JP2004265399A - Method and system for information management, center processor, apparatus and method for information processing, image processing method, program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide functions matching tastes of individual users. <P>SOLUTION: A user information analysis part 82 analyzes user information to calculate the variation of a parameter. A processing procedure selection part 86 classifies a user into a prescribed group on the basis of the calculated variation of the parameter and acquires processing procedures corresponding to the group to which the user belongs from a processing procedure DB. A fundamental part manufacturing part 91 records various set values in a ROM in a product correspondingly to acquired processing procedures. A peculiar part manufacturing part 92 records an initial value of the parameter in the ROM in the product on the basis of the analysis result of the user information analysis part 82. This invention is applicable for a TV receiver. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an information management system and method, a center processing device, an information processing device and method, an image processing method, a program, and a recording medium, and more particularly, to provide a function that suits individual users' preferences. The present invention relates to an information management system and method, a center processing device, an information processing device and method, an image processing method, a program, and a recording medium.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the increase in audio visual (AV) orientation, AV equipment having higher performance has been developed. In particular, a television receiver or the like has a function of performing various image processing based on user settings and allowing a user to select an image preference (image quality such as image color and sharpness). In addition, user preferences have been diversified, and a receiver that analyzes user preferences and receives content suitable for the user preferences has been proposed (see Patent Document 1).
JP 2003-224797 A

  Conventionally, however, the functions of AV equipment such as digital VTRs, DVD players, and television receivers are limited to a single set. Therefore, even when only a specific function in the set is upgraded, the user can operate the entire set. Had to buy it again. In addition, in the above-described conventional technology, there is a problem that information about what image quality and sound quality the user prefers cannot be obtained and analyzed, and a function or product that meets individual user's preference cannot be provided. .

The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a function and a product that match the tastes of individual users at a lower cost.

  An information management system according to the present invention is an information management system including a center processing device that analyzes user information and a plurality of information processing devices that store user information, wherein the center processing device includes the user information collected from the information processing device. Acquisition means for acquiring the user information, analysis means for analyzing the user information acquired by the acquisition means, user information recording means for recording the information analyzed by the analysis means in a database, and information based on the information analyzed by the analysis means. Operation information receiving means for receiving operation information from a user, comprising: selection means for selecting a processing procedure most suitable for the user; and providing means for providing the processing procedure selected by the selection means to the user. Signal processing means for processing an input signal based on the operation information received by the operation information receiving means; Information about broadcast and the input signal, characterized in that it comprises a storage means for storing as user information.

  A first information processing method according to the present invention relates to an information processing method for an information management system including a center processing device for analyzing user information and a plurality of information processing devices for storing user information. Is an acquisition step of acquiring user information collected from the information processing apparatus, an analysis step of analyzing the user information acquired by the processing of the acquisition step, and a user that records information analyzed by the processing of the analysis step in a database. An information recording step, a selection step of selecting an optimal processing procedure for the user based on the information analyzed by the processing of the analysis step, and a providing step of providing the user with the processing procedure selected by the processing of the selection step. The information processing method of the information processing apparatus includes an operation information receiving operation information from a user. A receiving step; a signal processing step of processing an input signal based on the operation information received by the processing of the operation information receiving step; and a storing step of storing the operation information and the information related to the input signal as user information. It is characterized by.

  In the information management system and the first information processing method of the present invention, in the center processing device, the user information collected from the information processing device is obtained, the obtained user information is analyzed, and the analyzed information is stored in the database. The processing procedure most suitable for the user is selected based on the recorded and analyzed information, and the selected processing procedure is provided to the user. Further, in the information processing device, operation information from the user is received, the input signal is processed based on the received operation information, and the operation information and information on the input signal are stored as user information.

  The center processing device of the present invention includes an acquiring unit that acquires user information collected from an information processing device, an analyzing unit that analyzes the user information acquired by the acquiring unit, and records information analyzed by the analyzing unit in a database. User information recording means, selecting means for selecting a processing procedure most suitable for the user based on information analyzed by the analyzing means, and providing means for providing the user with the processing procedure selected by the selecting means. It is characterized by the following.

  The selection unit includes a determination unit that calculates a change amount of the user information and determines whether the change amount exceeds a predetermined threshold, and classifies the users into a predetermined group based on a determination result of the determination unit. be able to.

  The information processing apparatus may further include a processing procedure recording unit that records a different processing procedure for each predetermined group.

  The providing means obtains a processing procedure from the processing procedure recording means based on the determination result of the determining means, and, based on the obtained processing procedure, determines a basic part of a function to be provided to the user. And a unique part determining means for determining a unique part unique to the user in the function based on the user information analyzed by the analyzing means.

  An updating unit for updating a threshold value of the determining unit based on the information recorded by the user information recording unit may be further provided.

  According to a second information processing method of the present invention, in an information processing method of a center processing device that processes user information from a plurality of information processing devices, an obtaining step of obtaining user information collected from the information processing devices; An analysis step of analyzing the user information obtained by the processing of the above, a user information recording step of recording the information analyzed by the processing of the analysis step in a database, and a user based on the information analyzed by the processing of the analysis step. It is characterized by including a selecting step of selecting an optimal processing procedure, and a providing step of providing a processing procedure selected by the processing of the selecting step to a user.

  A first program according to the present invention is a program for a center processing device for processing user information from a plurality of information processing devices, wherein an acquisition control step for controlling acquisition of user information collected from the information processing devices; An analysis control step for controlling the analysis of the user information obtained by the processing of the above, a user information recording step for recording the information analyzed by the processing of the analysis control step in the database, and an information analyzed by the processing of the analysis control step. And causing the computer to execute a selection control step of controlling the selection of an optimal processing procedure for the user based on the selection control step and a provision control step of controlling the provision of the processing procedure selected by the processing of the selection control step to the user. And

  A program of a first recording medium according to the present invention controls acquisition of user information collected from an information processing device in a recording medium in which a program of a center processing device for processing user information from a plurality of information processing devices is recorded. An acquisition control step, an analysis control step of controlling analysis of user information acquired by the processing of the acquisition control step, a user information recording step of recording information analyzed by the processing of the analysis control step in a database, and an analysis control step. A selection control step of controlling selection of a processing procedure most suitable for the user based on information analyzed by the processing of the step, and a provision control step of controlling provision of the processing procedure selected by the processing of the selection control step to the user And a program for causing a computer to execute the above.

  In the center processing device, the second information processing method, and the first program of the present invention, user information collected from the information processing device is obtained, the obtained user information is analyzed, and the analyzed information is stored in a database. The processing procedure optimal for the user is selected based on the information recorded and analyzed by the user, and the selected processing procedure is provided to the user.

  A first information processing apparatus of the present invention processes an input signal according to a predetermined processing procedure based on operation information receiving means for receiving operation information from a user and operation information received by the operation information receiving means. Signal processing means, and storage means for storing information on the operation information and the input signal as user information to be provided to the provider of the information processing apparatus, and the processing procedure is determined based on past user information of the user. It is a processing procedure.

  The storage unit can store, as operation information, a value of a parameter operated by a user and a time at which the parameter was operated.

  The signal processing unit can perform an image creation process on the input information signal by a class classification adaptive process.

  The signal processing means may be configured to be freely detachable in the information processing apparatus.

  According to a third information processing method of the present invention, an input signal is input in accordance with a predetermined processing procedure based on an operation information receiving step of receiving operation information from a user and operation information received by the operation information receiving step. A signal processing step of processing; and a storage step of storing operation information and information related to the input signal as user information to be provided to a provider of the information processing apparatus. The processing procedure is determined based on past user information of the user. It is characterized in that the processing procedure is performed.

  According to a second program of the present invention, an input signal is determined in advance based on operation information reception control step of controlling reception of operation information from a user and operation information received by the processing of the operation information reception control step. A computer executes a signal processing control step of controlling to perform processing according to a processing procedure and a storage control step of controlling to store operation information and information regarding an input signal as user information to be provided to a provider of the information processing apparatus. It is characterized by making it.

