JP2004336442A - Video image feeding system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a video image feeding system for alleviating burden on forming an advertisement video image to be shown on a display. <P>SOLUTION: A customer performs program editing with a personal computer 21 by using an ASP function provided in a computer 1 on the video image feeding side. More concretely, a template selected from a template list provided in the computer 1 on the video image feeding side is edited (reorganized) by using a self-owned file and the like to form a customer program file as a customer original one, and the customer program file is registered in the computer 1 on the video image feeding side.In a personal computer 21, the customer program file is downloaded from the computer 1 on the video image feeding side and is transmitted by data to a dedicated televising terminal 22. In the dedicated televising terminal 22, the video image is generated based on the customer program file and the video image signal is fed to a plasma display 23. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
[Industrial applications]
The present invention relates to a video supply system used for a so-called electronic advertisement system.
[0002]
[Prior art]
It is conceivable to dispose a thin large-screen plasma display or the like on a shop window or a wall in a store, and display an advertisement image of the store or product on the display. As an advertisement presentation method for individuals, there is known a method of distributing content retrieved from a content storage server and displaying the content on a screen (see Patent Document 1).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2002-133263
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in advertising a store or a product in a store using a display, it is required to reduce the burden of creating an advertisement image.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a video supply system that can reduce the burden of creating an advertisement video to be displayed on a display.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
An image supply system according to the present invention is an image supply system in which a user-side computer and an image supply-side computer are connected via a computer network in order to solve the above-described problem. First storage means for storing a plurality of template data serving as templates, means for transmitting template list data based on the plurality of template data to the user-side computer, and template selection information transmitted from the user-side computer. A second storage unit that stores the user program information in association with the user identification information; and a processing unit that records a customer program file created based on the selected template data on a portable recording medium or transmits the file to a user-side computer. And the user side computer is a video supply side A first computer connected to a computer via a computer network; and receiving the customer program file from the first computer by data communication or reading the customer program file from the portable recording medium and interpreting the customer program file. And a second computer that generates a video signal and supplies the video signal to a display.
[0007]
With the above configuration, the advertisement video based on the template can be displayed on the display arranged in the user's store.
[0008]
Also, the video supply system of the present invention is a video supply system in which a user-side computer and a video supply-side computer are connected via a computer network, wherein the video supply-side computer has a plurality of template data serving as a model of a supplied video. A first storage unit for storing template list data based on the plurality of template data to the user-side computer; an application material database storing information used as the template data; Means for selecting a template based on the template selection information transmitted from the computer, and transmitting an information input file together with the template data to the user-side computer; and input means transmitted from the user-side computer. Storage means for storing information and template selection information in association with user identification information; and storing a customer program file created based on the input information and the selected template data on a portable recording medium or Processing means for transmitting to the side computer, the user side computer is connected to the video supply side computer via a computer network, and the customer program file is received from the first computer by data communication or A second computer that reads the customer program file from the portable recording medium, interprets the customer program file, generates a video signal, and supplies the video signal to a display.
[0009]
With the above configuration, the user can easily create an original advertisement video based on the template, and display the own advertisement video on a display arranged in the user's store. In the above configuration, when a file owned by the user is transmitted from the user-side computer, the second storage unit stores the input information, template selection information, and the user-owned file in association with user identification information. The processing unit is configured to record a customer program file created based on the input information, the selected template data, and the user-owned file on a portable recording medium or to transmit the file to a user-side computer. Good to be. Further, the video supply side computer includes a third storage unit in which image size restriction information is stored, and the processing unit, when the user-owned file is an image file, sets the image size based on the image size restriction information. It is preferable that an image reduction process or an image enlargement process is performed so as to satisfy the above.
[0010]
In the video supply system having these configurations, the second computer of the user-side computer includes storage means for storing a moving image file as an image file, and stores the moving image file when the customer program file is expanded in a frame memory. The composite image data may be generated by developing the image data in a frame memory, and the composite image data may be converted into a video signal. The first computer in the user-side computer is means for storing the download date and time of the customer program file designated by the user. When the download date and time arrives, the first computer is automatically connected to a computer network and connected to the video supply side computer. Means for automatically executing a program file download request. The display is preferably a plasma display.
