JP2008085428A - Content management server, content display apparatus, content management program, and content display program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve highly precise reconstruction of content corresponding to information about user's taste. <P>SOLUTION: A content management server manages content to be provided to a content providing device used by a user to view the content. The server has a material meta-data generating means for generating metadata of material data as material metadata, the material data included in the content generated based on details of direction to be previously set; and a searching means for searching the material metadata on the basis of the user's taste information included in an inquiry from the content providing device when the content providing device inquires about alternative material data used for changing the material data included in the content. Thus, the problem is solved. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a content management server, a content presentation device, a content management program, and a content presentation program, and in particular, a content management server and content for realizing highly accurate content reconstruction corresponding to viewer preference information The present invention relates to a presentation device, a content management program, and a content presentation program.

  Conventionally, when a viewer views content such as a TV program, there is a mechanism that can change the program structure in accordance with the viewer's preference and the atmosphere of the program effect or the corner of the program (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

  In Patent Document 1, support for recording broadcast content is performed in a form desired by the user, or a part that matches the content desired by the viewer is extracted from a plurality of broadcast contents to obtain another independent content. Is disclosed as a program recording support system that can provide a service that can be reconfigured as:

In addition, when producing a program according to the viewer's preference, a plurality of template data (program production engine) having different production contents set in advance for the production of the set, performer, etc. are prepared. There is a mechanism for generating a program according to preference information for each viewer by exchanging the above-described program production engine according to the viewer's preference (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
JP 2002-51287 A JP 2001-24610 A

  By the way, in the conventional method as described above, for example, it is possible to reflect the viewer's preference for each scene of the appearance of the entire program and information to be viewed. However, in the prior art, the material data itself such as images, videos, and sounds used in the program cannot be reconfigured according to the viewer's preference. For this reason, provision of highly accurate content corresponding to viewer preference information has not been realized.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and a content management server, a content presentation device, a content management program, and content for realizing highly accurate content reconstruction corresponding to viewer preference information. The purpose is to provide a presentation program.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention employs means for solving the problems having the following characteristics.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the content management server that manages the content provided to the content presentation device for the viewer to view the content, the content is generated based on the preset production contents. When there is an inquiry about alternative material data for changing material data included in the content from the content presentation device and material metadata generation means for generating the metadata of the included material data as material metadata, And a search means for searching for the material metadata based on the viewer preference information included in the inquiry.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the metadata of the material data is generated, and the high-precision content reconstruction is performed using the alternative material data corresponding to the preference information of the viewer acquired using the metadata. Can be realized.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the material metadata generation means uses at least one of the file name, type, format, quality, content, atmosphere, and display time length of the content as the material. It is included in metadata.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, when searching for material data corresponding to an inquiry, it is possible to search with high accuracy by using the above-mentioned data.

  The invention described in claim 3 includes screen generation means for generating a screen for setting material data used for the content and metadata of the material data when the content is generated. To do.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the material metadata corresponding to the material data can be easily and accurately set using the generated screen.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a content presentation apparatus for causing a viewer to view content provided from a content management server, preference information generating means for generating preference information of the viewer, and the content Search means for searching for alternative material data corresponding to the preference information when the material data does not correspond to the preference information, based on the metadata of the material data and the preference information;
Content reconstructing means for reconstructing content using the substitute material data obtained by the search means instead of the material data, and reproducing means for replaying the content obtained by the content restructuring means And

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to realize highly accurate content reconstruction using alternative material data corresponding to viewer preference information acquired based on metadata of material data. Thereby, the content corresponding to the viewer's preference information can be presented.

  The invention described in claim 5 is characterized in that the preference information generating means generates preference information for each type of material data set in advance.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when searching for alternative material data, it is possible to make a detailed inquiry corresponding to the preference information for each material data. Thereby, highly accurate alternative material data can be acquired corresponding to viewer preference information.

  The invention described in claim 6 is characterized in that the search means inquires the content management server about substitute material data when there is no substitute material data as a result of the search.

  According to the invention described in claim 6, the search range can be widened. Thereby, the alternative material data corresponding to the preference information of the viewer can be acquired.

  The invention described in claim 7 is a content management program for causing a computer to execute processing for managing content provided to a content presentation device for a viewer to view content. Material metadata generation processing for generating, as material metadata, metadata of material data included in content generated based on the content, and alternative material data for changing material data included in the content from the content presentation device When there is an inquiry, the computer is caused to execute search processing for searching the material metadata based on the viewer preference information included in the inquiry.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, metadata of material data is generated, and high-precision content reconstruction is performed using alternative material data corresponding to viewer preference information acquired using the metadata. Can be realized. Moreover, content management can be easily realized by installing an execution program in a computer.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in a computer presentation program for causing a computer to execute a content presentation process for causing a viewer to view content provided from a content management server, the viewer preference information is generated. Based on the preference information generation process, the metadata of the material data included in the content, and the preference information, search for alternative material data corresponding to the preference information when the material data does not correspond to the preference information Search processing for performing content reconstruction processing for reconstructing content using the alternative material data obtained by the search processing instead of the material data, and reproduction processing for reproducing content obtained by the content reconstruction processing Is executed on the computer.

  According to the invention described in claim 8, it is possible to realize highly accurate content reconstruction by using the alternative material data corresponding to the preference information of the viewer acquired based on the metadata of the material data. Thereby, the content corresponding to the viewer's preference information can be presented. Moreover, content can be easily presented by installing an execution program in a computer.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the reconstruction of the highly accurate content corresponding to a viewer's preference information is realizable.

