JP2005006357A - Broadcasting program index distribution system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a broadcasting program index distribution system in which information for selecting a part desired to view by an audience in contents of recorded (video-recorded) broadcasting can be provided to the audience. <P>SOLUTION: In the broadcasting program index distribution system, a program requested to video-record by video recording reservation information from a client device 1 is viewed in a service company owning a server device 11, and program time index information containing detailed contents of said program and its time index is recorded from an input part 17 into a hard disk drive 14. The client device 1 is connected to the server device 11 thereafter and downloads the program time index information corresponding to a range to which said program video-recording reservation is applied, from the hard disk drive 14 of the server device 11 (steps S51, S33). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a broadcast content index distribution method, a broadcast content index distribution method, and a broadcast content index distribution system that provide information related to broadcast contents to a user via an electronic network. For example, not only TV (television) broadcast and radio broadcast, but also information on broadcast contents including content broadcast through the Internet, using a general-purpose network such as the Internet configured by connecting a plurality of terminals, The present invention relates to a broadcast program index distribution system provided to a user.

  Conventionally, as a system for a viewer who watches a broadcasted program, as shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-331716, designated program data is transmitted from a video server to a terminal at a designated time. A device for transmitting to a device has been proposed.

  Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-155131 describes a technique for reserving a favorite program by providing services such as broadcast-related information and video program recording reservation from a server to a communication terminal.

  Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-18852 discloses a technique for storing an index in a video material. In this technology, when a TV broadcast is recorded on videotape or other media, the recording time, the program title known in advance and simple contents are recorded as an index to improve the convenience of the device user. ing.

  However, in the above conventional example, the index information of the program that can be provided to the user is limited to the program title and simple contents, and does not leave the area of the conventional program schedule table.

For this reason, the index of the conventional example is useless for the user to select a portion of the recorded program that the user wants to view. In particular, it is impossible to predict what will happen in live broadcasts such as sports. Therefore, it is impossible to select and reproduce a portion (for example, a score scene) that a viewer wants to see in a conventional program schedule.
JP-A-11-331716 JP-A-10-155131

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a broadcast program index distribution system that can provide viewers with information for selecting a portion that the viewer wants to view from the recorded (recorded) broadcast content. It is to provide.

  In the present invention, when a user views a recorded program, since the broadcast of the program is already a past event, the content is viewed in chronological order when the program is broadcast ( By distributing headline information indicating when and what happened) to the user, the user refers to the headline information and assists in finding the video that the user wants to view from the recorded program. It was made with a focus on what can be done.

That is, the broadcast program index distribution system of the present invention includes a client device and a server device connected via an electronic network,
The server device is
Program guide storage means for storing a program guide scheduled to be broadcast;
Time index storage means for storing time index information including position information representing a specific scene of a broadcast program and a headline;
Transmission means for transmitting the program guide and the time index information to the client device via the electronic network,
The client device
Receiving means for receiving the program guide and the time index information transmitted from the server device;
First storage means for storing a broadcast program;
Second storage means for storing the program guide and the time index information received by the receiving means;
Program recording reservation means for reserving recording of a broadcast program based on the program guide stored in the second storage means;
Recording means for storing the broadcast program reserved by the program recording reservation means in the first storage means;
Playback control means for playing back a broadcast program stored in the first storage means based on position information included in the time index information stored in the second storage means;
And output means for outputting the program reproduced by the reproduction control means to a monitor.

Further, in the broadcast content index distribution method according to the embodiment, the server device creates program time index information including a headline along a time series in a predetermined program of a predetermined broadcast,
The client device downloads the program time index information created by the server device via the electronic network.

  In the broadcast content index distribution method of this embodiment, the user of the client device refers to the program time index information obtained from the server device via the electronic network, so that the user can select from the recorded programs. Can easily cue video and audio that they want to watch.

