JP2007150946A - Display system, display control device and method, providing device and method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a CM to be certainly watched by a viewer of image content. <P>SOLUTION: When the reproduction of predetermined image content is indicated by a user, a CM to be superimposed and displayed on the image content and a method of displaying the CM (overlaying method) are to be determined by a front end 14 based on designation information memorized in a storage device 15. In the front end 14, data of the CM is to be synthesized at a predetermined position of a frame of a predetermined timing for constituting the image content in accordance with the overlaying method designated by the designation information, and the synthesized image content is to be outputted to a back end 16 as display data. In the back end 16, the image content is to be displayed based on the display data supplied from the front end 14. The present invention is to be applied to a device etc. for making broadcasted image content displayed on a display. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a display system, a display control device and method, a providing device and method, and a program, and in particular, a display system, a display control device and a method capable of reliably showing a CM to a viewer of video content, The present invention relates to a providing apparatus and method, and a program.

  In conventional television broadcasting, CMs are provided to viewers in a form inserted between broadcast video content and video content. Broadcasting companies have a business model by receiving income from companies that are the clients of commercials as consideration for broadcasting commercials, and using them for production costs for programs (video content).

  Incidentally, in recent years, recording devices such as hard disk recorders have become widespread, and special playback functions such as a jump function installed in the recording devices are regarded as problems in maintaining the business model.

  Here, the jump function is a function that fast-forwards the playback position of the recorded video content in a predetermined unit such as several tens of seconds, and the viewer uses the jump function at the timing when the CM is started. You can easily view only the recorded video content.

  Therefore, various techniques for trying to show the CM to viewers as much as possible have been proposed.

  For example, as a technology that has already been realized, there is a technology in which a corporate logo or the like is synthesized on the broadcast side and broadcasted on the back net or fence as a background of a player in a professional baseball broadcast.

Further, in Patent Document 1, only CM data is stored in a storage device such as a hard disk, and before viewing video content, the user who is a viewer selects the insertion amount of the CM and is selected by the user. A playback apparatus that plays back video content in a form in which an amount of CMs are inserted is disclosed. In this playback apparatus, since the viewing fee for video content is determined according to the amount of CM inserted, the user can be encouraged to view more CMs.
JP 2004-88630 A

  However, when a company logo or the like is synthesized and broadcasted at a predetermined position of the video content as described above, since the CM is synthesized on the broadcaster side, it is complicated, and all viewers Since the same CM is provided, the type of CM that can be provided is almost the same as that of the conventional providing method provided in a form inserted between the video content and the video content. In other words, the same CM synthesized on the broadcaster side is provided to all viewers of the video content.

  Also, viewers watching professional baseball broadcasts are not easily directed at the back net or fence, so the CM effect is weak, and for broadcasters, they can receive sufficient advertising revenue from companies. There is also a problem of not.

  On the other hand, according to the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, since the CM is managed separately from the video content, it is possible to provide a different CM for each viewer, but do not see whether or not to see the CM. Because it is the viewer's voluntary choice, it is not possible to ensure that the viewer can see the CM.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation. For example, it is intended to ensure that a CM is shown to a viewer of video content.

  A display system according to a first aspect of the present invention is a display system including a display control device and a providing device that provides designation information to the display control device, wherein the display control device displays the video content in an overlapping manner. Based on the specified information acquired by the first acquisition means, the first acquisition means for acquiring the specified information for specifying the CM superimposing method, and the specified information acquired by the first acquisition means. A second acquisition means for identifying CM and acquiring CM data for displaying the identified CM, and a CM displayed by the CM data acquired by the second acquisition means are designated by the designation information. Display control means for displaying the predetermined video content in superposition according to the superposition method, wherein the providing device generates the designation information; and the generation means And a providing means for providing the specified information more generated in the display control device.

  The display control device according to the second aspect of the present invention is obtained by a first acquisition unit that acquires a CM to be displayed superimposed on video content, designation information that specifies a CM superposition method, and the first acquisition unit. A second acquisition unit that identifies a CM to be displayed overlaid on a predetermined video content based on the designated information, and acquires CM data for displaying the identified CM; and the second acquisition unit. Display control means for displaying the CM displayed by the acquired CM data on the predetermined video content in accordance with the superposition method designated by the designation information.

  The first acquisition unit can acquire the designation information together with video content.

  Storage means for storing CM data can be further provided. In this case, the second acquisition unit can acquire CM data for displaying the CM identified based on the designation information from the CM data stored in the storage unit.

