JP2005198138A - Media system and server for distribution - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that a television program broadcast in the past can be distributed, however, a program scheduled to be broadcasted or shown in future can not be distributed in the conventional technology and to enable a viewer to easily view program contents in the past, present, and future. <P>SOLUTION: A media system has a center 7 having storage means 9, 10 which are connected to the Internet 1 and record the content 11 of the television program, etc. and information regarding the content and a computer 8 which records/reproduces the information on the content and the content 11 to/from the storage means 9, 10 and a terminal 3 which is connected to the Internet 1 and has a communication part 30, a storage part 34, a display part 33, and a processing part 32. The computer 8 of the center 7 distributes the information on the content by retrieving the storage means 9, 10 of the center in response to a menu request from the processing part 32 of the terminal 3, retrieves the storage means 9, 10 in response to a content request from the processing part 32, and reproduces and distributes the content, when the applicable content is already recorded. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to the field of distributing contents such as television programs via communication means such as the Internet, and more particularly to a system for distributing favorite contents according to a request from a viewer.

  Conventionally, when there is a TV program to be watched, a recording reservation is made in advance, and the recorded video is played back and viewed later when there is time. At that time, I had to give up if I forgot or made a mistake. However, in recent years, there is a technique characterized in that a television program broadcast in the past is distributed in response to a request from a viewer. For example, there is Patent Document 1.

JP 2001-145087 A

  In the above prior art, the program is limited to the past program, and the program scheduled to be broadcast or scheduled to be shown in the future is not distributed. Live programs such as TV programs scheduled to be broadcast in the future cannot be distributed because they have not been recorded. However, if it is already recorded, technically, the content can be distributed.

  An object of the present invention is to enable viewers to easily view past, present, and future program contents.

  The feature of the present invention resides in providing the viewer with a service for distributing the content if it has been recorded.

Specifically, in order to achieve the above object, the media system of the present invention includes one or more terminal devices connected to a plurality of centers via communication means,
The center includes a storage unit that records content and information related to the content generated based on a content distribution schedule;
Based on the menu information of the content requested from the terminal device, information related to the content is read from the storage means and distributed to the terminal device via the communication means, and the content requested from the terminal device is stored in the storage device. Distribution means for reading out from the storage means and distributing to the terminal device via the communication means when recorded in the means;
The terminal device receives information about the content distributed from the center and the content via the communication unit;
Information on the received content and a storage unit for recording the content;
It has the information regarding the said content recorded on the said memory | storage part, and the display means which displays the said content.

  The center includes content distribution service fee notification means for notifying the terminal device of a content distribution service fee for the terminal device via the communication means, and the terminal device provides the service fee to the center. Service charge payment method contact means for contacting the payment method via the communication means is provided.

  The terminal device includes content evaluation information contact means for contacting content evaluation information to the center via the communication means.

In order to achieve the above object, in the distribution server of the present invention,
A storage unit that is connected to a communication line and records content such as a TV program and information related to the content; and a computer that records and reproduces information related to the content and content in the storage unit;
In response to a menu request from the terminal device via the communication line, the computer searches the storage means to distribute information relating to the content, and in response to a content request from the terminal device, the computer uses the storage means. When the content is searched and the corresponding content has been recorded, the content is reproduced and distributed.

  The information related to the content includes data creation date, time, content name, and recording state, and the content includes past, current and future television programs.

  According to the present invention, viewers can easily view past, present, and future program contents.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a system configuration diagram of a media system according to an embodiment of the present invention. A house A2 having a terminal 3 indoors through a communication line such as the Internet 1 can request a service from a plurality of centers such as an N center 6 and a T center 7. The T center 7 is a distribution server that includes a T center computer 8, a storage device 10 for recording each content 11, and a plurality of storage devices 9 according to usage and classification. The N center has the same configuration. Also, a service can be requested from a plurality of centers from the house B4 having the terminal 5 indoors.

  FIG. 2 shows a conceptual diagram of the content distribution service. The content here refers to a program that is unilaterally broadcast in a television broadcast or the like. In other words, it is intended to be broadcast in the past, present, or future, not content that is only intended to be distributed on demand according to the request from each viewer. Communication is performed via the Internet 1 between the service providing side (center side) 50 and the user side (housing side) 51. Here, it is assumed that the user has already acquired the user ID and password. The user side 51 makes a log-on request 52 to the service providing side 50. At this time, in the processing of the terminal in FIG. 3, the user ID and password already acquired are input by the input unit 31, and a request is made from the processing unit 32 to the service providing side 50 via the communication unit 30. In response to this, the service providing side 50 performs user ID and password authentication processing, and sends a log-on completion notification 53 to the user side 51.

  Next, the user side 51 makes a menu request 54 to the service providing side 50. 3, the processing unit 32 creates a menu request based on the data input from the input unit 31 and transmits the menu request to the service providing side 50 via the communication unit 30. On the other hand, the service providing side 50 performs menu distribution 55. At this time, the processing of the T center computer 80 in FIG. 4 creates information related to the content stored in the storage device 81, that is, the data creation date 82, the time 83, the content content 84, and the storage state 85 as a table image. To the user side 51.