Also, in the broadcast content index distribution system of one embodiment, the server device and the client device are connected via an electronic network,
The server device is
Index information creating means for creating program time index information including a headline along a time series in a predetermined program of a predetermined broadcast,
The client device
It has a download means for downloading the program time index information from the server device via the electronic network.

  In the broadcast content index distribution system of this embodiment, the user of the client device refers to the program time index information obtained from the server device via the electronic network, so that the use of the program is recorded from among the recorded programs. Can easily cue the video and audio that the user wants to watch.

The broadcast content index distribution system according to an embodiment includes a client device and a server device connected via an electronic network.
The client device
Recording means for recording broadcasts and broadcast-related information;
A reproduction recording control means for controlling the recording operation of the recording means and reproducing the information recorded by the recording means;
Display means for displaying information reproduced by the reproduction / recording control means;
Input means for inputting information for controlling the reproduction operation and information for controlling the recording operation to the reproduction recording control means;
Connecting means for connecting to an electronic network,
The server device is
Index information creating means for creating program time index information including a headline along a time series in a predetermined program of a predetermined broadcast;
Storage means for storing program time index information created by the index information creating means;
In response to a request from the client device, a transmission unit transmits program time index information stored in the storage unit to the client device via the electronic network.

  According to the broadcast content index distribution system of this embodiment, the server device uses the index information creation means to create program time index information including headlines along a time series in a predetermined program of a predetermined broadcast. The program time index information is stored in the storage unit, and the transmission unit receives the program time index information stored in the storage unit via the electronic network in response to a request from the client device. Send to.

  Then, in the client device, the program time index information is recorded and reproduced in the recording means by the reproduction / recording control means and displayed on the display unit. As a result, the user of this client device refers to the program time index information displayed on the display unit and reproduces only the portion corresponding to the desired index (heading) of the broadcast program recorded in the recording unit. As described above, control information can be input from the input means to the reproduction / recording control means. Thereby, the user can reproduce and view a desired portion of the already recorded program.

  In the broadcast content index distribution system according to an embodiment, the playback / recording control unit of the client device includes a heading location designated based on the program time index information in the broadcast content recorded in the recording unit. Search means for searching for, reproducing and displaying on the display means.

  In this embodiment, the reproduction / recording control means searches for and reproduces the heading designated by the search means based on the program time index information in the broadcast contents recorded in the recording means. And display on the display means. Therefore, according to the present invention, based on the program time index information, the user simply designates a desired headline from the input means, and the search means automatically reproduces the location of the headline of the broadcast content. By displaying on the display means, it is possible to view a desired portion of the broadcast content.

  In the broadcast content index distribution system according to an embodiment, the server device includes a charging unit that charges the user of the client device according to the program time index information transmitted to the client device.

  In this embodiment, the server device can charge the user of the client device according to the program time index information transmitted to the client device by a charging means.

In the broadcast content index distribution system according to an embodiment, the client device reserves program recording reservation means for reserving recording of a program, and reserved program information indicating what the program reserved by the program recording reservation means is, Reservation information transmitting means for transmitting to the server device via the electronic network,
The server device creates program time index information in the index information creation unit for the program indicated by the reserved program information obtained from the client device.

  In this embodiment, the client device reserves recording of a program by the program recording reservation means, and reserves program information indicating what the program reserved by the program recording reservation means is by the reservation information transmission means. Accordingly, the data is transmitted to the server device via the electronic network. Thereby, the index information creation unit of the server device creates program time index information for the program indicated by the reserved program information obtained from the client device.

  That is, according to this embodiment, the server device can automatically recognize the program for which the program time index information is to be created by obtaining the reserved program information from the client device.

Moreover, in the broadcast content index distribution system according to an embodiment, the server device includes a program guide information transmission unit that transmits broadcast schedule program information to the client device via the electronic network.
The client device has program recording reservation means for reserving recording of a broadcast program based on broadcast scheduled program information transmitted from the server device.