<Outline of the present invention>
The present invention represents various data such as images (still images), video (moving images), audio, text data, etc. that exist as material data for generating content, and Prepare a description of quality as metadata.

  In addition, when the content is generated, the metadata and the viewer's preference information are used. When the original content material data is not suitable for the viewer's preference, it is used for other existing content, for example. Material data (substitute material data) suitable for the viewer's preference is searched from the material data, applied in place of the original material data, and the content is reconfigured to match the viewer's preference. Thereby, the content corresponding to the preference information for each viewer can be provided.

  Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a content management server, a content presentation device, a content management program, and a content presentation program according to the present invention having the above-described features will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  In the present embodiment, a program is used as an example of content. Furthermore, in this embodiment, TVML (TV program Marking Language) is used as an example of a script used for program generation and presentation. Here, TVML is an object-based description language for producing a television program. TVML describes the video and audio of a TV program divided into material data and a script (including the contents of the program), and the software that runs on a personal computer or the like by generating the script is scripted. Can be immediately presented as a TV program. The present invention is not limited to TVML, and an expression format other than TVML may be used.

  Furthermore, an interactive program presentation apparatus used as an embodiment of the present invention described below has a function of an automatic program production system (TV 4U). The TV 4U downloads a script of a program produced on the producer side, an arbitrary program production engine (APE: Automatic Production Engine) to the script, material data used for the produced program, etc. from a server, etc., and then CG (Computer) This is a system that allows the viewer to view the program by playing back the program using graphics or voice synthesis.

  The above-described program production engine is a CG character such as a program presenter or a performer appearing in a program, or one operation unit in a program, such as “title display”, “zoom-in”, “CG character operation”, etc. Events are defined in advance, and by using this program production engine, it is possible to efficiently realize program production of a predetermined genre such as news, variety, sports, and drama.

<System configuration>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a content presentation system. A content presentation system 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes a program management server (content management server) 11 and at least one program presentation device (content presentation device) 12-1, 12-2,..., 12-n. It is configured as follows. The program management server 11 and the program presentation device 12 are connected in a state where data can be transmitted and received via a communication network 13 such as the Internet.

  Here, the program management server 11 is a production-side device that produces a program to be provided to the viewer based on various data such as images, videos, sounds, and text data stored in advance. In the case of TVML described above, a program produced by the program management server 11 includes a script in which the contents of the entire produced program and contents of the program are described, and a program production engine used for the program. And material data consisting of images and videos.

  Further, the program management server 11 generates a conversation scene corresponding to the produced program. Specifically, the program management server 11 generates related information corresponding to a person, a place, a word, a sentence, an image, etc. appearing in an arbitrary scene of the program in association with the data.

  The program management server 11 can also manage information on the reconstructed program obtained from the program presentation device 12. At this time, the program management server 11 generates and accumulates metadata (material metadata) related to the material data in advance. When there is an inquiry about material data for content reconstruction corresponding to the preference information for each viewer from the program presentation device 12, the corresponding material data is searched based on the preference information and material metadata included in the inquiry. The material data is output to the program presentation device 12. Thereby, highly accurate material data corresponding to the preference information for each viewer can be provided, and the program presentation device 12 can realize the reconstruction of the program corresponding to the preference information and the presentation of the program.

  Note that the program management server 11 accumulates the various data described above in a storage unit, extracts a corresponding program in response to a request from the program presentation device 12, and provides it via the communication network 13. Further, the program management server 11 may provide the program presentation apparatus 12 with the program and the like stored in the storage means and the like at an arbitrary timing.

  On the other hand, the program presentation devices 12-1, 12-2,..., 12-n are installed on the viewer side and various data relating to the program transmitted from the program management server 11 via the communication network 13 and dialogues are provided. The system receives the answer information related to the necessary inquiries, reproduces the program and dialogue scene based on the reception result, and presents it to the viewer. In addition, the program presentation device 12 can shift to a conversation scene while watching a program, and can make various inquiries such as questions and requests other than the program and the program.

  Further, the program presentation device 12 matches the preference from the material data used for other programs, for example, when the material data of the program used for the currently viewed program does not match the user's preference. Material data (substitute material data) to be extracted is extracted, the program is reconfigured using the extracted alternative material data in place of the original material data, and the program is generated and presented to the viewer.

  The reconstructed program may be transmitted to the program management server 11 via the communication network 13 or the like. Thereby, the program management server 11 can centrally manage programs. Accordingly, when the program management server 11 transmits a program to a certain program presentation device 12, for example, if the program includes material data that has been changed by reconfiguration before, the program management server 11 uses the changed substitute material data at that time. It can also be switched and transmitted. Thereby, the program management server 11 can provide a highly accurate program corresponding to the preference information for each viewer.

  According to the system configuration described above, the program management server 11 and the program presentation device 12 have a 1: n relationship, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, n: n It may be. Next, functional configuration examples of the program management server 11 and the program presentation device 12 will be described.

<Program management server 11: Functional configuration>
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the program management server. The program management server 11 shown in FIG. 2 includes an input means 21, an output means 22, a storage means 23, a material metadata generation means 24, a program generation means 25, a dialog generation means 26, a search means 27, The screen generation unit 28, the transmission / reception unit 29, and the control unit 30 are configured.

