JP2007324874A - Content recommending method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a user with how much (how long, how many times, or the like) or when (elapsed time, or the like from video recording) what other content is reproduced/viewed by a person reproducing/viewing optional content as content recommendation information. <P>SOLUTION: A reproduction module 121 transmits reproduction operation information of content to a recommendation module 122. The recommendation module 122 accumulates the transmitted reproduction operation information, generates a list showing how much what other content is reproduced by the reproduction module reproducing optional content as content recommendation information on the basis of the accumulated reproduction operation information and transmits the list to the reproduction module 121. The reproduction module 121 uses the received content recommendation information to output to a display device 103 how much what other content is reproduced by the reproduction module 121 that reproduces the optional content. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a content recommendation method and a program that indicate to a user what kind of content other people who have reproduced arbitrary content are reproducing.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a service using a content recommendation method, what kind of content is being reproduced (viewed) by people who have reproduced (viewed) arbitrary content has been presented to the user as recommendation information.

  In this case, among the contents included in the recommendation information, only the contents that reproduce (view) the arbitrary contents and that reproduce (view) the recommended contents are presented to the user. In some cases.

  Such content recommendation information is very effective for searching for content that the user is interested in. This is because content recommendation information related to arbitrary content is highly related to arbitrary content, and a person who is interested in arbitrary content is relatively likely to be interested in the content listed in the content recommendation information. Because it is expensive.

  By viewing the content recommendation information, the user can find content that could not be known at that time, and that is likely to be reproduced (viewed) if known.

  In recent years, as such a content recommendation service, for example, in the online shopping field, there is a service provided by Amazon.

  Amazon is an online shopping site that mainly handles books. Amazon's content recommendation service provides a list of other books purchased by a user who has purchased an arbitrary book and provided to the user as content recommendation information.

  Amazon currently handles DVDs / videos, games, electronics, etc. in addition to the main books, and provides content recommendation information for these as well.

  As far as the applicant of the present application knows, there is no such content recommendation service in the field of EPG (electronic program guide) at present.

Amazon website (http://www.amazon.co.jp/)

  However, the content recommendation service described above has the following problems. Users are only provided with a list of the content that other people are playing (viewing) any other content, so you can see how much people are playing (viewing) that content. Absent.

  In the above-mentioned Amazon, the recommended object is a book, DVD / video, etc., and most people buy only one or one, so the information on how much has been bought does not make much sense. However, such information is important when the content recommendation service is performed by EPG.

  In EPG, the meaning of the content (program) is greatly different between the case where the content (program) is stopped for 1 minute and the case where the content is completely viewed, even if the content is “reproduced (viewed)”.

  Naturally, it can be said that content that people watch for a long time (many times) is more interesting than content that only sees a short time (small times).

  For this reason, it is more effective to know the evaluation of the content if the content recommendation information also includes information on how much has been reproduced (viewed) than whether or not the information included in the content recommendation information has been reproduced (viewed). It is.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and what (how many hours, how many times, etc.) or when (time elapsed since recording) what other people are playing / viewing arbitrary content. It is an object of the present invention to provide a content recommendation method capable of providing a user with content recommendation information as to whether playback / viewing is being performed.

The content recommendation method of the present invention is a content recommendation method in a system constructed by a content reproduction module that reproduces content and a content recommendation module that aggregates information of the content reproduction module and recommends content based on the information. The content recommendation module includes a content reproduction information aggregation step for aggregating content reproduction information of the content reproduction module, and content that has reproduced the first content as content recommendation information based on the aggregated content reproduction information A content recommendation information generating step for generating a playlist of second content being played back by the playback module, and a second content for adding playback information of the second content in the content playback module to the content recommendation information A playback information adding step, wherein the content playback module transmits content playback information to the content recommendation module, and a content recommendation information acquisition step of acquiring the content recommendation information from the content recommendation module And a content recommendation information display step of displaying the acquired content recommendation information on a display device.
The program of the present invention is characterized by causing a computer to carry out the steps of the method described above.