  In this embodiment, the server device transmits the broadcast schedule program information to the client device via the electronic network by the program guide information transmitting means. Then, the program recording reservation means of the client device reserves the recording of the broadcast program based on the broadcast scheduled program information transmitted from the server device.

  Therefore, according to this embodiment, since the client device can obtain the broadcast scheduled program information from the server device, it can complete the exchange of information regarding the recording and reproduction of the broadcast program with the server device.

  In the broadcast program index distribution system of the present invention, information for selecting a part that the viewer wants to view in the program schedule scheduled to be broadcast and the contents of the broadcast that has already been recorded (recorded) is provided to the viewer. can do.

  In a broadcast content index distribution method according to an embodiment, a server device creates program time index information including a headline along a time series in a predetermined program of a predetermined broadcast, and the client device passes through an electronic network. The program time index information created by the server device is downloaded.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, the user of the client device refers to the program time index information obtained from the server device via the electronic network, so that the video that the user wants to view from the recorded program is displayed. And the beginning of the voice can be easily done.

  In the broadcast content index distribution system according to an embodiment, the server device and the client device are connected via an electronic network, and the server device includes a program time index including headlines in time series in a predetermined program of a predetermined broadcast. Index information creating means for creating information is provided, and the client device has download means for downloading the program time index information from the server device via the electronic network.

  In the broadcast content index distribution system of this embodiment, the user of the client device refers to the program time index information obtained from the server device via the electronic network, so that the use of the program is recorded from among the recorded programs. Can easily cue the video and audio that the user wants to watch.

  In the broadcast content index distribution system according to the embodiment, the server device uses the index information creation means to create program time index information including headlines in time series for a predetermined program of a predetermined broadcast. The program time index information is stored in the storage unit, and the transmission unit receives the program time index information stored in the storage unit via the electronic network in response to a request from the client device. Send to.

  Thus, in the client device, the program time index information is recorded and reproduced in the recording means by the reproduction / recording control means and displayed on the display unit. Therefore, the user of the client device refers to the program time index information displayed on the display unit and reproduces only the portion corresponding to the desired index (heading) of the broadcast program recorded on the recording unit. Thus, control information can be input from the input means to the playback / recording control means. Therefore, the user can reproduce and view a desired portion of the already recorded program.

  In one embodiment, the playback / recording control means of the client device searches for the heading designated by the search means based on the program time index information from the broadcast contents recorded in the recording means. Are reproduced and displayed on the display means. Therefore, according to the present invention, based on the program time index information, the user simply designates a desired headline from the input means, and the search means automatically reproduces the location of the headline of the broadcast content. By displaying on the display means, it is possible to view a desired portion of the broadcast content.

  Further, in one embodiment, the server device can charge the user of the client device according to the program time index information transmitted to the client device by a charging unit.

  In one embodiment, the client apparatus reserves recording of a program with the program recording reservation means, and reserves program information indicating what the program reserved by the program recording reservation means is reserved information transmission means. Therefore, it transmits to a server apparatus via an electronic network. Thereby, the index information creation unit of the server device creates program time index information for the program indicated by the reserved program information obtained from the client device. That is, according to this embodiment, the server device can automatically recognize the program for which the program time index information is to be created by obtaining the reserved program information from the client device.

  In one embodiment, the server device transmits the broadcast schedule program information to the client device via the electronic network by the program guide information transmitting means. Then, the program recording reservation means of the client device reserves the recording of the broadcast program based on the broadcast scheduled program information transmitted from the server device. Therefore, according to this embodiment, since the client device can obtain the broadcast scheduled program information from the server device, it can complete the exchange of information regarding the recording and reproduction of the broadcast program with the server device.

  Hereinafter, a broadcast content index distribution system of the present invention will be described in detail based on the illustrated embodiment.

  FIG. 1 shows a configuration of an embodiment of a broadcast content index distribution system according to the present invention. This embodiment includes a client device 1 and a server device 11. The client device 1 and the server device 11 are connected to a general-purpose network 21 such as the Internet.