  The input means 21 receives an input of a program generation instruction, a dialog generation instruction, or the like from an administrator, a program producer, or the like. Note that the input unit 21 includes, for example, a keyboard, a pointing device such as a mouse, a voice input device such as a microphone, and the like.

  The output unit 22 displays the contents of the instruction content input by the input means 21, the program generated based on the instruction content, the edited content such as the conversation scene, the content of the edited result, and the like. Note that the output means 22 includes a display, a speaker, and the like.

  The storage means 23 is a program production engine and material metadata necessary for producing a plurality of material data and programs composed of various data such as images, videos, sounds and text data for generating a script of a program and a dialogue scene. Material metadata generated by the generation unit 24, a script generated by the program generation unit 25, dialogue data generated by the dialogue generation unit 26, and the like are stored.

  In addition, the storage means 23 is a program transmitted from each of the program presentation devices 12-1, 12-2,..., 12-n, acquisition request (inquiry) information on alternative material data, and a reconstructed program. For example, various data transmitted from each program presentation device 12 can be stored for each viewer.

  Further, the storage means 23 is used for interactive response including a TVML script data group for program setup that can be used when generating a program and a dialog scene, and program generation data (template) and dialog scene generation data (template). A dictionary (response script), a TVML script group, and the like are accumulated. Here, the TVML script for program setup includes any studio set, props, lighting, and performers as programs (relationships between performers (gender, age, personality, occupation (singer, commentator, comedian, etc.)) ), A script in which initial setting information of a program such as whether to use sound is designated.

  The storage unit 23 can also acquire the various data described above from an external device connected to the communication network 13 or the like. The storage unit 23 is a collection of character information, image information, and other information such as a database, and is systematically configured so that the information can be searched.

  The material metadata generation unit 24 generates metadata (material metadata) corresponding to material data used in various programs stored in the storage unit 23. This material metadata is mainly used when searching for alternative material data satisfying a predetermined condition when a program is reconstructed by the program presentation device 12 described later. The material metadata generation unit 24 causes the storage unit 23 to store the generated material metadata. A specific example of the material metadata will be described later.

  The program generation unit 25 generates a script of a desired program based on material data such as video, image, audio, text data, and program production engine stored in advance in the storage unit 23. Note that a dedicated editor such as a TV creator can be used to generate the program.

  Furthermore, the program generation means 25 can change the material data of the material data included in the generated program based on the viewer preference information stored in the storage means 23 in advance. That is, when the viewer who provides the generated program can be specified to some extent, the material metadata stored in the storage means 23 is searched based on the preference information included in the inquiry previously transmitted from the viewer. Then, alternative material data having material metadata corresponding to the preference information can be extracted, and a program can be generated using the extracted alternative material data. In addition, when there are a plurality of viewers who provide a program, it is possible to search for alternative material data based on information statistically selected from the preference information of each viewer.

  The dialog generation unit 26 generates a dialog scene from the extracted answer information because the search unit 27 extracts the answer information from the storage unit 23 based on the inquiry information obtained from the program presentation device 12.

  In addition, when using the material data for the generated conversation scene, the conversation generation unit 26 changes the material data used for the conversation scene based on the preference information for each viewer stored in the storage unit 23 in advance. Can do.

  When the dialog generation unit 26 acquires some answer information from the storage unit 23 in response to the inquiry, the dialog generation unit 26 generates dialog data based on the information, and a corresponding answer to the inquiry cannot be obtained. May generate message information for causing the program presentation device 12 to present such information, such as “Not found”.

  The search means 27 analyzes the question contents based on the inquiry contents (text data, voice data) etc. inputted from the input means 21 or the program presentation device 12 by the transmission / reception means 29, and uses the keyword etc. obtained from the result of the analysis. The data group stored in the storage means 23 is searched to extract corresponding answer information.

  Here, when the search means 27 searches for data included in the storage means 23 from an inquiry from the program presentation device 12, the search contents (search keyword) from the character string included in the input data such as text data and voice data. Is generated. Specifically, the search unit 27 generates a question content based on the character information of the input text data or the character information obtained by voice recognition of the voice data, and searches based on the generated question content. A keyword is generated, and various data are searched using the generated search keyword. For example, in response to an inquiry “What is xxx?”, The part “xxx” is a keyword.

  Further, the search means 27 outputs an answer result corresponding to the searched data to the dialog generation means 26. As a result, a dialog scene is generated in the dialog generation means 26 and is output to the program presentation device 12 inquired by the transmission / reception means 29.

  Further, the search means 27 can search the material metadata stored in the storage means 23 using the above-described preference information as a keyword, and extract material data corresponding to the viewer's preference information.

  The screen generation unit 28 generates a screen that is used by the user for editing, reference, and the like in the material metadata generation unit 24, the program generation unit 25, and the dialogue generation unit 26, for example. The screen generation unit 28 causes the output unit 22 to display and output the generated screen. A specific example of the generated screen will be described later.

  The transmission / reception means 29 is a communication interface for transmitting various data such as a program (program production engine, material data, script), a conversation scene, and material metadata to the program presentation device 12 via the communication network 13. Further, the transmission / reception means 29 receives the inquiry information sent from the program presentation device 12, and transmits response information corresponding to the received inquiry to the program presentation device 12 inquired.

  The control unit 30 controls the entire functional configuration in the program management server 11. Specifically, the control unit 30 generates a program or a dialogue based on input information from the user input by the input unit 21, or causes the search unit 27 to search for an inquiry from the program presentation device 12. Then, control is performed such that a dialog scene is generated by the dialog generation unit 26 from the obtained answer information, and data relating to the generated dialog scene is transmitted to the inquired program presentation device 12 by the transmission / reception unit 29.