  The program of the second recording medium according to the present invention includes an operation information reception control step of controlling reception of operation information from a user, and an input signal based on the operation information received by the operation information reception control step. A signal processing control step of controlling to perform processing in accordance with a predetermined processing procedure, and a storage control step of controlling to store operation information and information about an input signal as user information to be provided to a provider of the information processing apparatus. A program to be executed by a computer is recorded.

  In the first information processing device, the third information processing method, and the second program of the present invention, operation information from a user is received, and an input signal is predetermined based on the received operation information. The processing is performed according to the processing procedure, and the information on the operation information and the input signal is stored as user information to be provided to the provider of the information processing apparatus.

  According to a second information processing apparatus of the present invention, an extracting unit for extracting a characteristic amount of an input image, a setting unit for setting image processing conditions, and an image based on the conditions set by the setting unit for the input image It is characterized by comprising image processing means for performing processing, and storage means for storing the feature amounts extracted by the extraction means and the conditions set by the setting means in the storage unit in association with each other.

  A selection unit for selecting an input image is further provided, and the storage unit associates selection information of the input image selected by the selection unit, a feature amount extracted by the extraction unit, and a condition set by the setting unit, respectively. Can be stored in the storage unit.

  The storage means can provide the contents stored in the storage unit to the business operator via the network.

  The image processing means converts the number of pixels or converts an interlaced image to a progressive image, and performs image processing for adjusting image quality using resolution and noise reduction as adjustment axes or image processing for enlarging an image at a predetermined magnification. It can be carried out.

  An image processing method according to the present invention includes an extraction step of extracting a feature amount of an input image, a setting step of setting image processing conditions, and image processing based on the conditions set in the processing of the setting step for the input image. , And a storage step of storing the feature amounts extracted in the processing of the extraction step and the conditions set in the processing of the setting step in the storage unit in association with each other.

  A program of a third recording medium according to the present invention includes an extraction control step for controlling extraction of a feature amount of an input image, a setting control step for controlling setting of image processing conditions, and a setting control for the input image. A storage unit for storing an image processing control step for controlling execution of image processing based on the conditions set in the step processing, the feature amounts extracted in the extraction control step, and the conditions set in the setting control step; And a storage control step of controlling storage in the storage device.

  According to a third program of the present invention, an extraction control step of controlling extraction of a feature amount of an input image, a setting control step of controlling setting of image processing conditions, and a processing of the setting control step for the input image The image processing control step for controlling the execution of the image processing based on the condition set in the step, the feature amount extracted in the extraction control step, and the condition set in the setting control step in the storage unit And a storage control step of controlling the computer.

  In the second information processing apparatus, the image processing method, and the third program according to the present invention, a feature amount of the input image is extracted, image processing conditions are set, and the input image is processed according to the set conditions. Based on the image processing, the extracted feature amount and the set condition are stored in association with each other.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the function suitable for a user's preference can be provided. In particular, it is possible to reliably and inexpensively provide a function that matches the taste of each user.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an information management system to which the present invention has been applied. In this configuration example, the center processing apparatus 1 of the present invention is installed in, for example, a center of a manufacturer that develops products, and analyzes user information and manufactures products or functions. The user terminals 2a to 2c, which are information processing apparatuses according to the present invention, are installed in, for example, a user's home or office, and when the user uses the terminal, information (for example, operation information, input signals, and the like) is stored. . In this example, three user terminals are described, but actually, there are more user terminals. The configuration of the center processing device 1 will be described later with reference to FIG. The configurations of the user terminals 2a to 2c will be described later with reference to FIG.

  Each of the user terminals 2a to 2c provides the information stored therein to the center processing device 1. The center processing device 1 determines an optimal function for each user terminal based on information provided from the user terminals 2a to 2c, and designates a new terminal having the determined function as the user terminals 2a to 2c. Provide to each user.

  FIG. 2 is an arrow chart showing the flow of processing between the center processing device 1 and the user terminal 2a. In step S1, the center processing device 1 provides the manufactured product having a predetermined function to the user terminal 2a.

  In step S21, the user terminal 2a acquires (implements) the provided product. In step S22, the user terminal 2a is used by the user, and accumulates (stores) the operation information and the input signal at that time for a predetermined period (for example, three years). In step S23, the user terminal 2a provides the stored information to the center processing device 1. At this time, the information may be provided by delivering the product itself or parts storing the information from the user to the center, or from the user terminal 2a to the center processing device via a network such as the Internet. 1 may be performed by transmitting data.

The provision of the information performed in step S23 may be performed when the information is accumulated for a predetermined period, or may be performed based on an instruction from the center. Further, it is also possible to provide information when the user desires.

  While the user terminal 2a accumulates operation information or input signals in step S22, the center (manufacturer) conducts research and development of a new product or a new function. In step S2, the center processing device 1 acquires information provided from the user terminal 2a, and analyzes the information acquired in step S3. Then, the processing of the researched and developed new product or new function is optimized to suit the user's preference of the user terminal 2a. For example, when it is analyzed from the information acquired in step S3 that the user of the user terminal 2a tends to prefer a high-resolution image, the new product is optimized to perform the process of increasing the image resolution. Alternatively, a program or parameter for a new function is selected.

  In step S4, the center processing apparatus 1 manufactures a product or a board to which a function (new function) reflecting the result of analyzing the information of the user is added, and provides the user or the product.

  In step S24, the user acquires a product or a board having a new function. When a board is obtained, the board is replaced with a corresponding board of an existing product or is newly added. In step S25, the user terminal 2a is used by the user, and accumulates operation information or an input signal at that time for a predetermined period. In step S26, the user terminal 2a provides the stored information to the center processing device 1.

  The provision of the information performed in step S26 may be performed when the information is accumulated for a predetermined period, or may be performed based on an instruction from the center. Further, it is also possible to provide information when the user desires.

  While the user terminal 2a accumulates operation information or input signals in step S25, the manufacturer conducts research and development of new products or functions (hereinafter, referred to as next-generation functions). In step S5, the center processing device 1 acquires information provided from the user terminal 2a, and analyzes the information acquired in step S6. Then, processing of the next-generation function developed and researched is optimized so as to match the user's preference of the user terminal 2a. For example, when it is analyzed from the information acquired in step S5 that the user of the user terminal 2a has a tendency to prefer the reproduction of the content at a high volume, the following is performed so as to be optimal for performing the process of increasing the volume. A program or a parameter in the generation function is selected.

  In step S7, the center processing apparatus 1 incorporates the next-generation function into the board or the new user terminal 2a and provides the user with the function. In step S27, the user acquires the device as a new user terminal 2a. Alternatively, when the board is obtained, the board is mounted on the existing user terminal 2a.

  In this example, the processing between the center processing apparatus 1 and the user terminal 2a has been described, but the same processing is performed between the center processing apparatus 1 and the user terminal 2b and between the center processing apparatus 1 and the user terminal 2c. .

  In this way, when a manufacturer develops a product or function, a user can obtain a product or function optimized according to his or her preference.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the user terminals 2a to 2c configured by a television receiver or the like. Note that the user terminals 2a to 2c have the same configuration, and will be hereinafter referred to as a user terminal (television receiver) 2 unless it is necessary to distinguish them individually. The television receiver 2 obtains an SD (Standard Definition) signal in the form of a 525i (interlace) signal from a broadcast signal, converts the 525i signal into an HD (High Definition) signal called a 1050i signal, and converts the 525i signal into an HD (High Definition) signal. It has the function of displaying images.

  The user operates the television receiver 2 using the remote commander 31. The television receiver 2 has a built-in microcomputer including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and a ROM (Read Only Memory), and has a system controller 12 for controlling the operation of the entire system. I have. The signal receiving unit 11 is connected to the system controller 12, receives an infrared remote control signal output from the remote commander 31 in response to a user operation, and supplies an operation signal corresponding to the signal to the system controller 12. .