[0011]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
[0012]
As shown in FIG. 1, the video supply system of this embodiment is a system in which a video supply computer (server) 1 and a user computer (2 or 3) are connected via the Internet (computer network). In this embodiment, the video supply computer 1 is also connected to a computer (server) 4 of a general-purpose content provider and a computer (server) 5 of a program production company via the Internet.
[0013]
The video supply side computer 1 includes a web server 11, an application server 12, and a DB server 13, which are connected by a computer network. The application server 12 and the DB server 13 exist as higher-level processing devices of the WEB server 11.
[0014]
The WEB server 11 is mainly responsible for transmitting and receiving information according to a predetermined protocol via the Internet.
[0015]
The application server 12 stores various kinds of application material data used for creating a program template in a storage device (a hard disk or the like) not shown. The application material data includes example sentence data, image data, and the like. In addition, the application server 12 stores original program editing application software (for example, software called FLASH of Macrosoft) that is provided by the function of an ASP (Application Service Provider) in a storage device. .
[0016]
The database DB of the DB server 13 stores a plurality of the program templates. Many program templates are prepared for each type of business and each group. The DB server 13 creates a program template list composed of JPEG images and the like (thumbnail images) obtained by reducing and compressing image data forming a program template for each business type and each group, and stores the list in the database DB. Further, the database DB includes various information of customers (customer name information, customer registration domain information, registration ID and password permitting access to the server, use history, customer program files created by each customer, etc.) and various pages. An HTML file is stored. The DB server 13 has a plurality of domain structures, such as by business type, business type, and group, and performs a process of permitting access to only registered domains based on customer registration domain information when accessing each customer. For example, the business category is “Healthcare”, the business category is “Clinic”, and the group is “Obstetrics”.
[0017]
The video supply side computer 1 transmits a registration ID and a password to the user side computer (2 or 3) through the Internet as an enrollment process. After the enrollment process, if the registration ID and the password transmitted from the user computer (2 or 3) match the registered registration ID and the password, the video supply computer 1 determines the registered ID based on the customer registration domain information. The domain access is permitted, and a predetermined HTML file is transmitted to the user computer (2 or 3). For example, an image (page) shown in FIG. 2 is displayed on the screen of the user-side computer (2 or 3) that has received the predetermined HTML file. In the predetermined HTML file, a thumbnail image (program template list) of the program template is added. Data storage location information (URL: uniform resource locator) is embedded in each thumbnail image, and when a user performs a click operation on a predetermined thumbnail image on a computer (2 or 3), the data storage location information (URL: uniform resource locator) is displayed. Is transmitted to the user computer (2 or 3) by the video supply side computer 1 receiving the designated program template and an information input file (hereinafter simply referred to as a program template) in which at least character attribute information is entered. I do. For example, an image (page) shown in FIG. 3 is displayed on the screen of the user computer (2 or 3) that has received the program template.
[0018]
The program template is composed of moving images and various data such as animation, characters, illustrations, and music. The program template contains a script that defines its own movements, such as animation movements, character display speed, how images and text are displayed, how programs are connected, and the time of each program. Are programmed in advance. In addition, the program has a function of reading files (text files and image files) defined and associated with the outside (the application server 12 and the DB server 13), and capturing and displaying images and characters in the program video. With this function, the customer can operate the user-side computer (2 or 3) to arbitrarily reorganize a part of the program template and create a customer program file unique to the customer. For example, when the customer reorganizes (inputs information on) the characters of the program template, a part of the text file defined outside (the application server 12 or the DB server 13) is changed by the reorganization information (input information). Can be used as the original video file by changing only the character portion without changing the portion. That is, an original program editing application is provided to the user computer (2 or 3) by a so-called ASP function so that the customer can easily reorganize the external definition file. ) Side, the reorganization information (input information) is transmitted to the video supply computer 1, and the video supply computer 1 uses the reorganization information (input information) and the registration information of the program template to store the customer program file of the customer. Perform the process of creating. The customer program file includes, for example, background image data, moving image / still image data and its display position information, character information (character code group, font, size, color, etc.) and its display position information, duration information of each display, display It is composed of order information, music information, etc., is given a program name (file name) given by a customer, and registered in a database DB. When a moving image file for displaying a video exists in the user-side computer (2 or 3), information (file name, etc.) specifying the moving image file and display position information thereof exist in the customer program file. There is.