    According to the present invention, a person who is playing / viewing arbitrary content plays / views what other content (how many hours, how many times, etc.) or when (elapsed time since recording, etc.) Can be provided to the user as content recommendation information.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The following embodiments do not define the invention according to the claims, and all combinations of features described in the embodiments are not necessarily essential to the solution means of the invention. .

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of a system that implements a content recommendation method according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes a user terminal, which is connected to a network 102, a display device 103, and an EPG distribution server 104.

  The user terminal 101 includes a communication unit 111, a data control unit 112, a data storage unit 113, a display unit 114, and an operation unit 115.

  The communication unit 111 is connected to the network 102 and performs information communication control processing for exchanging information with other user terminals and the like. The data control unit 112 controls processing such as content recording and reproduction.

  Further, the data control unit 112 includes a reproduction module 121 for reproducing content and a recommendation module 122 for generating content recommendation information.

  The data storage unit 113 stores information exchanged during content recording / playback or content recommendation processing.

  The display unit 114 performs processing for outputting information to the display device 103. The operation unit 115 is an operation button or an attached remote control that exists in the user terminal 101, receives information input by a user operation, and transmits the information to the data control unit 112.

  The display device 103 includes a rear project television, a liquid crystal display, and the like, and presents various information to the user. The EPG (electronic program guide) distribution server 104 stores EPG information and distributes the information to the user terminal 101 via the network.

  Next, in the content recommendation method according to the present embodiment, an operation flow in which the reproduction module 121 included in the user terminal 101 transmits reproduction operation information to the recommendation module 122 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation in which the playback module 121 included in the user terminal 101 according to the present embodiment transmits playback operation information to the recommendation module 122. At the start of the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 2, the data control unit 112 of the user terminal 101 records some content and stores the recorded content data in the data storage unit 113.

  First, in step S <b> 201, the data control unit 112 in the user terminal 101 receives a content reproduction request from the user from the operation unit 115. The playback module 121 included in the data control unit 112 reads content data from the data storage unit 113 and plays back the content data.

  In step S202, the data control unit 112 receives a content reproduction stop request from the user from the operation unit 115, and the reproduction module 121 included in the data control unit 112 stops the reproduction of the content data.

  Next, in step S203, the reproduction module 121 transmits the reproduction operation information performed in steps S201 and S202 to the recommendation module 122. Then, the recommendation module 122 receives the reproduction operation information sent from the reproduction module 121, stores the information in the data storage unit 113, and ends the process.

  Next, in the content recommendation method according to the present embodiment, the flow of operations in which the recommendation module 122 included in the user terminal 101 totals the reproduction operation information sent from the reproduction module 121 and generates content recommendation information. This will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation in which the recommendation module 122 included in the user terminal 101 according to the first embodiment aggregates the reproduction operation information sent from the reproduction module 121 and generates content recommendation information. .

  At the start of the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3, the recommendation module 122 in the user terminal 101 receives the playback operation information transmitted by the playback module 121 in step S <b> 203 of FIG. 2 and stores the information in the data storage unit 113. is doing.

  First, in step S301, the recommendation module 122 extracts all the user terminals that have reproduced the content for each content based on the reproduction operation information stored in the data storage unit 113.

  Next, in step S302, the recommendation module 122 totals the content reproduced by the user terminal extracted in step S302 based on the reproduction operation information stored in the data storage unit 113, excluding the content.

  Next, in step S303, the recommendation module 122 extracts an arbitrary number of content terminals having a large number of playback terminals from the content list other than the content counted in step S302, and generates this as content recommendation information. And stored in the data storage unit 113.

  Next, in step S304, with respect to each of the contents extracted in step S303, the average values such as the reproduction time and the number of reproductions in all the user terminals that have reproduced this content included in the reproduction operation information are scored with an arbitrary function. The information is stored in the data storage unit 113.

  Here, in addition to the reproduction time and the number of reproductions in all user terminals that have reproduced this content, a time interval from the recording date and time to the reproduction date and time may be used as the data used as the basis for scoring.

