JP2005311676A - Method and driver for personalized content navigation and system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To release a user viewing contents from a troublesome operation in a content distribution system using an IP network. <P>SOLUTION: In the content distribution system using the IP network, a personalized content navigation server is provided in the IP network. By means of the above server, a service is provided for executing both edition of recommended programs suiting tastes of the user and channel switchover, on behalf of the individual user viewing a multiplicity of video contents distributed on the IP network. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention navigates content viewed by individual users when a large amount of video content is distributed via a large number of channels by a large number of content distributors in a content distribution system using an IP network. The present invention relates to a content navigation method.

  Content distributors have access points for programs on their websites, and users can start viewing by browsing their program listings on their terminals and selecting them according to their preferences. It was. Each content distribution company's Web devised its own layout and the like, and promoted to users with text documents, still images, or relatively simple moving images.

  In addition, user attribute information and viewing history information are collected from a user terminal using a content navigation server, and viewing tendency information for each user is obtained by statistical processing from the collected user attribute information and viewing history information, and this is used as personalized navigation information. It is proposed to supply to a user (refer patent document 1). However, even in this case, the user needs to perform troublesome operations such as accessing the content navigation server from the terminal, receiving personalized navigation information, and selecting a favorite program.

JP 2004-30301 A

  In the conventional technology, the user is required to perform many operations and active selection before starting viewing, and is in a mode of reducing the user's willingness to view personalized content navigation information. Even providing it is a great obstacle to increase viewing opportunities.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to create a personalized content that provides a service that frees the user from troublesome program selection and the like by organizing a recommended program according to the user's preference and switching channels on behalf of the user. A navigation method and system, and a personalized content navigation server used in the system.

  The personalized content navigation method according to the present invention includes a distribution server that distributes video content, a user terminal that receives the video content distributed from the distribution server and displays the video content on a screen, and the video content from the distribution server. In a content distribution system comprising an IP network to be transferred to a user terminal, a personalized content navigation server is provided in the IP network, and each server for viewing a large number of video contents distributed on the IP network is provided by the server. It is characterized by providing a service for executing program selection and access to the selected program on behalf of the user.

  In the personalized content navigation method of the present invention, the personalized content navigation server recommends a program that matches the user's preference based on the program information of the distribution server registered in advance for each user and the user's preference information. The program is organized, and a virtual channel is provided for performing program channel switching control for the user terminal at the time of program switching based on the program organization.

  In the personalized content navigation method of the present invention, the personalized content navigation server further includes a part of distribution times of a plurality of programs selected on the basis of user preference information when a recommended program is organized for each user. Alternatively, if all of them overlap, control is performed so that distribution of one program to the user terminal starts at that time, the other programs are temporarily stored, and after the distribution of the one program ends, the next The other program content temporarily stored as a program is distributed to the terminal of the user.

  In the personalized content navigation method of the present invention, the personalized content navigation server further receives a plurality of content data distributed from the distribution server on the IP network, and information on the program being distributed and a certain user's It ranks recommended programs based on preference information, creates a thumbnail screen that can be previewed at once by synthesizing a part of the plurality of programs in the recommended order, and delivering it to the user To do.

  Furthermore, the personalized content navigation system according to the present invention includes a distribution server that distributes the video content, a user terminal that receives the video content distributed from the distribution server and displays the video content on a screen, and the distribution of the video content. In a content distribution system comprising an IP network transferred from a server to the user terminal, a personalized content navigation server is provided in the IP network, and the personalized content navigation server is distributed over the IP network. It is provided with a function of acting as a substitute for selecting a program and accessing the selected program on behalf of an individual user who views the video content.

  In the personalized content navigation system of the present invention, the personalized content navigation server includes a user information management function for registering, managing, and updating preference information and distribution contract information for each user, and program information from the content distribution server. The program information management function to be collected, the user preference information from the user information management function and the program information from the program information management function are selected based on the user's preference to perform program organization, And a program organization management function for each user that provides a virtual channel for sending a program channel switching instruction to the terminal of the user at the time of program switching based on the program organization and performing program channel switching control. .

