JP2005198110A - Method, system, and program for providing virtual program recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a user to not only record many programs for a long period of time without using a video cassette recorder or a recorder using a hard disk but also view the programs by time shift. <P>SOLUTION: A system is provided with a recording means 5 for always recording TV programs of at least one broadcasting channel and a server 2 connected to a network. The server 2 executes first processing and second processing. In the first processing, on the basis of reception of recording request information designating a prescribed item from a computer of a user connected to the network, recording areas where TV programs corresponding to the prescribed item are recorded on and after the reception of the recording request information, out of recording areas in the recording means 5 are set as the virtual program recording device of the user. In the second processing, on the basis of reception, from the computer from the user, of the reproducing program information which designates TV programs to be taken as reproduction objects out of TV programs recorded in the virtual program recording device, TV programs designated by the reproducing program information are read out from the recording means 5 and are distributed to the computer of the user. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a system, method, and program for providing a large-capacity virtual program recording device to a user using a network.

  Today, television programs are broadcast on a large number of broadcast channels, and the number of broadcast channels tends to increase with the digitization of broadcasts. Users not only view these television programs in real time, but also frequently record the television programs and view them with a time shift.

  In the past, video cassette recorders (hereinafter referred to as VCRs) have been mainly used as devices for recording television programs. However, the program recording using the VCR has the following problems (a) to (c).

(A) Most VCRs have only one tuner, so if you want to record two programs at the same time, you need to buy another VCR.
(B) In order to record a program that the user wants to view, the user needs to check the broadcast date and time of the program in advance and make a recording reservation.
(C) The time that can be recorded on one video tape is short.

  Currently, a recorder using a hard disk (hereinafter referred to as an HDD recorder) has appeared as a device that can overcome some of the above problems. However, the following problems (d) to (f) still remain in program recording using this HDD recorder.

(D) Currently available HDD recorders have only two tuners at the maximum, so if you want to record more than two programs in the same time zone, you can buy another HDD recorder. It is necessary to add.
(E) HDD recorders that have the function of automatically recording programs by setting keywords and user preferences have also appeared, and the user is no longer required to check the broadcast date and time of a program to make a recording reservation. Although there is a program that does not meet the specific keywords and preferences that have been set, it cannot be recorded even if you want to watch it later.
(F) The HDD can record for a longer time than a video tape, but it is not always sufficient in view of the large number of broadcast channels and the length of the broadcast time.

On the other hand, when a user tries to record a program but cannot record the program due to a failure of the VCR or HDD recorder, etc., a request for recording substitution of the program is sent to the recording center via the network. A recording agency system in which the center side records the program in response to the request and provides it to the user has also been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2001-346137 A (paragraph numbers 0022 to 0031, FIG. 1)

  However, this video recording substitution system records only a specific program that could not be recorded by the VCR or HDD recorder on the assumption that the user records the program using a VCR or HDD recorder. There are only. Therefore, the conventional problems such as (a) to (f) are hardly solved.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described points, and it is an object of the present invention to allow a user to record a large number of programs for a long time without using a VCR or an HDD recorder, and to view these programs with a time shift. Is.

  In order to solve this problem, the applicant comprises recording means for constantly recording a television program of at least one broadcast channel, and a server connected to the network, and the server is connected to the network. The TV corresponding to the designated item after receiving the recording request information in the recording area of the recording means based on receiving the recording request information designating the predetermined item from the computer of the designated user A first process for setting the recording area in which the John program is recorded as a virtual program recording device of the user, and playback of the television program recorded in the virtual program recording device from the user's computer Based on the reception of the reproduction program information specifying the target television program, Reads a constant and television program from the recording means to propose a system for providing a virtual program recording apparatus that performs a second process to be delivered to the user's computer.

  In this system, based on the fact that the server receives the recording request information specifying a predetermined item from the user's computer via the network, the recording request information is recorded in the recording area of the recording means for constantly recording the television program. After receiving, the recording area in which the program corresponding to the designated item is recorded is set as the virtual program recording device of the user.

