JP2008005265A - Meta data generation device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a meta data generation device for generating meta data within the broadcasting time frame of a broadcast program, and for ending the transmission of the meta data to a domestic receiver or a server on a network. <P>SOLUTION: This meta data generation device 100 is provided with a transmission time calculation part 102 for calculating a transmission time for transmitting meta data to an external receiver based on program information showing a broadcast program or the content of each section configuring the broadcast program and information relating to the transmission of the program information; a generation condition generation part 103 for determining the generation conditions of the meta data based on the transmission time of the meta data and information relating to the broadcast program or the generation pattern of each section configuring the broadcast program; and a meta data generation part 104 for generating meta data in which the broadcast program or the content of each section configuring the broadcast program is described based on the generation conditions of the program information and the meta data. Thus, it is possible to transmit the generated meta to a domestic receiver within the broadcasting time frame of the broadcast program. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a metadata generation apparatus that generates metadata describing the contents and attributes of each section constituting a broadcast program or a broadcast program in a television broadcast station or the like.

  In the server-type broadcasting service scheduled to start broadcasting around 2007, multimedia contents such as video and data to be distributed are stored in home receivers or servers on the network, etc., at the user's favorite time. Broadcast programs can be viewed.

  In this broadcasting service, the service providing side transmits the broadcast program or metadata describing the contents and attributes of each section constituting the broadcast program together with the video, and the viewing side uses this metadata, Select a section of a broadcast program from multimedia content stored in a home receiver or a server on the network and play it (scene viewing), or extract only the highlights of the broadcast program and view (digest viewing) be able to.

  Conventionally, as a metadata generation apparatus that can be used for such services as scene viewing and digest viewing, and efficiently generates metadata describing the content of each section constituting a broadcast program or broadcast program, voice input means, It is known to have voice recognition means and metadata production means for inputting information related to content by voice, recognizing the inputted voice signal, and generating metadata from the recognized voice signal. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

In general, a broadcast station uses a switcher in a sub-adjustment room and a main adjustment room to send video from video transmission facilities such as a studio, a relay line, a VTR (Video Tape Recorder) cart, and a CM (Commercial Message) bank during program broadcasting. The program video is produced and broadcast while switching at. It is known to generate metadata in real time by simply using video switching information for switching video in real time in such a content production process and a prepared program structure description or event list by manual input. (For example, refer nonpatent literature 1).
JP 2004-86124 A (Page 4, FIG. 1) Kazuhiko Takabayashi and Kenjiro Kai, “Examination of Utilization of Video Switching Information as Metadata,” 2001 Annual Conference of the Institute of Image Information and Television Engineers, August 2001, p. 227-228

  The conventional metadata generation apparatus generates metadata at the switching timing of program video using various automatic recognition techniques and program configuration information and video switching information. Therefore, in broadcast programs that produce and broadcast content such as program videos during broadcast, such as live broadcast programs, accurate metadata that accurately reflects the contents of the actual broadcast program within a limited processing time Could not be generated. Moreover, even if all metadata related to the broadcast program is generated with high accuracy, transmission to a receiving device such as a home receiver or a server on the network is not necessarily completed within the broadcast time frame of the broadcast program. There was a problem that it could not be transmitted.

The present invention solves such a problem, and even in a program that produces and broadcasts content such as a program video at the time of program broadcast, such as a live broadcast program, within the broadcast time frame of each broadcast program, By the time limit for transmission to a receiver such as a receiver or a server on a network, all metadata describing the content of each broadcast program or section constituting the broadcast program can be generated, and the actual broadcast program It is an object of the present invention to provide a metadata generation apparatus that can automatically generate highly accurate metadata that accurately represents contents.

  In order to solve the above problems, a metadata generation apparatus according to the present invention is a metadata generation apparatus that generates metadata that describes a broadcast program or content of each section constituting the broadcast program. A transmission time calculation unit for calculating transmission time for transmitting metadata to an external receiving device based on program information representing the content of each section constituting the program and information on transmission of the program information; Based on the data transmission time and the information related to the generation pattern for each section constituting the broadcast program or the broadcast program, a generation condition generation unit for generating a metadata generation condition, and for each section constituting the broadcast program or the broadcast program It has a configuration including a metadata generation unit that generates metadata describing content based on program information and metadata generation conditions.

