JP2005333278A - Content viewing system, data storage managing device used for the same, area information distributing device, data storage managing method, area information distributing method, and data storage managing program and area informatioin distributing program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To manage reproduction states of contents for each user who moves between areas. <P>SOLUTION: A content viewing system according to the present invention gathers and transmits user information by area information distributing devices 11 arranged in area units, realizes event processing for specifying proper contents for each state of users according to the gathered and stored user information by a data storage managing device 14, and reproduces and displays the contents specified by information display devices in the respective areas, for each user. This content viewing system can manage the reproduction states of the contents on the information display devices 12 by the users who move between the areas, and then enables hand-over control over the content reproduction, so that each user can view contents, interrupted in association with the movement between the areas, continuously in the next area. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a content viewing system that allows a plurality of users who move into a management area to individually view content on an information display device, and a data storage management device, area information distribution device, and data used in this system The present invention relates to an accumulation management method, an area information distribution method, a data accumulation management program, and an area information distribution program.

  For example, when an information display device is installed in a plurality of areas at an event venue or a store and a target person (hereinafter referred to as a user) enters each area, the information display device automatically displays event information, product information, etc. There is a content viewing system that enables playback and viewing of content. As such a content viewing system, it is effective to increase the user's interest in the content by effectively allowing the user moving in a plurality of areas to view the content.

  However, the conventional management method in the above system only identifies the presence of a user in each area and allows a predetermined content to be viewed. For this reason, the same content is presented to the user from the initial position every time the area changes. Thus, when the same content is presented again each time the area is moved, the user's interest in the content may be reduced.

In addition, in a conventional wide-area mobile viewing device, an automatic program configuration device that automatically selects broadcast program content according to user preferences has been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1). This device performs route setting by navigation and sets a user's favorite genre, thereby switching to a channel broadcasting a program of the user's favorite genre at each point on the route from the current position to the destination. The program plan is created so that the user can receive the broadcast program, and the user is allowed to view the broadcast program along the plan. Although this device is related to the present invention in that it manages the user's content viewing, this device is a method of automatically selecting a channel on the user side device, and content viewing management for each user on the content provider side Is not something to do.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-152067

  As described above, in a conventional content viewing system, it is effective to increase the user's interest in content by effectively viewing the content for users moving in a plurality of areas. In this management method, every time the area is moved, the same content is presented again from the initial position. Therefore, the user's interest cannot be effectively increased.

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned problem, and can manage the reproduction status of content for each user who moves in the area, thereby enabling the content reproduction handover control, and the content interrupted as the area moves. A content viewing system that can be viewed continuously in the next area, and a data storage management device, area information distribution device, data storage management method, area information distribution method, data storage management program, and area information distribution program used in this system The purpose is to provide.

  In order to solve the above problems, an information content distribution system according to the present invention, a data storage management device, an area information distribution device, a data storage management method, an area information distribution method, a data storage management program, and an area information distribution used in this system The program is structured as follows.

  (1) In a content viewing system that provides viewing of content to a user in each of a plurality of management areas, a network disposed between the plurality of management areas, and a network disposed in each of the plurality of management areas Area information including information for user recognition of one or a plurality of users existing in the area and including user information including the user recognition information and collection time information and jurisdiction area recognition information given in advance And a plurality of area information distribution apparatuses for transmitting the information on the network and one or a plurality of information distribution devices arranged in each of the plurality of management areas, and stored in the content provided through the network or stored in accordance with an input operation of user authentication data. Content is sent through the network A plurality of information display devices that play back according to the indication, and a database that is connected to the network and in which the user authentication data, user recognition information, and recognition information of the plurality of area information distribution devices are registered in advance. User information and area information sent from the area information distribution device is acquired, the user and the area are recognized with reference to the database, the user information is accumulated on an area basis based on the recognition result, and the information display device A data storage management device that receives user authentication data, identifies a corresponding user, instructs the information display device of the user authentication data transmission source to reproduce content, and adds viewing state data to the user information; When the storage management device instructs the information display device to play back the content, And controlling a playback start position on the basis of the viewing conditions.