  The server device 11 includes a connection unit 15 to the Internet 21, a management unit 16 that manages user login, and a hard disk drive 13 as a storage device that stores user information. In addition, the server device 11 includes a charging unit 12. The billing unit 12 has a function of inquiring a credit company or the like whether or not a credit card is valid and a function of performing a credit approval process.

  The server device 11 has a hard disk drive 14 as a storage device for storing reservation status registered by the user. Further, the hard disk drive 14 receives and accumulates index data from the input unit 17.

  On the other hand, the client device 1 includes a connection unit 8 to the Internet 21, a TV (television) image receiving unit 2, an encoder 3 that converts the received signal into a digital signal, and a storage that stores the digital signal from the encoder 3. It has a hard disk drive 4 as a device. The TV receiver 2, encoder 3, and hard disk drive 4 constitute a TV recorder 9.

  In addition, the client device 1 has a playback / recording control unit 7 that controls playback and recording by the TV recording unit 9 and receives a digital signal from the TV recording unit 9. The playback recording control unit 7 includes a recording timer for starting recording by the TV recording unit 9. Further, the client device 1 decodes the digital signal from the reproduction / recording control unit 7 by the decoder 6 and inputs it to the screen display unit 5. Thus, the screen display unit 5 can display the received image signal recorded by the hard disk drive 4 on the monitor screen. In addition, the client device 1 can give a predetermined instruction to the playback / recording control unit 7 when the user operates the input unit 10 including a keyboard and a mouse.

  Next, the operation of the index information distribution system comprising the client device 1 and the server device 11 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  (1) First, the user who is the owner of the client apparatus 1 makes a contract with a service company that is the owner of the server apparatus 11 and supplies the index information distribution service. By this contract, the user obtains a user name and a password for logging in to the distribution system, and provides information for paying the service fee to the owner on the server side.

  (2) Next, in order to reserve a program to be recorded, the user connects the client device 1 to the Internet 21 using the user name and password and logs in to the distribution system.

  (3) Next, the client device 1 downloads the program guide from the hard disk drive 14 of the server device 11 through the connection unit 8 and displays it on the screen display unit 5 through the playback / recording control unit 7 and the decoder 6. . An example of the program table displayed by the screen display unit 5 is shown in FIG. In the program table of FIG. 3, the contents of a program broadcasted by “Children's Broadcasting Station” on April 8, April 22, and May 13 are introduced.

  Next, in step S <b> 11, the user determines a program to be reserved for recording while referring to the display screen of the display unit 5 of the client device 1. For example, FIG. 3 shows a screen in which a program titled “21st Century Energy” starting at 11:15 on April 22 is selected. The selection of the scheduled recording program on the display screen can be performed using the input unit 10 such as a keyboard or a mouse.

  In this way, when the user determines a program to be reserved for recording and inputs the determination to the client device 1 with an input device (not shown), in step S12, the playback recording control unit 7 stores the recording reservation information in the hard disk drive. The recording timer is set so that the TV recording unit 9 records the selected program.

  At the same time, the client device 1 transmits the recording reservation information to the server device 11 in step S13. Thereby, the recording reservation information is written in the user area of the hard disk drive 13 of the server device 11 (step S31).

  (4) Next, proceeding to step S32, the service company that owns the server device 11 views the program whose recording reservation information requests recording, and as shown in FIG. And the time index are recorded from the input unit 17 to the hard disk drive 14. In the time index of FIG. 4, in the program titled “21st Century Energy”, the title video appears immediately after the program starts at 11:15, and at 11:15:30, greetings and guest introductions are made. The wind energy was introduced at 11:19:22, and the guest commented at 11:27:52.

  (5) On the other hand, at the time when the program is broadcast, the client device 1 sequentially converts the video received by the TV receiver 2 into a digital signal by the encoder 3 in accordance with the reservation status (recording reservation information). The data is converted and stored in the hard disk drive 4. At the time of recording the program, information on the storage start location indicating where the program is stored on the hard disk of the hard disk drive 4 is separately recorded on the hard disk (step S21).