  With this configuration, it is possible to generate metadata describing the contents of the broadcast program or the sections of the broadcast program before the deadline for transmission to an external receiving device within the broadcast time frame of the broadcast program.

  In the metadata generation device of the present invention, the program information includes a broadcast program or program progress information including at least a broadcast schedule content and time for each section constituting the broadcast program, and a content determined during the program broadcast. It has a configuration including at least one of item determination information including at least time.

  With this configuration, the metadata generation unit includes at least the broadcast program or the program progress information including at least the broadcast schedule content and time for each section constituting the broadcast program, and the content and time determined during the program broadcast. Metadata can be generated based on item confirmation information.

  In the metadata generation apparatus of the present invention, the information regarding the generation pattern has a configuration including at least a scheduled end time for each section constituting the broadcast program or the broadcast program.

  With this configuration, the generation condition determination unit can determine the generation condition of the metadata based on the broadcast program or the scheduled end time for each section constituting the broadcast program.

  In the metadata generation device of the present invention, the generation condition generation unit generates item determination information when the metadata can be generated by the scheduled broadcast broadcast end time and transmitted to the reception device. Is employed, and the program progress information is employed when it cannot be generated and transmitted to the receiving device by the scheduled end time of the program broadcast.

  With this configuration, the generation condition generation unit adopts the item confirmation information when the metadata can be generated by the scheduled end time of the program broadcast and transmitted to the receiving device, and the program broadcast If it is not possible to generate and transmit it to the receiving device by the scheduled end time, program progress information can be adopted.

  In the metadata generation apparatus of the present invention, the metadata has a configuration that is generated for all of the broadcast program or sections constituting the broadcast program.

  With this configuration, metadata is generated for all of the broadcast programs or sections constituting the broadcast programs.

  In the metadata generation apparatus of the present invention, the generated metadata has a configuration to be transmitted by the scheduled end time of the broadcast program or the scheduled end time of each section constituting the broadcast program.

  With this configuration, the generated metadata is transmitted by the scheduled end time of the broadcast program or the scheduled end time of each section constituting the broadcast program.

  According to the metadata generation device of the present invention, the metadata describing the content of the broadcast program is transmitted to the external receiving device based on the program information representing the content of the broadcast program and the information related to the transmission of the program information. The transmission time for the broadcast program can be calculated, and the metadata of the broadcast program can be generated from the program information based on the calculated transmission time of the metadata and information on the generation pattern of the metadata. Therefore, even in a program that produces and broadcasts content such as a program video at the time of program broadcast such as a live broadcast program, it is possible to generate metadata that accurately represents the content of the broadcast program, and the broadcast time frame of each broadcast program It is possible to transmit all the metadata describing the contents of the broadcast program or the sections constituting the broadcast program.

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

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a metadata generation apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, a metadata generation apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment includes a program information receiving unit 101, a transmission time calculation unit 102, a generation condition generation unit 103, a metadata generation unit 104, and a metadata transmission unit 105. Consists of.

  The program information receiving unit 101 includes a broadcast program scheduled at the broadcast program organization stage or the like, a program progress information a including at least the content and time of a scheduled broadcast for each section constituting the broadcast program, and a program during program broadcast. The item confirmation information b including at least the result content of the item and the time determined at the outside is received from the outside, and the data amount f for each section constituting the broadcast program or the broadcast program is calculated based on the received program progress information a To do. Further, the program information receiving unit 101 reads the item determination information b as the result information when each item in the program is determined, and outputs the program progress information a and the item determination information b to the metadata generation unit 104.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a data structure example of the program progress information a in the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 2, the program progress information a represents a schedule item scheduled to be broadcast for each section in which each row constitutes one broadcast program, for example, the program name “News 7 o'clock”. The schedule item further includes an item “item ID” 201 indicating an identifier of a schedule item for a section constituting the broadcast program, an item “item name” 202 indicating a name, an item “summary” 203 indicating an overview, It includes information related to an item “scheduled start date and time” 204 representing a scheduled start date and time and an item “scheduled end date and time” 205 representing a scheduled end date and time.

