elapsed time when the head of the file position is set to time 0. Reference numeral 150 denotes an arrow indicating the user's viewing operation, and each arrow 150 displays the corresponding viewing operation type (such as “play”, “pause”, and “fast forward”) as a character string. The arrow 150 indicates which part of the stream file the user has used for how long. 160 is the viewing start time of the stream file, and 170 is the name of the stream file watched by the user.
[0032]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the viewing status of a certain stream file can be displayed, the use status of this stream file can be intuitively grasped, and the characteristics of this stream file can be displayed. It becomes possible to analyze.
[0033]
Embodiment 2. FIG.
In the first embodiment, a function of visually displaying one viewing state of a certain viewer is provided. In the present embodiment, a plurality of viewing states of a certain stream file are visually displayed simultaneously. The embodiment to display is shown. Plural viewings are viewings by a single viewer a plurality of times, viewings by a plurality of people, and a mixture thereof. In this embodiment, the processing contents of the calculation unit 240 are different from those of the first embodiment, but the configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment. Therefore, FIGS. 2 and 3 are used as configuration diagrams.
[0034]
Next, processing according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the process according to the present embodiment. First, in step S110, the log file input unit 230 reads a log file. Next, in step S120, the calculation unit 240 sequentially searches for records from the top of the read log file 220, and checks whether there is data for a certain viewing / listening. If it does not exist (if it is the end of the file), the process ends (S120: NO). If the next viewing data exists (S120: YES), the process proceeds to step S130. In step S130, the calculation unit 240 selects one of the data (viewing start time, stream file name, stream file length (second), total viewing time, Whether the user has performed a viewing operation (playback, pause, rewind, fast forward) in each viewing, and also extracts from the log file 220 the start time, start file position, end time, and end file position of each viewing operation. I do. Subsequently, in step S140, the calculation unit 240 confirms whether or not all of these values have been obtained, and in step S160, complements the missing data as necessary. In step S170, the display control unit 250 Display. Regarding the processing from S140 to S170, S140 corresponds to S3 of the first embodiment, S150 corresponds to S4 of the first embodiment, S160 corresponds to S5 of the first embodiment, and S170 corresponds to S6 of the first embodiment, and performs the same processing. Therefore, detailed description is omitted. In the present embodiment, after S170 ends, the process returns to S110 again, and the data processing for another single viewing is continued.
[0035]
FIG. 6 shows a display example of the processing result according to the present embodiment. This processing result is displayed on the display unit 260. In FIG. 6, components using the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 are the same as those in FIG. FIG. 6 differs from FIG. 1 in that, while FIG. 1 shows one viewing and viewing, FIG. 6 shows a plurality of viewings simultaneously. Playback / pause / fast-forward / rewind in FIG. 6 are indicated by arrows (reproduction is a solid line, and others are dotted lines) as in FIG. Also, by changing the color of the line for each single viewing, the state of individual single viewing can also be determined.
[0036]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, since a plurality of viewing states for a certain stream file can be displayed simultaneously, the viewing state of digital contents in which the difference in personal preference between users is rounded out is grasped. This makes it possible to provide more accurate information for determining the position where the advertisement is to be inserted.
[0037]
Embodiment 3 FIG.
In the first and second embodiments, the horizontal axis indicates the position of the stream file, and the vertical axis indicates the elapsed time from the start of viewing, and indicates which part of the viewer has played / paused / fast-forwarded / rewinded / stopped the arrow. In this embodiment, the frequency of use of digital content for each file position and the frequency of use for each elapsed time from the start of viewing are tabulated in this embodiment, focusing on “playback” among a plurality of viewing operations. It also provides a means for analyzing which part of the digital content is of most interest to the user. Note that this embodiment is different from the first and second embodiments in the processing content of the calculation unit 240, but the configuration is the same as that of the first and second embodiments. Is used.
[0038]
Next, processing according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the process according to the present embodiment. First, in step S210, the log file input unit 230 reads the log file 220. Next, in step S220, the calculation unit 240 obtains the maximum value of the difference (time length of each viewing operation) between the end time 580 and the start time 560 of each viewing operation of the log file 220, and sets this value as a variable MAX. set. Next, in step S230, the calculation unit 240 sets 1 to a variable t. Subsequently, in step S240, the calculation unit 240 compares t with the value of MAX, and when t is smaller (S240: YES), executes the processing of S250 and S260. In step S <b> 240, the calculating unit 240 is a record in which the playback is the viewing operation 550 among the viewing operations of the log file 220, and the playback record including the file position t (start position 570 <t <end position 590 is satisfied). ), And the value is set in the array hist [t]. Subsequently, in step S260, calculation unit 240 increments t by 1, and returns to S240. If t is equal to or greater than MAX in step S240, the calculation unit 240 proceeds to S270. In step S270, the calculation unit 240 sets hist [t] to 0 for all positive numbers t larger than MAX and smaller than the length of the stream file. Finally, in step S280, the display control unit 250 displays a frequency graph using the counted frequency hist [t].