  The receiving antenna 32 receives a broadcast signal. The tuner 13 receives a broadcast signal (RF modulation signal) received by the receiving antenna 32 and selects a channel selected by the user using the remote commander 31 according to a control signal input from the system controller 12. A tuning process is performed, and further, an intermediate frequency amplification process, a detection process, and the like are performed to obtain an SD signal (525i signal). The buffer memory 14 temporarily stores the SD signal output from the tuner 13.

  The signal processing unit 15 is configured to be detachable from the television receiver 2 and portable. For example, the board including the signal processing unit 15 is configured to be relatively easily attached to and detached from the television receiver 2. The signal processing unit 15 performs image signal processing for converting an SD signal (525i signal) temporarily stored in the buffer memory 14 into an HD signal (1050i signal).

  The user can upgrade the function of the television receiver 2 by replacing the signal processing unit 15 (substrate). For example, when a function for performing a zoom process is developed in the future, the user can change the substrate including the signal processing unit 15 having the function by replacing the signal processing unit 15 (substrate) with the existing signal processing unit 15 (substrate). A zoom processing function can be added to the functions of the receiver 2 so far.

  The OSD (On Screen Display) processing unit 16 generates a display signal for displaying a character graphic on the screen of the display unit 18. The synthesizing unit 17 synthesizes the display signal output from the OSD processing unit 16 with the HD signal output from the signal processing unit 15 and supplies the HD signal output to the display unit 18. The display unit 18 is configured by, for example, a flat panel display such as a CRT (cathode-ray tube) display or an LCD (liquid crystal display), and an image based on an HD signal output from the signal processing unit 15 and, if necessary, The display signal combined by the combining unit 17 is displayed.

  The signal output from the tuner 13 is also input to the audio processing unit 25, where the signal such as a change in volume is performed, and audio is output from the speaker 26.

  Further, the communication unit 20 is connected to the system controller 12, and is connected to the network 33 as necessary.

  Further, a drive 19 is connected to the system controller 12 as necessary, and a magnetic disk 21, an optical disk 22, a magneto-optical disk 23, a semiconductor memory 24, or the like is appropriately mounted, and a computer program read therefrom is loaded. Are installed in the system controller 12 as needed.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the signal processing unit 15. In the signal processing unit 15, a classification adaptive process is performed, and an output image as an HD image is created from an input image as an SD image. The details of the classification adaptive processing will be described later.

  The signal processing unit 15 is provided with a class tap extracting unit 51 that extracts a class tap from a received input image and a prediction tap extracting unit 55 that extracts a prediction tap. The class tap extracting unit 51 extracts a class tap composed of an arbitrary number of pixels at a predetermined position corresponding to a pixel of interest (hereinafter also referred to as a pixel of interest) from the input image, and extracts the extracted class tap. Is supplied to the feature calculation unit 52. The feature calculation unit 52 calculates the feature of the image corresponding to the pixel of interest, and supplies the calculated feature to the class classification unit 53 together with the class tap. Here, the feature amount of an image refers to a motion or a change in a pixel value in a frame.

  Further, the class classification unit 53 classifies the target pixel on the basis of the class tap and the characteristic amount supplied from the characteristic amount calculation unit 52. The class classification unit 53 supplies a class code indicating a result of the classification to the coefficient memory 54 and the prediction tap extraction unit 55. Note that the class classification unit 53 may perform the classification based on only the level distribution of the supplied class taps.

  The coefficient memory 54 supplies a prediction tap coefficient corresponding to the class represented by the class code supplied from the class classification unit 53 to the pixel value calculation unit 56.

  The prediction tap extraction unit 55 extracts an arbitrary number of prediction taps at a predetermined position with respect to the target pixel from the input image, and supplies the prediction tap to the pixel value calculation unit 56. The pixel value calculation unit 56 calculates the pixel value of the target pixel of the HD image based on the prediction tap supplied from the prediction tap extraction unit 55 and the tap coefficient supplied from the coefficient memory 54, and the calculated value is calculated. Output HD image.

  The user information storage unit 57 stores operation information or input / output signals. The user information storage unit 57 is configured by a non-volatile memory such as an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory). Information stored in the user information storage unit 57 will be described later with reference to FIG.

  The class tap extraction unit 51, the coefficient memory 54, and the user information storage unit 57 are each connected to a system controller, and are controlled by a control signal output from the system controller.

  Next, an image quality adjustment processing operation of the television receiver 2 will be described with reference to FIG. In step S31, the system controller 12 determines whether or not the start of the image quality adjustment processing has been instructed, and waits until it is determined that the instruction has been issued. For example, when the user presses a predetermined button (not shown) of the remote commander 31, an instruction to start the process is issued. If it is determined in step S31 that the start of the image quality adjustment processing has been instructed, the system controller 12 proceeds to step S32, and causes the signal receiving unit 11 to receive operation information. At this time, for example, an image of a GUI (Graphical User Interface) for simultaneously controlling the resolution and the suppression of noise is displayed on the display unit 18, and the user operates the remote commander 31 to simultaneously set the values of both parameters. .

  Specifically, the user specifies both parameters at the same time by specifying one point on the GUI screen with the resolution and noise suppression as the X axis and the Y axis, respectively.

  In step S33, the signal processing unit 15 performs signal processing described later with reference to FIG. 6 based on the operation information. This signal processing is performed by the classification adaptive processing as described above.

  Classification adaptive processing includes class classification processing and adaptive processing. The class classification processing classifies data into classes based on their properties, and performs adaptive processing for each class. This is the processing of the following method.

  That is, in the adaptive processing, for example, SD image data, which is an image of low image quality or standard image quality, is mapped (mapped) using a predetermined tap coefficient (hereinafter, also appropriately referred to as a prediction coefficient), thereby obtaining high image quality. Is converted into HD image data.

  Now, assuming that, for example, a linear linear combination model is adopted as a mapping method using the tap coefficients, the pixel value y of a pixel (hereinafter, appropriately referred to as an HD pixel) constituting HD image data is represented by SD Using a plurality of SD pixels extracted as prediction taps for predicting HD pixels from pixels constituting image data (hereinafter, appropriately referred to as SD pixels) and a tap coefficient, the following linear linear expression ( Linear combination).

  Here, in the equation (1), xn represents the pixel value of the pixel of the n-th SD image data that constitutes the prediction tap for the HD pixel y, and wn represents (the pixel value of) the n-th SD pixel. Represents the nth tap coefficient to be multiplied. In equation (1), it is assumed that the prediction tap is composed of N SD pixels x1, x2,..., XN.

  Here, the pixel value y of the HD pixel can be obtained not by the linear linear expression shown in Expression (1) but by a higher-order expression of second order or higher.

  Now, when the true value of the pixel value of the HD pixel of the k-th sample is expressed as yk, and the predicted value of the true value yk obtained by the equation (1) is expressed as yk ', the prediction error ek is expressed by the following equation. expressed.

  Since the predicted value yk 'in equation (2) is obtained according to equation (1), the following equation is obtained by replacing yk' in equation (2) according to equation (1).

  However, in equation (3), xn, k represents the n-th SD pixel that constitutes a prediction tap for the HD pixel of the k-th sample.

  The tap coefficient wn in equation (3) where the prediction error ek is 0 is optimal for predicting an HD pixel. However, to obtain such a tap coefficient wn for all HD pixels, generally, Have difficulty.

  Therefore, assuming that, for example, the least squares method is adopted as a criterion indicating that the tap coefficient wn is optimal, the optimal tap coefficient wn is expressed as a statistical error, for example, by the following equation. It can be obtained by minimizing the sum E of the square errors.

  Here, in equation (4), K is the number of samples of a set of an HD pixel yk and SD pixels x1, k, x2, k,..., XN, k constituting a prediction tap for the HD pixel yk. Represents

  The tap coefficient wn for minimizing (minimizing) the sum E of the square errors in the equation (4) is a value obtained by partially differentiating the sum E with the tap coefficient wn to be 0. Therefore, the following equation must be satisfied. is there.