  (2) In the configuration of (1), the user recognition information is a tag identifier transmitted by a wireless tag distributed in advance to a user.

  (3) In the configuration of (1) or (2), the content is further connected to the network, the content to be distributed to the information display device is accumulated, and the content is provided in response to the access from the information display device A content storage / delivery device is provided.

  (4) A data storage management device used in the content viewing system according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the user authentication data, user recognition information, and recognition information of the plurality of area information distribution devices Is acquired, and the user information and area information transmitted from the plurality of area information distribution apparatuses are acquired, the user and the area are recognized with reference to the database, and the user information in units of areas based on the recognition result Information storage means for storing information and user authentication data from the information display device are received, corresponding user information is selected from the information storage means with reference to the database, and the user authentication data is transmitted based on the user information Reproduction instruction means for instructing the original information display device to reproduce content, and newly stored information in the information accumulation means Based on the obtained user information and area information, the presence of users in each area is grasped, the viewing state of the content reproduced on the information display device is recognized from the presence state of each user, and the viewing state data is added to the user information. User information management means, and when the content instruction is instructed to the information display device, the reproduction instruction means refers to the user information and sets a reproduction start position based on the previous viewing state of the user. It is characterized by controlling.

  (5) An area information distribution device used in the content viewing system according to any one of (1) to (3), and a collection unit that collects user recognition information of one or more users existing in the area; The user information generating means for generating user information from the user recognition information collected by the collecting means and the respective collection time information, and area information including the user information and jurisdiction area recognition information given in advance are periodically And an information transmission means for transmitting to the data storage management device.

  (6) In the configuration of (5), when the user recognition information is a tag identifier transmitted from a wireless tag distributed to a user in advance, the collection means is arranged in one or more of the management areas A tag transmission detection sensor is always used to sense a tag transmission signal.

  (7) A data storage management method used in the content viewing system according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the user authentication data, user recognition information, and recognition information of the plurality of area information distribution devices A database creation step for registering the information in the database, obtaining user information and area information sent from the plurality of area information distribution apparatuses, recognizing the user and area by referring to the database, and based on the recognition result An information storage step for storing user information, and accepting user authentication data from the information display device, selecting the corresponding user information with reference to the database, and based on the user information, A reproduction instruction step for instructing the information display device to reproduce content, and the information accumulation step. Based on the accumulated information and newly acquired user information and area information, the presence of users in each area is grasped, and the viewing state of the content reproduced on the information display device is recognized from the presence status of each user. A user information management step of adding viewing state data to the information, wherein the playback instruction step refers to the user information when the content display is instructed to the information display device, and the previous viewing state of the corresponding user. The reproduction start position is controlled based on the above.

  (8) An area information distribution method used in the content viewing system according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the collecting step collects information for user recognition of one or more users existing in the area; A user information generation step for generating user information from the user recognition information collected in this collection step and the respective collection time information, and area information including the user information and pre-given area recognition information given in advance are periodically And an information transmission step for sending to the data storage management device.

  (9) A data storage management program used in the content viewing system according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the computer executes data storage management, wherein the user authentication data, user recognition information, the plurality Database creation procedure for registering recognition information of the area information distribution device in the database, user information and area information sent from the plurality of area information distribution devices are acquired, and the user and the area are recognized with reference to the database Then, an information accumulation procedure for accumulating user information in units of areas based on the recognition result, and user authentication data from the information display device are received, corresponding user information is selected by referring to the database, and the user information is Reproduction based on the user authentication data transmission source information display device based on the content reproduction The presence of the users in each area based on the display procedure, the information accumulated in the information accumulation procedure, the newly acquired user information and area information, and the information display device reproduces the presence status of each user. A user information management procedure for recognizing the viewing state of the content to be added and adding the viewing state data to the user information. The playback instruction procedure refers to the user information when instructing the information display device to play back the content. The playback start position is controlled based on the previous viewing state of the user.

