JP2004235846A - Cm downloading system using watermark - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To maintain the CM information and to impart a long-lasting advertisement added value to the CM information in TV program broadcast by switching the CM dynamically when a TV program is broadcast or a recorded picture is reproduced. <P>SOLUTION: In the CM downloading system where a TV broadcast station, a TV terminal having a recording/reproducing function, a server downloading CM information and a sponsor are connected through a network, the CM information is buried in the program information of a TV program at the TV broadcast station and rendered invisible using a watermark. The CM information is server access information for accessing the server without containing the CM information itself. When the program information buried with the watermarked CM information is recorded and reproduced by the TV terminal, an appropriate CM image stored in the server is selected based on the CM information and then reproduced and displayed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a technology for dynamically distributing advertisement information using a digital watermark, and a technology for providing added value to advertisement information.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In the related art, when playing back a recorded TV program, the user has to watch the CM at the time of broadcasting again, and depending on the timing of viewing, the CM information becomes old, and in most cases, the advertising value is lost.
[0003]
In addition, when recording a TV broadcast, there is a technique or technique such as deleting a CM information portion, and it is often said that a CM is not left in the recorded information.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when recording including CM information, it is uninteresting and annoying for the viewer to re-view the CM that has lost the advertising value over time during playback. there were.
[0005]
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a technique for retaining CM information and retaining a dynamic and continuous advertisement value in the CM information when a TV program is broadcast or recorded and reproduced.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, the present invention mainly employs the following configuration.
A CM distribution system in which a TV broadcast station, a TV terminal having a recording / playback function, a server for distributing CM information, and an advertiser are connected through a network,
Embedding CM information in program information of a TV program at the TV broadcasting station and using a digital watermark to make the CM information invisible;
The CM information is server access information for accessing the server without including the CM image itself.
[0007]
Further, in the CM distribution system, when the TV terminal records and reproduces the program information in which the CM information of the digital watermark is embedded, an appropriate CM image stored in the server is selected based on the CM information. It is configured to reproduce and display.
[0008]
By adopting such a configuration, the present invention holds the CM information at the time of broadcasting a TV program or at the time of recording / reproduction and can dynamically switch the CM. On the other hand, it can have a sustainable advertising value added.
[0009]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
A CM distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a CM distribution system using a network according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a processing unit and a database (DB) in each component connected to the network according to this embodiment. FIG.
[0010]
Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, as network components connected to the network 1, there are an advertiser 2, a TV broadcast station 3, a CM distribution server 4, and a TV terminal 5. The advertiser 2 has a sponsor contract transmitting unit 6 for concluding a sponsor contract for the program with the TV broadcasting station 3, and a CM addition / distribution schedule setting unit 7 for adding a CM to the CM distribution server or setting a distribution schedule. Exists.
[0011]
The TV broadcast station 3 includes a sponsor contract receiving unit 8 for signing a program sponsor contract from the advertiser 2, a sponsor DB 14 for storing the contract information, a TV program creating unit 9 for creating a TV program, and a category of the created program. Program category DB 15 for storing information (for example, entertainment programs, news programs, children's programs, women's programs, etc.), and CM distribution server access information (digital watermark) for creating information as digital watermark information for accessing the CM distribution server. ) A creating unit 10, a TV program + digital watermark synthesizing unit 11 for synthesizing a TV program and digital watermark information, a TV program broadcasting unit 12 for broadcasting a TV program, and recording statistical information for receiving recording statistical information transmitted from a CM distribution server There is a receiving unit 13 and a recording statistics DB 16 for storing the statistical information (for example, recording rate information for each program). That.
[0012]
Here, a technique for adding digital watermark information to the program information is a known technique. However, this technique replaces the conventional technique of arranging in chronological order such as program information 1 → CM1 → program information 2 → CM2. , Program information 1 → program information 2 and so on, and CM1 is embedded in program information as an invisible image in program information 1 and CM2 as an invisible image in program information 2. This is a watermark configuration. At this time, the feature of the present invention is that the invisible image CM1 or CM2 is not the CM image information itself (prior art) but the access information (reference information) to the DB storing the CM image information. It is one of. Further, in the present embodiment, at the time of reproducing the recorded information of the TV program, in addition to the form of displaying the CM sequentially with the program information, the CM and the program information are simultaneously displayed with different display locations, in addition to the form of displaying the CM sequentially. Also, a still image CM display mode and the like are assumed.
[0013]
The CM distribution server 4 receives the CM distribution request information transmitted from the TV terminal 5 and creates the CM distribution information, a CM distribution request information receiving unit 17, a CM distribution control DB 20 used when creating the CM distribution information, There are a CM storage DB 21, a CM distribution unit 18 that distributes a CM to the TV terminal 5, and a recording statistics information transmission unit 19.