  Therefore, the following equation is obtained by partially differentiating the above equation (3) with the tap coefficient wn.

From the equations (5) and (6), the following (7) is obtained.

By substituting equation (3) into ek of equation (7), equation (7) can be represented by a normal equation represented by equation (8).

  By preparing a set of HD pixels yk and SD pixels xn, k by a certain number, the normal equation of Expression (8) can be set as many as the number of tap coefficients wn to be obtained. By solving the equation (8) (however, in order to solve the equation (8), the matrix on the left side of the tap coefficient wn in the equation (8) needs to be regular) to find the optimum tap coefficient wn. be able to. In solving equation (8), for example, a sweeping-out method (Gauss-Jordan elimination method) or the like can be adopted.

  As described above, a number of HD pixels y1, y2,..., YK are used as teacher data serving as a teacher for learning tap coefficients, and SD pixels x1, k forming prediction taps for each HD pixel yk. , X2, k,..., XN, k are used as student data for learning tap coefficients, and solving equation (8) to perform learning to find the optimum tap coefficient wn. Using the tap coefficient wn and mapping (converting) the SD image data to the HD image data according to the equation (1), the adaptive processing is performed.

  Note that the adaptive processing differs from, for example, simple interpolation processing in that components included in an HD image, which are not included in an SD image, are reproduced. That is, the adaptive processing is the same as the interpolation processing using the so-called interpolation filter as far as only the equation (1) is viewed, but the tap coefficient wn corresponding to the tap coefficient of the interpolation filter is set to the HD as teacher data. Since it is obtained by learning using the image data and the SD image data as the student data, the components included in the HD image can be reproduced. From this, it can be said that the adaptive processing has a so-called image creation (resolution imagination) action.

  Here, in the learning of the tap coefficient wn, the tap coefficient wn for performing various conversions can be obtained depending on what combination is used as the combination of the teacher data y and the student data x.

  That is, for example, when the HD image data is adopted as the teacher data y and the SD image data in which the resolution of the HD image data is degraded is adopted as the student data x, the resolution of the image is improved. The tap coefficient wn to be converted into the converted image can be obtained. Further, for example, when HD image data is adopted as the teacher data y and SD image data obtained by adding noise or blur to the HD image data is adopted as the student data x, the image is replaced with the noise or blur. Can be obtained as a tap coefficient wn to be converted into an image from which is removed. In the present invention, a tap coefficient calculated by learning based on the latter teacher data is stored in the coefficient memory 54 in advance.

  Here, the signal processing of step S33 in FIG. 5 will be described with reference to FIG. In step S41, the class tap extracting unit 51 extracts a class tap corresponding to the pixel of interest from the input image. In step S42, the feature value calculation unit 52 calculates a feature value corresponding to the target pixel from the input image. In step S43, the class classification unit 53 classifies the class corresponding to the target pixel based on the class tap extracted in the processing in step S41 and the feature amount calculated in the processing in step S42.

  In step S44, the prediction tap extracting unit 55 extracts a prediction tap corresponding to the pixel of interest from the input image in accordance with the result of the class classification performed in step S43. In step S45, the coefficient memory 54 reads out a prediction coefficient corresponding to the classified class from among the prediction coefficients stored in advance, corresponding to the result of the class classification by the processing in step S43.

  In step S46, the pixel value calculation unit 56 calculates a pixel value corresponding to the pixel of interest based on the prediction tap extracted in the process of step S44 and the prediction coefficient read in the process of step S45. In step S47, the signal processing unit 15 determines whether or not prediction has been completed for all pixels. If it is determined that prediction has not been completed for all pixels, the process returns to step S41, and the next pixel is determined. The class classification and adaptation processing are repeated as the pixel of interest.

  If it is determined in step S47 that prediction has been completed for all pixels, the process ends.

  In this way, the signal processing is performed, the SD image is converted into the HD image, and the noise is suppressed to the minimum.

  Returning to FIG. 5, in step S34, the system controller 12 superimposes the OSD signal from the OSD processing unit 16 on the signal output from the signal processing unit 15 and causes the display unit 18 to display the signal.

  In step S35, the system controller 12 causes the user information storage unit 57 of the signal processing unit 15 to store the operation information and the input signal as user information. FIG. 7 shows an example of the user information stored at this time.

  The first line of FIG. 7 describes “# === power on: Sat Jan 4 10:11:00 2003”. This indicates that the television receiver 2 was activated at 10:11:00 on Saturday, January 4, 2003 in the Christian era. The second line describes "channel 6: Sat Jan 4 10:11:03 2003". This means that six channels were selected at 10:11:03 on January 4, 2003 (Saturday).

  The third line describes “DRCMFv1 164 157: Sat Jan 4 10:11:03 2003”. This is because at 10:11:03 on Saturday, January 4, 2003, the value of the parameter DRCMFv1 that specifies the resolution of the image and the suppression of noise is specified as the value 164 and the value 157. Indicates that it was done. The fourth line describes “Lvolume 124 Sat Jan 4 10:11:25 2003”. This indicates that the value 124 was specified in the parameter Lvolume for specifying the volume at 10:11:25 on Saturday, January 4, 2003 in the Christian era. The fifth line describes “Lvolume 147 Sat Jan 4 10:11:26 2003”. This indicates that at 10:11:26 on January 4, 2003 (Saturday), the value 147 was specified in the parameter Lvolume described above. Similarly, in the sixth to eighth lines, the value of the parameter Lvolume is described together with the designated time.

  On the ninth to twenty-fourth lines, similarly to the third line, the value of the parameter DRCMFv1 described above is described together with the designated time. On the 25th line, the value of the parameter Lvolume described above is described together with the specified time. On the 26th to 31st lines, the specified channel is set in the same manner as the 2nd line. , With the specified time.

  The 32nd line describes “# === power off: Sat Jan 4 22:46:34 2003”. This indicates that the television receiver 2 was turned off (power off) at 22:46:34 on January 4, 2003 (Saturday).

  In this example, the television receiver 2 is started at 10:11:00 on January 4, 2003 (Saturday), and at 22:46:34 on January 4, 2003 (Saturday), 2003. The case where the information until the end is stored has been described. However, the information to be stored is not limited to the period from the start to the end, and is continuously determined according to the capacity of the user information storage unit 57. It is memorized. For example, if the television receiver 2 is restarted at 10:00:00 on January 5, 2003 (Sunday), the line "# === power on: Sun on the 33rd line in FIG. Jan 5 10:00:00 2003 "is added. After that, when the user specifies the values of various parameters, the information is added as in the case described above.

  Note that the user information storage unit 57 is configured to have a sufficient capacity to store user information for a predetermined period (for example, three years).

  Further, in this example, the case where the parameter DRCMFv1, the parameter Lvolume, and the value of the selected channel are stored in addition to the power on and the power off has been described, but the stored information is not limited to this.

  Further, an ID (for example, a registration number) for specifying a user is added to the information stored in the user information storage unit 57 and stored. When the user information is acquired by the center processing device 1, The user is specified based on the ID.

  Further, the user information storage unit 57 may store the feature amounts of the images when the user specifies the values of various parameters in association with each other. The details will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 8 illustrates a configuration example of a television receiver 101 to which the above-described example of storing the feature amount of an image in association with various parameters is applied.

  The tuner 112 of the television receiver 101 performs a tuning process, an intermediate frequency amplification process, a detection process, and the like on a broadcast signal (RF modulation signal) captured by the reception antenna 111 to convert an SD (Standard Definition) signal. The input is extracted and supplied to the input selection processing unit 113.

  The input selection processing unit 113 receives, in addition to the SD signal from the tuner 112, an image signal or a digital video signal from a DVD (Digital Video Disc), a video tape recorder, or the like (neither is shown).