  Next, the user side 51 makes a content request 56 to the service providing side 50. At this time, the terminal processing in FIG. 3 displays the distributed menu on the display unit 33. For the displayed menu, the processing unit 32 causes the input unit 31 to select a desired content name. This menu is stored in the storage unit 34, and contents can be requested repeatedly. Next, the selected content name is transmitted to the service providing side 50 via the communication unit 30. On the other hand, the service providing side 50 performs content distribution processing 58 by the T center computer 80. The content distribution processing 58 searches the storage device 81 using the requested content name as a key by the T center computer 80. If the storage state 85 is recorded 86, it is read and the content distribution 57 is performed to the user side 51. . Further, when the storage state 85 is unrecorded 87 at the time of the search, the user side 51 is notified that the distribution is impossible. Furthermore, when the data creation date 82 is TOMORROW and the storage state 85 is recorded 88, the recorded content is read from the storage device 81 and the content distribution 57 is performed to the user side 51.

  On the other hand, the user side 51 performs content reception 59. At this time, in the processing of the terminal in FIG. 3, the processing unit 32 receives the content via the communication unit 30 and records it in the storage unit 34. By sequentially displaying on the display unit 33 from the recorded portion, the user can view the content. Thereafter, by repeatedly performing the content request 56 and the content distribution 57, a plurality of contents can be viewed.

  Next, the service providing side 50 makes a content distribution amount notification 60 to the user side 51. At this time, the processing of the T center computer 80 in FIG. 4 records how many times the content distribution has been performed in the storage device 81 and transmits an amount notification corresponding to the number of times to the user side 51.

  On the other hand, the user side 51 notifies the service providing side 50 of the payment method communication 61. At this time, in the processing of the terminal in FIG. 3, the credit card number or the like is input by the input unit 31, and the service providing side 50 is notified through the communication unit 30.

  In addition, the user side 51 can make evaluation information communication 62 regarding content. At this time, in the processing of the terminal in FIG. 3, the evaluation information related to the content is input by the input unit 31, and the service providing side 50 is notified via the communication unit 30. Examples of this evaluation information are information such as whether it was interesting or not interesting. Such information can be used as information for planning future contents as a service provider.

  As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to enable viewers to easily view past, present and future program contents. Also, by combining past, present, and future content distribution, it is possible to realize a media system that makes an image of a dedicated TV station. In addition, for users who do not have time for work or the like, the media system is a highly convenient media system that can use time more effectively. Furthermore, by providing the service provider with evaluation information by viewing the program in advance, the service provider can use it as information for planning future contents.

1 is a system configuration diagram of a media system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a content distribution service of a media system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. It is a block diagram of a terminal device of a media system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a configuration diagram of a center side of a media system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 ... Internet, 2 ... Housing A, 3 ... Terminal, 4 ... Housing B, 5 ... Terminal, 6 ... N Center,
7 ... T center, 8, 80 ... T center computer, 9, 10, 81 ... storage device,
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Content, 30 ... Communication part, 31 ... Input part, 32 ... Processing part, 33 ... Display part,
34 ... storage unit, 50 ... service providing side (center side), 51 ... user side (housing side),
52 ... Log-on request, 53 ... Log-on completion notification, 54 ... Menu request,
55 ... Menu distribution, 56 ... Content request, 57 ... Content distribution,
58 ... Content distribution processing, 59 ... Content reception, 60 ... Content distribution amount notification, 61 ... Payment method communication, 62 ... Evaluation information communication,
82 ... Data creation date, 83 ... Time, 84 ... Content content, 85 ... Storage state,
86, 88 ... recorded, 87 ... not recorded.

Claims (5)

In a media system including one or more terminal devices connected to a plurality of centers via communication means,
The center includes a storage unit that records content and information related to the content generated based on a content distribution schedule;
Based on the menu information of the content requested from the terminal device, information related to the content is read from the storage means and distributed to the terminal device via the communication means, and the content requested from the terminal device is stored in the storage device. Distribution means for reading out from the storage means and distributing to the terminal device via the communication means when recorded in the means;
The terminal device receives information about the content distributed from the center and the content via the communication unit;
Information on the received content and a storage unit for recording the content;
A media system comprising: information related to the content recorded in the storage unit; and display means for displaying the content. The center includes a content distribution service fee notification means for notifying the terminal device of a content distribution service fee for the terminal device via the communication means,
The media system according to claim 1, wherein the terminal device includes a service fee payment method contact unit for contacting a service fee payment method to the center via the communication unit.   2. The media system according to claim 1, wherein the terminal device comprises content evaluation information contact means for contacting content evaluation information to the center via the communication means. A storage unit that is connected to a communication line and records content such as a TV program and information related to the content; and a computer that records and reproduces information related to the content and content in the storage unit;
In response to a menu request from the terminal device via the communication line, the computer searches the storage means to distribute information relating to the content, and in response to a content request from the terminal device, the computer uses the storage means. A distribution server characterized by searching and reproducing and distributing the content when the corresponding content has been recorded. 5. The distribution server according to claim 4, wherein the information on the content includes a data creation date, a time, a content name, and a recording state, and the content includes past, present, and future television programs.

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