[0019]
Also, when the menu of “program production” in the image (page) shown in FIG. 2 or FIG. 3 being displayed on the screen of the user side computer (2 or 3) is selected (clicked), the video supply side computer 1 The created HTML file is transmitted to the user's computer (2 or 3). For example, an image (page) shown in FIG. 4 is displayed on the screen of the user computer (2 or 3) that has received the HTML file. You can set the playback time of each file (template) on this page. A customer program file is created from one or a plurality of files specified on this screen, and the program name input by the user for this customer program file is registered as a file name. The setting information is transmitted to the video supply computer 1, and the video supply computer 1 adds information indicating the playback time of each file in each customer program file to the customer program file based on the setting information (for example, the file Process described in the header). When the menu of “delivery setting” is selected (clicked), the video supply side computer 1 transmits an HTML file of the distribution setting to the user side computer 2. For example, an image (page) shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the screen of the user-side computer 2 receiving the HTML file. On this page, distribution settings for each customer program file can be made. The distribution setting information is transmitted to the image supply side computer 1, and the image supply side computer 1 sets the distribution date and time of each customer program file (a time zone such as a late night zone which does not hinder the normal business of the customer based on the distribution setting information). The user-side computer 2 manages information on whether or not to distribute to a broadcast-only terminal (STB: set-top box) after the download is completed and information indicating to which broadcast-only terminal the content is to be distributed. Send to The distribution date / time information of each customer program file is transmitted from the video supply computer 1 to the automatic download software of the user computer 2 while the ASP function is being provided. When it arrives, it automatically accesses the video supply computer 1. When the menu of “distribution log” is selected (clicked), the video supply computer 1 transmits an HTML file of the distribution log to the user computer 2. For example, an image (page) shown in FIG. 6 is displayed on the screen of the user computer 2 that has received the HTML file. On this page, a distribution history (download status) can be confirmed, a preview, and the like can be performed.
[0020]
In the user computer (2 or 3), the user-owned file (image file or text file) stored in the storage device of the user computer (2 or 3) is processed by the original program editing application provided by the ASP. Editing that can be incorporated into the program template can be performed. When the file owned by the user is transmitted from the user side computer (2 or 3), the image supply side computer 1 transmits the reorganization information (input information), the template selection information, and the user owned file to the DB server 13. And creates a customer program file of the customer based on the information, and stores it in the database DB in association with the user identification information. That is, the customer incorporates the file of the image (map, facility plan, etc.) used on his / her Internet homepage or the like, or the image (still image / movie) file of the digital photograph taken by himself into a specific part of the program template, and・ You can create original programs with movies. The customer designates a self-owned file to be used, and uploads the self-owned file to the image supply computer 1 through the Internet WWW function using the browse function of the original program editing application. The application of the DB server 13 changes the uploaded image / icon to an appropriate image size (resizing function) and automatically synthesizes the image / icon in the program. Specifically, the DB server 13 stores image size restriction information (uniform for each program template or for each template), and when the user-owned file is an image file, the image size based on the image size restriction information An image reduction process or an image enlargement process is performed to satisfy the above. More specifically, for example, if the image file is a JPEG file, the image file is converted into bitmap data, expanded on a memory, subjected to pixel thinning processing and pixel interpolation processing, and then converted again into a JPEG file or the like. In addition, when a moving image is used in a program, the designation of a moving image file (for example, an MPEG file) performed by the user on the user-side computer 2 means that the moving image file is uploaded to the video supply-side computer 1. Instead, the moving image file name is transmitted to the video supply computer 1. For example, when transmitting the customer program file to the user computer 2, the video supply computer 1 transmits the moving image file name to the user computer 2 together with the customer program file.
[0021]
The user-side computer 2 includes a personal computer 21 as a first computer and a broadcast-only terminal (STB) 22 as a second computer. A plasma display 23 is connected to the broadcast-only terminal 22.