  The input selection processing unit 113 selects a predetermined signal under the control of the system controller 118, performs preprocessing according to the selected signal, and outputs the resulting image signal to the image feature amount extraction unit 114 and the image signal processing unit 114. To the unit 115.

  The image feature amount extraction unit 114 extracts the result of frequency analysis of the image signal input from the input selection processing unit 113, the presence or absence of motion of the image, the activity (for example, dynamic range), and the like as the image feature amount, This is supplied to the system controller 118.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the image feature amount extraction unit 114 uses the event that the image quality has been adjusted (the user has operated the remote controller 102 to adjust the resolution or the noise removal degree) as an event, as shown in FIG. 9. The frequency of the image signal is analyzed at predetermined time intervals (for example, at one-second intervals), and the result (F1, F2, F3,... In the example of FIG. 9) is supplied to the system controller 118.

  The image signal processing unit 115 has a function of generating an HD (High Definition) signal (1050i signal or 525p signal) from the SD signal (525i signal), a function of adjusting the resolution and the volume of noise, and a part of an image to be displayed. Has a zoom function that can enlarge the image, and performs image processing according to the function and condition set by the user.

  An OSD (On Screen Display) circuit 117 generates a display signal for displaying characters and graphics on the screen of the display unit 121 and supplies the signal to the synthesizer 116. That is, the combiner 116 combines the display signal supplied from the OSD circuit 117 with the HD signal from the image signal processing unit 115 and supplies the HD signal to the display unit 121.

  The system controller 118 controls each unit according to a signal supplied from the remote control signal reception circuit 119 and a signal indicating a user's operation input supplied from an operation input unit (not shown) provided as needed. .

  For example, the system controller 118 transmits a selection signal to the tuner 112 and the input selection processing unit 113 and controls the operation of the OSD circuit 117. The system controller 118 also includes information (hereinafter, referred to as selection information) indicating a viewed image, such as information indicating a channel selected by the tuner 112 (which may include a broadcast time, a program name, and the like), and an image feature amount. The feature amount of the image extracted by the extraction unit 114 and the condition related to the image processing supplied from the remote control signal receiving circuit 119 (a value representing a color, a resolution, or a noise removal degree set by the user operating the remote controller 102) , Or the enlargement ratio in the zoom function) are stored in the storage unit 120 in association with each other.

  FIG. 10 shows the storage contents of the storage unit 120. In the case of this example, the selection information, the frequency analysis result, the noise removal degree, the resolution, and the magnification in the zoom function are stored. These may be created for each user ID.

  In storing these data in the storage unit 120, appropriate data compression can be performed. Further, the data stored in the storage unit 120 can be appropriately updated (for example, old data can be deleted and only the latest data can be stored).

  The contents stored in the storage unit 120 can be decrypted by, for example, a manufacturer who has picked up the television receiver 101 at the time of replacement of the television receiver. The contents stored in the storage unit 120 can be transferred to a manufacturer via a network.

  Returning to FIG. 5, in step S36, the system controller 12 determines whether or not termination has been instructed. If it is determined that termination has not been instructed, the process returns to step S32, and the subsequent processing is repeatedly executed. Is done. For example, when the user presses the end button (not shown) of the remote commander 31, the system control unit 12 determines that the end has been instructed in step S36, and ends the processing.

  FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the center processing device 1. The center processing device 1 is provided with a user information acquisition unit 81 that acquires user information. The user information can be acquired in the center processing device 1 by, for example, removing the substrate of the signal processing unit 15 from the television receiver 2 and delivering it to the center. In this case, the user information acquisition unit 81 reads out the data stored in the user information storage unit 57 of the signal processing unit 15.

  Alternatively, the user information may be processed by the system controller 12 of the television receiver 2 by reading data from the storage in the user information storage unit 57 and transmitting the data to the center from the communication unit 20 via the network 33, for example. It can be obtained in the device 1. In this case, the user information acquisition unit 81 is connected to the network 33 and receives the user information transmitted from the television receiver 2.

  The center processing device 1 is provided with a user information analysis unit 82 that extracts an ID for specifying a user from the acquired user information and analyzes a change in the value of each parameter in the user information. Information is recorded by a user information DB (database) 83 for each user. In the processing procedure DB 85, processing procedures (for example, tap positions, coefficients, and the like used in the classification adaptive processing in the signal processing unit 15) according to various user preferences are recorded, and the processing procedures are recorded in the processing procedure DB 85. The processing procedure is updated by the selection updating unit 84 as needed.

  Further, the center processing device 1 includes a processing procedure selection unit that classifies users into predetermined groups based on information analyzed by the user information analysis unit 82 and selects an optimum processing procedure for the user from the processing procedure DB 85. 86 are provided. The threshold used when classifying the users into the predetermined groups is updated by the selection updating unit 84 as necessary.

  In addition, the center processing apparatus 1 is provided with a common part manufacturing unit 87 that manufactures a part common to all users among products or functions to be manufactured. For example, when the signal processing unit 15 is manufactured, the common part manufacturing unit 87 performs processing such as attachment of components constituting each unit of the signal processing unit 15. Further, the center processing apparatus 1 is provided with an individual part manufacturing unit 88 that manufactures a part (individual part) different for each user in a product or function to be manufactured. For example, when manufacturing the signal processing unit 15, a process of recording various setting values in a class tap extraction unit 51, a prediction tap extraction unit 55, or a ROM (Read-Only Memory) (not shown) in the coefficient memory 54 is performed. Is performed by the individual part manufacturing unit 88.

  The individual part manufacturing unit 88 includes a basic part manufacturing unit 91 that manufactures individual parts for each group based on the processing procedure selected by the processing procedure selection unit 86, and an information analyzed by the user information analysis unit 82. In addition, a unique part manufacturing unit 92 that manufactures individual parts for each user is provided. For example, when various setting values are recorded in the ROM, setting values such as tap positions and coefficients used for the classification adaptive processing are recorded by the basic part manufacturing unit 91, and setting values such as an initial value of an image resolution are set. Is recorded by the unique part manufacturing unit 92.

  Next, a manufacturing processing operation of the center processing apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. In step S61, the user information acquisition unit 81 acquires user information from the user information storage unit 57 of the signal processing unit 15 of a predetermined user. In step S62, the user information analysis unit 82 extracts an ID from the acquired user information, specifies a user, and analyzes the user for each ID. Thus, analysis results as shown in FIGS. 14 to 16 are obtained.

  FIGS. 14 to 16 are graphs showing the value of the parameter DRC-Mfv1 on the vertical axis and the date on the horizontal axis. The value of the parameter DRC-Mfv1 on the vertical axis is extracted from the user information, and the average value is calculated and obtained for each date. The date on the horizontal axis is a calendar day, with the date on which the acquisition of the user information was started as the first day. FIG. 14 is a graph showing a daily change of the parameter DRC-Mfv1 in the user information of the user A who is the user of the television receiver 2. Similarly, FIG. 15 is a graph showing a daily change of the parameter DRC-Mfv1 in the user information of the user B different from the user A, and FIG. 16 is a graph showing the parameter DRC-Mfv1 in the user information of the user C. 7 is a graph showing a daily change of the graph.

  Note that the actual parameter DRC-Mfv1 is composed of two parameter values, resolution and noise, but here, for simplicity of description, only the value of the resolution is shown.

  First, the value of the parameter DRC-Mfv1 for each date is plotted, resulting in line 101 in FIG. Thereafter, based on the line 101, an approximate straight line 102 is obtained by the least square method or the like. Similarly, in FIGS. 15 and 16, lines 121 and 141 indicating the value of the parameter DRC-Mfv1 for each date, and their approximate straight lines 122 and 142 are obtained.

  Note that, in the examples of FIGS. 14 to 16, the analysis result for the parameter DRC-Mfv1 is shown, but the same analysis is performed for other parameters (for example, Lvolume).