For example, in the scheduled item identified with “item ID” 201 of “news-1” on the first line, “item name” 202 is “xxx case” and “summary” 203 is “xxx case”. The “scheduled start date and time” 204 is “2005.3.9.07:30:30” representing 7:00:30 on March 9, 2005, and the “scheduled end date and time” 205 is March 2005. It is “2005.3.3.07:08:30” representing 7th 08:30 on the 9th.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a data structure example of the item confirmation information b in Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  In FIG. 3, the item confirmation information b represents a confirmation item that is confirmed to be broadcast for each section in which each row constitutes one broadcast program, for example, the program name “News 7 o'clock”. This confirmed item further includes an item “item ID” 301 representing an identifier of a confirmed item for a section constituting a broadcast program, an item “item name” 302 representing a name, and an item “start confirmed date and time” representing a start confirmed date and time. "303" and an item "end confirmed date" 304 representing the end confirmed date and time. The item ID 301 of the item confirmation information b corresponds to the item ID 201 of the scheduled item in the program progress information a.

  For example, in the fixed item identified by “item ID” 301 of “news-1” in the first line, “item name” 302 is “xxx case”, and “start fixed date” 303 is 2005 3 “2005.3.3.07:00:25” representing 9:00:25 on March 9th, and “End Date / Time” 304 is “2005” representing 7:08:25 on March 9, 2005. .3.9.07: 08: 25 ". These “item name” 302, “start confirmed date / time” 303, and “end confirmed date / time” 304 are “item name” 202, “scheduled start date / time” of the scheduled item identified by “news-1” in the program progress information a. 204, corresponding to “scheduled end date and time” 205, each indicates a determined value of a section constituting a broadcast program.

  The transmission time calculation unit 102 reads transmission parameter data c related to transmission of program information from the outside, and based on the read transmission parameter data c and the data amount f calculated by the program information reception unit 101, the transmission time data 102 The transmission time g required for transmission to the receiver or the like is calculated.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a data structure example of the transmission parameter data c in the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 4, transmission parameter data c represents transmission parameters when each row transmits metadata in a broadcast program, for example, the program name “News 7 o'clock”. Each transmission parameter further represents an item “program name” 401 representing a broadcast program, an item “bit rate” 402 representing a bandwidth for transmitting metadata, and a transmission time required until the transmission of the metadata is completed. It consists of information related to the item “processing time” 403.

  For example, in the broadcast program in which “program name” 401 is identified as “news 7 o'clock” in the first line, “bit rate” 402 is “100” representing 100 kbps, and “processing time” 403 is 300 mm. “300” representing the second.

  A method for calculating the transmission time g will be described later.

  The generation condition generation unit 103 reads from the outside generation pattern data d related to a broadcast program or a generation pattern for each section constituting the broadcast program, and reads the generated generation pattern data d and the transmission time g calculated by the transmission time calculation unit 102. As a value for ending the generation and transmission of all the metadata for each section constituting the broadcast program or the broadcast program within the broadcast time frame of the broadcast program, any one of the program progress information a and the item confirmation information b Is determined, and the determination result is generated as metadata generation condition data h.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a data structure example of the generation pattern data d in Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  In FIG. 5, the generation pattern data d represents a generation pattern of metadata with respect to a broadcast program such as a program name “News 7 o'clock”, “Drama Special”, “News 10 o'clock”, and the like. This generation pattern data d further includes an item “program name” 501 representing a broadcast program, an item “target device” 502 representing a target device used for generating metadata, and a control used for generating metadata. The information includes an item “control information” 503 indicating information, an item “start date” 504 indicating broadcast start date and time, and an item “end date” 505 indicating broadcast end date and time. Examples of the “target device” 502 include “Newssub1” representing the first sub-adjustment room, “Newssub2” representing the second sub-adjustment room, “Master” representing the main adjustment room, and the like. Examples of “control information” 503 include control information based on data such as program progress information a and item confirmation information b, and control information based on device signals such as a VTR cart and CM bank. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, “control information” 503 indicates that a plurality of pieces of control information are used in combination by a predetermined notation.

