JP2009089335A - Automatic channel selection system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic channel selection system capable of automatically switching to a channel broadcasting a program fitted to an attribute of a viewer who views digital broadcasting. <P>SOLUTION: The automatic channel selection system includes: an authentication server acquiring part or the whole of attribute information corresponding to an ID of a viewer from a registrant attribute database server storing the attribute information and the ID of the viewer using an image receiver by relating them to each other by receiving the ID previously stored in the image receiver of digital broadcasting from the image receiver; a tuner control server determining which channel among the respective channels broadcasting in a broadcast station satisfies the condition of the attribute information by using the part or the whole of the attribute information acquired by the authentication server, and transmitting information of the channel at least satisfying it based on the determination result thereof to the image receiver. In the channel automatic selection system, the image receiver switches to the channel based on the information of the channel received from the tuner control server. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to an automatic channel selection system that automatically switches to a channel that broadcasts a program in accordance with the attributes of a viewer who views a digital broadcast such as a television.

  In general, a program (a program includes a commercial) broadcasted by a broadcasting station (a television station or a radio station) often has a target for the viewer. For example, it produces and broadcasts programs targeted in advance, such as dramas for the F1 layer (female from 20 to 34 years old) and news programs for the M2 layer (35 to 49 year old male layer). Therefore, the broadcasting station aims to increase the advertising effect by incorporating commercials and the like according to the target in the program for the F1 layer. In other words, because it is such a targeted program, advertising effects can be obtained by performing commercials targeting the target.

  For example, if it is a TV drama for the F1 audience, the TV drama is targeted at women aged 20 to 34 years, so high advertising effects can be obtained by distributing commercials such as cosmetics that the target may be interested in. It is done.

  However, programs broadcast by broadcasters are not only viewed by the targeted audience. Even TV dramas for the F1 layer are often watched by the M1 layer (20-34 year old male layer) and the M2 layer (35-49 year old male layer). If it does so, the commercial effect in the said program will become remarkably low with respect to M1 layer and M2 layer. In other words, even if the audience rating of the program is 20%, 20% of that is not the target audience, but only a part of it. For this reason, it can be said that there is a loss in advertising costs paid to broadcasting stations by performing commercials.

  This is because, conventionally, a broadcasting station only broadcasts a program unilaterally, and among those programs, the viewer himself selects only the program that the viewer wants to view. ing.

  In addition, as disclosed in the following Patent Documents 1 to 3, conventionally, conditions such as the genre of a program that the viewer wants to view are specified in advance, and the program table is recorded on a television receiver or a video recording. There is only a system for searching by receiving by a device or the like and automatically selecting the searched program for broadcasting or recording.

JP-A-7-107448 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-40603 JP-A-11-250525

  However, in the systems such as the above-mentioned patent documents, the program to be viewed is automatically selected only by designating the conditions of the program that the viewer wants to view in advance. Therefore, the viewer only supports the selection of the program that the viewer wants to watch regardless of the target layer of the program broadcast by the broadcasting station. Therefore, as in the past, even if the target layer of the program broadcast by the broadcasting station is the F1 layer, the M1 layer and the M2 layer are sufficiently likely to be viewed, and advertising effects such as commercials are fully exhibited. Not necessarily.

  Therefore, if the channel broadcasting the program according to the viewer's attribute can be automatically selected from the programs broadcasted by the broadcasting station, the above-described problem is unlikely to occur. Such a system is awaited but does not currently exist.

  In recent years, there are so-called on-demand broadcasts that distribute videos on the Internet. In the same way as described above, on-demand broadcasts can be obtained simply by acquiring the content of a program that the viewer wants to view from a predetermined distribution server. Thus, the structure is completely different from the case where a broadcast station broadcasts a program unilaterally and a viewer selects a program from among them.

  In view of the above problems, the present inventor has invented an automatic channel selection system that automatically selects a channel that broadcasts a program according to the viewer's attribute among programs broadcast by a broadcasting station.

  The invention of claim 1 is an automatic channel selection system in which a single broadcast station automatically selects a channel according to the attributes of the viewer when performing digital broadcasting on a plurality of channels of the broadcast station. The channel automatic selection system associates the attribute information of the viewer who uses the receiving device with the ID by receiving the ID stored in advance in the receiving device of the digital broadcast from the receiving device. Using the authentication server that acquires part or all of the attribute information corresponding to the ID from the registrant attribute database server stored in advance, and the broadcast using the part or all of the attribute information acquired by the authentication server It is determined which of the channels broadcasted by the station satisfies the attribute information condition, and based on the determination result, at least the satisfaction of the channel is determined. A tuner control server to switch to the channel by sending a the channel information to the receiver apparatus, a channel automatic selection system having a.

  By configuring as in the present invention, when a certain broadcasting station broadcasts programs, commercials, data broadcasts, etc. directed to different target layers through a plurality of channels, the channel according to the attributes of the viewer is automatically set. You can select and switch. As a result, the viewer can view the program of the channel according to his / her attributes, and the audience layer is set more appropriately than before, so the advertising effect of the commercial is also improved. Also, the advertising cost required for commercials will be set more appropriately.