<Examples of program script and material metadata>
Next, a script in the material metadata generation means 24 and the program generation means 25 described above and an example of material metadata applied to the script will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a relationship between a script and material metadata. For example, as shown in FIG. 3A, the script described in the TVML format includes three material data of an image (subimage), sound (bgm), and moving image (mainmovie).

  Further, the materials used in the program based on the script shown in FIG. 3A are linked to the respective material metadata as shown in FIGS. 3B to 3D. That is, FIG. 3B shows the material metadata of the image (subimage), FIG. 3C shows the material metadata of the sound (bgm), and FIG. 3D shows the moving image (mainmovie). The material metadata is shown. In FIGS. 3B to 3D, each is described in an XML (extensible Markup Language) format as an example.

  Here, the elements included in the material metadata include, for example, the file name of the material (path to the file entity) (material file), the material type (type), the material type (format), and the material quality ( Includes at least one of quality, number of pixels (size), material content (content), material length (such as the length of time the material is displayed in the program) (duration), and material atmosphere (tone) It is. Note that the element of the material metadata is not limited to this in the present invention, and may include date / time information such as a creation date, material related information other than the above, and the like.

  In FIG. 3, each of the material metadata is configured as a file with the extension “mds”. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and each material metadata is stored in one file by a tag or the like. It may be classified and accumulated.

  Thus, by providing the above-described elements as material metadata, it is possible to retrieve with high accuracy when retrieving alternative material data. That is, by generating the material metadata, it is possible to provide alternative material data corresponding to the preference information from the viewer included in the inquiry. It is also possible to perform processing such as deleting material data that the viewer does not like. Therefore, a highly accurate program corresponding to the preference information for each viewer can be provided.

<Taste information example>
Next, an example of preference information sent from the program presentation device 12 applied in the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of preference information in the present embodiment. For convenience, row numbers are assigned to the left side of FIG.

  When the content of the inquiry from the program presentation device 12 is an acquisition request for alternative material data, the preference information of each viewer included in the inquiry is described in XML format as shown in FIG. The description format may be used. The elements of the preference information include, for example, user identification information (user) for identifying the viewer (user) of the program presentation device 12, viewer-related information (description), still image preference information (image), music Preference information (sound), video preference information (movie), acceptable quality level (quality), acceptable material length (duration), atmosphere preference (tone), type of material data that is allowed to be substituted (alt), and At least one of the material length (alt_duration) and the like when using the alternative material data is included. Note that the elements of the preference information are not limited to this in the present invention. For example, date information such as a creation date, preference related information other than the above, and the like may be included.

  Further, the above-described preference information is generated for each kind of preset material data that is likely to be included in the program. Accordingly, when searching for alternative material data, it is possible to make a detailed inquiry corresponding to the preference information for each material data.

  For example, in the (16) to (22) lines in FIG. 4, the preference information about the moving image is set as the material data. Specifically, the acceptable quality level is an upper middle, the acceptable material length is a normal length, and the tone preference is neutral. The type (alt) of the material data permitted to be substituted is an image, and the material length (alt_duration) when using the substitute material data is the same length (org) as the original. .

  By selectively using these pieces of information and inquiring about alternative material data, it is possible to acquire high-accuracy alternative material data corresponding to viewer preference information. These settings are made by the program presentation device 12.

<Screen generation example>
Next, an example of a screen generated by the screen generation unit 28 described above will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the generation screen. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of material metadata corresponding to the description of FIG.

  In the case of generating a script of a program or a dialogue scene and material data metadata (material metadata) used in the script, the script is generated by the creator using an editor (TV creator) as shown in FIG. Is done.

  Here, the script generation screen 40 shown in FIG. 5 is configured to have a menu display area 41 and a script editing area 42. The menu display area 41 reads a script that has already been created and stored in the storage means, displays a new script editing area when new editing is performed, and stores the edited script contents with a file name. A menu for performing processing such as saving in the means is displayed. The menu display area 41 also includes menus for performing general editing functions such as cut (cut), copy (copy), paste (paste), and return to the original.

  Further, the menu display area 41 has an execution designation area 43 for actually reproducing or stopping a program based on the contents of the script data edited in the script editing area 42.

  The script editing area 42 edits a script including related information for a program and a conversation scene related to the program. Specifically, the program creator or the like generates a script based on information input by inputting characters into the script editing area 42 by the input means 21 or pasting an image, video, audio, or the like.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the script generation screen 40 is currently edited in the menu display area 41 to make it easier to describe the lines and actions of the characters (A, B, etc.) of the program being generated. A data content display area 43 for displaying an item (data content) to be displayed or edited is displayed.

  In the data content display area 43, items described in the script (for example, words (text, BGM (bgm), title (title), subtitle (subtitle)), still image (main image), still image (main image) (Reimage) (subimage), movie (shootout) (mainmovie), movie (reshoot) (submovie), super, TVML (tvml), etc.) can be selected, and depending on the selected item Editing identification information such as preset colors, fonts, marks such as parentheses, tags, and the like can be displayed at predetermined positions in the script editing area 42.

  As a result, the editing identification information can be easily displayed in the script editing area 42, so that the display contents being edited can be clarified, and the user such as the producer can easily determine which item is being edited. It can be grasped.