  For example, in the first line, in the metadata generation pattern data of the broadcast program in which “program name” 501 is identified by “news 7 o'clock”, “target device” 502 is “Newssub1” representing the first sub adjustment room, “Control information” 503 is “data 1” indicating program progress information “a” and “data 2” indicating item confirmation information “b”, and indicates that these are adopted with a predetermined priority. data1.data2 ". In the present embodiment, as a notation of the “control information” 503, a plurality of control information is used in combination, and if there is an item corresponding to them, the control information after the period (.) It is configured to indicate that the value is adopted in preference to the previous control information value. Thus, the item confirmation information b is shown to have priority over the program progress information a. “Start date and time” 504 is “2005.3.9.07:00:00” representing March 9, 2005, 7:00:00, and “End date and time” 505 is 3:00 on March 9, 2005. This indicates “2005.3.9.07:30:30” representing 30 minutes and 00 seconds.

  Based on the generation condition data h generated by the generation condition generation unit 103, the metadata generation unit 104 adopts one of the program progress information a and the item confirmation information b, and depending on the adopted value, the broadcast program or All the metadata e for each section constituting the broadcast program is generated.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a data structure example of the metadata e in Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  In FIG. 6, metadata e represents metadata regarding each section in which each row constitutes a broadcast program (for example, the program name “news 7 o'clock”). The metadata of each section includes an item “item ID” 601 that represents an identifier of the metadata of each section, an item “title” 602 that represents the title of the metadata of each section, and an item that represents an overview of the metadata of each section. “Summary” 603, metadata start time of each section, that is, an item “start time” 604 indicating an IN point as a video start point, and metadata end time of each section, that is, video end point And the item “end time” 605 representing the OUT point. The item ID 601 of the metadata e indicates the correspondence with the item ID 201 of the scheduled item in the program progress information a. The “start time” 604 and “end time” 605 of the metadata e are calculated as relative times from the start of the program broadcast.

  For example, in the metadata in the section in which the “item ID” 601 is identified by “news-1” on the first line, the “title” 602 is “xxx case” and the “summary” 603 is “xxx”. In “Accident”, “start time” 604 is “00:00:25” representing relative time 00:00:25 from the start of program broadcast, and “end time” 605 is relative time 00:08 from the start of program broadcast. It indicates “00:08:25” representing 25 minutes.

  The metadata transmission unit 105 transmits and outputs the metadata e generated by the metadata generation unit 104 to an external receiving device such as a home receiver or a server on a network. In this embodiment, the metadata transmission unit 105 is provided inside the metadata generation apparatus 100, but may be configured as a transmission apparatus outside the apparatus main body.

  Next, the operation of the metadata generation apparatus 100 in this embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the metadata generation apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In the present embodiment, based on the information and data shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, a broadcast program (program name “news” which starts broadcasting at 7:00:00 on March 9, 2005) An example of the operation of generating the metadata e shown in FIG.

  First, the program information receiving unit 101 of the metadata generation apparatus 100 receives the program progress information a shown in FIG. 2 and the item confirmation information b shown in FIG. 3 from the outside, and from the program progress information a, a broadcast program or this broadcast program is received. (For example, in this embodiment, the item name “xxx case”, “xxx case”, “professional baseball bulletin”, etc.) is calculated (step S701). Here, the data amount f is obtained by calculating the total number of bytes of the program progress information a, for example.

  Next, the transmission time calculation unit 102 reads the transmission parameter data c shown in FIG. 4 from the outside, and in step S701, based on the data amount f calculated by the program information reception unit 101, the transmission time data 102 stores the metadata in the home. A transmission time g required for transmission to a receiver such as a receiver or a server on the network is calculated (step S702). Here, the transmission time g is obtained by dividing the total number of bytes as the data amount f by the “bit rate” 402 and further adding the “processing time” 403.

  The transmission time g necessary for transmitting the metadata e to a home receiver or the like may be an absolute time or a relative time from the start of the program. Further, when calculating the transmission time g using the transmission parameter, for example, a multiplication factor indicating a band fluctuation may be used in consideration of the transmission path condition.

  Next, the generation condition generation unit 103 reads the generation pattern data d shown in FIG. 5 from the outside, and based on the read generation pattern data d and the transmission time g calculated by the transmission time calculation unit 102 in step S702. In order to finish the generation and transmission of all the metadata e within the broadcast time frame, it is determined which of the items included in the program progress information a and the item confirmation information b is adopted, and the determination result is The generation condition data h indicating whether to adopt the program progress information a or the item confirmation information b is generated (step S703).