  In the personalized content navigation system of the present invention, the personalized content navigation server further includes a program time shift function for each user, and the program scheduling management function for each user performs user preference information during program programming for each user. If some or all of the distribution time zones of a plurality of programs selected based on the same overlap, the function of controlling the start of distribution of one program to the user's terminal at that time, and the other A temporary storage request to the program time shift function for each user, and a function for temporarily storing the other programs in the program time shift function for each user, and after the delivery of the one program, The other program content temporarily stored in the program time shift function for each user as the program of the user Characterized as having a function of controlling so as to deliver.

  In the personalized content navigation system of the present invention, the personalized content navigation server further receives a plurality of content data distributed from the distribution server on the IP network, and distributes program information being distributed and a specific user. A function that ranks recommended programs based on the preference information, creates a thumbnail screen that can be previewed at the same time by combining a part of the plurality of programs in the recommended order, and distributes it to the user terminal. It is characterized by having a preview creation function for each user.

  According to the personalized content navigation method and system of the present invention, since the personalized content navigation server performs the organization of recommended programs and channel switching suitable for the user preference on behalf of the user, the user can view the content. Free from troublesome operations. Further, the user can receive new content distribution without knowing the service start of the new content distribution company. Content distribution companies will reduce the cost and effort of promotion.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a preferred embodiment of a personalized content navigation system according to the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, this system distributes video contents distributed from content distribution companies A and B, and users who receive video contents distributed from the distribution servers 11A and 11B and display them on the screen. User terminals 12A and 12B in homes A and B, an IP network 13 that transfers these video contents from the distribution servers 11A and 11B to the user terminals 12A, 12B, and 12C, and a number of videos that are distributed on the IP network 13 It includes a personalized content navigation server 14 that provides services for program selection and access to selected programs on behalf of individual users 12A, 12B viewing content. In the figure, only two distribution servers and two user terminals are shown for convenience of explanation and for simplification of the drawing, but there are actually a large number of distribution servers and a large number of user terminals.

  The personalized content navigation server 14 includes a user information management function 141 that registers, manages, and updates preference information and distribution contract information for each user, a program information management function 142 that collects program information from the content distribution server, and a user A program organization management function 143 that provides a virtual channel for performing program control for each program organization and switching of program delivery channels based on the program organization for each user organization, and temporarily stores and distributes part of the distribution contents for each user A time shift function 144 for each user, a preview function 145 for each user that collects distribution content data from the content distribution server, synthesizes an optimal preview screen for each user, and distributes it to the user, and an advertisement content from an advertising company Advertising DB function 146 to manage information Constructed.

Next, the operation of this system will be described.
As shown in FIG. 2, the per-user program organization management function 143 is a recommended program that matches the user's preference based on the user's preference information from the user information management function 141 and the program information from the program information management function 142. (For example, a program of company A and company B) is selected to act as a recommended program organization, and a channel switching instruction is given to the user terminal 12 at the time of switching between the program distribution channels of company A and company B based on the program organization. A virtual channel is provided to act as a substitute for the feed channel. Upon receiving the channel switching instruction, the user terminal stops the channel flow from the distribution server of the company A that is currently viewing and requests the channel flow from the distribution server of the new company B.

  Therefore, according to the present system, the user who wants to view only sets the terminal 12 to this virtual channel, and the recommended program organization that matches the user preference is provided by the user-specific program organization management function 143 in the personalized content navigation server instead of the user. Therefore, the user can automatically view a plurality of programs according to his / her preference among a large number of contents existing on the IP network.

  In the present system, the program organization management function 143 for each user further displays the user terminal as shown in FIG. 3 in the case where a plurality of programs, for example, a program of the company A and a program of the company B overlap. The program of company A is controlled to start distribution at that time, and the program of company B makes a temporary storage request to the program time shift function 144 for each user. Upon receiving the temporary storage request, the per-user program time shift function 144 makes a viewing request to the distribution server for the B company program and temporarily stores the B company program. When the distribution of the program of company A is completed, the user-by-user program organization function 143 sends a channel switching instruction to the channel of the user-by-user program time shift function 144 to the user terminal 12 to perform channel switching control. Upon receiving the channel switching instruction, the user terminal switches from the channel of the company A's program distribution server to the channel of the user-by-user program time shift function 144, and stores the program of the company B temporarily stored from the program-by-user program time shift function 144. Receive delivery.