[0014]
The TV terminal 5 includes a TV broadcast receiving unit 22 for receiving a TV program broadcasted from a TV broadcast station, a recording unit 23 for recording the received TV program, and a reproducing unit 24 for reproducing the recorded TV program. Further, the reproduction unit 24 includes a CM distribution request information transmitting unit 25 that creates and transmits CM distribution request information to the CM distribution server 4, and separates digital watermark information for accessing the CM distribution server 4 from program information. There are a digital watermark separating unit 26, a CM receiving unit 27 that receives a CM distributed from the CM distribution server 4, and a program + CM combining unit 28 that combines the received CM with the program information again. A display device and a recording medium are connected to the TV terminal 5. Although the CM distribution server 4 has been described as being separate from the TV broadcasting station 3, it may be attached to the TV broadcasting station 3.
[0015]
Next, operation modes of each component connected to the network 1, that is, the advertiser 2, the TV broadcast station 3, the CM distribution server 4, and the TV terminal 5 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing sponsor contract information stored in a sponsor DB provided in a TV broadcast station according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a CM distribution control DB in a CM distribution server by an advertiser according to the present embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a setting mode of control information and a processing mode of adding a CM to a CM storage DB. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a concept of CM distribution server access information created by a TV broadcast station according to the present embodiment. FIG. 6 illustrates a CM distribution request from a TV terminal to a CM distribution server, CM distribution information creation and CM distribution by the CM distribution server, and notification of recording statistical information from the CM distribution server to a TV broadcast station according to the present embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a flow from CM distribution request information to CM distribution information creation and CM distribution in the CM distribution server according to the present embodiment.
[0016]
First, when the advertiser 2 enters into a sponsor contract for a program owned by the TV broadcast station 3, information on the advertiser code and the number of CMs that can be broadcasted in the program is stored in the program entry of the sponsor DB 14 as shown in FIG. . Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the advertiser 2 adds a CM to be broadcast to the CM storage DB 21 managed by the CM distribution server 4, and stores the category information of the program to which the CM is to be distributed to the CM distribution control DB 20. And the delivery time zone. Note that the category information of the program is determined with reference to the program category DB 15 owned by the TV broadcasting station 3. Further, in FIG. 4, since the CM, the category, and the time zone (at the time of broadcasting or playback of recorded information) are specified for each advertiser, for example, at the time of playback of a recorded TV program at a TV terminal, the playback time zone is specified. (A TV terminal provided with a recording medium naturally has a function of recognizing the current time). Similarly, if the category of the program is for children, for example, a CM suitable for the category can be selected and reproduced. As the selection condition, the combination of the time zone and the category may be appropriately adjusted.
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 5, the TV broadcast station 3 receives the program information (contents of the program), the category information (for example, entertainment information, information for children, etc.) of the program acquired from the program category DB 15 and the corresponding advertisement acquired from the sponsor DB 14. The number of main CMs, URL information for accessing the CM information distribution server 4 (address information of which server and which address), the display position of the CM in the program (the CM Based on the (display position) and display timing, CM distribution server access information is created as digital watermark information, and is combined with the TV program information and broadcast.
[0018]
When recording is performed on the TV terminal 5 that has received the TV program broadcasted by the TV broadcasting station 3, the CM distribution server access information synthesized as digital watermark information together with the TV program information is transferred to a recording medium such as a tape / hard disk. Be recorded.
[0019]
Next, when playing back the recorded TV program information using the TV terminal 5, the TV terminal 5 separates the digital watermark information from the program information in the recording medium and acquires the CM distribution server access information as shown in FIG. The program code, category information, advertiser code, and information on the number of CMs are extracted to create CM distribution request information. (In FIG. 6, after the CM distribution server is specified by the URL, the information passed to the specified CM distribution server is the program code. The following CM distribution request information). Subsequently, the TV terminal 5 transmits the CM distribution request information to the CM distribution server 4 based on the URL information. Upon receiving the CM distribution request information transmitted from the TV terminal 5, the CM distribution server 4 acquires the program code, the category information, the advertiser code, and the number of CMs from the CM distribution request information, and distributes the category information and the CM distribution of the TV terminal 5. The CM distribution control DB 20 is searched based on the access time of the request, the corresponding CM is extracted from the CM storage DB 21 (see FIG. 2), CM distribution information is created, and distributed to the TV terminal 5. The CM distribution server 4 transmits the program code acquired from the CM distribution request information to the TV broadcast station 3 as recording statistical information, so that the recording statistics of the broadcast program are accumulated in the recording statistics DB 16 of the TV broadcast station 3.