  A receiving means for receiving input of information related to a user who views the video content can be further provided. In this case, if the second acquisition means includes information representing the user targeted for CM as attribute information in the CM data, the second acquisition means targets the user who has input the information accepted by the acceptance means. CM data for displaying CMs can be acquired.

  The display control means can display a CM superimposed at a predetermined position on the display screen of the predetermined video content.

  The display control means can display a CM in an overlapping manner at the scene switching timing of the predetermined video content.

  The display control method according to the second aspect of the present invention acquires a CM to be displayed superimposed on video content, and designation information for designating a CM superposition method, and creates a predetermined video content based on the obtained designation information. The CM to be displayed is identified, CM data for displaying the identified CM is acquired, and the CM displayed by the acquired CM data is determined according to the superposition method specified by the specification information. A step of displaying the video content in a superimposed manner.

  The program according to the second aspect of the present invention acquires a CM to be displayed overlaid on video content and designation information for designating a CM superposition method, and superimposes on a predetermined video content based on the obtained designation information. The CM to be displayed is identified, CM data for displaying the identified CM is acquired, and the CM displayed by the acquired CM data is converted into the predetermined video according to the superposition method specified by the specification information. A computer is caused to execute a process including a step of displaying the content in an overlapping manner.

  The providing apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention acquires a CM to be displayed superimposed on video content and designation information for designating a CM superposition method, and superimposes on a predetermined video content based on the obtained designation information. The CM to be displayed is identified, CM data for displaying the identified CM is acquired, and the CM displayed by the acquired CM data is determined according to the superposition method specified by the specification information. In a providing device that provides the designation information to a display control device that is displayed over video content, a generation unit that generates the designation information, and the designation information generated by the generation unit is provided to the display control device. Providing means.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for acquiring a CM to be displayed over video content and designation information for specifying a CM superposition method, and superimposing the CM on a predetermined video content based on the acquired designation information. The CM to be displayed is identified, CM data for displaying the identified CM is acquired, and the CM displayed by the acquired CM data is determined according to the superposition method specified by the specification information. The method for providing the designation information for the display control device to be displayed over the video content includes the step of generating the designation information and providing the generated designation information to the display control device.

  The program according to the third aspect of the present invention acquires a CM to be displayed superimposed on video content and designation information for designating a CM superposition method, and superimposes on a predetermined video content based on the obtained designation information. The CM to be displayed is identified, CM data for displaying the identified CM is acquired, and the CM displayed by the acquired CM data is converted into the predetermined video according to the superposition method specified by the specification information. In a program for causing a computer to execute a process of providing the designation information for a display control device that is displayed over a content, the method includes generating the designation information and providing the generated designation information to the display control device.

  In the first aspect of the present invention, the display control device acquires CMs to be displayed over video content and designation information for designating a CM superposition method, and based on the obtained designation information, a predetermined video is obtained. A CM to be displayed overlaid on the content is identified, and CM data for displaying the identified CM is acquired. Further, the CM displayed by the acquired CM data is displayed so as to be superimposed on a predetermined video content in accordance with the superposition method designated by the designation information. In addition, designation information is generated by the providing device, and the generated designation information is provided to the display control device.

  In the second aspect of the present invention, the CM to be displayed overlaid on the video content and the designation information for designating the CM superposition method are acquired, and displayed on the predetermined video content based on the acquired designation information. CM to be identified is identified, and CM data for displaying the identified CM is acquired. Further, the CM displayed by the acquired CM data is displayed so as to be superimposed on a predetermined video content in accordance with the superposition method designated by the designation information.

  In the third aspect of the present invention, designation information is generated, and the generated designation information is provided to the display control device.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reliably show a CM to viewers of video content.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. Correspondences between the constituent elements of the present invention and the embodiments described in the specification or the drawings are exemplified as follows. This description is intended to confirm that the embodiments supporting the present invention are described in the specification or the drawings. Therefore, even if there is an embodiment which is described in the specification or the drawings but is not described here as an embodiment corresponding to the constituent elements of the present invention, that is not the case. It does not mean that the form does not correspond to the constituent requirements. On the contrary, even if an embodiment is described herein as corresponding to the invention, this does not mean that the embodiment does not correspond to other than the configuration requirements. .