  In this system, the user-by-user preview creation function 145 collects a plurality of content data distributed from the distribution servers 11A and 11B, and the program information being distributed from the program information management function 142 and the user information management function 141 and Based on user preference information, select and rank recommended content that suits user preference, perform preview processing on the content data, and create a preview thumbnail screen arranged in the recommended order To do. The processing for previewing content data is processing for erasing audio data, reducing the screen, and making part of the screen invisible. Further, based on the user preference information from the user information management function 141 and the advertisement information from the advertisement DB function 146, an advertisement optimal for the user is inserted into the preview. The user can view this preview screen by requesting the terminal to be distributed in accordance with the channel distributed by the preview creation function 145 for each user. The user terminal includes an input / output device that allows the user to select, and the user can select a program from the preview screen and start viewing. By reflecting the user program selection result in the user preference information, it is possible to select a recommended program with higher accuracy.

FIG. 5 shows a business flow in this system.
As described above, in this system, the personalized content navigation server provides a service that substitutes the organization of recommended programs and channels that meet the user's preference on behalf of the user, and the content on behalf of the content distribution company. As a substitute for the advertising company, the optimal advertisement that matches the user's preference is distributed on behalf of the advertising company. A content distribution company can obtain a service charge for substituting channels, a content sales promotion charge, and an advertising charge from an advertising company. Also, the personalized content navigation service provider can act as a proxy for collecting viewing fees from users of content distribution companies.

  Therefore, in this system, the personalized content navigation server performs recommended program organization and channel switching on behalf of the user on behalf of the user, so that the user is free from troublesome program selection and other operations, and the user is newly New content distribution can be received without knowing the service start of a content distribution company. Content distribution companies will reduce the cost and effort of promotion. Moreover, since the optimal advertisement based on the user preference information is distributed on behalf of the advertising company, the advertising company can expect a great advertising effect. In addition, since the user terminal is not required to have a function that causes cost (such as mounting of a large-capacity hard disk), the user can subscribe to the system at a low cost. In addition, the cost burden related to the continuation of the user's subscription to the system is reduced by the advertising expenses from the advertising company.

  The procedure and function of the personalized content navigation method and system of the present invention have been described above. However, these procedure or function can be executed or realized by a computer, and the present invention executes or realizes these procedure or function. The computer program for recording and the recording medium which recorded the computer program concerned are also included in the scope of the present invention.

It is a figure which shows embodiment of the personalized content navigation system which concerns on this invention. It is a figure explaining operation | movement of the personalized program organization / channel switching agency service in this system. It is a figure explaining operation | movement of the time shift function in this system. It is a figure explaining operation | movement of the personalized preview service in this system. It is a figure explaining the example of the business flow in this system.

Explanation of symbols

11A. 11B Distribution server 12A, 12B User terminal 13 IP network 14 Personalized content navigation server 141 User information management function 142 Program information management function 143 User-by-user program organization management function 144 User-by-user time shift function 145 User-by-user preview creation function 146 Advertising database function

Claims (11)