  (10) An area information distribution program that is used in the content viewing system according to any one of (1) to (3) and causes a computer to execute area information distribution, and is a user of one or a plurality of users existing in the area Collection procedure for collecting information for recognition, user information generation procedure for generating user information from the information for user recognition collected in this collection procedure and each collection time information, and jurisdiction area recognition given in advance with the user information And an information transmission procedure for periodically transmitting area information including information for use to the data storage management device.

  That is, the content viewing system according to the present invention includes an area information distribution device that collects and transmits user information in area units, and a data storage management device that instructs appropriate content reproduction for each user state based on the collected and stored user information. Is a system that realizes reproduction and display of content designated in the information display device of each area for each user, and an area information distribution device having a function of transmitting user information for each area; For each user moving in an area by managing the user status and content playback status using an information display device having a function of playing content specified for each user and a data storage management device connected to both It is possible to control the reproduction of content managed in the same way.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to manage the content reproduction status for each user who moves in the area, thereby enabling the content reproduction handover control, and the content that is interrupted as the area moves is moved to the next area. To provide a content viewing system that allows continuous viewing, and a data storage management device, area information distribution device, data storage management method, area information distribution method, data storage management program, and area information distribution program used in this system it can.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a content viewing system according to the present invention. In the system shown in FIG. 1, the viewable area is divided into a plurality of areas (hereinafter referred to as “management areas”) (FIG. 1 shows an example of division into two areas A and B). Each area information distribution device 11 is arranged in B. The area information distribution device 11 recognizes, for example, a wireless tag carried by the user (transmits an RF-ID as identification information), collects the RF-ID tags in the area as user information, and stores data on the network 13. The data is transmitted to the accumulation management device 14.

  In the management areas A and B, one or more information display devices 12 are arranged. Each information display device 12 is connected to the data storage management device 14 and the content data storage / delivery device 15 through the network 13, and is distributed from the content data storage / delivery device 15 based on the content reproduction control information from the data storage management device 14. A function of reproducing the content to be played.

  Here, the area information distribution apparatus 11 is specifically configured as shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, “area authentication ID” and “authentication password” distributed in advance for each area are stored in an ID / password storage unit 111. A sensor 112 that senses an RF-ID transmitted from a wireless tag is provided at a main location in the jurisdiction area. The RF-ID detected by each sensor 112 is captured as user information by the sensor interface unit 113 and stored in the user information storage unit 114, thereby managing the presence of the user in the management area. The communication control unit 115 controls network communication processing with the data storage management device 14 and the content data storage / delivery device 15.

  The data storage management unit 14 is specifically configured as shown in FIG. In FIG. 3, the WEB interface unit 141 is used to set information of each management area in the WEB format with respect to the area-specific information registration unit 142, and a user managed by the system using the WEB interface unit 141. Information and area information distribution apparatus information for each management area and information display apparatus information existing in the area are registered in the area-specific information registration unit 142.

  3 includes a user information database (DB) 143, an area information distribution device information database (DB) 144, and an information display device information database (DB) 145.

  In the user information database 143, in addition to “user ID”, “password”, and “user name”, “user recognition information” and “user viewing content name” are registered. The “user recognition information” is information for recognizing which user the information transmitted from the area information distribution apparatus 11 relates to, and has a one-to-one correspondence with the “user ID”. For example, when the area information distribution device 11 identifies a user with an RF-ID using a wireless tag and transmits the RF-ID to the data storage management device 14, the RF-ID identifier is used as "user recognition information". Register. In “user viewing content name”, the file name of the content to be viewed by the user on the information display device 12 is registered.

  In the user information database 143, records for storing “user viewing state” and “content viewing time” are prepared in addition to the registration information. The “user viewing state” takes a value of “viewing” or “unviewed”. “Content viewing time” represents the total time during which the content represented by “user viewing content name” is reproduced and displayed. The initial registration values of “user viewing state” and “content viewing time” are “unviewed” and “0 (zero)”, respectively.

  In the area information distribution apparatus information database 144, “area information distribution apparatus name”, “area authentication ID”, and “authentication password” are registered in advance. At this time, a dedicated “data record storage unit” is secured for each registered area information distribution device, and the “user recognition information” and the “time information” transmitted from the area information distribution device 11 are respectively set to “data”. It accumulates in the “record accumulator”.