  A display control system (for example, the system of FIG. 7) according to the first aspect of the present invention provides a display control device (for example, the display control device 1 of FIG. 1) and provision information to the display control device. In a display system including a device (for example, the providing device 52 in FIG. 7), the display control device includes a CM to be displayed over the video content, a CM superimposing method (for example, a timing for displaying the overlapping, A first acquisition unit (for example, the designation information acquisition unit 21 in FIG. 2) that acquires the designation information that designates a display position, and a predetermined information based on the designation information acquired by the first acquisition unit. 2nd acquisition means (for example, CM data acquisition part 22 of Drawing 2) which acquires CM data for identifying CM displayed on video contents and displaying the identified CM, and the 2nd acquisition means By Display control means (for example, the display data generation unit 24 in FIG. 2) that displays the CM displayed by the obtained CM data on the predetermined video content in accordance with the superposition method designated by the designation information. And the providing device provides the specifying information generated by the generating unit (for example, the specifying information generating unit 81 in FIG. 10) and the display control device. Means (for example, the providing unit 82 in FIG. 10).

  The display control device according to the second aspect of the present invention (for example, the display control device 1 in FIG. 1) includes a CM to be displayed over the video content, a CM superposition method (for example, the timing to display the images in a superimposed manner, Based on the first acquisition means (for example, the specification information acquisition unit 21 in FIG. 2) for acquiring the designation information designating the (display position) and the designation information acquired by the first acquisition means, a predetermined video A second acquisition unit (for example, the CM data acquisition unit 22 in FIG. 2) that identifies a CM to be displayed overlaid on content and acquires CM data for displaying the identified CM, and the second acquisition unit Display control means (for example, the display data generating unit 24 in FIG. 2) displays the CM displayed by the acquired CM data on the predetermined video content in accordance with the superposition method designated by the designation information. ).

  The display control device can further be provided with storage means for storing CM data (for example, DB 23 in FIG. 2).

  In addition, the display control device may further include a receiving unit (for example, the receiving unit 25 in FIG. 2) that receives input of information (for example, gender and age) related to the user who views the video content.

  The display control method or program according to the second aspect of the present invention acquires a CM to be displayed over video content and designation information for designating a CM superposition method, and based on the obtained designation information, a predetermined information is obtained. The CM to be displayed overlaid on the video content is identified, CM data for displaying the identified CM is acquired, and the CM displayed by the acquired CM data is determined according to the superposition method specified by the specification information. And a step (for example, step S5 in FIG. 6) of displaying the image on the predetermined video content.

  The providing apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention acquires a CM to be displayed superimposed on video content and designation information for designating a CM superposition method, and superimposes on a predetermined video content based on the obtained designation information. The CM to be displayed is identified, CM data for displaying the identified CM is acquired, and the CM displayed by the acquired CM data is determined according to the superposition method specified by the specification information. In the providing device (for example, the providing device 52 in FIG. 7) that provides the designation information to the display control device (for example, the display control device 1 in FIG. 1) to be displayed over the video content, the designation information is generated. Generation means (for example, the designation information generation unit 81 in FIG. 10) and provision means (for example, the provision unit 8 in FIG. 10) for providing the designation information generated by the generation means to the display control device. ) And a.

  The display control method or program according to the third aspect of the present invention includes the step of generating the designation information and providing the generated designation information to the display control device (for example, step S12 in FIG. 11).

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

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of a display control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The display control device 1 includes a tuner 11, an external device I / F 12, a network I / F 13, a front end 14, a storage device 15, and a back end 16, and is connected to a network 4 including the Internet. The display control device 1 is connected to a display 2 made of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like and an antenna 3. The display control device 1 is also connected to a device (not shown) that outputs video content to the display control device 1, such as a recording device or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) player.

  The tuner 11 receives and demodulates the broadcast signal from the antenna 3 according to the control by the front end 14, and outputs a transport stream (TS) broadcast on a predetermined channel to the front end 14.

  In TS, in addition to multiple video content such as television programs and movies, when displaying each video content on the display 2, you can specify the CM to be displayed superimposed on it, or how to display the CM And designation information that is information for designating the. The TS also includes CM data to be displayed superimposed on the video content. The designation information and CM display performed according to the designation will be described later.

  The external device I / F 12 receives video content supplied as a digital input from a device such as a recording device or a DVD player (hereinafter referred to as an external device), and outputs it to the front end 14.

  The network I / F 13 receives video content, designation information, and CM data transmitted from a predetermined server connected to the network 4 and outputs them to the front end 14.

  The front end 14 includes a descrambler that unscrambles the TS supplied from the tuner 11 and a demultiplexer that extracts a predetermined stream from the TS that has been unscrambled by the descrambler. Is stored (recorded) in the storage device 15, or the back end 16 is controlled to be displayed on the display 2. Information representing which video content is to be played back and displayed on the display 2 is input to the front end 14 in accordance with, for example, a user operation using a remote controller.