A distribution server that distributes video content; a user terminal that receives the video content distributed from the distribution server and displays the video content on a screen; and an IP network that transfers the video content from the distribution server to the user terminal. In the content distribution system,
A service in which a personalized content navigation server is provided in the IP network, and the server performs program selection and access to the selected program on behalf of individual users who view a large number of video contents distributed on the IP network. A personalized content navigation method comprising: providing a personalized content navigation method.   2. The personalized content navigation method according to claim 1, wherein the personalized content navigation server is adapted to the user's preference based on program information of the distribution server and user preference information registered in advance for each user. A personalized content navigation method, comprising: selecting a program, organizing the program, and providing a virtual channel for performing program channel switching control for the user terminal at a program switching time based on the program organization.   3. The personalized content navigation method according to claim 1, wherein the personalized content navigation server further distributes a plurality of programs selected based on user preference information when a recommended program is organized for each user. If some or all of the programs overlap, the distribution of one program to the terminal of the user is controlled to start at that time, the other programs are temporarily stored, and the distribution of the one program ends. A personalized content navigation method, wherein the other program content temporarily stored as a next program is distributed to the user's terminal later.   4. The personalized content navigation method according to claim 1, wherein the personalized content navigation server receives a plurality of content data distributed from the distribution server on the IP network and is being distributed. Ranking of recommended programs based on the program information and specific user's preference information, creating a thumbnail screen that can be previewed at once by synthesizing the content data in the recommended order and distributing it to the user A personalized content navigation method characterized by: A distribution server that distributes video content; a user terminal that receives the video content distributed from the distribution server and displays the video content on a screen; and an IP network that transfers the video content from the distribution server to the user terminal. In the content distribution system,
A personalized content navigation server is provided in the IP network, and the personalized content navigation server selects programs and accesses selected programs on behalf of individual users who view a large number of video contents distributed on the IP network. Personalized content navigation system characterized by having a function to act as a proxy.   6. The personalized content navigation system according to claim 5, wherein the personalized content navigation server includes a user information management function for registering, managing, and updating preference information and distribution contract information for each user, and program information from the content distribution server. The program information management function for collecting the user information, the user preference information from the user information management function, and the program information from the program information management function are used to select a recommended program that matches the user's preference and organize the program. A program organization management function for each user that provides a virtual channel for sending a program channel switching instruction to the terminal of the user at the time of program switching based on the program organization and performing program channel switching control. Personalized content navigation system.   7. The personalized content navigation system according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the personalized content navigation server further comprises a program time shift function for each user, and the program organization management function for each user is a user at the time of program organization for each user. A function of performing control to start distribution of one program to the user terminal when a part or all of the distribution time zones of a plurality of programs selected based on the preference information of the user overlap. For other programs, a function for temporarily requesting the program time shift function for each user and temporarily storing the other programs in the program time shift function for each user, and distribution of the one program The other program content temporarily stored in the program time shift function for each user as the next program after the end Personalized content navigation system characterized by having a function of controlling so as to deliver to over THE terminal.   The personalized content navigation system according to claim 5, wherein the personalized content navigation server further receives a plurality of content data distributed from the distribution server on the IP network and is currently distributing A function that ranks recommended programs based on the program information and specific user preference information, synthesizes the content data in the recommended order, creates a thumbnail screen that can be previewed at once, and distributes it to the user A personalized content navigation system characterized by having a preview creation function for each user. A user information management function for registering, managing, and updating preference information and distribution contract information for each user;
A program information management function for collecting program information from a content distribution server;
Based on the user preference information from the user information management function and the program information from the program information management function, a function for selecting a recommended program that suits the user's preference and organizing the program, and a program based on the program organization A program scheduling management function for each user having a function of sending a program channel switching instruction to the terminal of the user at the switching time and causing the user terminal to perform switching control of the program channel;
A personalized content navigation server characterized by comprising: In the personalized content navigation server according to claim 9,
The personalized content navigation server further includes a program time shift function for each user,
The per-user program organization management function may be used when a part or all of the distribution time zones of a plurality of programs selected on the basis of user preference information overlap at the time of program organization for each user. On the other hand, a function for controlling viewing of one program at that time, a temporary storage request for the program time shift function for each user for other programs, and the other program for each user. A function for temporarily storing the program time shift function, and a control for distributing the other program content temporarily stored in the program time shift function for each user as the next program after distribution of the one program to the terminal of the user. Personalized content navigation server characterized by having functions. In the personalized content navigation server according to claim 9 or 10,
The personalized content navigation server further includes a function of receiving a plurality of content data distributed from the distribution server on the IP network, and program information being distributed from the program information management function and the user information management function. A function that ranks recommended programs based on preference information of a specific user, a function that creates a thumbnail screen that can be previewed at once by combining a part of the plurality of programs in the recommended order, A personalized content navigation server comprising a per-user preview creation function having a function of distributing a created thumbnail screen as a preview to the user terminal.

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