  Next, in step S305, the reproduction operation information scored in step S304 is added to the content recommendation information generated in step S303. Then, the processing from step S301 to S305 is repeated for all contents, and the processing is terminated.

  The content recommendation information is updated at the timing when new playback operation information is sent from the playback module 121 or at arbitrary intervals.

  Next, a flow of an operation in which the playback module 121 included in the user terminal 101 outputs content recommendation information regarding an arbitrary content to the display device 103 based on the content recommendation information generated by the recommendation module 122 in step S303 of FIG. Will be explained.

  FIG. 4 shows content recommendation information regarding arbitrary content, based on the content recommendation information generated by the recommendation module 122 in step S303 of FIG. 3 by the playback module 121 included in the user terminal 101 according to the first embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of outputting to the display device 103.

  At the start of the process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4, the playback module 121 inquires and acquires the content recommendation information generated by the recommendation module 122 in the user terminal 101 in step S303 of FIG. 113. Further, the reproduction module 121 acquires EPG information from the EPG distribution server and stores it in the data storage unit 113.

  In step S401 of FIG. 4, the playback module 121 outputs the content list screen 501 to the display device 103 via the display unit 114 based on the EPG information stored in the data storage unit 113 (FIG. 5).

  Next, in step S402, the data control unit 112 receives an arbitrary content selection request by the user from the operation unit 115, and the playback module 121 selects the content requested to be selected from the content list output to the display device. 502 is selected.

  Next, in step S403, the data control unit 112 receives a content detail information display request from the user from the operation unit 115, and the reproduction module 121 displays detailed information 601 regarding the content selected in step S402 on the display unit 114. To the display device 103 (FIG. 6).

  Next, in step S404, the data control unit 112 receives a content recommendation information display request from the user from the operation unit 115, and the reproduction module 121 receives content recommendation information 701 related to the content for which detailed information is displayed in step S403. Is output to the display device 103 via the display unit 114 (FIG. 7).

  At this time, based on the content reproduction operation information scored in step S304 of FIG. 3, the contents included in the content recommendation information are displayed in descending order.

  Further, in FIG. 7, the scored content reproduction operation information is displayed in five levels with a threshold value, with the highest point being “☆☆☆☆☆” and the lowest point being “None”.

  Next, in step S405, the data control unit 112 receives an arbitrary recommended content selection request from the user from the operation unit 115, and the reproduction module 121 requests the recommended content requested from the content recommendation information displayed in step S404. 702 is selected.

  Next, in step S406, the playback module 121 checks the data storage unit 113, and the recommended content is stored in the data storage unit 113 to check whether the recommended content selected in step S405 has already been recorded. Investigate.

  If the recommended content selected in step S405 has been recorded, the process proceeds to step S407. If the recommended content has not been recorded, the process proceeds to step S408. In step S407, since the recommended content selected in step S405 has already been recorded, the playback module 121 sets the button name 704 in FIG. 7 to “play”.

  Next, in step S <b> 408, the data control unit 112 receives a reproduction request for the recommended content by the user from the operation unit 115, and the reproduction module 121 reads the data of the recommended content selected in step S <b> 405 from the data storage unit 113. Then, the data is reproduced and output to the display device 103 via the display unit 114, and the process ends.

  Next, in step S409, since the recommended content selected in step S405 is not recorded, the playback module 121 sets the button name of 704 in FIG. 7 to “sequel search”.

  Next, in step S410, the data control unit 112 receives a sequel search request for recommended content by the user from the operation unit 115, and the playback module 121 determines that the sequel to the recommended content selected in step S405 is after that point. The EPG distribution server 104 is searched for whether there is any.

  Next, in step S411, if the search for the sequel content in step S410 is hit, the process proceeds to step S412. If not found, the process proceeds to step S413.

  Next, in step S412, the playback module 121 acquires the sequel content list searched in step S410 from the EPG distribution server 104, stores it in the data storage unit 113, and stores it in the display device 103 via the display unit 114. Output.

  Next, in step S413, the data control unit 112 receives a recording reservation request for the sequel content by the user from the operation unit 115, and the data control unit 112 makes a recording reservation for the sequel content requested for recording reservation, and ends the processing. To do.