  Further, the script editing area 42 can display the material data 45 such as images, videos, and sounds as it is in the area. In addition, when displaying an image | video, moving image display can be performed using common applications, such as a media player, for example. As a result, a user such as a producer can easily grasp on the script editing area 42 what kind of material data is used in which part of the actual program.

  In the present embodiment, for example, when a focus (cursor) such as a pointing device such as a mouse is moved to the material data 45 on the script editing area 42 and a predetermined operation (for example, right click) is performed, FIG. A metadata input screen 46 as shown can be displayed. For this reason, the user inputs predetermined information on the metadata input screen 46 using the input means 21. Specifically, the title (title) of the material data, the quality (quality) such as low, middle, high, etc., the content (content) of the material data, etc. can be set, but the present invention is not limited to this. It is not something.

  Further, when the input and editing of the metadata of the material data is completed using the metadata input screen 46 or the like and the program is uploaded to the program management server 11, the material metadata as shown in FIG. 6 is generated. Accumulated in the accumulation means 23 and the like.

  Note that the material metadata shown in FIG. 6 is an example of a still image, but the basic processing for generating metadata is substantially the same for other material data.

  Also, as shown in FIG. 6, the material metadata path, format, format, image size, etc. of the material metadata are determined from the material data pasted in the script editing area 42. The material metadata generation means 24 automatically extracts and the extracted contents are also registered as metadata.

  Thereby, a highly accurate program can be generated by using a script and material data generated using the screen generated by the screen generating means 28.

<Program presentation device 12: functional configuration>
Next, a functional configuration example in the program presentation device 12 will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the program presentation device. 7 includes an input unit 51, an output unit 52, a storage unit 53, a preference information generation unit 54, a program generation unit (content generation unit) 55, and a dialog generation unit 56. The control unit 57, the playback unit 58, the search unit 59, the program reconstruction unit 60, the screen generation unit 61, the transmission / reception unit 62, and the control unit 63 are configured.

  The input means 51 receives an input of a program playback instruction from a user such as a viewer or an inquiry in a conversation scene. Note that the input means 51 includes, for example, a pointing device such as a keyboard and a mouse, a voice input interface such as a microphone, and the like.

  The output unit 52 displays and outputs the instruction content input by the input unit 51 and the contents of a program, a conversation scene, and the like reproduced based on the instruction content. Note that the output means 52 includes a display, a speaker, and the like.

  The storage unit 53 includes a TVML script data group for program setup that can be used when a program and a dialog scene are generated, and a dialog response dictionary (response) including program generation data (template) and dialog scene generation data (template). Script), a TVML script group, and the like are acquired and stored from the program management server 11 or the like connected in advance by the communication network 13 or the like.

  Further, the storage means 53 includes a program production engine, material data, script and preference information generated by the preference information generation means 54 described above, the program TVML script generated by the program generation means 55, and dialog generation. An interactive TVML script generated by the means 56, program generation data obtained by the program restructuring means 60, and the like are stored. The storage means 53 is a collection of character information, image information, and other information such as a database, and is systematically configured so that such information can be searched.

  The preference information generation means 54 generates viewer preference information as shown in FIG. Specifically, the preference information generation unit 54 generates preference information for each type of material data set in advance. Thereby, for example, when searching for alternative material data, it is possible to make a detailed inquiry corresponding to the preference information for each material data. Therefore, highly accurate alternative material data can be acquired corresponding to viewer preference information. An example of generating preference information will be described later.

  The program generation means 55 generates a TVML script (program TVML script) to be reproduced by the reproduction means 58 based on the program production engine, material data, and script. Further, the program generation means 55 outputs the TVML script generated as a program to the switching control means 57. Further, the program generation unit 55 generates program information metadata from the TVML script and outputs it to the dialogue generation unit 56. The generated metadata is data described in a predetermined description format such as XML format.

  The dialog generation means 56 is a TVML script (dialogue that describes the dialog contents as a script for the dialog scene from the dialog scene generation data based on the dialog contents from the viewer and the program information metadata obtained from the program generation means 55. TVML script).

  Here, a real-time TVML script of the program being reproduced by the reproduction unit 58 and being reproduced by the output unit 52 is input to the dialogue generation unit 56. Therefore, the dialog generation means 56 uses the program information metadata and the real-time TVML script at the time when the interrupt trigger is applied to the program used by the viewer, and the dialog TVML to which an effect suitable for the program scene at the time of the interrupt is added. Generate a script.

  The switching control unit 57 switches between the program TVML script generated by the program generating unit 55 and the dialog TVML script generated by the dialog generating unit 56, triggered by an interrupt trigger from the viewer, and reproduces any script. Output to means 58. In addition, the switching control unit 57 receives the program TVML script from the program generation unit 55 when there is no viewer input from the input unit 51 for a predetermined time or when an instruction input for performing a preset end is performed. Switch to input.

  The playback unit 58 plays back the program TVML script generated by the program generation unit 55 or the dialog TVML script generated by the dialog generation unit 56.

  The playback means 58 has a function such as a TVML player. Here, the TVML player is software that can read a script described in TVML and output video and audio of a program in real time. In addition, the TVML player generates a studio set with real-time CG, and a CG character such as a program presenter or a performer appearing in the CG studio set speaks the speech described in the TVML script with synthesized speech and performs the performance. It has a function to display the place.