  Next, the metadata generation unit 104 is based on the program progress information a and the item confirmation information b received by the program information reception unit 101 in step S701 and the generation condition data h generated by the generation condition generation unit 103 in step S703. Thus, metadata e shown in FIG. 6 is generated (step S704).

  Finally, the metadata transmission unit 105 transmits and outputs the metadata e generated by the metadata generation unit 104 in step S704 to a receiving device such as a home receiver or a server on the network (step S705). .

  Next, the operation of generating the broadcast program metadata e in steps S703 to S704 will be specifically described.

  The transmission time calculation unit 102 calculates the transmission time g required until the transmission of the metadata e of the broadcast program “News 7 o'clock (program name 501)” from the data amount f, for example, 2:00.

  First, the generation condition generation unit 103 ends the transmission time g and the end date and time (505) of the broadcast program “News 7 o'clock” of the generation pattern data d in FIG. Therefore, the time of March 9th, 2005, 7:28:00 is calculated as the time limit for ending transmission within the broadcast time frame of the broadcast program. Next, based on the control information 503 “data1.data2” of the broadcast program “news 7 o'clock” of the generated pattern data d shown in FIG. 5, the transmission for ending transmission within the calculated broadcast time frame of the broadcast program is performed. Until the deadline, “data2”, that is, each item of the item confirmation information b shown in FIG. 3 is preferentially adopted at what timing, and for items not in the item confirmation information b, “data1”, ie, shown in FIG. Whether to adopt each item of the program progress information a is determined in real time, and generation condition data h indicating whether the program progress information a or the item confirmation information b should be employed is generated.

  Further, after this deadline, the generation condition data h so that items other than the item “item ID” 301 of the item confirmation information b shown in FIG. 3 adopt “data1”, that is, the program progress information a shown in FIG. Is generated.

  The metadata generation unit 104 adopts either the program progress information a or the item confirmation information b from the program information reception unit 101 according to the generation condition data h generated as described above, and generates a meta data having a predetermined data format. Data e is generated.

  For example, in the present embodiment, the generation condition generation unit 103 can transmit three items “news-1” of the item confirmation information b shown in FIG. 3 by March 9, 2005, 7:28:00. ~ "News-3" is judged and adopted, and the priority defined in the control information 503 "data1.data2" in the program name (501) "news 7 o'clock" of the generated pattern data d is taken into consideration Then, the generation condition data h indicating whether the program progress information a is adopted or the item confirmation information b is adopted is generated.

Therefore, in the metadata generation unit 104, the metadata up to the third row of metadata is generated according to the generation condition data h generated by the generation condition generation unit 103 and indicating that the item confirmation information b is adopted, as shown in FIG. The value of the item “item ID” 601 representing the metadata identifier is set to “news-1” to “news-3” up to the item ID on the third line of the item confirmation information b shown in FIG. . The value of the item “title” 602 that represents the title of the metadata is the value of the item “item name” 302 of the item confirmation information b shown in FIG. Professional baseball bulletin "is set. The value of the item “Summary” 603 representing the metadata summary is determined by the items “Summary” up to the third line of the program progress information a shown in FIG. 2 according to the priority order defined in the control information 503 “data1.data2”. A value of 203 “xxx case”, “xxx event”, and “professional baseball result” are set. The value of the item “start time” 604 representing the start time of the metadata is “2005.3.9.07” of the value of the item “start confirmed date” 303 up to the third line of the item confirmed information b shown in FIG. : 00:25 "," 2005.3.9.07:08:25 ", and" 2005.3.9.07:15:30 "started the program broadcast (2005.3.9.07:00:00 ) Are relative times from “00:00:25”, “00:08:25”, and “00:15:30”. The value of the item “end time” 605 representing the end time of the metadata is “2005.3.9.07” of the value of the item “end fixed date” 304 up to the third line of the item fixed information b shown in FIG. : 08: 25 "," 2005.3.9.07:15:30 ", and" 2005.3.9.07:25:10 "are relative times from the start of the program broadcast.
00:08:25 "," 00:15:30 ", and" 00:25:10 ".