  As a result, a virtual program recording device that records the program corresponding to the item specified by the user using the same recording means is installed for each user. Since this virtual program recording apparatus can have the same capacity as the recording means that always records a program at the maximum (all recording areas of the recording means are set as this virtual program recording apparatus), it has a large capacity. It is.

  Thereafter, the server designates the reproduced program information specifying the program to be reproduced among the programs recorded in the virtual program recording device from the user's computer via the network. The recorded program is read from the recording means and distributed to the user's computer.

  As a result, the user can view the program recorded in his / her virtual program recording apparatus in the system with time shift.

  Thus, according to this system, by providing a large-capacity virtual program recording device to a plurality of users on a network, those users can use a large number of programs without using a VCR or HDD recorder. Can be recorded for a long time, and those programs can be viewed with time shift.

  In this system, as an example, it is preferable that the item specified by the recording request information includes the length of time for recording. Further, when a television program of a plurality of broadcast channels is recorded on the recording means on the system side, it is preferable that the broadcast channel to be recorded is included in this item.

  In this way, by specifying the length of time to record and the broadcast channel, the user does not have to check the broadcast date and time of the program in advance to make a recording reservation, and also records programs that do not fit a specific keyword or preference become able to.

  In this system, as an example, it is preferable that the system further includes an encoder that compresses the data of the television program into a format that can be streamed, and the server preferably stream-distributes the television program in the second process.

  Further, in the case of providing such an encoder, as an example, it is preferable to provide a plurality of encoders having different bit rates for one broadcast channel, and the item specified by the recording request information includes this bit rate value. is there.

  In addition, in this system, as an example, it is preferable to further include billing processing means for billing the user as a price for setting the virtual program recording apparatus. As a result, business is not charged for the content of the program, but is charged for the service of “providing the user with a large-capacity virtual program recording device in place of the VCR or HDD recorder”. A model is created.

  In addition, in this system, as an example, it is preferable to further include audience rating data creation means for creating audience rating data of a television program based on the recording contents of a virtual program recording device set for a plurality of users. . Further, it is preferable that the audience rating data creating means creates audience rating data for each user attribute based on attribute information indicating the user attribute transmitted from the computer of each user.

  By creating such audience rating data, you can investigate audience rating with a large number of samples as the number of users increases, and obtain detailed audience rating survey results categorized by user attribute It becomes like this.

  For example, this audience rating data can be provided to a television broadcasting station or the like for a fee, thereby generating a business model for obtaining profits.

  Furthermore, when creating such audience rating data, as an example, the server preferably transmits the audience rating data to the user's computer. As a result, the user can also specify an item with reference to the audience rating data when newly transmitting the recording request information.

  Next, the applicant always records a television program of at least one broadcast channel on the recording means, and a server connected to the network receives a predetermined item from a user computer connected to the network. Based on the reception of the designated recording request information, the recording area of the recording means that has recorded the television program corresponding to the designated item after receiving the recording request information is recorded by the user. Setting as a virtual program recording device of the user, and playback in which the server designates a television program to be played back from the television program recorded in the virtual program recording device from the user's computer Based on the reception of the program information, the television number specified in this playback program information The reading from the recording means to propose a method for providing virtual program recording apparatus and a step of delivering to the user's computer.

  In addition, the present applicant has received at least one broadcast channel from a computer as a server connected to the network based on receiving recording request information specifying a predetermined item from a user computer connected to the network. Among the recording areas of the recording means for constantly recording the television program, the recording area in which the television program corresponding to the designated item is recorded after the recording request information is received, is the virtual program of the user. Based on the procedure of setting as a recording device and the received program information specifying the television program to be reproduced among the television programs recorded in the virtual program recording device from the user's computer, The television program specified by this reproduction program information is read from this recording means. Te to propose a program for executing the procedure to be delivered to the user's computer.

  According to this virtual program recording device providing method and this program, a plurality of users on the network are performed in the same manner as described above for the virtual program recording device providing system according to the present invention. By providing a large-capacity virtual program recording device, it is possible for those users to record a large number of programs for a long time without using a VCR or HDD recorder, and to view these programs with a time shift. become.