  In the information display device information database 145, an “information display device name” and a “corresponding area information distribution device name” corresponding to the information display device are registered in advance.

  Further, the data storage management device 14 includes a determination / response processing unit 146 that performs determination based on input information, registration information, and the like, and URL response processing for the information display device 12 selected by the WWW browser.

  Specifically, as a URL response to the information display device 12 selected by the WWW browser, a script that prompts the information display device 12 to reconnect after a predetermined time (hereinafter referred to as reconnection time) is created. The URL is issued to the information display device 12 connected. Further, the “user recognition information” stored in the “data record storage unit” corresponding to the area information distribution device 11 associated with the information display device information specified by the WWW browser and the information display device information database 145, and Among the “time information”, data is acquired from the current time when the URL connection is received from the information display device 12 to the time that is back by the reconnection time in the script described above during the URL response.

  The information display device 12 has a wired LAN or wireless LAN interface, is connected to the data storage management device 14 and the content data storage / delivery device 15 through the network 13, and is informed by a browser for WWW access (hereinafter referred to as a WWW browser). It has a function of playing and displaying input and distribution contents. When the information display device 12 is connected to the URL of the data storage management device 14, a screen for inputting a “user ID” and a “password” is displayed on the WWW browser. Here, when the “user ID” registered in the user information database 143 is input, the information display device 12 displays the “user viewing content name” registered in the user information database 143 for the input “user ID”. "Is displayed. In addition, when the “user ID” for the system administrator is input, the contents registered for all “user IDs” are displayed. Subsequently, after entering the “user ID”, information on the available area information distribution apparatus 11 is displayed on the WWW browser.

  In the above configuration, processing contents of the system will be described below.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for schematically explaining processing along the movement of a user (subject) having a wireless tag having an RF-ID transmission function in the system. In FIG. 4, (1) when the subject moves to area A, (2) the area information distribution device 11 arranged in area A detects the tag information from the subject's wireless tag, and the data storage management device 14 is notified. (3) The information display device 12 acquires the content and starts reproducing it. Here, (4) when the subject moves outside the area, the area information distribution device 11 detects this and notifies the data storage management device 14 of it. (6) At this time, the information display device 12 interrupts the content reproduction. Subsequently, (7) when the target person enters another area B, (8) the area information distribution device 11 arranged in the area B detects this and notifies the data storage management device 14 of it. At this time, (9) the information display device 12 starts content reproduction for each target person from the position where the reproduction is interrupted.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the area information distribution apparatus 11. In this area information distribution apparatus 11, first, “area authentication ID” and “authentication password” corresponding to the self apparatus are set (step S11). During operation, presence is sensed based on tag information transmitted from a wireless tag held by the user by various sensors 112 arranged in the assigned area (step S12), and the user is detected in the area (step S12). Then, information including the detected user “user recognition information” is transmitted to the data storage management device 14 every predetermined time (for example, every second) (step S14).

  In the present embodiment, the area information distribution device 14 employs a method of detecting a user using the transmission information of the wireless tag, receives radio waves transmitted by all the wireless tags existing in the detection area, and receives the received RF The ID tag is transmitted as “user recognition information” to the data storage management device 14 every predetermined time, for example, every second.

  Here, the “area information” transmitted from the area information distribution device 14 is “user recognition information” and “time information” at the moment when the information is received, as shown in FIG. Is transmitted to the data storage management device 14 using the HTTP POST method in the XML format in which the above information is recorded. At this time, when a plurality of RF-ID tags are detected at a certain moment, a plurality of pieces of “user recognition information” are transmitted at a time. A header representing “area authentication ID” and “authentication password” is added to the HTTP transmission data header.

  In response to the “area information” from each area, the data storage management device 14 creates and stores records as shown in FIG. 6B in the data record storage section in the area information distribution device information database 144. Also, user information is created and sequentially registered in the user information database 143 in the format shown in FIG.