  Further, the front end 14 stores CM data and designation information acquired from a predetermined stream in the storage device 15 for management.

  The front end 14 performs similar processing on video content supplied from an external device via the external device I / F 12 and data received by the network I / F 13 and supplied from the network I / F 13. That is, the front end 14 displays the acquired video content on the display 2 or stores it in the storage device 15. Further, the front end 14 manages CM data and designation information supplied from the network I / F 13 by storing them in the storage device 15.

  For example, the front end 14 may display a CM or the like to be displayed superimposed on the video content when the user instructs the reproduction of the predetermined video content such as the broadcast video content or the video content once stored in the storage device 15. The method of displaying the CM (hereinafter referred to as the superposition method) is determined based on the designation information stored and managed in the storage device 15, and the CM is superposed according to the superposition method designated by the designation information. The video content is played back by the back end 16 so as to be displayed.

  Specifically, the front end 14 synthesizes the CM data at a predetermined position of a frame at a predetermined timing constituting the video content according to the superposition method specified by the specification information, and the synthesized video content is back-end. 16 for playback. As a result, the video content is displayed on the display 2 in a form in which the designated CM is superimposed at the timing and position designated by the designation information. CM data to be superimposed on the video content is read from the storage device 15 and used.

  The storage device 15 is configured by an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or the like, and stores video content, CM data, and designation information supplied from the front end 14. Information stored in the storage device 15 is appropriately read out by the front end 14.

  The back end 16 includes a decoder and a circuit that performs D / A (Digital / Analog) conversion. The back end 16 performs decoding processing, D / A conversion processing, and the like on the video content supplied from the front end 14 and displays the obtained video content on the display 2.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the display control device 1. At least a part of the functional units shown in FIG. 2 is realized by executing a predetermined program by the front end 14 of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in the display control device 1, a designation information acquisition unit 21, a CM data acquisition unit 22, a DB 23, a display data generation unit 24, and a reception unit 25 are realized.

  The designation information acquisition unit 21 transmits the designation information prepared for each video content from the stream extracted by the demultiplexer or from a predetermined server and received by the network I / F 13 via the network 4. The specified information acquired is stored in the DB 23. For example, the designation information acquisition unit 21 acquires the video content stored in the storage device 15 and the designation information related to the video content received by the tuner 11.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the designation information acquired by the designation information acquisition unit 21 and stored in the DB 23.

  In the designation information, a content ID, a CMID, and a superposition method are described.

  The content ID is information indicating which video content the content described in the designation information relates to. When the reproduction of the video content is instructed, the designation information describing the same content ID as the content ID set for the video content is used for displaying the CM.

  CMID is information for designating a CM to be displayed superimposed on video content. That is, a CMID is set for each CM, and the CMID to be superimposed on the video content instructed to be reproduced is identified by this CMID.

  Here, CM includes not only what introduces companies, products, services, etc. by video (video) and audio, but also those that explain them with text only, and those that display as still images such as logos and photos. It is.

  The superimposition method is information that specifies at what timing on the display screen the CM identified by the CMID is displayed at which timing of the video content. The superimposition method is described in the designation information by, for example, the manager of the CM who determines the superposition method by looking at each video content.

  Designation information in which such information is described is prepared for each video content and is obtained by the designation information acquisition unit 21 of the display control device 1.

  Returning to the description of FIG. 2, the CM data acquisition unit 22 obtains CM data from the information extracted from the stream extracted by the demultiplexer or from the predetermined server and received by the network I / F 13 via the network 4. The acquired CM data is converted into data of a predetermined format and stored in the DB 23. Thus, in the display control apparatus 1, video content and CM data are managed separately.

  The DB 23 stores the designation information supplied from the designation information acquisition unit 21 and the CM data supplied from the CM data acquisition unit 22.

  The display data generation unit 24 multiplexes the video content instructed to be reproduced into the video content stored in the storage device 15 or the TS supplied from the tuner 11 when the user instructs to reproduce the video content. Referring to the content ID of the acquired video content, the designation information related to the video content in which the same content ID is described is read from the DB 23.

  Further, the display data generation unit 24 reads the CM data identified by the CMID described in the designation information from the DB 23, and the CM is located at the designated position at the timing designated by the superposition method described in the designation information. In order to be displayed, the CM data read from the DB 23 is combined with the video content instructed to be reproduced. The display data generation unit 24 outputs the video content obtained by combining the CM data to the back end 16 as display data for display.