  Further, in the metadata on the fourth to fifth lines shown in FIG. 6, the generation condition generation unit 103 generates generation condition data h indicating that the program progress information a is adopted. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, the value of the item “item ID” 601 representing the metadata identifier is the value of the item “item ID” 201 on the fourth line of the program progress information a shown in FIG. news-4 "is set. As the value of the item “title” 602 representing the metadata title, “weather forecast” which is the value of the item “item name” 202 in the fourth line of the program progress information a shown in FIG. 2 is set. As the value of the item “summary” 603 representing the metadata summary, “today, tomorrow's weather” that is the value of the item “summary” 203 in the fourth line of the program progress information a shown in FIG. 2 is set. The value of the item “start time” 604 representing the start time of the metadata is the item “2005.3.9.4” that is the value of the item “scheduled start date and time” 204 in the fourth line of the program progress information a shown in FIG. “07:25:00” is adopted as “00:25:00”, but as described above, according to the generation condition data h, the end confirmation date (304 of the item “news-3” of the item confirmation information b) ) “2005.3.9.07:25:10” is adopted, and “00:25:10”, which is a relative time from the start of the program broadcast, is set as the value of “start time” 604. The value of the item “end time” 605 indicating the end time of the metadata is an item “2005.3.9.5” that is the value of the item “scheduled end date and time” 205 in the fourth line of the program progress information a shown in FIG. “07:29:00” is set as “00:29:00”, which is a relative time from the start of the program broadcast.

  Further, in the metadata on the fifth line in FIG. 6, the value of the item “item ID” 601 representing the identifier of the metadata is the value of the item “item ID” 201 on the fifth line of the program progress information a shown in FIG. The value “news-5” is set. The value of the item “title” 602 representing the title of the metadata is set to “today's fortune-telling” that is the value of the item “item name” 202 on the fifth line of the program progress information a shown in FIG. As the value of the item “summary” 603 representing the metadata summary, “fortune-telling information” which is the value of the item “summary” 203 on the fifth line of the program progress information a shown in FIG. 2 is set. The value of the item “start time” 604 representing the start time of the metadata is the fifth line of the program progress information a according to the generation condition data h determined to be consistent with the item “end time” 605 of the fourth line. The item “2005.3.9.07:29:00” which is the value of the item “scheduled start date and time” 204 is set as “00:29:00” which is a relative time from the start of the program broadcast. The value of the item “end time” 605 that represents the end time of the metadata is the item “2005.3.9.5” that is the value of the item “scheduled end date and time” 205 in the fifth line of the program progress information a shown in FIG. “07:29:55” is set as “00:29:55”, which is a relative time from the start of the program broadcast.

  Next, metadata generation and transmission timing examples will be described.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the timing of generation and transmission of metadata in Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

8, the broadcast program 800 (e.g., the "News 7:00") is composed of six segments 801 to 806 as sections constituting the broadcast program 800, a time from the broadcast start time _{t 0} t Broadcasting ends at ₈ . In addition, at the timings 901 to 903 for generating and transmitting metadata, the generation timings of the metadata of the segments 801 to 806 generated by adopting the item determination information b are respectively represented by “Chemical 1” to “Chemical 6”. The generation timing of the metadata of the segment 806 generated by adopting the program progress information a is represented by “preliminary 6”. The transmission timing necessary for transmitting the generated metadata to a receiving apparatus such as a home receiver or a server on a network is represented by “transmission”.

  First, an example of timing when the generation of metadata is started during the broadcast of the broadcast program 800 and the transmission process is settled within the broadcast time will be described.

At the timing 901 for generating and transmitting metadata, the program broadcast of the segment 801 and the segment 802 is finished, and the items of the segment 801 to the segment 803 are determined according to the generation condition data h considering the control information 503 during the program broadcast of the segment 803. Using the information b, first, generation of metadata of the segment 801 is started (time t ₁ ), and metadata of the segment 802 and the segment 803 is sequentially generated. From the time when generation of the metadata of the segment 803 is completed (time t ₂ ), the generated metadata from the segment 801 to the segment 803 is collected and transmitted to a receiving device such as a home receiver or a server on the network. Start. At the end of transmission (time t ₃ ), the broadcast program is being broadcast.