  When the data storage management device 14 periodically obtains information (area, user ID, etc.) from the information display device 12 to the data storage management device 13 as shown in FIG. The content reproduction of the information display device 12 is managed for each user by the procedure shown in FIG.

  Now, assuming that the area information distribution device 11 in area A has identified the user (RF-ID = X) and transmitted the RF-ID, the “data record storage unit” of the area information distribution device information database 144 is assumed. It is assumed that the RF-ID identifier X is registered as “user recognition information”, and the file name of the content to be viewed by the user on the information display device 12 is registered as “user viewing content name”. At this time, in the user information database 143, records for storing “user viewing state” and “content viewing time” are prepared, and initial registration values of “user viewing state” and “content viewing time” are respectively “ It is assumed that “unviewed” and “0 (zero)” are set.

  In addition, the data storage management device 14 creates a script that prompts the information display device 12 to perform reconnection after the reconnection time elapses, as a URL response to the information display device 12 selected by the WWW browser. Issued to the information display device 12. For this reason, the data storage management device 14 receives a URL connection from the information display device 12 almost regularly every reconnection time.

  In the above premise, first, when a user with the user ID “X” enters the area “A” and receives a URL connection from the information display device 12, a script in which the reconnection time is set in response thereto is displayed in the information display device. 12 (Step S21). As a result, as long as the user “X” exists in the area “A”, the URL connection is received from the information display device 12 almost regularly for each reconnection time.

  Next, all user IDs are acquired from the latest user authentication information stored in the data record storage unit corresponding to area “A” (step S22), and “X” is included in the acquired user IDs. (Step S23), if included, it is determined whether the “user state” of the user ID “X” registered in the user information database 143 is being viewed or not viewed (step S24). . If viewing is in progress, the process returns to step S21 to continue the viewing process. If not viewed, a URL response instructing reproduction of the content of the user ID “X” from the initial viewing time value is issued to the corresponding information display device 12 and the “user status” in the user information database 143 is set to “viewing” (Step S25), the process returns to step S21 to continue the viewing process.

  On the other hand, if “X” is not included in the user ID acquired in step S23, it is determined whether the “user state” in the user information database 143 is not viewed or viewed (step S26). Then, the process returns to step S21 and waits for the next URL connection from the information display device 12. If it is determined in step S26 that the user ID “X” is being viewed, a URL response for ending reproduction of the content presented to the user with the user ID “X” is issued to the information display device 12 and the user information database 143 The “user state” is changed to “unviewed” (step S27), and the process returns to step S21 to wait for the URL connection from the next information display device 12.

  A process flow of the entire system based on the management procedure in the data storage management device 14 will be described.

  First, the data storage management device 14 stores “data record storage unit” corresponding to the area information distribution device 11 associated with the information display device information specified in the WWW browser in the information display device information database 145. Among the “user recognition information” and “time information”, data from the current time when the URL connection from the information display device 12 is received to the time that is back by the reconnection time set in the script in the URL response is acquired. To do.

  Subsequently, the data storage management device 14 converts the “user recognition information” in the acquired data into a “user ID” based on the user information database, and the “user ID” input in 8 in the “user ID”. ”Is included, the“ user state ”corresponding to the“ user ID ”is acquired from the user information database, and when the“ user state ”is“ unviewed ”, the“ user viewing content name ”, "Content viewing time" is acquired. Then, a URL response including the “user viewing content name”, “content viewing time”, the URL of the content data storage / delivery device 15 and the reconnection script is returned to the information display device 12, and the “user status” is set to “ Change to “viewing”, and measure the elapsed time until “user state” is changed to “unviewed” again.

  The information display device 12 that has received the URL response connects to the content data storage / delivery device 15 designated by the URL response, and “content viewing time” is assigned to the content file indicated by the designated “user viewing content name”. The reproduction is started from the position indicated by “” and reconnection to the data storage management device 14 is performed after the reconnection time by the reconnection script.

On the other hand, if the input “user ID” is included in the “user ID” obtained from the “user recognition information” in the acquired data, the data storage management device 14 determines from “user ID” to “ “User state” is acquired, and when “User state” is “Viewing”, a URL response including a reconnection script is returned.