  Furthermore, when the display data generation unit 24 includes information specifying the user who is the target of each CM as the attribute information of the specification information acquired from the DB 23, the display data generation unit 24 appropriately includes the attribute information and the viewer of the video content. Based on the user information input by the user, CM data for the user is acquired from the DB 23 and synthesized with the video content.

  For example, CM (A) is displayed when the user is a male, CM (B) is displayed when the user is a female, and CM (C) is displayed when the user is a teenager. If the user's age is in his / her 20s, CM (D) is displayed, and the target user of CM is designated by the attribute information. User information input by the user, information specifying video content to be reproduced, and the like are supplied from the reception unit 25 to the display data generation unit 24.

  The accepting unit 25 accepts designation of video content to be reproduced and input of user information in response to a user operation performed using a remote controller or the like, and outputs the accepted information to the display data generating unit 24. For example, the user's gender, age, viewing area, etc. are input as user information and used to select a CM to be displayed superimposed on the video content.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen for video content. The CM superimposing method shown in FIG. 4 is a method in which the character CM is displayed for a predetermined time by being superimposed on the video content at the corner of the display screen.

  As shown in FIG. 4, for example, video content (played image of video content) instructed to be played back by the user is displayed on almost the entire surface of the display 2. In the example of FIG. 4, a CM display area 31 is formed at the lower right of the screen, and the characters “SOMY TV PRAVIA” are displayed as CMs in the CM display area 31.

  The characters “SOMY TV PRAVIA” displayed in the CM display area 31 are CMs in which the CMID is described in the same specification information as the description information in which the content ID of the video content displayed on the screen of FIG. 4 is described. It is displayed based on the data. Further, the position of the CM display area 31 on the screen and the timing at which the characters “SOMY TV PRAVIA” are displayed are specified by the superposition method described in the specification information.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating another example of a display screen for video content. The CM superimposing method shown in FIG. 5 is a method in which a character CM is displayed like a telop on the video content below the display screen.

  In the example of the display screen of FIG. 5, video content instructed to be played back by the user is displayed on almost the entire screen, and is displayed on a strip-shaped CM display area 31 formed by being superimposed on the video content at a position below the screen. Has the letter “SOMY TV PRAVIA New Release” displayed as a commercial.

  The text “SOMY TV PRAVIA New Release” displayed in the CM display area 31 has the CMID described in the same specified information as the specified information describing the content ID of the video content displayed on the screen of FIG. It is displayed based on CM data. Further, the position of the CM display area 31 on the screen and the timing at which the characters “SOMY TV PRAVIA NEW RELEASE” are displayed are designated by the superposition method described in the designation information.

  The characters displayed in the CM display area 31 in FIG. 5 may be displayed while moving from the right to the left, for example, and the contents of the CM presented to the user may be sequentially switched.

  In this way, various pattern superposition methods are designated by the designation information. For example, the CM may be displayed so as to be superimposed on the black image displayed when the scene of the video content is switched, or not in the lower right of the screen as shown in FIG. The CM may be displayed superimposed on a predetermined position in the video content so that the CM is displayed superimposed on the position of the signboard on the back net. When a CM is superimposed and displayed when the scene of the video content is switched, the scene switching timing is designated by the designation information as the CM display timing.

  Next, processing of the display control apparatus 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  This process is started when, for example, the reproduction of video content is instructed by the user. Before the start of processing, for example, the DB 23 stores designation information and CM data acquired from the stream extracted by the demultiplexer.

  In step S <b> 1, the display data generation unit 24 acquires the video content instructed to be reproduced, refers to the content ID of the acquired video content, and reads and acquires designation information related to the video content from the DB 23.

  In step S2, the display data generation unit 24 confirms the CM to be displayed superimposed on the video content, based on the CMID described in the designation information read from the DB 23, and proceeds to step S3. Read from DB23 and obtain.

  When acquiring CM data, the target user information specified by the attribute information and the user information input in advance by the user are also referred to as appropriate. Is acquired.

  In step S4, the display data generation unit 24 synthesizes the CM data with the video content instructed to be reproduced so that the CM is displayed in a method designated by the superposition method described in the designation information read from the DB 23. Display data is generated. The generated display data is output to the back end 16.

  In step S <b> 5, the back end 16 displays the video content on which the CM is superimposed on the display 2 based on the display data supplied from the display data generation unit 24. The display of the CM based on the designation information is continued until the end of the reproduction of the video content is instructed.

  As described above, since the composition of the CM is performed by the display control device 1 on the video content receiver side, the broadcaster side can save the trouble of broadcasting the video content after the composition of the CM. .