[0039]
Further, in the present embodiment, the usage frequency with respect to the elapsed time from the start of viewing is also counted. The use frequency is a count of the frequency of the reproduction / viewing operation for each elapsed time from the start of viewing the digital content. In viewing digital content, there are viewing operations such as pause, fast forward, and rewind, so the relationship between the elapsed time from the start of viewing and the frequency of use is not uniform. This totaling can be used to analyze how long the user is playing digital content from the start of viewing. The process of counting the usage frequency with respect to the elapsed time from the start of viewing is performed by replacing the start position 570 with the start time 560 and the end position 590 with the end time 580 in the counting of the usage frequency for each file position. This is exactly the same as the processing method of counting the use frequency for the position.
[0040]
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a processing result according to the present embodiment. In the figure, 680 is the same as the graph showing the viewing status of a plurality of users shown in FIG. 6, 920 is a graph showing the frequency of the part reproduced by the viewer on the horizontal axis (file position), and 930 is It is a graph which shows the frequency of the part which the viewer reproduced on the vertical axis (the elapsed time from the start of viewing). This result is displayed by the display unit 260.
[0041]
Normally, since the stream file is viewed from the beginning of the file, the frequency of the graph 920 in FIG. 9 is considered to be higher as the position is closer to the file position 0 and lower as the position is closer to the end of the stream file. Similarly, in the graph 930 in FIG. 9, it is conceivable that the frequency decreases as the elapsed time from the start of viewing increases. By displaying and comparing such a graph for each stream file, it is possible to obtain a user's evaluation of the video and audio.
[0042]
When one stream file includes a plurality of videos and sounds, for example, 10 news items are included in one stream file, an index is set at the head of each news item, and the viewer selects the news item. When the viewer can view the news from the beginning, the viewer may select only the news he / she wants to view. In such a case, by using the graph described in Embodiment 3, it is possible to know which news has been watched most.
[0043]
Embodiment 4 FIG.
In the above embodiment, a graph in which the “playback” portion of a plurality of viewing operations on a stream file is projected on one or both of the horizontal axis and the vertical axis and a frequency distribution is obtained is displayed. The embodiment provides means for automatically determining a position for inserting an advertisement such as a banner advertisement and a gap advertisement automatically from the access frequency of each section of the stream file.
[0044]
There are the following methods to obtain the number of times of reproduction in a stream file. First, the stream file is divided into a number of sections (sections are defined instead of actually dividing the file). The width of each section is constant. For example, in the case of a stream file of 60 seconds, 60 sections of 0 to 1 second, 1 to 2 seconds, ..., 59 to 60 seconds are defined. Next, the number of times of reproduction of all sections is counted from the log file. This method is as described in the third embodiment.
[0045]
FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of the present embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 1010 denotes a section reproduction frequency analysis program for analyzing the log file 220 and analyzing the reproduction frequency of each predetermined portion of the digital content. Reference numeral 1020 denotes section frequency data output by the section reproduction frequency analysis program 1010. Note that, in this embodiment, components denoted by the same reference numerals as those in Embodiments 1 to 3 are the same as those in these embodiments, and thus description thereof will be omitted.
[0046]
The section frequency data 1010 holds the reproduction frequency for each section. An object of the present embodiment is to select a section having a high reproduction frequency and to distribute an advertisement along with the distribution of the digital content when the user attempts to reproduce the digital content in the section. Therefore, in the present embodiment, since it is necessary to insert an advertisement in a high-frequency section of the usage frequency of the digital content for each section up to the present, the section frequency data 1020 needs to be updated at short intervals. Therefore, the section reproduction frequency analysis program 1010 analyzes the log file 220 at short intervals. As the analysis processing of the log file 220, for example, the processing described in the second or third embodiment is used.
[0047]
As a specific method of inserting an advertisement based on the section frequency data 1010, a section exceeding a predetermined reproduction frequency is set as an advertisement insertion section, or a section having the same number of sponsors as the number of sponsors from the top of the section having a high reproduction frequency. In addition to the method of allocating the sponsor's advertisement to the section up to the amount paid as the sponsor fee, if the playback frequency of the adjacent section is high, the advertisement is inserted in both of them, A method to control the display of the advertisement only in one of the adjacent sections because it may be difficult to see, and to share the right to insert the advertisement in the section with high playback frequency, during one viewing In the case where the user in the section reproduces the section many times, a method of inserting an advertisement of a different sponsor may be considered.
[0048]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to determine the position where the advertisement is to be inserted according to the viewing frequency of the digital content without human intervention. It is possible to implement. In addition, since advertisements are delivered each time digital content is partially played, it is possible to prevent omission of delivery, and advertisements are inserted according to impressive scenes of digital content, resulting in high advertising effectiveness. Can be expected.
[0049]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the start file position and the end file position recorded by the log file of the streaming distribution system, the start time, and the end time are respectively obtained and illustrated, so that the tendency of the user to view the digital content is shown. Is intuitively grasped.