  According to the present invention, by providing a large-capacity virtual program recording device to a plurality of users over a network, those users can record a large number of programs for a long time without using a VCR or HDD recorder. In addition, it is possible to view these programs with a time shift.

  Also, by including the length of time to record and the broadcast channel to be recorded in the items specified in the recording request information, the user does not have to check the broadcast date and time of the program in advance to make a recording reservation, and a specific keyword The effect is that you can also record programs that do not fit your taste.

  In addition, by charging the user as a price for setting a virtual program recording device, the service “provides the user with a large-capacity virtual program recording device instead of a VCR or HDD recorder” is provided. The effect is that you can create a business model that makes a profit by charging.

  Moreover, based on the recording contents of the virtual program recording device set for a plurality of users' computers, the audience information of television programs is created, or attribute information indicating user attributes transmitted from each user's computer is displayed. Based on this, you can create audience rating data for each user attribute to investigate the audience rating with a large number of samples as the number of users increases, or a detailed audience rating survey categorized by user attribute The effect that a result can be obtained is obtained.

  Then, for example, there is an effect that it is possible to generate a business model that provides profit by providing this audience rating data to a television broadcasting station or the like for a fee.

  Further, by transmitting the audience rating data to the user's computer, the user can specify an item with reference to the audience rating data when newly transmitting recording request information. .

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration (including the user's computer side) of a virtual program recording apparatus providing system according to the present invention. In this system, a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC) 2 in a recording center 1 is connected to a wide area network (WAN) 10 such as the Internet by broadband, and this PC 2 serves as a server.

  A plurality of users U1 to Un using PC 11 or set top box (STB) 12 using this recording center 1 are connected to WAN 10 by broadband. The STB 12 is a device for connecting the television receiver 13 to the Internet. The STB 12 is equipped with a microprocessor, and converts the browser function and the streamed data into a format that can be displayed on the television receiver 13. It has a function. These PC 11 and STB 12 each serve as a client for the server (PC 2).

  FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of the recording center 1. Seven tuners 3 are provided to select 1ch, 3ch, 4ch, 6ch, 8ch, 10ch, and 12ch, which are broadcast channels assigned to multiple broadcasters in the same region (for example, the Tokyo metropolitan area). The tuner 3 selects a channel from a digital broadcast signal received by a receiving antenna (not shown).

  The signals selected by each tuner 3 are sent to two encoders 4 through a digital demodulator, an error corrector, a demultiplexer, and a decoder (not shown). The encoder 4 is a device that compresses a television signal into a format that can be streamed. The two encoders 4 corresponding to one tuner 3 have different bit rates, one is for high image quality (bit rate is 1 Mbps), and the other one is for normal image quality (for example, bit rate). Is several hundred Kbps).

  The compressed data from each encoder 4 is always recorded in the storage 5 under the management of the host computer 6. The storage 5 has a capacity capable of recording the compressed data from the encoder 4 over a long period of time (for example, several months). When the capacity becomes full, the recorded date and time are overwritten in order from the oldest data. Erase.

The PC 2 establishes a Web site on the WAN 10 (FIG. 1) for the user to use the recording center 1. On the Web page of this site, the following screens (A) to (C) are displayed.
(A) A new user enters user information such as address, name, age, e-mail address, payment method (credit card number or bank account number), acceptance / nonuse of usage history for audience rating survey, etc. A registration screen for acquiring a user account (registering in the recording center 1).

(B) A recording request screen for a registered user to request the recording of a television program by specifying the following items (i) to (iv) after inputting a user account. However, item (iv) need not be specified.
(I) Broadcast channel to record (ii) Image quality (iii) Length of time to record (total time, or time zone and number of days per day)
(Iv) Keywords

  (C) A program playback screen for allowing a user who has requested recording to enter a user account to check a program that has been recorded so far, and to select a program that the user wants to view.

  In the example of FIG. 2, one PC 2 and one host computer 6 are provided. However, a plurality of PCs 2 are provided or a plurality of host computers 6 are provided according to the number of registered users. A mirror site configuration in which a plurality of PCs 2 are connected to the host computer 6 may be employed.