  Further, since the broadcaster side can cause the display control device 1 to select CMs to be displayed in a superimposed manner, the types of CMs that can be provided can be increased by changing the CMs designated by the designation information. That is, when video content is broadcast in a form in which commercials are pre-combined, the same composite commercial will be provided to all viewers of the video content. For example, the designated CM is changed for each viewer. As a result, different types of commercials can be shown for each viewer.

  Furthermore, the broadcaster side can easily specify a superposition method of various patterns according to the video content, and can set the attribute information according to the user who is viewing the video content. Since the CM targeted for the user can be displayed, it is possible to improve the CM effect, and it is possible to obtain advertising revenue from a company or the like who is the client of the CM.

  Moreover, since the user does not select whether or not to view the CM, the CM can be surely shown.

  Next, a providing device that provides the designation information to the display control device 1 will be described.

  7 and 8 are diagrams illustrating an example of a system configuration including the providing device 52.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a system in which designation information is provided by being multiplexed with a TS together with video content broadcast from the broadcasting device 51.

  In this case, as shown in FIG. 7, the providing device 52 is connected to the broadcasting device 51 managed by the broadcaster, and outputs the designation information generated according to the input by the administrator to the broadcasting device 51. The broadcast device 51 multiplexes the designation information supplied from the providing device 52 together with the video content, and carries the obtained TS by broadcast waves. The TS includes CM data as appropriate.

  The display control apparatus 1 receives a broadcast wave from the broadcast apparatus 51, and uses video content, designation information, and CM data as described above.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a system in which designation information is provided via the network 4.

  In this case, as shown in FIG. 8, the providing device 52 is connected to the network 4, and transmits the designation information generated according to the input by the administrator to the display control device 1 via the network 4.

  Video content and CM data are provided from the broadcasting device 51 to the display control device 1 by broadcast waves, and the display control device 1 that has received the designation information transmitted from the providing device 52 has the configuration shown in FIG. Similarly to the above, video content, designation information, and CM data are used for various processes.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the providing device 52 of FIG. 7 (FIG. 8).

  A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 61 executes various processes according to a program stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 62 or a storage unit 68. A RAM (Random Access Memory) 63 appropriately stores programs executed by the CPU 61 and data. The CPU 61, the ROM 62, and the RAM 63 are connected to each other by a bus 64.

  An input / output interface 65 is also connected to the CPU 61 via the bus 64. The input / output interface 65 is connected to an input unit 66 including a keyboard, a mouse, and a microphone, and an output unit 67 including a display and a speaker. The CPU 61 executes various processes in response to commands input from the input unit 66.

  The storage unit 68 connected to the input / output interface 65 includes, for example, a hard disk, and stores programs executed by the CPU 61 and various data. The communication unit 69 communicates with an external device such as the display control device 1 via the network 4.

  The drive 70 connected to the input / output interface 65 drives a removable medium 71 such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, or a semiconductor memory, and drives the program or data recorded therein. Get etc. The acquired program and data are transferred to and stored in the storage unit 68 as necessary.

  FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the providing device 52. At least a part of the functional units shown in FIG. 10 is realized by executing a predetermined program by the CPU 61 of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 10, in the providing device 52, a designation information generating unit 81 and a providing unit 82 are realized.

  The designation information generation unit 81 generates designation information in which various types of information as illustrated in FIG. 3 are described according to an input by the administrator, and outputs the generated designation information to the provision unit 82.

  For example, a specification information template is prepared in advance, and in the specification information generation unit 81, the content ID, CMID, superimposition method (code for specifying the display position, time code for specifying the display timing, etc.) input by the administrator ) Is incorporated at a predetermined position of the template to generate designation information. Information for generating attribute information representing the CM target user is also appropriately input by the administrator.

  The providing unit 82 outputs the supplied designation information generated and supplied by the designation information generation unit 81 to the broadcasting device 51, and provides the designation information to the display control device 1 via the broadcasting device 51.

  Next, the processing of the providing device 52 having the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S <b> 11, the designation information generation unit 81 generates designation information in response to an input by the administrator, and outputs the generated designation information to the provision unit 82.

  In step S <b> 12, the providing unit 82 outputs the supplied designation information generated and supplied by the designation information generation unit 81 to the broadcasting device 51, and provides the designation information to the display control device 1 via the broadcasting device 51. In the system having the configuration of FIG. 8, the designation information generated by the designation information generation unit 81 is provided to the display control device 1 via the network 4 by the provision unit 82.