  In addition, the TVML player also generates video and audio for programs by generating video playback, title display and superimpose with character fonts and images, BGM playback with audio data file playback, synthesized voice narration, etc. in real time. It has the function to do. The playback means 58 can play back an efficient and highly accurate program and dialog scene by using these functions.

  The search means 59 analyzes the contents of the question in the same manner as the search method described above based on the contents of the inquiry by the character or voice data input by the input means 51, and stores the storage means 53 based on the keyword obtained from the analysis result. The data group stored in is searched, and the corresponding answer information is extracted.

  In addition, when the search means 59 does not have an answer corresponding to the inquiry in the storage means 53 as a result of the search, the search means 59 makes an inquiry to the program management server 11 and can obtain the answer information from the program management server 11. In this case, the answer information can be output as a search result. Thereby, the search range can be widened, and alternative material data corresponding to viewer preference information can be acquired.

  Furthermore, when the program reproduced by the user does not match the preference information and the program is reconfigured, the search unit 59 stores the storage unit based on the preference information for each viewer generated by the preference information generation unit 54. The material metadata stored in 53 is searched and alternative material data is extracted. If the storage means 53 is not present, the program management server 11 may be inquired to obtain alternative material data.

  The program reconstruction means 60 reconstructs the program by changing the original script based on the alternative material data corresponding to the preference information. Also, the program reconstruction means 60 outputs the reconstructed program generation data as a script to the program generation means 55, a program TVML script is generated by the program generation means 55, and is output to the reproduction means 58 for reproduction. Is done.

  The screen generation unit 61 generates a screen for causing the user or the like to generate preference information, for example, using the preference information generation unit 54. The screen generation unit 61 causes the output unit 52 to output the generated screen. Input from the user is performed by the input unit 51, and based on the information, the metadata including the preference information shown in FIG. 4 is generated by the preference information generation unit 54. An example of the generated screen will be described later.

  The transmission / reception means 62 is a communication interface for receiving data related to a program (program production engine, material data, script), a conversation scene (dialogue scene data), and material metadata from the program management server 11 via the communication network 13. It is a face. The transmission / reception means 62 transmits inquiry information to the program management server 11 and receives the answer information when there is an inquiry result (presence / absence of answer data) or an answer.

  The control means 63 controls the entire functional configuration of the program presentation device 12. Specifically, the control unit 63 generates preference information by the preference information generation unit 54 based on an instruction from the viewer through the input unit 51, or generates a TVML script for the program by the program generation unit 55. The search means 59 is made to search based on the inquiry, the interactive TVML script is generated by the dialog generation means 56 based on the answer data obtained by the search, or the substitute material data is used by the program restructuring means 60. To reconfigure the program.

  That is, the above-described program presentation device 12 compares the above-described script and the metadata of the material data in the script shown in FIG. 3 with the preference information shown in FIG. 4 before generating the program. Here, when the description of the metadata matches the viewer's preference information, a program is generated from the downloaded program data and presented to the viewer. Also, if the metadata description does not match the viewer's preference information, if it does not match, it may require new material or some of the original data may be omitted Judgment is made as to whether it should be sufficient.

  Here, when a part is omitted, the omission processing is performed on the original data, and the program is reconfigured using the omitted data. If alternative material data is required, a part or all of the preference information is transmitted to the program management server 11 and there is no material data included in other existing programs that matches the preference information. Request. As a result, when there is data that matches the viewer's preference, the material data is acquired from the program management server 11, and the program is reconstructed using this data. If alternative material data does not exist, the program is reproduced with the original program data as it is, or reconstruction is performed only with specific data such as text data. Thereby, it is possible to realize highly accurate content reconstruction corresponding to the preference information of the viewer.

<Example of preference information generation screen>
Next, an example of a screen generated by the screen generation unit 61 for the viewer to set preference information will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen generated for setting preference information. In FIG. 8, preference information regarding images (FIG. 8A), music (voice) (FIG. 8B), and video (moving image) (FIG. 8C) is easily set as preference information for the user. The figure for making it show is shown. 8A to 8C can be selectively displayed from, for example, a menu screen.

  As shown in FIGS. 8A to 8C, the level of each quality and the like can be easily set by a slider or the like according to the instruction information from the user by the input means 51 or the like for both the image / sound and video. In the present embodiment, it is possible to view a sample of each material data such as a set image, music, and video. Further, for video / music, an allowable playback length can be designated. In addition, the user can specify the desired atmosphere of images, music, and videos using a GUI such as a graph.

  More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 8A to 8C, a preference information setting screen 71 for setting preference information includes a preference information setting area 72 for setting an image quality level and a music atmosphere. A sample display area 73 for displaying the set contents as a sample and a button display area 74 for displaying a group of buttons for saving and canceling the set contents are configured. In the present invention, the settable preference information is not limited to this.

  In FIG. 8A, with respect to image preference information (image preference), preference information relating to image quality level and image atmosphere can be set by a preference information setting area 72-a. Moreover, since the image corresponding to the preference information set by the sample display area 73-a is displayed, the preference image can be set with high accuracy.

  Further, in FIG. 8B, for music preference information (music preference), the sound quality level, sound atmosphere, and the like can be set by the preference information setting area 72-b. In addition, since the sound corresponding to the preference information set by selecting the sample display area 73-b with a cursor or the like using an interface such as a mouse is output from a speaker or the like, the preference sound can be set with high accuracy. It can be performed.

  Further, in FIG. 8C, with regard to video preference information (video preference), an image quality level, a length of reproduction time, a video atmosphere, and the like can be set by a preference information setting area 72-c. Further, since the sample video corresponding to the preference information set by the sample display area 73-c is displayed, the preference video can be set with high accuracy.