[0022]
The personal computer 21 includes, in addition to a mouse and a hard disk, an Internet connection environment (communication hardware and Web browser software, etc.), a LAN connection environment (communication hardware and communication software, etc.), control software for the broadcast-only terminal 22, and the like. . Then, the personal computer 21 connects to the video supply side computer 1 via the Internet, and sends out input information (including selection information in a pull-down menu or the like) input to the program template based on a user operation. And a process of storing the customer program file transmitted from the video supply side computer 1 in a storage device (a hard disk or the like), a process of transmitting the customer program file to the broadcasting dedicated terminal 22, and the like. Further, when the personal computer 21 receives the moving image file name together with the customer program file from the video supply side computer 1, the personal computer 21 transmits the moving image file specified by the moving image file name together with the customer program file from the storage device to the broadcasting dedicated terminal 22. A process of reading and transmitting data is performed.
[0023]
The broadcast dedicated terminal 22 stores various information (customer program file, moving image file, etc.) supplied from the personal computer 21 in a storage device (hard disk, etc.) not shown. A CPU (not shown) in the broadcast dedicated terminal 22 (application: LAN software, reader software for a customer program file created by an original program editing application such as FLASH, etc.) is used in the customer program file supplied from the personal computer 21. Editing information such as background image data, moving image / still image data and its display position information, character information (character code group, font, size, color, etc.) and its display position information, duration information of each display, display order information, etc. Analysis is performed to generate image data, and a process (drawing process) of writing the image data to a frame memory (VRAM) at a predetermined cycle is performed. Then, a video processing unit (not shown) in the broadcast-only terminal 22 reads data from the frame memory at a predetermined cycle, performs D / A conversion processing, and generates a composite video signal such as NTSC. The audio processing unit generates an audio signal by performing D / A conversion on the music information. The AV output terminal of the broadcast dedicated terminal 22 and the AV input terminal of the plasma display 23 are connected by an AV code, and the video signal and the audio signal generated by the broadcast dedicated terminal 22 are supplied to the plasma display 23.
[0024]
When information (file name or the like) for specifying a moving image file exists in the customer program file, the CPU (application) in the broadcast-only terminal 22 reads the moving image file from the storage device based on the specifying information. Then, when the customer program file is developed in the frame memory, the moving image file is reproduced and developed in the frame memory to generate composite image data, and the composite image data is converted into a video signal and output.
[0025]
The personal computer 21 has software for setting the broadcast date and time and download date and time, and software for automatic download. The personal computer 21 stores the broadcast date and time information input by the user in the storage device, and transfers the customer program file to the broadcast dedicated terminal 22 and broadcasts when the calendar function determines that the current date and time match the broadcast date and time. An instruction is given, and the broadcast processing is performed by the broadcast dedicated terminal 22. The automatic download software of the personal computer 21 stores the download date and time information input by the user on the screen shown in FIG. 5, and automatically accesses the video supply computer 1 when the date and time comes (for access). Are stored in the storage device of the personal computer 21). The video supply side computer 1 transmits a predetermined customer program file to the personal computer 21 based on the information of the distribution setting (which can be set on the screen of FIG. 5). Note that a plurality of broadcast-only terminals 22 can be connected to the personal computer 21, and each broadcast-only terminal 22 is given group information (definition information). The data transmission of a specific customer program file is transmitted to the broadcast-only terminal 22 specified in (2).
[0026]
The image supply side computer 1 can acquire information (content) such as news and weather forecast downloaded from the server 4 of the general-purpose content provider. The application server 12 may store the information (contents) in the storage device as information that can be selected by the customer (information to be incorporated in the program template). The collection of the content may be manually performed by the operator of the video supply computer 1. Also, the video supply computer 1 does not transmit the customer program file, but records it on a portable recording medium (for example, DVD, etc.) that can be reproduced by the personal computer 31 in the user computer 3 of the customer who does not have a LAN. You may be able to. Also, as shown in FIG. 1, the video supply side computer 1 transmits a customer program file (or information such as addition / update / deletion of a program template) to the computer 5 of the program creation company. The computer 5 may be configured to perform recording on the portable recording medium. For example, the customer first performs an operation until he registers his or her own customer program file in the video supply computer 1 (presses a registration button on the screen of the personal computer 31). The video supply side computer 1 recognizes the registration of the program (pressing the registration button), enters the URL for extracting the customer program file, the address of the customer, the name of the person in charge, etc. in the e-mail, and sends the program delivery request to the program. It is sent to the computer 5 of the creating company. The operator of the program creation company downloads the customer program file to the computer 5 by using the URL added to the e-mail. The computer 5 records the downloaded customer program file on a recording medium such as a writable DVD. The worker packs the recording medium, writes the address and the name of the person in charge in the address, and mails the mail. When the customer inserts the delivered recording medium into the playback device (DVD player or the like) of the broadcast-only terminal 32, the recorded program file is almost automatically (in the customer's click operation, etc.) inside the dedicated terminal 32. Recorded on the hard disk. This function and the flow of business are designed to provide services to specific customers who cannot install a local LAN.