  In step S63, the user information DB 83 records the analysis result of step S62 together with the ID. By doing so, a database of user information is constructed, and user information can be searched using the ID as a key.

  In step S64, the processing procedure selection unit 86 performs a processing procedure selection process described later with reference to FIG. As a result, the users are classified into a predetermined group, and the processing procedure most suitable for the user is selected from the processing procedure DB 85.

  Here, the processing procedure selection processing in step S64 will be described with reference to FIG. In step S81, the processing procedure selection unit 86 acquires the ID of the target user from the user information analysis unit 82, acquires the user information from the user information analysis unit 82 in step S82, and acquires the feature amount in the user information in step S83. (For example, the value of the parameter DRC-Mfv1) is obtained. At this time, information as shown in FIGS. 14 to 16 is obtained.

  In step S84, the processing procedure selection unit 86 calculates the change amount α of the feature amount. The change amount α is calculated as follows. For example, when obtaining the change amount α of the feature amount of the user A, as shown in FIG. 14, the change amount of the approximate straight line 102 for a predetermined period (for example, from the second day to the eighth day) is calculated. You. Similarly, the change amount α of the feature amount of the user B is obtained as shown in FIG. The change amount of the user A has a positive predetermined value, whereas the change amount of the user B has a negative predetermined value. In the case of the user C, since the approximate straight line 142 in FIG. 16 is substantially parallel to the horizontal axis, the variation amount α of the feature amount is 0.

  In step S85, the processing procedure selection unit 86 determines whether or not the value of the change amount α is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold th1, and if it is determined that the value of the change amount α is equal to or greater than the threshold th1, the process proceeds to step S86. , The user classification number of the target user is set to 1. Here, the threshold value th1 is usually a positive value, and the value of the change amount α is determined to be equal to or larger than the threshold value th1 when the value of the feature value tends to increase. For example, when the target user is the user A, the feature amount tends to increase as indicated by the approximate straight line 102 in FIG. 14, so the user classification number of the user A is set to 1.

  In step S87, the processing procedure selection unit 86 acquires the processing procedure corresponding to the user classification number 1 from the processing procedure DB 85.

  If it is determined in step S85 that the value of the change amount α is less than the threshold value th1, the processing procedure selection unit 86 proceeds to step S88. It is determined whether or not (th1> th2) or less. If it is determined that the value of the change amount α is equal to or less than the threshold th2, the process proceeds to step S89, and the user classification number of the target user is set to 2. Here, the threshold value th2 is usually a negative value, and the value of the change amount α is determined to be equal to or smaller than the threshold value th2 when the value of the feature value tends to decrease. For example, when the target user is the user B, the feature amount tends to increase as indicated by the approximate straight line 122 in FIG. 15, so the user classification number of the user B is set to 2.

  In step S90, the processing procedure selection unit 86 acquires the processing procedure corresponding to the user classification number 2 from the processing procedure DB 85.

  If it is determined in step S88 that the value of the change amount α is not equal to or smaller than the threshold value th2, that is, if the value of the change amount α is smaller than the threshold value th1 and exceeds the threshold value th2, the process proceeds to step S91 and the processing procedure selecting unit 86 sets the user classification number of the target user to 3. The value of the change amount α is determined to be less than the threshold value th1 and exceeds the threshold value th2 when the value of the feature value does not particularly tend to increase or decrease. For example, when the target user is the user C, the feature amount does not increase or decrease as shown by the approximate straight line 142 in FIG. 16. Therefore, the user classification number of the user C is set to 3.

  In step S92, the processing procedure selection unit 86 acquires the processing procedure corresponding to the user classification number 3 from the processing procedure DB 85.

  FIG. 17 shows an example of the processing procedure of each group recorded in the processing procedure DB 85. In this example, tap types and coefficients used in the classification adaptive processing are recorded as the processing procedure. FIG. 17 shows a case where the feature value is the value of the parameter DRC-Mfv1, and the processing procedure is not limited to this.

  Assuming that the value of the parameter DRC-Mfv1 in FIGS. 14 to 16 designates the resolution in the spatial direction, the user classified into the user classification number 1 prefers to set the resolution in the spatial direction higher. You are a user. Further, the user classified into the user classification number 2 is a user who prefers to set a low resolution in the spatial direction. Further, it is considered that a user classified into the user classification number 3 prefers a resolution in a spatial direction intermediate between a user classified into the user classification number 1 and a user classified into the user classification number 2.

18 to 20 are diagrams illustrating examples of prediction taps in the spatial direction and the temporal direction. The taps shown in FIGS. 18 to 20 are called type a to type c taps, respectively. Here, in the figure, a circle mark indicates a selected tap. F0 represents a field in which pixel data of the HD signal to be created (pixel data at the position of interest) is present, and a center prediction tap TP is present in this field F0. F-1 represents a field temporally before the field F0, and F + 1 represents a field temporally after the field F0.

  The tap of the type a shown in FIG. 18 is obtained by increasing the number of taps in the spatial direction (vertical direction and horizontal direction). Thereby, the resolution in the spatial direction is created with higher precision than the resolution in the time direction. The tap of type b shown in FIG. 19 is obtained by increasing the number of taps in the time direction. Thereby, the resolution in the time direction is created with higher precision than the resolution in the space direction. The tap of type c shown in FIG. 20 has a configuration that realizes an intermediate characteristic between type a and type b.

  Since the user (for example, user A) classified into the user classification number 1 is a user who prefers to set a high resolution in the spatial direction, the new signal processing unit 15 provided to the user A adopts type a. Is preferred. In addition, since the user classified into the user classification number 2 (for example, user B) is a user who prefers to set a low resolution in the spatial direction, the new signal processing unit 15 provided to the user B adopts the type b. Is preferred. Furthermore, the user classified into the user classification number 3 (for example, the user C) is considered to prefer the resolution in the spatial direction between the user classified into the user classification number 1 and the user classified into the user classification number 2. Therefore, it is preferable that the new signal processing unit 15 provided to the user C adopts the type c.

  As described above, the type of tap corresponding to the user classification number and the coefficient corresponding to the tap are recorded in the processing procedure DB 85. Then, in the processing of steps S87, S90, and S92 in FIG. 13, by selecting a processing procedure corresponding to each user classification number, a processing procedure suitable for each user's preference is provided to each user. Function).

  Returning to FIG. 12, in step S65, the basic part manufacturing unit 91 manufactures a basic part based on the processing procedure selected in step S64. As a result, set values such as taps and coefficients used for the classification adaptive processing are recorded in the ROM. In step S66, the unique part manufacturing unit 92 sets a user unique value.

  The setting of the user unique value is performed, for example, as follows. The approximate straight line 102 in the graph of FIG. 14 rises to the right in the figure. From this, it can be seen that the user A tends to recently specify a higher parameter DRC-Mfv1 (higher resolution). Now, when a new signal processing unit 15 is provided to the user A as a new product (function), if the initial value of the parameter DRC-Mfv1 is set to a value larger than the currently set period value, the user A It is possible to provide a more comfortable image, that is, an image that matches the taste of the user A. Thus, the unique part manufacturing unit 92 sets the rightmost value of the approximate straight line 102 (110 in the example of FIG. 14) as the initial value of the parameter DRC-Mfv1.

Further, the initial value may be set by predicting the value of the parameter DRC-Mfv1 in the future from the inclination of the approximate straight line 102. For example, in FIG. 14, only the tenth date is displayed, but since the approximate straight line 102 is inclined to the upper right in the figure, if the approximate straight line is extended as it is, on the twelfth day, The value of the parameter DRC-Mfv1 is predicted to be about 130. The value thus predicted can be set as an initial value.

  The approximate straight line 122 in the graph of FIG. 15 descends to the right in the figure. From this, it is understood that the user B tends to specify the parameter DRC-Mfv1 lower recently. Now, when a new signal processing unit 15 is provided to the user B as a new product (function), if the initial value of the parameter DRC-Mfv1 is set to be lower than the currently set initial value, the preference of the user B can be obtained. A matching image can be provided.