  When the “user ID” input from the “user ID” obtained from the “user recognition information” in the acquired data is not included, the data storage management device 14 uses the “user ID” to the “user ID”. "Status" is acquired, and when "user status" is "unviewed", a URL response including a reconnection script is returned.

  Next, in the case where the input “user ID” is not included in the “user ID” obtained from the information of “user ID” in the acquired data, the data storage management device 14 performs the “user ID”. "User status" is acquired from "If user status" is "Viewing", "User status" is changed to "Not viewing", and the elapsed time from 12 is added to "Content viewing time" Then, a URL response including a response for terminating the reproduction of the content and a reconnection script is returned. The information display device 103 performs reconnection to the data storage management device 101 after the reconnection time by a URL response including the reconnection script from the data storage management device 14.

  According to the content viewing system based on the above management system, it is possible to reliably manage the content playback status for each user who moves in the area, thereby enabling the content playback handover control to be interrupted as the area moves. Can be viewed continuously in the next area.

  In the above description, the embodiment in which the content stored in the content data storage / delivery device 15 is reproduced and displayed from a specified time has been described. However, each of the information display devices 12 includes a content storage unit that stores various content. The content stored in each of the information display devices 12 may be reproduced and displayed from a specified time. In that case, it is not necessary to include the URL of the content data storage / delivery device 15 in the URL response returned by the information display device 12.

  Of course, various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a content viewing system according to the present invention. The block diagram which shows the specific structure of the area information delivery apparatus of FIG. The block diagram which shows the specific structure of the data accumulation | storage management part of FIG. The schematic diagram for demonstrating roughly the process along the movement of the user (target person) with the radio | wireless tag which has an RF-ID transmission function in the system of FIG. The flowchart which shows the process sequence of an area information delivery apparatus in the system of FIG. The conceptual diagram which shows the contents of the "area information" transmitted from an area information delivery apparatus, the creation and accumulation of a data record, and the creation registration of user information in the system of FIG. The flowchart for demonstrating the content reproduction management method with respect to each information display apparatus of a data storage management apparatus in the system of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Area information delivery apparatus 111 ... ID / password storage part 112 ... Sensor 113 ... Sensor interface part 114 ... User information storage part 115 ... Communication control part 12 ... Information display apparatus 13 ... Network 14 ... Data storage management apparatus 141 ... WEB interface Unit 142 ... Area-specific information registration unit 143 ... User information database (DB)
144 ... Area information distribution device information database (DB)
145 ... Information display device information database (DB)
146... Determination / response processing unit 15 content data storage / delivery device

Claims (10)