[0027]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the burden of creating an advertisement video to be displayed on a display.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a video supply system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen display example of a personal computer on a user-side computer (when a thumbnail list of a program template is displayed).
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen display example of a personal computer on a user computer (at the time of editing with a selected program template).
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a screen display (program production screen) of a personal computer in a user-side computer.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen display example (distribution setting screen) of a personal computer in a user-side computer.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a screen display (distribution log screen) of a personal computer in a user-side computer.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Video supply computer
11 WEB server
12 Application server
13 DB server
2 User computer
21 Personal computer
22 Broadcast-only terminal
23 Plasma Display
3 User side computer
31 Personal Computer
32 Broadcasting dedicated terminal
33 Plasma Display
4 General-purpose content provider computer 4
5 Computer of the program production company 5

Claims (7)

A video supply system in which a user-side computer and a video supply-side computer are connected via a computer network,
A first storage unit storing a plurality of template data serving as a model of a supplied image; a unit transmitting template list data based on the plurality of template data to the user side computer; Second storage means for storing the template selection information transmitted from the computer in association with the user identification information; and storing a customer program file created based on the selected template data on a portable recording medium or Processing means for transmitting to the side computer,
A user computer connected to the video supply computer via a computer network, and receiving the customer program file from the first computer by data communication or receiving the customer program file from the portable recording medium; A second computer that reads, interprets the customer program file, generates a video signal, and supplies the video signal to a display. A video supply system in which a user-side computer and a video supply-side computer are connected via a computer network,
A first storage unit storing a plurality of template data serving as a model of a supplied image; a unit transmitting template list data based on the plurality of template data to the user side computer; the template data Means for selecting a template based on an application material database storing information to be used as a template and template selection information transmitted from the user-side computer, and transmitting an information input file together with the template data to the user-side computer And second storage means for storing input information and template selection information transmitted from the user-side computer in association with user identification information; and a customer created based on the input information and the selected template data. Comprising processing means for transmitting a set file on or the user side computer to record on a portable recording medium, and
A user computer connected to the video supply computer via a computer network, and receiving the customer program file from the first computer by data communication or receiving the customer program file from the portable recording medium; A second computer that reads, interprets the customer program file, generates a video signal, and supplies the video signal to a display. 3. The video supply system according to claim 2, wherein when the file owned by the user is transmitted from the user-side computer, the second storage unit stores the input information, the template selection information, and the user-owned file in the user. The processing means stores the customer program file created based on the input information, the selected template data and the user-owned file on a portable recording medium, or An image supply system configured to transmit to a computer. 4. The video supply system according to claim 3, wherein the video supply side computer includes a third storage unit in which image size restriction information is stored, and wherein the processing unit includes: An image supply system configured to perform image reduction processing or image enlargement processing so as to satisfy an image size according to the image size restriction information. The video supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the second computer in the user-side computer includes storage means for storing a moving image file as an image file, and stores the customer program file in a frame memory. A video supply system configured to generate the synthesized image data by expanding the moving image file in the frame memory when expanding the image data, and to convert the synthesized image data into a video signal. 6. The video supply system according to claim 1, wherein the first computer in the user-side computer is configured to store a download date and time of the customer program file specified by the user; Means for automatically connecting to a computer network and automatically executing a download request of the customer program file to the video supply side computer. 7. The image supply system according to claim 1, wherein the display is a plasma display.

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