  The approximate straight line 142 in the graph of FIG. 16 is substantially parallel to the horizontal axis in the figure. This indicates that the user C tends to specify the parameter DRC-Mfv1 higher or lower. That is, when a new signal processing unit 15 is provided to the user C as a new product (function), if the initial value of the parameter DRC-Mfv1 is set to be equal to the currently set initial value, An image that matches the taste of the user C can be provided.

  The initial value of the parameter DRC-Mfv1 set in this way will be further described with reference to FIGS. FIGS. 21 to 23 are graphs showing the resolution on the vertical axis and the noise parameter on the horizontal axis, respectively. A point P in FIGS. 21 to 23 shows the current initial value of the parameter DRC-Mfv1.

  In FIG. 21, a point PA indicates an initial value of the parameter DRC-Mfv1 in the new signal processing unit 15 provided to the user A. The resolution value DrA of the point PA is set higher than the resolution value Dr of the point P. Note that an appropriate value is automatically calculated for the noise value DnA with reference to the resolution value DrA.

  In FIG. 22, a point PB indicates an initial value of the parameter DRC-Mfv1 in the new signal processing unit 15 provided to the user B. The resolution value DrB of the point PB is set lower than the resolution value Dr of the point P.

  In FIG. 23, a point PC indicates an initial value of the parameter DRC-Mfv1 in the new signal processing unit 15 provided to the user C. Point PC is set at substantially the same position as point P.

  Thus, different initial values are set for the user A, the user B, and the user C, respectively. Note that these initial values are not set for each group by grouping users, but are set for each user.

  In step S67, the unique part manufacturing unit 92 manufactures a unique part. At this time, the initial value set in step S66 is recorded in the ROM.

  In steps S65 and S67, instead of recording the set values such as taps and coefficients used in the class classification adaptive processing and the initial values such as the parameter DRC-Mfv1 in the ROM, the class classification adaptive processing is performed via the network 33. It is also possible to transmit to the television receiver 2 a set value such as a tap and a coefficient used for, and an initial value such as a parameter DRC-Mfv1. In this case, the system controller 12 of the television receiver 2 updates the value set in the signal processing unit 15 based on the transmitted data.

  In this way, a new product (new function) that suits each user's preference is manufactured.

In the processing procedure selection processing of FIG. 13, the thresholds th1 and th2 used are appropriately updated by the selection updating unit 84. The threshold update process will be described with reference to FIG. This process is performed after the user information is sufficiently stored in the user information DB 83. This processing may be performed periodically, or may be performed, for example, every time a predetermined amount of user information is added.

  In step S111, the selection updating unit 84 analyzes the data of the amount of change recorded in the user information DB 83, and generates a frequency distribution of the amount of change in step S112.

  FIGS. 25 and 26 show examples of the frequency distribution of the change amount. 25 and 26, the horizontal axis indicates the amount of change in the parameter Lvolume, and the vertical axis indicates the frequency distribution of users. In FIG. 22, a line 161 indicates the frequency distribution of users initially assumed by the manufacturer. The line 161 forms the first peak P1 when the change amount is -4, forms the second peak P2 when the change amount is 0, and forms the third peak P3 when the change amount is 4. I have. The threshold value th1 corresponds to the minimum value P5 of 2 of the change amount, and the threshold value th2 corresponds to the minimum value P4 of -2 of the change amount.

  That is, the manufacturer initially forms one peak at a value smaller than the threshold value th2, forms one peak at a value larger than the threshold value th1, and forms one peak between the threshold values th1 and th2. As described above, the value of the threshold th1 was set to 2 and the value of the threshold th2 was set to -2.

  In step S112, for example, when a frequency distribution as shown by a line 162 in FIG. 26 is obtained based on the actually stored user information, it is necessary to change the values of the thresholds th1 and th2. The line 162 forms the first peak P11 when the amount of change is −8, forms the second peak P12 when the amount of change is −4, and forms the third peak P13 when the amount of change is 0. Has formed.

  Therefore, in step S113, the selection updating unit 84 updates the values of the thresholds th1 and th2, for example, as shown in FIG. In FIG. 26, the threshold value th1 is updated to a minimum value P15 having a change amount of −2, and the threshold value th2 is updated to a minimum value P14 having a change amount of −6. As a result, one peak is formed on the left side of the threshold value th2, one peak is formed on the right side of the threshold value th1, and one peak is formed between the threshold values th1 and th2.

  Note that the number of thresholds is not limited to two, and it is possible to set more thresholds according to the frequency distribution. The information recorded in the processing procedure DB 85 is also updated with the update of the threshold.

  Thus, by generating the frequency distribution and setting the threshold, more appropriate user classification can be performed.

  In the above, the television receiver is taken as an example, but the present invention can be applied to the case of manufacturing various other information processing devices.

  It does not matter whether the above-described series of processing is implemented by hardware or software. When the above-described series of processes is executed by software, a program constituting the software executes various functions by installing a computer incorporated in dedicated hardware or installing various programs. For example, it is installed from a network or a recording medium into a general-purpose personal computer as shown in FIG. 27, for example.

  27, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 201 executes various processes according to a program stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 202 or a program loaded from a storage unit 208 into a RAM (Random Access Memory) 203. I do. The RAM 203 also appropriately stores data necessary for the CPU 201 to execute various processes.

  The CPU 201, the ROM 202, and the RAM 203 are interconnected via a bus 204. An input / output interface 205 is also connected to the bus 204.

  The input / output interface 205 includes an input unit 206 including a keyboard and a mouse, a display (display unit) including a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) and an LCD (Liquid Crystal display), an output unit 207 including a speaker and the like, a hard disk, and the like. And a communication unit 209 including a modem, a terminal adapter, and the like. The communication unit 209 performs communication processing via a network such as the Internet.

  A drive 210 is connected to the input / output interface 205 as necessary, and a recording medium on which the program of the present invention is recorded is mounted on the drive 210, and a computer program read out of the drive 210 is used as needed. Installed in the storage unit 208.

  The recording medium includes a magnetic disk 211, an optical disk 212, a magneto-optical disk 213, a semiconductor memory 214, and the like.

  Note that the steps of executing a series of processes described above in the present specification include, in addition to processes performed in chronological order according to the described order, not only chronological processes but also parallel or individual execution. This includes the processing to be performed.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an information management system to which the present invention has been applied. It is an arrow chart which shows the flow of processing between a center processing unit and a user terminal. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an information processing device according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a signal processing unit in FIG. 3. It is a flowchart explaining the image adjustment operation of a television receiver. It is a flowchart explaining the signal processing of step S33 of FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of user information stored in a user information storage unit. FIG. 22 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a television receiver to which an example of storing image feature amounts in association with various parameters is applied. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a frequency analysis method. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating storage contents of a storage unit in FIG. 8. It is a block diagram showing an example of composition of a center processing unit. It is a flowchart explaining the manufacturing processing operation of a center processing apparatus. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure selection process in step S64 of FIG. It is a figure showing an example of an analysis result of user information. It is a figure showing an example of an analysis result of user information. It is a figure showing an example of an analysis result of user information. It is a figure showing the example of the processing procedure recorded on processing procedure DB. It is a figure showing the pattern of the tap position corresponding to user classification. It is a figure showing the pattern of the tap position corresponding to user classification. It is a figure showing the pattern of the tap position corresponding to user classification. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of initial values of resolution and noise. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of initial values of resolution and noise. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of initial values of resolution and noise. It is a flowchart explaining a threshold value update process. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a frequency distribution of a change amount of a feature amount. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a frequency distribution of a change amount of a feature amount. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a personal computer.