  (6) Next, the time from when the program reserved for recording is broadcast until the creation of the program time index as shown in FIG. Then, the client device 1 is connected to the server device 11 and downloads the program time index information for the program recording reservation range from the hard disk drive 14 of the server device 11 (steps S51 and S33).

  (7) Next, when the program time index information is downloaded from the hard disk drive 14 to the hard disk drive 4 of the client device 1, the server device 11 collects an information provision fee from the user by the charging unit 12. Processing is performed (step S34). This fee collection processing may be, for example, billing the user of the client device 1 so as to pay to the credit company through the Internet 21 or requesting a transfer to the bank. An example of the program time index information fee is shown in FIG. In this fee table, a fee per hour of a program is set according to the genre of the program, and an additional fee for every hour is set.

  (8) Next, in step S52, the client device 1 displays the program time index information as shown in FIG. 4 on the screen display unit 5 from the hard disk drive 4 via the playback / recording control unit 7 and the decoder 6. To do. The user can select which part of the recorded program is to be reproduced and viewed while referring to the index information displayed on the display unit 5. The selection of the recorded program playback portion is input to the playback / recording control unit 7 by the user using the input unit 10 such as a keyboard or a mouse. Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the playback / recording control unit 7 of the client device 1 plays back the recorded program selected by the user from the time index information and the storage start location information recorded at the time of recording. The location is searched from the hard disk driver 4, and this location is reproduced and displayed on the screen display unit 5 via the decoder 6.

  As described above, according to the index distribution system of this embodiment, the server device 11 transmits the index information according to the reservation status to the client device 1 according to the instruction from the client device 1 on the user side, while the client device 1 By referring to the acquired index information, the apparatus 1 can display a desired portion of the already recorded program on the display unit 5 for viewing.

  In the above embodiment, the case of creating a program time index for one selected program has been described. As this program time index, various types as described below can be considered.

(1) Program time index information for each singer in a song program When a scheduled recording program is a song program, the performers can be known from program guides and information in ordinary newspapers and magazines. Information on when to sing is not shown. On the other hand, in the system of this embodiment, since the time when the target singer starts singing is accurately known, the user records the entire song program on the client device 1, and then the server device 11 sends the song. By obtaining the index information of the program, for example, time index information for each singer exemplified in FIG. 7 can be displayed on the display unit 5. In FIG. 7, the time represents the time when the contents of the column start, and the frame represents the number of frames of the contents.

  As a result, the user selects a scene of a desired singer from the time index information for each singer, and instructs the selection to the playback / recording control unit 7 with the input means (keyboard, mouse, etc.), thereby reproducing the singer. The recording control unit 7 can search for the scene sung by the desired singer from the hard disk drive 4, reproduce it, and display it on the display unit 5.

(2) Program time index information of highlight scenes in sports programs such as a baseball player's home run scene in a baseball broadcast program When a reserved program is a sports program, the scoring scene is the main highlight scene. An example of time index information for extracting such a highlight scene is shown in FIG. In FIG. 8, as in FIG. 7, the date and time indicate the time when the contents of the column start, and the frame indicates the number of frames of the content.

  Further, in FIG. 8, index information over a plurality of different days is created. As a result, the user downloads the index information from the server device 11 to his / her client device 1, and extracts and reproduces only the Matsui home run in, for example, three consecutive battles from the program recorded on the hard disk drive 4. be able to.

(3) Search for CM (Commercial) in TV (Television) Broadcasting FIG. 9 shows an example of program time index information in a certain suspense drama. Since this program time index information indicates the start time and end time of CM in the above programs in the columns No1, 2 and No18, 19, the user downloads the index information to his client device 1. Thus, the head of the TV commercial can be realized by the same operation as described above.

  In the above embodiment, the header information of the program time index information is character data, but may be image data. Alternatively, both character data and image data may be included.