  Next, the generation of metadata is started during the broadcast of the broadcast program. However, if all the item confirmation information b is adopted, the transmission process cannot be performed within the broadcast time, and the program progress information a is partially adopted and the transmission process is performed. A timing example in the case of operating so as to be accommodated will be described.

The generation and transmission timing 902 of the metadata is such that the segment 804 and the segment 805 program broadcast ends, and the segment 806 to the segment 806 segment 806 is first generated according to the generation condition data h considering the control information 503 during the segment 806 program broadcast. Using the item confirmation information b, first, generation of metadata of the segment 804 is started (time t ₄ ), and metadata of the segment 805 and the segment 806 is sequentially generated. Here, if the generation of the metadata of the segment 806 is completed (time t ₆ ), the generated metadata from the segment 804 to the segment 806 is collected and received by a receiver in the home or a server on the network. If transmission to the apparatus is started, the program broadcast ends (time t ₈ ) before the end of transmission (time t ₉ ). In this case, the metadata describing the contents of the segments 801 to 806 cannot be transmitted by the end of the broadcast program. As a result, metadata describing the contents of all the segments 801 to 806 within the broadcast time frame of the broadcast program cannot be transmitted to a receiving device such as a home receiver or a server on the network.

  Therefore, in the metadata generation apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, the metadata that describes the contents of all the segments included in the program by adopting the item confirmation information b within the broadcast time frame of the broadcast program is stored in the home. If the generation condition generation unit 103 determines that the data cannot be transmitted to a receiver such as a receiver or a server on the network, the last segment constituting the broadcast program so that it can be transmitted within the broadcast time frame. , The generation condition data h is generated so as to adopt the program progress information a.

That is, the item determination information b is adopted for the segment 804 and the segment 805 according to the generation condition data h in consideration of the control information 503 during the program broadcast of the segment 806 as in the metadata generation and transmission timing 903. The generation of the metadata of the segment 804 is started (time t ₄ ), and the generation of the metadata of the segment 805 is ended (time t ₅ ). On the other hand, according to the generation condition data h considering the control information 503, the program progress information a is adopted for the segment 806, and generation of the metadata of the segment 806 is started. Then, the generation ends by the end of generation of metadata of the segment 805 (time t ₅ ). From the time when generation of these metadata is completed (time t ₅ ), the generated metadata of segment 804 to segment 806 is collectively transmitted to a receiving device such as a home receiver or a server on a network, and broadcasted. Transmission can be ended (time t ₇ ) before the broadcast end time of the program (time t ₈ ).

In the above embodiment, the generation condition generation unit 103 adopts the program progress information a only for one segment 806. However, even if the program progress information a is adopted only for the segment 806 and metadata is generated, If it is determined that all the metadata cannot be transmitted within the broadcast time frame, the program is sequentially transmitted from the last segment to the untransmitted segment so that the segment 805 adopts the program progress information a to generate metadata. Generation condition data is generated so as to adopt the progress information a.

  This makes it possible to support a server-type broadcast service in which all metadata describing the contents of all segments is transmitted to a receiving device such as a home receiver or a network server within the broadcast time frame of a broadcast program. It becomes like this.

  As described above, according to the metadata generation apparatus of the present embodiment, the metadata is externally generated based on the broadcast program or the program information representing the contents of each section constituting the broadcast program and the information related to the transmission of the program information. Based on a transmission time calculation unit for calculating a transmission time for transmission to a receiving device such as a receiver, and information on a transmission time of metadata and a generation pattern for each section constituting the broadcast program. A generation condition generation unit for generating data generation conditions, a metadata generation unit for generating metadata describing the content of each broadcast program or section constituting the broadcast program based on the program information and metadata generation conditions; Even in a program that produces and broadcasts content such as program video during a program broadcast, such as a live broadcast program, broadcast within the broadcast time frame of the broadcast program All metadata describing the content of each section that makes up a group or broadcast program is automatically generated more accurately and accurately, and all generated metadata is received at home receivers or servers on the network. Can be transmitted to other receivers.