  When the PC 2 of the recording center 1 receives the user information input on the registration screen from the new user's PC 11 or STB 12 (FIG. 1) via the WAN 10, it gives the user a unique user account to the user. The user account and user information are stored in the database 7.

  FIG. 3 shows processing between the user and the recording center 1 when a certain user registered in the recording center 1 makes a recording request on the above-described recording request screen. When the user inputs a user account, the user account is transmitted from the user's PC 11 or STB 12 to the PC 2 of the recording center 1 via the WAN 10, as shown as 'S1' in FIG. The PC 2 performs user authentication by comparing the received user account with the user account and user information in the database 7.

  After the user authentication is completed, when the user specifies the items (i) to (iv) described above, as shown as 'S2' in FIG. 3, the recording request information including the specified content is stored in the user's PC 11 or STB 12. To the PC 2 of the recording center 1 via the WAN 10.

  When the PC 2 receives the recording request information, the items (i) to (iv) designated after receiving the recording request information in the recording area of the storage 5 to the host computer 6 managing the storage 5. ) Is requested for area data indicating a recording area in which the television program corresponding to (2) is recorded, and title data of the television program recorded in the recording area. In response to this request, the host computer 6 creates the area data and title data using the electronic program guide data in the digital broadcast signal, and transmits the created area data and title data to the PC 2.

  The PC 2 sets the recording area indicated by this area data among the recording areas in the storage 5 as the user's virtual HDD recorder. The area data and title data are stored in the database 7 in association with the user. Note that since the recording area set as a virtual HDD recorder generally expands until the time specified in item (iii) elapses, the area data and title data are updated at regular intervals.

  Then, as shown as ‘S3’ in FIG. 3, information indicating that the user is charged for the fee according to the specifications of the virtual HDD recorder is transmitted to the user's PC 11 or STB 12 via the WAN 10. The user settles this fee by the settlement method selected at the time of registration.

  By performing such processing with each user registered in the recording center 1, a virtual HDD that records the program corresponding to the item designated by the user using the same storage 5 in the recording center 1. A recorder will be installed. This virtual HDD recorder has a large capacity because it can have the same capacity as that of the storage 5 (the entire recording area of the storage 5 can be set as this virtual HDD recorder).

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the specifications of the virtual HDD recorder for each user installed in the recording center 1. Of these, FIG. 4A is for a user who specified the items (i) to (iv) as follows.
(I) Broadcast channels to be recorded: 4 broadcast channels in total: 1ch, 4ch, 8ch, 12ch (ii) Image quality: High image quality (1 Mbps)
(Iii) Length of time for recording: 24 hours for each channel × 7 days = 168 hours (iv) Keyword: Not specified

At this time, the total capacity of the virtual HDD recorder provided to the user is as follows.
4 channels x 1 Mbps x 60 seconds x 60 minutes x 168 hours = 2419200 Mbit
≒ 300Gbyte

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4A, the installed HDD has a capacity of 300 Gbytes, four installed TV tuners, and a virtual HDD recorder having a streaming function via a network is provided to the user. Become.

On the other hand, FIG. 4B is for a user who specified items (i) to (iv) as follows.
(I) Broadcast channels to be recorded: 4 broadcast channels: 4ch, 6ch, 8ch, 10ch in total (ii) Image quality: High image quality (1Mbps)
(Iii) Length of recording time: 2000 hours in total time (iv) Keywords: soccer, animation

At this time, the total capacity of the virtual HDD recorder provided to the user is as follows.
1 Mbps x 60 seconds x 60 minutes x 2000 hours = 7200000 Mbit
≒ 900Gbyte

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4B, the installed HDD has a capacity of 900 Gbytes, four installed TV tuners, a streaming function via a network, and an automatic program extraction function from an electronic program guide by keyword specification. A virtual HDD recorder having the same is provided to the user.