Explanation of reference numerals

  1 mobile phone, 2 IC card chip, 5 content server, 7 SAM, 91 communication control unit, 92 secure client, 93 display control unit, 102 memory, 103 antenna, 111 card control unit, 112 reader / writer control unit, 113 memory management Section, 114 communication control section, 181 HTTP server, 182 secure server, 183 application program

Claims (24)

In an information management system including a center processing device for analyzing user information and a plurality of information processing devices for storing user information,
The center processing device,
Acquisition means for acquiring user information collected from the information processing apparatus;
Analysis means for analyzing the user information acquired by the acquisition means,
User information recording means for recording information analyzed by the analysis means in a database,
A selection unit that selects an optimal processing procedure for the user based on the information analyzed by the analysis unit,
Providing means for providing the user with the processing procedure selected by the selecting means,
The information processing device,
Operation information receiving means for receiving operation information from the user;
Signal processing means for processing an input signal based on the operation information received by the operation information receiving means;
A storage unit for storing the operation information and the information on the input signal as the user information. In an information processing method of an information management system including a center processing device for analyzing information and a plurality of information processing devices for storing user information,
The center processing method of the center processing device,
An obtaining step of obtaining user information collected from the information processing apparatus;
An analyzing step of analyzing the user information acquired by the processing of the acquiring step,
A user information recording step of recording information analyzed by the processing of the analysis step in a database;
A selection step of selecting an optimal processing procedure for the user based on the information analyzed by the processing of the analysis step;
Providing a processing procedure selected by the processing of the selecting step to a user,
The information processing method of the information processing apparatus includes:
An operation information receiving step of receiving operation information from the user;
A signal processing step of processing an input signal based on the operation information received by the operation information receiving step;
A storage step of storing the operation information and information on the input signal as the user information. In a center processing device that processes user information from a plurality of information processing devices,
Acquisition means for acquiring user information collected from the information processing device,
Analysis means for analyzing the user information acquired by the acquisition means,
User information recording means for recording information analyzed by the analysis means in a database,
A selection unit that selects an optimal processing procedure for the user based on the information analyzed by the analysis unit,
Providing means for providing a user with the processing procedure selected by the selecting means. The selection unit includes a determination unit that calculates a change amount of the user information and determines whether the change amount exceeds a predetermined threshold. Based on a determination result of the determination unit, the selection unit determines the user. The center processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the apparatus is classified into groups. The center processing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: a processing procedure recording unit that records the processing procedure different for each of the predetermined groups. The providing means,
A basic part determining unit that obtains the processing procedure from the processing procedure recording unit based on the determination result of the determining unit and determines a basic part of a function to be provided to the user based on the obtained processing procedure; ,
The center processing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: a unique part determining unit that determines a unique part unique to the user in the function based on the user information analyzed by the analyzing unit. The center processing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: updating means for updating a threshold value of said determining means based on information recorded by said user information recording means. An information processing method of a center processing device that processes user information from a plurality of information processing devices,
An acquisition step of acquiring user information collected from the information processing apparatus,
An analyzing step of analyzing the user information acquired by the processing of the acquiring step,
A user information recording step of recording information analyzed by the processing of the analysis step in a database,
A selection step of selecting an optimal processing procedure for a user based on the information analyzed by the processing of the analysis step;
A providing step of providing a processing procedure selected by the processing of the selecting step to a user. A program of a center processing device that processes user information from a plurality of information processing devices,
An acquisition control step of controlling acquisition of user information collected from the information processing apparatus,
An analysis control step of controlling the analysis of the user information acquired by the processing of the acquisition control step,
A user information recording step of recording information analyzed by the processing of the analysis control step in a database,
Based on the information analyzed by the processing of the analysis control step, a selection control step of controlling the selection of a processing procedure optimal for the user,
A provision control step of controlling provision of the processing procedure selected by the selection control step to the user. A recording medium in which a program of a center processing device that processes user information from a plurality of information processing devices is recorded,
The program is
An acquisition control step of controlling acquisition of user information collected from the information processing apparatus,
An analysis control step of controlling the analysis of the user information acquired by the processing of the acquisition control step,
A user information recording step of recording information analyzed by the processing of the analysis control step in a database,
Based on the information analyzed by the processing of the analysis control step, a selection control step of controlling the selection of a processing procedure optimal for the user,
A provision control step of controlling provision of the processing procedure selected by the selection control step to the user. Operation information receiving means for receiving operation information from the user;
A signal processing unit configured to process an input signal according to a predetermined processing procedure based on the operation information received by the operation information receiving unit;
Storage means for storing the operation information and the information regarding the input signal as user information to be provided to a provider of the information processing apparatus,
The information processing apparatus, wherein the processing procedure is a processing procedure determined based on the user information of the user in the past. The information processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the storage unit stores, as the operation information, a value of a parameter operated by the user and a time at which the parameter was operated. The information processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the signal processing unit performs an image creation process on the input information signal by a class classification adaptive process. The information processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the signal processing unit is configured to be freely detachable in the information processing apparatus. An operation information receiving step of receiving operation information from the user;
A signal processing step of processing an input signal according to a predetermined processing procedure based on the operation information received by the operation information receiving step;
A storage step of storing the operation information and the information on the input signal as user information to be provided to a provider of the information processing apparatus,
The information processing method, wherein the processing procedure is a processing procedure determined based on the user information of the user in the past. An operation information reception control step of controlling reception of operation information from the user;
A signal processing control step of controlling the input signal to be processed according to a predetermined processing procedure based on the operation information received by the operation information reception control step;
A storage control step of controlling the operation information and the information related to the input signal to be stored as user information to be provided to a provider of the information processing apparatus. An operation information reception control step of controlling reception of operation information from the user;
A signal processing control step of controlling the input signal to be processed according to a predetermined processing procedure based on the operation information received by the operation information reception control step;
A storage control step of controlling to store the operation information and the information regarding the input signal as user information to be provided to a provider of the information processing apparatus. Recording media. In an information processing apparatus that performs predetermined image processing on an input image,
Extracting means for extracting a feature amount of the input image;
Setting means for setting the conditions of the image processing,
Image processing means for performing the image processing based on the condition set by the setting means, for the input image,
An information processing apparatus, comprising: a storage unit that stores the feature amount extracted by the extraction unit and the condition set by the setting unit in a storage unit in association with each other. Further comprising a selection means for selecting the input image,
The storage unit associates the selection information of the input image selected by the selection unit, the feature quantity extracted by the extraction unit, and the condition set by the setting unit with the storage unit in association with each other. The information processing device according to claim 18, wherein the information is stored. 19. The information processing apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the storage unit provides the content stored in the storage unit to a business entity via a network. The image processing means converts the number of pixels or converts an interlaced image to a progressive image, and performs image processing for adjusting image quality using resolution and noise reduction as adjustment axes or enlarges an image at a predetermined magnification. The information processing apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the information processing apparatus performs image processing. In an image processing method for performing predetermined image processing on an input image,
An extracting step of extracting a feature amount of the input image;
A setting step of setting conditions for the image processing;
An image processing step of performing the image processing on the input image based on the condition set in the processing of the setting step;
A storage step of storing the characteristic amount extracted in the processing of the extraction step and the condition set in the processing of the setting step in a storage unit in association with each other. A program for performing predetermined image processing on an input image,
An extraction control step of controlling extraction of a feature amount of the input image;
A setting control step of controlling setting of the image processing conditions,
For the input image, an image processing control step of controlling execution of the image processing based on the conditions set in the processing of the setting control step,
A storage control step of controlling storage of the feature amount extracted in the processing of the extraction control step and the condition set in the processing of the setting control step in a storage unit. A recording medium on which a readable program is recorded. A program for performing predetermined image processing on an input image,
An extraction control step of controlling extraction of a feature amount of the input image;
A setting control step of controlling setting of the image processing conditions,
For the input image, an image processing control step of controlling execution of the image processing based on the conditions set in the processing of the setting control step,
A storage control step of controlling storage of a feature amount extracted in the processing of the extraction control step and the condition set in the processing of the setting control step in a storage unit. Program characterized by the following.

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