  Based on the designation information provided as described above, the display control device 1 displays a CM.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a business model realized by a system in which a CM is provided to viewers in a manner superimposed on video content as described above.

  In FIG. 12, a viewer 91 is a user of the display control device 1 and views the video content and CM displayed by the display control device 1. The CM administrator 92 is an administrator of the providing device 52, and is an administrator who manages the provision of CM data to the viewer 91 (display control device 1) and the provision of designated information. The broadcaster 93 is an administrator of the broadcast device 51, and provides video content to the viewer 91 and, if necessary, specified information and CM data.

  In this business model, for example, CM data 92 and the specified information are provided from the CM administrator 92 to the viewer 91 as indicated by the arrow 1, and the broadcast provider 93 views as indicated by the arrow 2. Video content is provided to the person 91.

  In the display control apparatus 1 of the viewer 91, based on the designation information and CM data provided from the CM administrator 92 and the video content provided from the broadcaster 93, the video content in the form of superimposed CM is displayed. Is done.

  When the video content is displayed, as indicated by an arrow 3, the CM information superimposed on the video content is displayed from the display control device 1 of the viewer 91 to the providing device 52 of the CM administrator 92. Be notified. This notification is performed, for example, via the network 4, and the notified information includes, in addition to the CMID, the time of broadcast, the region, information on the target user, and the like.

  Upon receiving notification from the viewer 91, the CM administrator 92 receives the CM notified from the viewer 91 side as being superimposed on the video content, that is, the requester of the CM viewed by the viewer 91. As shown by the arrow 4, the CM administrator 92 notifies the broadcaster 93 of the information on the company. The CM manager 92 manages which company requested the provision of which CM.

  In the broadcaster 93 that has received the notification from the CM administrator 92, the company that is the CM client is required to pay for the viewer 91 to watch the CM, and accordingly, As indicated by the arrow 5, a fee is paid from the company to the broadcaster 93.

  For example, according to such a business model, the broadcaster 93 can collect an appropriate advertising fee from the company side.

  In the above, the case where the CM is superimposed on the video content to be broadcasted or the video content distributed via the network 4 has been mainly described. However, the superimposition of the CM is not limited to pay-per-view video content, DVD, or the like. This is possible even when the packaged video content is targeted.

  For example, when the content ID is set in the video content that is reproduced by the DVD player that is an external device and supplied to the display control device 1, the display control device 1 superimposes the CM from the designation information related to the video content. The designation information used sometimes can be acquired, and the CM designated by the obtained designation information can be superimposed on the video content according to the designated superposition method.

  In the above description, the designation information and the CM data are stored in advance in the DB 23 of the display control device 1 before the user instructs the reproduction of the video content. However, the reproduction of the video content is instructed. The specified information related to the video content that is instructed to be reproduced and the CM data may be acquired from a predetermined server connected to the network 4 at the same timing. Acquisition of the designation information and CM data is performed based on the content ID of the video content instructed to be played.

  Furthermore, in the above, the CM is presented to the user in a form superimposed on the video content, but the method of presenting the CM is not limited to this, and is performed in accordance with the playback of the video content. If present, it may be presented in any form. In this case, instead of the superposition method, the CM output method is designated by the designation information.

  The series of processes described above can be executed by hardware or can be executed by software. When a series of processing is executed by software, a program constituting the software executes various functions by installing a computer incorporated in dedicated hardware or various programs. For example, it is installed from a program recording medium in a general-purpose personal computer or the like.

  As shown in FIG. 9, a program recording medium that stores a program that is installed in a computer and can be executed by the computer includes a magnetic disk (including a flexible disk), an optical disk (CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read Only). Memory, DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), a magneto-optical disk, a removable medium 71 that is a package medium made of a semiconductor memory, a ROM 62 in which a program is temporarily or permanently stored, or a storage unit 68 It is comprised by the hard disk etc. which comprise. The program is stored in the program recording medium using a wired or wireless communication medium such as a local area network, the Internet, or digital satellite broadcasting via a communication unit 69 that is an interface such as a router or a modem as necessary. Done.

  In the present specification, the step of describing the program stored in the program recording medium is not limited to the processing performed in time series in the order described, but is not necessarily performed in time series. Or the process performed separately is also included.

  Further, in this specification, the system represents the entire apparatus constituted by a plurality of apparatuses.