It is a functional block diagram which shows the structure of embodiment of the index delivery system by this invention. It is a functional flowchart which shows operation | movement of the index delivery system of the said embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen of an example of the broadcast schedule program schedule in the said embodiment. It is an example of the program time index information produced in the said embodiment. 4 is a schematic diagram of a recording area in the hard disk drive 4 of the client device 1 in the embodiment. FIG. In the said embodiment, it is a figure which shows an example of the charge table stored in the accounting part 12 of the server apparatus 11. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the time index information for the head search according to singer in a song program. It is a figure which shows an example of the time index information for searching sports highlight scenes, such as a home run scene of the baseball player produced in the said embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the time index information for CM search produced in the said embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Client apparatus, 2 ... TV receiving part, 3 ... Encoder,
4, 13, 14 ... hard disk drive, 5 ... screen display, 6 ... decoder,
7 ... Playback recording control unit, 8 ... Connection unit, 9 ... TV recording unit, 11 ... Server device,
12 ... billing unit, 15 ... connection unit, 16 ... management unit, 10, 17 ... input unit,
21 ... Internet.

Claims (10)

A client device and a server device connected via an electronic network;
The server device is
Program guide storage means for storing a program guide scheduled to be broadcast;
Time index storage means for storing time index information including position information representing a specific scene of a broadcast program and a headline;
Transmission means for transmitting the program guide and the time index information to the client device via the electronic network,
The client device
Receiving means for receiving the program guide and the time index information transmitted from the server device;
First storage means for storing a broadcast program;
Second storage means for storing the program guide and the time index information received by the receiving means;
Program recording reservation means for reserving recording of a broadcast program based on the program guide stored in the second storage means;
Recording means for storing the broadcast program reserved by the program recording reservation means in the first storage means;
Playback control means for playing back a broadcast program stored in the first storage means based on position information included in the time index information stored in the second storage means;
A broadcast program index distribution system comprising: output means for outputting a program reproduced by the reproduction control means to a monitor. The client apparatus included in the broadcast program index distribution system according to claim 1,
Reservation information transmission means for transmitting reservation program information indicating what the program reserved by the program recording reservation means is to the server device;
A client device, characterized in that time index information transmitted from the server device corresponding to the reserved program information is stored in the second storage means. The client device according to claim 2,
The reservation information transmitting means
A client apparatus, wherein the reserved program information is transmitted to the server apparatus after the broadcast of the program reserved by the program recording reservation means is completed. The client apparatus included in the broadcast program index distribution system according to claim 1,
Selecting means for selecting an arbitrary heading from the time index information stored in the second storage means;
The reproduction control means is
A client device, wherein a reproduction portion is searched from the first recording means and reproduced from position information corresponding to the headline selected by the selection means. In the server apparatus which the broadcast program index delivery system of Claim 1 has,
Receiving means for receiving, from the client device, reserved program information indicating what the program reserved by the program recording reservation means by the client device;
The server apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission means outputs time index information corresponding to the reserved program information. In the server apparatus which the broadcast program index delivery system of Claim 5 has,
For the broadcast program corresponding to the reserved program information received by the receiving means, the index information creating means for creating time index information consisting of position information and a headline representing a specific scene,
A server apparatus characterized in that the time index information created by the index information creating means is stored in the time index storage means and waits for a request from a client apparatus. In the server apparatus which the broadcast program index delivery system of Claim 1 has,
Charging means for charging the user of the client device;
A server apparatus characterized in that the transmission means performs billing processing according to time index information transmitted to the client apparatus. The broadcast program index distribution system according to claim 1,
The broadcast program index distribution system, wherein the position information included in the time index information includes a start position and an end position of the specific scene. The broadcast program index distribution system according to claim 1,
The broadcast program index distribution system, wherein the position information included in the time index information is time information. The broadcast program index distribution system according to claim 1,
The broadcast program index distribution system, wherein the position information included in the time index information is the number of frames.

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