  When preference information is set, if the preference level or atmosphere of a predetermined item is not concerned (anything is acceptable), for example, preference information setting areas 72-a to 72-c are used as shown in FIG. A “don't care” check box 75 is provided for each item to be set, and the check box can be easily set.

  Moreover, FIG. 9 is a figure which shows an example of the preference information produced | generated based on the content set by FIG. For convenience, line numbers are assigned to the left side of FIG. In FIG. 9, the preference information metadata of the (05) to (08) lines is generated by the setting shown in FIG. 8A, and the (09) to (13) lines are set by the setting shown in FIG. The preference information metadata is generated, and the preference information metadata in the (14) to (18) lines is generated by the setting shown in FIG. Note that the order of metadata is not limited to the order shown in FIG.

  In addition, at least one parameter corresponding to each material data such as an image, music, and video can be set in one preference information. Thereby, it is possible to realize highly accurate content reconstruction corresponding to the preference information of the viewer.

  Here, the program management server 11 and the program presentation device 12 described above can also provide content in the present invention with the dedicated device configuration described above, but generate an execution program for causing a computer to execute the processing in each configuration. For example, content management processing and content presentation processing can be realized by installing a program in a general-purpose personal computer or server.

<Hardware configuration>
Here, an example of a hardware configuration of an executable computer in the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration capable of realizing content management processing and content presentation processing according to the present invention.

  10 includes an input device 81, an output device 82, a drive device 83, an auxiliary storage device 84, a memory device 85, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 86 that performs various controls, and a network connection device. 87, which are connected to each other by a system bus B.

  The input device 81 includes a keyboard and a pointing device such as a mouse operated by a user, a voice input device such as a microphone, and the like, and inputs various operation signals such as execution of a program from the user. The output device 82 includes a display for displaying various windows and data necessary for operating the computer main body for performing the processing in the present invention, a speaker for outputting sound, and the like. Execution progress, results, etc. can be displayed or voice output.

  Here, in the present invention, the execution program installed in the computer main body is provided by a recording medium 88 such as a CD-ROM. The recording medium 88 on which the program is recorded can be set in the drive device 83, and the execution program included in the recording medium 88 is installed in the auxiliary storage device 84 from the recording medium 88 via the drive device 83.

  The auxiliary storage device 84 is a storage means such as a hard disk, and can store an execution program according to the present invention, a control program provided in a computer, and perform input / output as necessary.

  The memory device 85 stores an execution program or the like read from the auxiliary storage device 84 by the CPU 86. The memory device 85 includes a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like.

  The CPU 86 controls processing of the entire computer, such as various operations and input / output of data with each hardware component, based on a control program such as an OS (Operating System) and an execution program stored in the memory device 85. Each processing can be realized. Further, the CPU 86 can acquire various kinds of information necessary during execution of the program from the auxiliary storage device 84, and the CPU 86 can also store processing results and the like.

  The network connection device 87 acquires an execution program from another terminal connected to the communication network by connecting to a communication network or the like, or an execution result obtained by executing the program or an execution in the present invention The program itself can be provided to other terminals.

  With the hardware configuration described above, a content management process and a content presentation process can be efficiently realized at a low cost without requiring a special apparatus configuration. In addition, by installing the program, the content management process and the content presentation process can be easily realized.

  Next, the content management process in the program management server 11 and the content presentation process in the program presentation device 12 will be described with reference to flowcharts for the processing procedure by the execution program in the present invention. In the following description of the processing, “program” is used as an example of interactive content, but the present invention is not particularly limited.

<Content management processing>
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of a content management processing procedure in the present embodiment. In the processing procedure shown in FIG. 11, a portion that mainly provides an answer to an inquiry about alternative material data will be described. In FIG. 11, it is assumed that a program is generated in advance.

  In FIG. 11, first, material metadata is generated from the material data used when generating a script or a dialogue scene script (S01), and the material metadata is accumulated (S02).

  Next, it is determined whether or not there is an inquiry about alternative material data from the program presentation device 12 (S03). If there is an inquiry about alternative material data (YES in S03), the material data corresponding to the inquiry is the above-described S02. The material metadata stored by the above is searched (S04). The inquiry content includes, for example, viewer preference information as described above.

  Here, as a result of the search in S04, it is determined whether or not there is corresponding material data (S05). If there is material data (YES in S05), the program for which the material data is inquired as substitute material data Transmit to the presentation device 12.

  In the process of S05, if there is no material data (NO in S05), information indicating that there is no corresponding material data is transmitted (S07). Further, after the processing of S06 and S07 is completed, or when there is no inquiry in the processing of S03 (NO in S03), the processing is terminated.

  As described above, since material metadata can be generated from material data, and alternative material data can be searched from the generated metadata, it is possible to reconstruct a highly accurate program (content) corresponding to viewer preference information. Can be realized.

<Content presentation processing>
Next, a content presentation processing procedure in the program presentation device 12 will be described using a flowchart. FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a content presentation processing procedure in the present embodiment.

  In FIG. 12, metadata (material metadata) of material data included in a program obtained from the program management server 11 or the like is acquired (S11), and the material metadata is compared with preset preference information (S12). . Next, it is determined whether or not the material metadata matches the preference information (S13). If the material metadata matches the preference information (YES in S13), the material data is used to program. Is generated and reproduced (S14). Note that the generation of a program in FIG. 12 includes generation of a script corresponding to the material data and generation of a program using the program production engine, material data, and the script.