  In the above embodiment, the broadcast program or metadata describing the contents of each section constituting the broadcast program is generated. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be similarly applied to a configuration in which metadata such as package media such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) or content distributed on a network such as the Internet is generated.

  In the above embodiment, the program progress information a, the item determination information b, the transmission parameter data c, the generation pattern data d, and the generated metadata e are described using an example of the data structure. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other data structures may be used. In addition, the program progress information a is broadcast by managing various control devices such as a control console, APC (Automatic Program Control), a news support system, a support system for a recorded program, and the items scheduled to be broadcast in each program in the system. Any information that includes at least the content and time of the schedule may be used. Further, the item confirmation information b may be information including at least the contents and time provided and confirmed by the result information and control signals of various control devices such as a control console, APC, and adjustment room switcher.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the metadata of the three segments 801 to 803 or 804 to 806 are collectively generated from the time t1 or the time t4, respectively, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the metadata is not limited to this. You may produce | generate independently, respectively, without producing | generating collectively. In addition, when generating them collectively, for example, the metadata of the two segments 801 and 802 at time t1, and the four segments 803 at time t4, even if the number is not the same as three, as in the above embodiment. The metadata may be generated for each arbitrary number such as metadata of ˜806. Further, when transmitting, as in the above embodiment, an arbitrary number such as one at time t2 and five at time t4 can be set without transmitting three metadata at times t2 and t5. It may be transmitted, or may be collected in a number different from that when it is generated.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the number of metadata generated from the program progress information is one has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of metadata may be generated from the program progress information. It is possible as well.

  The metadata generation device according to the present invention includes a broadcast device for server type broadcasting, a network broadcast server, a content reproduction device, etc. that generates, transmits, and stores metadata of a broadcast program to an external device within a broadcast time frame of the broadcast program. It is suitable for.

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a metadata generation apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The figure which shows the example of a data structure of the program progress information in Embodiment 1 of this invention The figure which shows the data structural example of the item fixed information in Embodiment 1 of this invention The figure which shows the data structural example of the transmission parameter data in Embodiment 1 of this invention The figure which shows the example of a data structure of the production | generation pattern data in Embodiment 1 of this invention The figure which shows the data structure example of the metadata in Embodiment 1 of this invention The flowchart which shows operation | movement of the metadata production | generation apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention. The figure explaining the timing of the production | generation of metadata and transmission in Embodiment 1 of this invention

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Metadata production | generation apparatus 101 Program information receiving part 102 Transmission time calculation part 103 Generation condition production | generation part 104 Metadata production | generation part 105 Metadata transmission part 801,802,803,804,805,806 Segment 901,902,903 Timing a program Progress information b Item confirmation information c Transmission parameter data d Generation pattern data e Metadata f Data amount g Transmission time h Generation condition data

Claims (6)

A metadata generation device for generating metadata describing a broadcast program or content for each section constituting the broadcast program, the program information representing the content for each section constituting the broadcast program or the broadcast program, and the program A transmission time calculating unit that calculates a transmission time for transmitting the metadata to an external receiving device based on information related to information transmission; and the transmission time of the metadata and the broadcast program or the broadcast program The generation condition generating unit that generates the generation condition of the metadata based on the information related to the generation pattern for each section that configures the broadcast program, or the metadata that describes the content of each section that configures the broadcast program A metadata generation device comprising: a metadata generation unit for generating the program information based on the program information and the metadata generation condition The program information includes program progress information including at least the broadcast schedule content and time for each section constituting the broadcast program, or item determination information including at least the content and time determined during the program broadcast. The metadata generation device according to claim 1, further comprising: The metadata generation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information related to the generation pattern includes at least a scheduled end time for each section constituting the broadcast program or the broadcast program. The generation condition generation unit adopts the item determination information when the metadata can be generated by the scheduled end time of the program broadcast and transmitted to the receiving device, and the program 2. The metadata generation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the program progress information is adopted when it is not possible to generate the broadcast by a scheduled end time and transmit it to the reception apparatus. The metadata generation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the metadata is generated for all of the broadcast program or sections constituting the broadcast program. The metadata generation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the generated metadata is transmitted by a scheduled end time of the broadcast program or a scheduled end time of each section constituting the broadcast program.

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