  The user is charged, for example, by setting the basic charge for installing a virtual HDD recorder to 1,000 yen per month, and an additional charge according to the capacity (for example, 1000 yen per month in the example of FIG. 4A, the example of FIG. 4B Then, add 2000 yen per month) and do it every month. However, as described above, due to the capacity of the storage 5, the recording area of the storage 5 set as a virtual HDD recorder is overwritten, for example, after several months (that is, the recorded program is erased after several months). Therefore, no charge is made after that.

  In this way, instead of charging for the content of the television program, charging is made for the service of “providing the user with a large-capacity virtual HDD recorder instead of the VCR or HDD recorder” to obtain profits. A business model is created.

  Next, FIG. 5 shows processing between the user and the recording center 1 when the user who has requested recording in this way reproduces and views a program on the program reproduction screen described above. When the user inputs a user account, the user account is transmitted from the user's PC 11 or STB 12 to the PC 2 of the recording center 1 via the WAN 10, as shown as 'S11' in FIG.

  The PC 2 performs user authentication by comparing the received user account with the user account and user information in the database 7. Then, referring to the title data of the program associated with the user in the database 7, as shown as 'S12' in FIG. 5, it has been recorded so far on the virtual HDD recorder installed for the user. Recorded program information for displaying a list of program titles is transmitted to the user's PC 11 or STB 12 via the WAN 10. For example, when 7 days have passed since the request in the example of FIG. 4A described above, the programs to be displayed in the list are all the programs requested for recording, and only 2 days have passed since the request in the example of FIG. 4A. In this case, the program is only for the two days.

  When the user selects a title of a program to be viewed from among the titles of the programs displayed in the list, reproduction program information for instructing to reproduce the program of the selected title as shown as 'S13' in FIG. Is transmitted from the user's PC 11 or STB 12 to the PC 2 of the recording center 1 via the WAN 10.

  When the PC 2 receives the reproduction program information, the PC 2 refers to the area data and title data associated with the user in the database 7 and confirms the recording area of the program to be reproduced in the storage 5. Then, the host computer 6 is requested to read out the compressed data recorded in the recording area in the storage 5 and transfer it to the PC 2. In response to this request, the host computer 6 reads the compressed data from the recording area in the storage 5 and transfers it to the PC 2.

  As shown as ‘S14’ in FIG. 5, the PC 2 streams the compressed data transferred from the host computer 6 to the user's PC 11 or STB 12 via the WAN 10. As a result, the user can view the program recorded on his / her virtual HDD recorder with time shift.

  In addition to the process for providing the virtual HDD recorder to the user as described above, the PC 2 also executes a process for creating audience rating data. In this process, users who have accepted that the usage history is used for audience rating survey at the time of registration are classified into a plurality of groups according to attributes such as gender and age group. Then, for each group, by collecting the programs recorded on the virtual HDD recorder installed for the users in the group and the programs actually played out of those programs, what gender and age group Audience rating data indicating what programs people often watch. Then, the audience rating data is stored in the database 7.

  By creating such audience rating data, as the number of registered users in the Recording Center 1 increases, the audience rating can be increased with a larger number of samples than the existing audience rating survey (a survey using hundreds of households as a sample). Can be investigated. Further, it is possible to obtain detailed audience rating survey results classified for each user attribute such as gender and age group.

  Then, for example, it is possible to create a business model that provides profit by providing this audience rating data to a television broadcasting station or the like for a fee.

  Alternatively, this audience rating data may be transmitted from the PC 2 to the PC 11 or STB 12 of the user registered in the recording center 1. FIG. 6 shows an example (another example of the process between the user and the recording center 1 shown in FIG. 3) in which the audience rating data is transmitted at the time of the recording request on the above-mentioned recording request screen. “S21”, “S23”, and “S24” are processes having the same contents as “S1”, “S2”, and “S3” in FIG. 3, respectively.

  In the example of FIG. 6, the PC 2 performs user authentication based on the user account received by the process of “S21”, and then shows the user among the audience rating data in the database 7 as shown as “S22”. The audience rating data for the same gender and age group is transmitted to the user's PC 11 or STB 12 via the WAN 10.