In a content viewing system that provides viewing of content to a user in each of a plurality of management areas,
A network deployed between the plurality of management areas;
User information arranged in each of the plurality of management areas and connected to the network, collecting user recognition information of one or more users existing in the area, and including the user recognition information and collection time information thereof A plurality of area information distribution devices for transmitting area information including information for jurisdiction area recognition given in advance to the network;
One or a plurality of devices are arranged in each of the plurality of management areas, and according to an input operation of user authentication data, the content given through the network or the content stored therein is reproduced according to an instruction sent through the network. A plurality of information display devices;
A database connected to the network and preregistered with the user authentication data, user recognition information, and recognition information of the plurality of area information distribution devices; and user information sent from the plurality of area information distribution devices; Acquire area information, refer to the database to recognize users and areas, accumulate user information in area units based on recognition results, and accept user authentication data from the information display device to identify corresponding users A data storage management device that instructs the user authentication data transmission source information display device to reproduce content and adds viewing state data to the user information;
The content storage management device controls a playback start position based on a previous viewing state of a corresponding user when instructing the content display to the information display device.   The content viewing system according to claim 1, wherein the user recognition information is a tag identifier transmitted by a wireless tag distributed to the user in advance.   2. A content storage / delivery device that is connected to the network, stores content to be distributed to the information display device, and provides the content in response to an access from the information display device. Or the content viewing system of 2. A data storage management device used in the content viewing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A database in which the user authentication data, user recognition information, recognition information of the plurality of area information distribution apparatuses are registered in advance;
Information storage means for acquiring user information and area information transmitted from the plurality of area information distribution apparatuses, recognizing the user and area with reference to the database, and storing the user information in area units based on the recognition result; ,
The user authentication data from the information display device is received, the user information is selected from the information storage means with reference to the database, and the content is reproduced on the information display device of the user authentication data transmission source based on the user information Playback instruction means for instructing
Based on the storage information of the information storage means and newly acquired user information and area information, the presence of users in each area is grasped, and the viewing state of content reproduced on the information display device is determined from the presence status of each user. A user information management means for recognizing and adding viewing state data to the user information;
The content instructing system controls the reproduction start position based on the previous viewing state of the corresponding user with reference to the user information when instructing the content display to the information display device. Data storage management device. An area information distribution device used in the content viewing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
Collection means for collecting information for user recognition of one or more users existing in the area;
User information generating means for generating user information from the user recognition information collected by the collecting means and the respective collection time information;
An area information distribution apparatus for a content viewing system, comprising: information transmission means for periodically transmitting area information including the user information and pre-given area recognition information to the data storage management apparatus.   When the user recognition information is a tag identifier transmitted by a wireless tag distributed to the user in advance, the collection means always outputs a tag transmission signal by one or a plurality of tag transmission detection sensors arranged in the management area. 6. The area information distribution apparatus for a content viewing system according to claim 5, wherein sensing is performed. A data storage management method used in the content viewing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A database creation step for registering in advance in the database the user authentication data, information for user recognition, and information for recognition of the plurality of area information distribution devices;
An information storage step of acquiring user information and area information transmitted from the plurality of area information distribution apparatuses, recognizing the user and area with reference to the database, and storing the user information in units of areas based on the recognition result; ,
A reproduction instruction that receives user authentication data from the information display device, selects corresponding user information with reference to the database, and instructs the information display device of the user authentication data transmission source to reproduce content based on the user information Steps,
Based on the information accumulated in the information accumulating step and newly acquired user information and area information, the existence of users in each area is grasped, and the content reproduced on the information display device is viewed from the existence status of each user. A user information management step of recognizing the state and adding the viewing state data to the user information,
In the reproduction instruction step, when instructing the content display to the information display device, the reproduction start position is controlled based on the previous viewing state of the corresponding user with reference to the user information. Data storage management method. An area information distribution method used in the content viewing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A collection step of collecting information for user recognition of one or more users existing in the area;
A user information generation step for generating user information from the user recognition information collected in this collection step and the respective collection time information;
An area information distribution method for a content viewing system, comprising: an information transmission step of periodically transmitting area information including the user information and pre-given area recognition information to the data storage management device. A data storage management program for use in the content viewing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the computer executes data storage management.
Database creation procedure for registering the user authentication data, information for user recognition in advance, information for recognition of the plurality of area information distribution apparatuses in a database,
An information storage procedure for acquiring user information and area information transmitted from the plurality of area information distribution apparatuses, recognizing the user and area with reference to the database, and storing the user information in area units based on the recognition result; ,
A reproduction instruction that receives user authentication data from the information display device, selects corresponding user information with reference to the database, and instructs the information display device of the user authentication data transmission source to reproduce content based on the user information Procedure and
Based on the information accumulated in the information accumulation procedure and newly acquired user information and area information, the existence of users in each area is grasped, and the content played back on the information display device is viewed from the presence status of each user. A user information management procedure for recognizing the state and adding viewing state data to the user information,
The content instructing system, wherein when instructing content reproduction to the information display device, the reproduction start position is controlled based on the previous viewing state of the corresponding user with reference to the user information. Data storage management program. An area information distribution program for use in the content viewing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the computer executes area information distribution,
A collection procedure for collecting user recognition information of one or more users existing in the area;
A user information generation procedure for generating user information from the user recognition information collected in this collection procedure and the respective collection time information;
An area information distribution program for a content viewing system, comprising: an information transmission procedure for periodically transmitting area information including the user information and pre-given area recognition information to the data storage management device.

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