It is a block diagram which shows the hardware structural example of the display control apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the function structural example of a display control apparatus. It is a figure which shows the example of designation | designated information. It is a figure which shows the example of the display screen of a video content. It is a figure which shows the other example of the display screen of a video content. It is a flowchart explaining the process of a display control apparatus. It is a figure which shows the example of a system configuration containing a provision apparatus. It is a figure which shows the other example of the system configuration containing a provision apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware structural example of a provision apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the function structural example of a provision apparatus. It is a flowchart explaining the process of a provision apparatus. It is a figure which shows the example of a business model.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Display control apparatus, 2 Display, 14 Front end, 15 Storage apparatus, 16 Back end, 21 Specification information acquisition part, 22 CM data acquisition part, 23 DB, 24 Display data generation part, 25 Reception part, 51 Broadcasting apparatus, 52 Providing device, 81 specifying information generating unit, 82 providing unit

Claims (12)

In a display system comprising a display control device and a providing device that provides designation information to the display control device,
The display control device includes:
CM that is displayed overlaid on video content, and first acquisition means for acquiring the designation information that designates a CM superposition method;
Second acquisition means for identifying a CM to be displayed over a predetermined video content based on the designation information acquired by the first acquisition means, and acquiring CM data for displaying the identified CM; ,
Display control means for displaying a CM displayed by the CM data acquired by the second acquisition means so as to be superimposed on the predetermined video content according to a superposition method designated by the designation information;
The providing device includes:
Generating means for generating the designation information;
A providing unit that provides the designation information generated by the generating unit to the display control device; A first acquisition means for acquiring a CM to be displayed superimposed on video content, and designation information for designating a CM superposition method;
Second acquisition means for identifying a CM to be displayed over a predetermined video content based on the designation information acquired by the first acquisition means, and acquiring CM data for displaying the identified CM; ,
Display control means for displaying a CM displayed by the CM data acquired by the second acquisition means on the predetermined video content according to a superposition method designated by the designation information. apparatus. The display control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first acquisition unit acquires the designation information together with video content. A storage means for storing the CM data;
The display control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second acquisition unit acquires CM data for displaying the CM identified based on the designation information from the CM data stored in the storage unit. . A receiving means for receiving input of information relating to a user who views the video content;
The second acquisition unit displays a CM targeted for the user who has input the information received by the receiving unit when information representing the user targeted for the CM is included in the CM data as attribute information. The display control apparatus of Claim 2. The display control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the display control unit displays a CM in a predetermined position on a display screen of the predetermined video content. The display control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the display control unit displays a CM in an overlapping manner at a scene switching timing of the predetermined video content. Get the specified information that specifies the CM to be displayed superimposed on the video content and the CM superposition method,
Based on the acquired designation information, identify a CM to be displayed over a predetermined video content, acquire CM data for displaying the identified CM,
A display control method including a step of displaying a CM displayed by the acquired CM data so as to be superimposed on the predetermined video content in accordance with a superposition method designated by the designation information. Get the specified information that specifies the CM to be displayed superimposed on the video content and the CM superposition method,
Based on the acquired designation information, identify a CM to be displayed over a predetermined video content, acquire CM data for displaying the identified CM,
A program that causes a computer to execute a process including a step of displaying a CM displayed by the acquired CM data on the predetermined video content according to a superposition method designated by the designation information. The CM to be displayed superimposed on the video content and the designation information for designating the CM superimposition method are acquired, and the CM to be displayed to be superimposed on the predetermined video content is identified based on the acquired designation information. For a display control device that acquires CM data for displaying the image and displays the CM displayed by the acquired CM data on the predetermined video content according to the superposition method designated by the designation information In the providing device for providing the designation information,
Generating means for generating the designation information;
A providing apparatus comprising: providing means for providing the display control apparatus with the designation information generated by the generating means. The CM to be displayed superimposed on the video content and the designation information for designating the CM superimposition method are acquired, and the CM to be displayed to be superimposed on the predetermined video content is identified based on the acquired designation information. The display control device for acquiring the CM data for displaying the CM and displaying the CM displayed by the acquired CM data on the predetermined video content according to the superposition method designated by the designation information. In the method of providing specified information,
Generating the specified information;
A providing method including a step of providing the generated designation information to the display control device. The CM to be displayed superimposed on the video content and the designation information for designating the CM superimposition method are acquired, and the CM to be displayed to be superimposed on the predetermined video content is identified based on the acquired designation information. The display control device for acquiring the CM data for displaying the CM and displaying the CM displayed by the acquired CM data on the predetermined video content according to the superposition method designated by the designation information. In a program that causes a computer to execute processing for providing specified information,
Generating the specified information;
A program including a step of providing the generated designation information to the display control device.

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