  As a result, when the user makes a new recording request, the above items (i) to (iv) are referred to with reference to data indicating what kind of program the person of the same gender and age group is watching. ) Can also be specified.

  Here, the present invention and copyright will be described. The main premise of the present invention is based on the legitimate right to time-shift a program identified by the law that an individual conducts at home only for personal use, and as long as the following conditions are satisfied, the inventor shall Judged not to infringe copyright.

(1) The fact that an individual can only act on behalf of the time shift performed at home, and the user can naturally watch past programs that were not recorded for the purpose of time shift with a retroactive fee. Absent.
(2) The content that the user views from the recording center by streaming is protected by DRM, and it is very difficult to copy, as is the case with general copyright-protected digital content currently distributed. (3) Number of simultaneous streams Is limited to one stream (to prevent deliberate users from streaming to a specific number).

  In addition, to reiterate, the present invention does not charge for the copyrighted work of the program itself, but only charges for the service, and the program recorded by the individual is disclosed and used only for the individual by authentication and is used publicly. There is nothing.

  However, in order to avoid friction with the television broadcasting station that owns the program, the contract with the broadcasting station is made in advance and the program content recorded by the user (or some recording media) There may be a model in which a fee is charged (according to the storage capacity of a virtual HDD recorder) so that a copyright fee is added in advance, and a fee is collected on behalf of the broadcasting station and paid to the broadcasting station. In this case, the private broadcasting station will obtain new revenue in addition to the revenue only from the sponsor so far.

  Finally, the effects of services at this recording center are summarized as follows: effects for users, effects for recording centers, and effects for broadcasters (television broadcasting stations).

[Effects for users]
-The same effect as having obtained a TV program time-shift device that can be configured as you wish, as long as you have an environment connected to a broadband network without purchasing expensive devices such as actual HDD recorders. Can be obtained.
・ Large-capacity, multi-channel programs that cannot be constructed with actual devices such as HDD recorders can be viewed with time shift.
-By specifying the broadcast channel to be recorded at the time of recording request and the length of the recording time, there is no need to check the broadcast date and time of the program in advance to make a recording reservation, and there are programs that do not fit a specific keyword or preference You can record.
・ When making a recording request, the user can refer to audience rating data (data indicating what kind of programs people of the same gender and age group are often watching) created at the recording center. .

[Effect for Recording Center]
・ By providing a value-added service using a broadband network to a service that is not expected to receive compensation, such as free television broadcasting, a business that generates new profits can be created.
・ With respect to the increase in the number of users who use the recording center, there is no need for large-scale additional investment other than equipment for streaming and network enhancement, and this increase in the number of users is likely to lead to an increase in profit as it is.
-By obtaining permission from the user in advance, it may be possible to conduct a large-scale audience rating survey as detailed and unprecedented as to what kind of viewers watch what programs. There is also the possibility that the information can be sold to TV stations.

[Effects for broadcasters (television broadcasting stations)]
・ Original television broadcasting was a one-way flow of information from broadcasting stations to viewers. However, detailed audience rating data for all viewers using this service can be obtained and sponsored by the program. On the other hand, there is a possibility that broadcasting stations can newly propose various services. Further, in the model that charges the copyright fee for the program content, a new profit can be obtained.

  In the above example, in the recording center 1, programs for a plurality of broadcast channels assigned to a plurality of broadcasters in the same region are recorded in the storage 5. However, as another example, only the program of one broadcast channel assigned to one broadcaster in the same region may be recorded in the storage 5. Alternatively, a program of a broadcast channel assigned to a key broadcast station in a certain area and a program of a broadcast channel assigned to the affiliated broadcast station in another area may be recorded in the storage 5.

  In the above example, the program recorded on the virtual HDD recorder is erased after several months, for example, due to the capacity of the storage 5. However, as another example, it is possible to allow a user to designate an arbitrary program recorded in a virtual HDD recorder as a permanent storage version, and to transfer compressed data of the designated program from the storage 5 to another storage. In addition to the permanent storage, the area where the designated program is recorded may be newly set as a virtual HDD recorder.