  If the preference information does not match the preference information in S13 (NO in S13), it is next determined whether or not alternative material data is unnecessary (S15). If alternative material data is not required (YES in S15), the script is changed so that the material data is not included in the program, the program is reconfigured (S16), and a program is generated based on the reconfigured program Then, reproduction is performed (S17).

  Further, in the process of S15, when the substitute material data is not necessary (necessary) (YES in S15), the program management server 11 is inquired about the substitute material data, and the result (response information) is sent from the program management server 11. Is acquired (S18).

  Here, it is determined whether there is substitute material data (S19). If there is substitute material data (YES in S19), the material data used in the original N program is changed to the substitute material data obtained. Thus, the script is changed so that the program is reconfigured (S20), and the program is generated based on the reconfigured program and played back (S21).

  If there is no substitute material data in the process of S19 (NO in S19), it is determined whether or not the original material data is used as it is (S22). Here, when the original material data is used (YES in S22), the program is reproduced and output as it is (S23). In the process of S22, when the original material data is not used (NO in S22), the program is reconstructed without the target material data (S24), and the program is based on the reconstructed program. Generate and play back (S25).

  With the content presentation process in the program presentation device 12 described above, a highly accurate program (content) corresponding to viewer preference information can be reconstructed.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize highly accurate content reconstruction corresponding to viewer preference information. Also, based on a program produced on the producer side, it can be reconfigured into a program that meets the viewer's preference on the viewer side. Therefore, it is possible to provide a program that suits the taste of more people with one program data. In addition, since the programs produced by the program producers are sequentially increased according to the preference information, a program that has been viewed once can be viewed more next time.

  Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiment, and various modifications, within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims, It can be changed.

It is a figure which shows the example of 1 structure of a content presentation system. It is a figure which shows an example of a function structure of a program management server. It is a figure of an example for demonstrating the relationship between a script and material metadata. It is a figure which shows an example of the preference information in this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of a production | generation screen. It is a figure which shows an example of the material metadata corresponding to description of FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of a function structure of a program presentation apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen produced | generated in order to set preference information. It is a figure which shows an example of the preference information produced | generated based on the content set by FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the hardware constitutions which can implement | achieve the content management process in this invention, and a content presentation process. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the content management processing procedure in this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the content presentation process procedure in this embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

10 Content Presentation System 11 Program Management Server (Content Management Server)
12 Program presentation device (content presentation device)
13 communication network 21, 51 input means 22, 52 output means 23, 53 storage means 24 material metadata generation means 25, 55 program generation means 26, 56 dialog generation means 27, 59 search means 28, 61 screen generation means 29, 62 Transmission / reception means 30, 63 Control means 41 Menu display area 42 Script editing area 43 Data content display area 44 Execution designation area 45 Material data 46 Metadata input screen 57 Switching control means 58 Playback means 71 Preference information setting screen 72 Preference information setting area 73 Sample display area 74 Button display area 75 Check box 81 Input device 82 Output device 83 Drive device 84 Auxiliary storage device 85 Memory device 86 CPU
87 Network connection device 88 Recording medium

Claims (8)

In a content management server that manages content provided to a content presentation device for a viewer to view content,
Material metadata generation means for generating metadata of material data included in content generated based on production contents set in advance as material metadata;
Retrieval for searching the material metadata based on the viewer preference information included in the inquiry when there is an inquiry about alternative material data for changing material data included in the content from the content presentation device And a content management server. The material metadata generation means includes
The content management server according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the file name, type, format, quality, content, atmosphere, and display time length of the content data is included in the material metadata. .   3. The content according to claim 1, further comprising a screen generation unit configured to generate a screen for setting material data used for the content and metadata of the material data when the content is generated. Management server. In a content presentation device for causing a viewer to view content provided from a content management server,
Preference information generating means for generating the viewer's preference information;
Search means for searching for alternative material data corresponding to the preference information when the material data does not correspond to the preference information, based on the metadata of the material data included in the content and the preference information;
Content reconstructing means for reconstructing content using the substitute material data obtained by the search means instead of the material data;
A content presentation apparatus comprising: reproduction means for reproducing the content obtained by the content reconstruction means. The preference information generating means
5. The content presentation apparatus according to claim 4, wherein preference information for each type of material data set in advance is generated. The search means includes
6. The content presentation apparatus according to claim 4, wherein when there is no substitute material data as a result of the search, the content management server is inquired of the substitute material data. In a content management program for causing a computer to execute processing for managing content provided to a content presentation device for a viewer to view content,
Material metadata generation processing for generating metadata of material data included in content generated based on production contents set in advance as material metadata;
Retrieval for searching the material metadata based on the viewer preference information included in the inquiry when there is an inquiry about alternative material data for changing material data included in the content from the content presentation device A content management program for causing a computer to execute processing. In a computer presentation program for causing a computer to execute content presentation processing for allowing a viewer to view content provided from a content management server,
Preference information generation processing for generating the viewer's preference information;
Based on the metadata of the material data included in the content and the preference information, a search process for searching alternative material data corresponding to the preference information when the material data does not correspond to the preference information;
Content reconfiguration processing for reconfiguring content using the alternative material data obtained by the search processing instead of the material data;
A content presentation program for causing a computer to execute reproduction processing for reproducing content obtained by the content reconstruction processing.

Images