[0050]
In addition, since the present invention is illustrated simultaneously with respect to each viewing operation by a plurality of users, there is an effect that it is possible to provide a material for determining the popularity and the degree of attention of each part of the digital content.
[0051]
Further, in the present invention, different colors are assigned to the respective viewing operations for each user, so that visibility is improved, analysis of individual viewing operations and analysis excluding individual differences for each user are performed. Can be performed at the same time.
[0052]
In addition, according to the present invention, the file is divided into sections of a predetermined width based on the file position of the streaming file, and the reproduction frequency of each section is illustrated. This makes it possible to provide an objective data for determining the insertion position of the advertisement and for creating digital contents preferred by the user.
[0053]
In addition, according to the present invention, the time from the start of viewing digital content to the end of viewing is divided into sections of a predetermined width, and the reproduction frequency of each section is illustrated. This also has the effect of making it possible to grasp the viewing behavior of each user.
[0054]
In addition, the present invention divides into sections of a predetermined width based on the file position of the streaming file and selects a section to which an advertisement is to be distributed based on the reproduction frequency of each section, so that the user can view and listen to most digital contents. This has the effect that an advertisement can be efficiently inserted into a part to be advertised.
[0055]
Further, according to the present invention, since a section in which the frequency of the section exceeds a predetermined value is selected as a section to which an advertisement is to be delivered, the effect of the advertisement can be guaranteed, and the usefulness of digital content as an advertising medium can be enhanced. It has the effect of being able to.
[0056]
Further, according to the present invention, since the advertisements of the advertisement sponsors are sequentially inserted in accordance with the amount of the sponsor fee paid by the advertisement sponsor from the top of the section having a high reproduction frequency, advertisements of a plurality of sponsors can be effectively inserted. This has the effect.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a processing result according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a viewing analysis machine according to Embodiments 1 to 3 of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a streaming distribution system according to Embodiments 1 to 3 of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a process according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a structural diagram of a log file according to the first to fourth embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a processing result according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a process according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a process according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a processing result according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
200: viewing analysis machine 220: log file 230: log file input unit
240: calculation unit 250: display control unit 260: display unit
300: Streaming distribution system 310: Server system
330: Network 340: Client
1010: Section reproduction frequency analysis program 1020: Section frequency data

Claims (8)

In a streaming distribution system that distributes digital content via a network in accordance with each viewing operation of digital content by a user and records each viewing operation in a log file,
Log file input means for reading the log file;
Calculating means for acquiring a start file position and an end file position, a start time, and an end time for each viewing operation in the streaming file corresponding to the digital content from the log file read by the log file input means,
A streaming viewing operation analyzing apparatus, comprising: display control means for displaying a start file position and an end file position, a start time, and an end time for each viewing operation in the streaming file. The streaming distribution system distributes the digital content in accordance with each viewing operation by a plurality of users,
2. The streaming viewing operation analyzing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit is configured to illustrate each of the viewing operations of the streaming file by the plurality of users. 3. 3. The streaming viewing / listening operation analyzing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the display control unit assigns different colors to the respective viewing / listening operations by the plurality of users and assigns different colors to the respective users. . The calculating means divides the streaming file into sections of a predetermined width based on the file position, and sets the section between the start file position and the end file position of the viewing operation recorded by the log file. Is included in the viewing operation, and the number of viewing operations that are playback viewing operations is calculated as the frequency of the section,
4. The streaming viewing operation analyzing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the display control unit is configured to show a frequency for each of the sections. The calculation means divides the time from the start of viewing to the end of viewing of the digital content by the plurality of users into sections having a predetermined width, and the start time and the end of the viewing operation recorded in the log file. It is a viewing operation in which the section is included with time, and the number of viewing operations that are playback viewing operations is calculated as the frequency of the section,
5. The streaming viewing operation analyzing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the display control means is configured to show the frequency of each section. In a streaming distribution system that distributes digital content via a network in accordance with each viewing operation of digital content by a user and records each viewing operation in a log file,
Log file input means for reading the log file;
From the log file read by the log file input means, to obtain a start file position and an end file position for each viewing operation in the streaming file corresponding to the digital content, start time, end time, respectively,
Dividing the streaming file into sections of a predetermined width based on the file position,
Among the viewing operations recorded by the log file, the number of viewing operations in which the section is included between the start time and the end time of the viewing operation and the playback operation is calculated as the frequency of the section. Calculation means;
An advertisement insertion position determination device, comprising: advertisement distribution section determination means for selecting a section to distribute an advertisement based on the frequency of the section. 7. The advertisement insertion position determining device according to claim 6, wherein the advertisement distribution section determination unit is configured to select a section in which the frequency of the section exceeds a predetermined value as a section to which an advertisement is to be distributed. . The advertisement distribution section determination means includes a sponsor fee list for each advertisement sponsor, and is configured to insert the advertisements of the advertisement sponsor in order from the top of the high-frequency section in descending order of the sponsor fee. An advertisement insertion position determining device according to claim 6.

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