[0020]
A procedure in which the CM distribution server 4 creates CM distribution information based on CM distribution request information from the TV terminal 5 will be described with reference to FIG. First, a category (for example, a category for children, etc.) is read from the CM distribution request information transmitted from the TV terminal 5 shown in FIG. 6 (step 1), and it is determined whether or not the advertiser code is included in the CM distribution request information. (Step 2). If there is no advertiser code, the CM distribution information is delivered to the TV terminal (step 9). If there is the advertiser code, the advertiser code is read (step 3) and the advertiser code is read as shown in FIG. First, the CM distribution control DB 20 is searched to acquire a CM array (step 4).
[0021]
Subsequently, it is determined whether or not there is a CM entry in the CM array (Step 5). If there is no CM entry, the process returns to the entry side of Step 2, but if there is a CM entry, the CM entry is obtained from the CM array (Step 5). 6). It is determined whether the category of the CM entry matches the category (the category in the CM distribution request information from the TV terminal) (step 7), and if they match, the CM is stored in the CM distribution information (step 8). ), Return to the entrance side of step 5.
[0022]
As described above, the TV terminal 5 receives the CM information distributed from the CM distribution server 4, and combines and reproduces the CM information with the program information.
[0023]
As described above, the feature of the present invention is that the TV broadcast station 3 embeds and broadcasts information for accessing the CM information distribution server 4 without storing the CM information itself in the broadcast information of the TV program. By embedding the access information into the CM information distribution server 4 by combining it with the TV program information using the digital watermarking technique, even if the broadcasted TV program is recorded on the TV terminal 5 that has received it, By providing the added value of displaying a CM different from that at the time of the initial broadcast at the time of reproducing the recorded information on the TV terminal 5 without losing the information for accessing the CM management server 4, the program can be provided to the advertiser 2 of the CM. In addition to the advertising value at the time of the broadcast, after the end of the broadcast, such as playback of a recorded TV program, a different C such as information newer than the CM seen at the time of the initial broadcast or information of another product, etc. And it provides a value added such is displayed.
[0024]
【The invention's effect】
ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, at the time of broadcasting a TV program or at the time of recording / reproduction, the CM information is retained, and the CM can be dynamically switched. It can be valuable.
[0025]
In addition, it is possible to provide an advertiser with a chance to distribute a more diverse and constantly new CM, and to always provide new information to a viewer of the CM.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a CM distribution system using a network according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a processing unit and a database (DB) in each component connected to a network according to the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing sponsor contract information stored in a sponsor DB provided in a TV broadcasting station according to the embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a setting mode of control information in a CM distribution control DB in a CM distribution server by an advertiser according to the present embodiment and a processing mode of adding a CM to a CM storage DB.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a concept of CM distribution server access information created by a TV broadcast station according to the embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a CM distribution request from a TV terminal to a CM distribution server, creation and distribution of CM distribution information by the CM distribution server, and notification of recording statistical information from the CM distribution server to a TV broadcast station according to the embodiment. It is a figure which shows a process and the flow of data.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a flow from CM distribution request information to CM distribution information creation and CM distribution in the CM distribution server according to the present embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Network 2 Advertiser 3 TV Broadcasting Station 4 CM Distribution Server 5 TV Terminal 6 Sponsor Contract Transmitting Unit 7 CM Addition / Distribution Schedule Setting Unit 8 Sponsor Contract Receiving Unit 9 TV Program Creation Unit 10 CM Distribution Server Access Information (Digital Watermark) Creation Unit 11 TV program + digital watermark synthesizing unit 12 TV program broadcasting unit 13 recording statistical information receiving unit 14 Sponsor DB
15 Program Category DB
16 Recording Statistics DB
17 CM distribution request information receiving section 18 CM distribution section 19 Recording statistics information transmitting section 20 CM distribution control DB
21 CM storage DB
22 TV broadcast receiving unit 23 Recording unit 24 Playback unit 25 CM distribution request information transmitting unit 26 Digital watermark separating unit 27 CM receiving unit 28 Program + CM combining unit

Claims (5)

A CM distribution system in which a TV broadcasting station, a TV terminal having a recording / playback function, a server for distributing CM information, and an advertiser are connected through a network,
Embed CM information in the program information of the TV program at the TV broadcast station, and make the CM information invisible using an electronic watermark;
The CM distribution system is characterized in that the CM information is server access information for accessing the server without including the CM image itself. In claim 1,
When recording and reproducing the program information in which the CM information of the digital watermark is embedded in the TV terminal, an appropriate CM image stored in the server is selected and reproduced and displayed based on the CM information. CM distribution system. In claim 2,
A CM distribution system wherein the CM image stored in the server is updated by the advertiser through the network as needed. In claim 1,
A CM distribution system, wherein the access information is created based on a category of entertainment or children of the TV program as an example. In claim 2 or 3,
The CM distribution system, wherein the selection of the CM image during reproduction of the recorded TV program is performed based on a time zone and / or a program category at the time of reproduction.

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