It is a figure which shows the whole structure of the virtual program recording device provision system which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the video recording center of FIG. It is a figure which shows the process between the user and recording center at the time of a recording request. It is a figure which illustrates the specification of the virtual HDD recorder for every user on a video recording center. It is a figure which shows the process between the user and recording center at the time of program reproduction. It is a figure which shows another example of the process between the user and recording center at the time of a recording request.

Explanation of symbols

1 Recording Center 2 Personal Computer (Server)
3 Tuner 4 Encoder 5 Storage 6 Host Computer 7 Database 10 Wide Area Network 11 Personal Computer 12 Set Top Box 13 Television Receiver

Claims (11)

Recording means for constantly recording a television program of at least one broadcast channel;
And a server connected to the network,
The server
Based on the reception of recording request information designating a predetermined item from a user computer connected to the network, the designated item after receiving the recording request information in the recording area of the recording means. A first process of setting a recording area for recording a television program corresponding to the above as a virtual program recording device of the user;
Based on the fact that the reproduction program information specifying the television program to be reproduced among the television programs recorded in the virtual program recording device is received from the user's computer, the reproduction program information is designated. A system for providing a virtual program recording apparatus, comprising: performing a second process of reading a television program from the recording means and distributing the television program to the user's computer. In the provision system of the virtual program recording device according to claim 1,
The system for providing a virtual program recording apparatus, wherein the predetermined item specified by the recording request information includes a length of time for recording. In the provision system of the virtual program recording device according to claim 1,
In the recording means, a television program of a plurality of broadcast channels is recorded,
The system for providing a virtual program recording apparatus, wherein the predetermined item specified by the recording request information includes a broadcast channel to be recorded. In the provision system of the virtual program recording device according to claim 1,
An encoder for compressing television program data into a streamable format;
The server provides a system for providing a virtual program recording apparatus, wherein the server performs stream distribution of the television program in the second processing. In the provision system of the virtual program recording device according to claim 4,
Each broadcast channel has multiple encoders with different bit rates,
The system for providing a virtual program recording apparatus, wherein the predetermined item specified by the recording request information includes the bit rate value. In the provision system of the virtual program recording device according to claim 1,
A system for providing a virtual program recording apparatus, further comprising billing processing means for charging the user as a price for setting the virtual program recording apparatus. In the provision system of the virtual program recording device according to claim 1,
A virtual program recording apparatus, further comprising audience rating data creating means for creating audience rating data of a television program based on the recording contents of the virtual program recording apparatus set for a plurality of the users. Providing system. In the provision system of the virtual program recording device according to claim 7,
The audience rating data creating means creates audience rating data for each user attribute based on attribute information indicating the user attribute transmitted from the computer of each user. Offer system. In the provision system of the virtual program recording device according to claim 7,
The system for providing a virtual program recording apparatus, wherein the server transmits audience rating data created by the audience rating data creating means to the computer of the user. Constantly recording a television program of at least one broadcast channel in a recording means;
The server connected to the network receives the recording request information in the recording area of the recording means based on receiving the recording request information designating a predetermined item from the computer of the user connected to the network. And setting a recording area in which a television program corresponding to the designated item is recorded as a virtual program recording device of the user,
The reproduction program information is based on the fact that the server has received reproduction program information specifying a television program to be reproduced among the television programs recorded in the virtual program recording device from the computer of the user. A method for providing a virtual program recording apparatus, comprising: reading out the television program specified in step (b) from the recording means and distributing the television program to the user's computer. To a computer as a server connected to the network,
Of the recording area of the recording means for constantly recording a television program of at least one broadcast channel based on receiving recording request information designating a predetermined item from a computer of a user connected to the network, the recording A procedure for setting a recording area for recording a television program corresponding to the designated item after receiving the request information as a virtual program recording device of the user;
Based on the fact that the reproduction program information specifying the television program to be reproduced among the television programs recorded in the virtual program recording device is received from the user's computer, the reproduction program information is designated. A program for executing a procedure of reading a television program from the recording means and distributing it to the user's computer.

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