JP2005086325A - Program discrimination method, channel selection apparatus, and television receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a program discriminating function of a program congenial to a viewer with high accuracy, even to the viewer for frequently zapping programs. <P>SOLUTION: A television receiver incorporates a microcomputer for executing processing of an algorithm including: an object channel registration step for registering the same channel viewed consecutively for a first specified time of N seconds or over as an object of a preferred channel; an object channel view time measurement step of measuring the view time of the channel registered as the object; and a preferred channel discrimination step for discriminating a channel among the registered object channels whose view time is consecutive for a second specified time of M seconds or over as a channel congenial to the viewer, and can thereby discriminate the program congenial to the viewer with high accuracy. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a television receiver, and more particularly, to an automatic channel selection device that determines a viewer's favorite program.

  In television broadcasting, which has become increasingly multi-channel, many proposals have been made to determine the viewer's favorite program and automatically select a channel in order to improve the convenience of the viewer's television receiver. Time is measured and it is determined that the program is a favorite program. However, some viewers often perform zapping such as switching channels so that they do not watch CMs during CM broadcasts, so it can be determined that they are watching the same channel continuously. There was no case.

As a countermeasure against this, a proposal has been made to determine whether or not zapping is in progress by providing zapping instruction means (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2001-237789 A

  However, viewers are not conscious of zapping, and they are forced to perform a different operation to switch channels, making the convenience of the television receiver worse. There is a fear.

  An object of the present invention is to solve these problems and to provide a method and means for determining a viewer's favorite program with high accuracy even in a normal viewing style.

  In order to solve the above problems, a candidate channel registration step for registering a candidate of a favorite channel when viewing the same channel continuously for a first specified time N seconds or more, and a viewing time of the channel registered as a candidate Processing of an algorithm having a candidate channel viewing time measurement step to be measured and a favorite channel determination step of determining as a viewer's favorite channel when the candidate registered channel continues for a second specified time M seconds or longer. By incorporating the microcomputer to be executed, the viewer's favorite program can be determined with high accuracy.

  As described above, it is possible to provide a highly accurate program determination function of the viewer's preference even for a viewer who often performs zapping.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 shows a flowchart as an example of an embodiment of the algorithm of the program determination method of the present invention.

  In S01, it is determined whether the same channel is being continuously viewed. If there is a channel change, the viewing time count is cleared in S02. If it is determined in S01 that the same channel is being viewed, the same channel viewing time is added in S03, and it is determined in S04 whether the viewing time has reached N seconds or more set as the first specified time.

  If the viewing time has continued for N seconds or more, if the channel being viewed in S05 is already registered as a favorite channel candidate, the viewing time of the candidate channel is added in S06. If it is determined in S05 that the channel is not registered as a candidate channel, registration processing is performed as a candidate channel in S07, and viewing start time registration processing is performed in S08.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S04 that the channel has not been viewed for a predetermined time N seconds or more, if the channel being viewed is a channel registered as a favorite channel candidate in S09, the viewing time of the corresponding candidate channel is added in S10. If it is determined in S09 that the channel is not registered as a candidate channel, it is determined in S11 that the channel is being zapped.

  As a result of these processes, if there is a channel registered as a candidate for the viewer's favorite channel in S12 that has been continuously watched for a second predetermined time M seconds or more, the channel is viewed by the viewer. It is determined that this is the preferred channel.

  Since the viewing time during zapping is generally shorter than the viewing time of a favorite program, the relationship between the values N and M in the sentence is N ≦ M. Further, the specific values of N and M are not technically limited, and a predetermined value may be set according to the viewer's zapping tendency.

  Next, an example of zapping will be shown to explain the operation of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an example of a time chart when zapping occurs.

  When viewing confirmation time N = 2 and favorite channel confirmation time M = 3, 2ch is registered as a favorite channel candidate at time t = 3. The period from t = 3 to 5 is determined as zapping. Since the continuous viewing time is 3 at the stage of t = 6, 2ch is determined as a favorite channel. In addition, the viewing start time of 2ch at this time is t = 1. Thereafter, 6ch is registered as a candidate channel at the stage of t = 8, and it is determined that there is a possibility that 2ch is continuously viewed at t = 9, but the continuous viewing time of 6ch is 3 at the stage of t = 10. Thus, from t = 6, it can be determined that 6ch is viewed as a favorite channel.

  Note that the numerical values 1 to 10 in the figure are not particularly limited to the unit of seconds, but show an example of the passage of time and the transition of the viewing channel to specifically explain the determination method of the present invention. However, the size of the numerical value is not limited.

  With the above algorithm, it is possible to determine whether zapping is being performed even in a normal viewing style, and it is possible to provide a method for determining a favorite program of a viewer with high accuracy.

  Further, if a television receiver equipped with a microcomputer for executing the program determination method described above is built in the television receiver, a favorite program list based on the determination result described above or an automatic channel selection function can be used. Can be automatically reserved, and a highly convenient television receiver can be provided.

  Further, each step of the above method may be provided as a functional block. For example, candidate channel registration means for registering a candidate of a favorite channel when the same channel is continuously viewed for a first specified time or more, and candidate registration Candidate channel viewing time measuring means for measuring the viewing time of the received channel, and favorite channel determining means for determining as a viewer's favorite channel when the candidate registered channel continues for a second specified time or more. The effect of the present invention can be obtained in the same manner even if the channel selection device is configured and the channel selection device is built in the television receiver.

  The program determination method according to the present invention is capable of providing a highly accurate program determination function of a viewer's preference even to a viewer who often performs zapping, and a channel selection device such as a television receiver. It is useful in electronic equipment having

The flowchart as an example of embodiment of the program determination method of this invention Time chart showing an example of zapping in the embodiment of the present invention

Explanation of symbols

S04 Candidate channel registration step S06, S10 Candidate channel viewing time measurement step S12 Favorite channel determination step

Claims (4)

Candidate channel registration step for registering as a favorite channel candidate when viewing the same channel continuously for a first specified time or longer, candidate channel viewing time measuring step for measuring the viewing time of the candidate registered channel, candidate A program determination method including a favorite channel determination step of determining as a viewer's favorite channel when a registered channel continues for a second specified time or more. A channel selection apparatus comprising a microcomputer that executes the program determination method according to claim 1. Candidate channel registration means for registering as a favorite channel candidate when the same channel is continuously viewed for a first specified time or longer, candidate channel viewing time measuring means for measuring the viewing time of the candidate registered channel, A channel selection apparatus comprising: a favorite channel determination unit that determines a favorite channel of a viewer when the channel continues from a registered channel for a second specified time or more. A television receiver comprising the channel selection device according to claim 2.

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