  Next, in step S414, the playback module 121 acquires from the EPG distribution server 104 that the number of search hits is 0 as a result of the search in step S410. Then, a message indicating that “the sequel content is not applicable” is output to the display device 103 via the display unit 114, and the process is terminated.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the user terminal is viewing what content, how much other content (how many times, how many times, etc.) or when (elapsed time since recording, etc.) ) It can be provided to the user as content recommendation information indicating whether the user is viewing or not.

  Here, the case where the reproduction module 121 and the recommendation module 122 exist in the same user terminal 101 and exchange information with each other has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it goes without saying that the same applies to a case where a reproduction module 121 and a recommendation module 122 respectively present in different user terminals 101 exchange information via a network.

  Although the case where the data control unit 112 in the user terminal 101 includes both the reproduction module 121 and the recommendation module 122 has been described here, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it goes without saying that the same applies when the data control unit 112 of the user terminal 101 includes only one of the reproduction module 121 and the recommendation module 122.

  It is to be noted that the object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the embodiment to a system or apparatus, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or apparatus as the storage medium. This can also be achieved by reading and executing the stored program code.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the program code and the storage medium storing the program code constitute the present invention.

  Examples of the storage medium for supplying the program code include a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a CD-RW, a DVD-ROM, a DVD-RAM, and a DVD. -R, DVD + R, DVD-RW, DVD + RW, HD-DVD, Blu-ray Disc, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, etc. can be used. The program code may be downloaded via a network.

  Further, by executing the program code read out by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (operating system) operating on the computer is actually executed based on the instruction of the program code. This includes a case where part or all of the processing is performed and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

 Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. This includes the case where the CPU or the like provided in the board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

It is the schematic explaining the structure of the system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the operation | movement process in the system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the operation | movement process in the system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the operation | movement process in the system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the display part in the system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the display part in the system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the display part in the system which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

101 User terminal 102 Network 103 Display device 104 EPG distribution server 111 Communication unit 112 Data control unit 113 Data storage unit 114 Display unit 115 Operation unit 121 Playback module 122 Recommendation module

Claims (10)

A content recommendation method in a system constructed from a content reproduction module that reproduces content and a content recommendation module that aggregates information of the content reproduction module and recommends content based on the information,
The content recommendation module includes:
A content reproduction information totaling step for totalizing content reproduction information of the content reproduction module;
A content recommendation information generating step for generating a playlist of the second content being played back by the content playback module that played back the first content as content recommendation information based on the total content playback information;
A second content reproduction information adding step of adding reproduction information of the second content in the content reproduction module to the content recommendation information,
The content playback module is
A content reproduction information transmission step of transmitting content reproduction information to the content recommendation module;
A content recommendation information acquisition step of acquiring the content recommendation information from the content recommendation module;
A content recommendation method comprising: a content recommendation information display step of displaying the acquired content recommendation information on a display device.   The content recommendation method according to claim 1, wherein the content reproduction module and the content recommendation module are included in the same terminal.   The content recommendation method according to claim 1, wherein the content reproduction module and the content recommendation module are included in different terminals.   The second content reproduction information adding step adds the average information of the reproduction information of the second content in the content reproduction module, which is scored by a predetermined function, to the content recommendation information. The content recommendation method according to claim 1.   In the second content play list generation step, with respect to the first content play information, the play information is scored by a predetermined function, and only those whose scores are higher than an arbitrary threshold are tabulated. The content recommendation method according to claim 1, wherein a second content reproduction list is generated.   The content recommendation information display step determines an order of contents to be displayed on the display device based on the second content reproduction information added to the acquired content recommendation information. 6. The content recommendation method according to any one of 5 above.   The content recommendation method according to claim 1, wherein the reproduction information of the content is a reproduction time.   The content recommendation method according to claim 1, wherein the reproduction information of the content is the number of times of reproduction.   The content recommendation method according to claim 1, wherein the content reproduction information is a time interval from a recording date and time to a reproduction date and time.   A program causing a computer to carry out each step of the method according to claim 1.

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