  The invention of claim 2 is an automatic channel selection system in which a single broadcast station automatically selects a channel according to the attributes of the viewer when digital broadcasting is performed on a plurality of channels of the broadcast station. The channel automatic selection system associates the attribute information of the viewer who uses the receiving device with the ID by receiving the ID stored in advance in the receiving device of the digital broadcast from the receiving device. Using the authentication server that acquires part or all of the attribute information corresponding to the ID from the registrant attribute database server stored in advance, and the broadcast using the part or all of the attribute information acquired by the authentication server It is determined which of the channels broadcasted by the station satisfies the attribute information condition, and based on the determination result, at least the satisfaction of the channel is determined. A tuner control server that transmits information on the received channel to the image receiving device, and the image receiving device switches to the channel based on the channel information received from the tuner control server. It is.

  Even when configured as in the present invention, the same technical effects as those of the above-described invention can be obtained.

  In the invention according to claim 3, the channel automatic selection system further receives information related to the attributes of the viewer from the image receiving device, whereby the attribute information of the viewer is stored in the ID in the registrant attribute database server. It is a channel automatic selection system having a usage registration server that registers and associates the ID and transmits the ID to the image receiving device.

  By configuring as in the present invention, it is possible to register the attribute information and ID of the viewer in association with each other.

  In the invention of claim 4, the channel automatic selection system further stores in advance a target layer for any one or more of programs, commercials, audio broadcasts, and data broadcasts that the broadcast station broadcasts on each channel. And the tuner control server refers to the content database server by using a part or all of the attribute information acquired by the authentication server, so that the viewer attribute information This is an automatic channel selection system that determines a channel that satisfies the above condition and transmits at least information on the satisfied channel to the image receiving device based on the determination result.

  The target layer is set in advance for programs, commercials, data broadcasts, etc. broadcast on each channel. Therefore, it is preferable to store the target layer set for programs, commercials, and data broadcasting or the target layer set for channels in the content database server.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when one broadcasting station that performs digital broadcasting broadcasts the same program and commercials for different target layers on a plurality of channels of the broadcasting station, A channel automatic selection system that automatically selects a channel according to an attribute, the channel automatic selection system comprising: an image receiving device, a usage registration server, a registrant attribute database server, an authentication server, a tuner control server, and a content database server The image receiving device includes an ID processing unit that executes a registration process of attribute information including at least the age or generation of the viewer, and gender, an ID storage unit that stores the ID, and a predetermined timing And a channel selection processing unit for performing automatic channel selection processing, and the ID processing unit By receiving the input of sex information, the attribute information is transmitted to the usage registration server. When the usage registration server receives the attribute information from the image receiving device, the attribute information is registered in the registrant attribute database server. And transmitting the ID assigned in association with the attribute information to the image receiving device, and when the ID processing unit receives the ID from the usage registration server, stores the ID in the ID storage unit, The channel selection processing unit extracts the ID from the ID storage unit at a predetermined timing, transmits the ID and information of a channel or a broadcasting station previously selected by the image receiving device to the authentication server, and When the authentication server receives the ID from the image receiving device, the authentication server is associated with the ID registered in the registrant attribute database server. Acquires part or all of the attribute information and passes it to the tuner control server. The tuner control server, the channel selected in advance by the receiving device or the program of each channel broadcasted by a broadcasting station, commercial Alternatively, by referring to the content database server storing the target layer for the channel using a part or all of the attribute information received from the authentication server, it is determined whether there is a channel satisfying the attribute information. When there is a channel to be satisfied, the channel information and a command to switch to the channel are transmitted to the image receiving device, and the channel selection processing unit receives the channel information from the tuner control server, and When a command to switch to that channel is received, This is an automatic channel selection system that automatically switches to the channel.

  The inventions of claims 1 and 2 can also be configured as in the present invention. The same technical effect can be obtained even when configured as in the present invention.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, when one broadcasting station that performs digital broadcasting broadcasts the same program and commercials for different target layers on a plurality of channels of the broadcasting station, An image receiving device that automatically selects a channel according to an attribute, wherein the image receiving device automatically stores an ID storage unit that stores an ID assigned in advance to a viewer and a channel at a predetermined timing. A channel selection processing unit that executes processing, and the channel selection processing unit, in the image receiving device, selects whether a channel has been switched by a viewer or a program or a commercial has been switched. When detected, the ID stored in the ID storage unit and the channel or broadcast station information selected at that time in the receiving device are assigned. By transmitting to the server, the predetermined server broadcasts the program or commercial that satisfies the condition of the attribute information corresponding to the ID among the selected channel or the channel broadcast by the broadcasting station. An image receiving device that automatically determines a channel that has been determined and automatically switches to the determined channel by receiving the determination result from the predetermined server.

  When a single broadcast station broadcasts programs and commercials for different target audiences on multiple channels, the receiving device of the present invention is used to automatically select a channel according to the attributes of the viewer. It becomes possible.

By using the present invention, it is possible to automatically select a channel that broadcasts a program according to the viewer's attribute among programs broadcast by a broadcasting station. Thus, for example, if the own attribute is the F1 layer, the channel broadcasting the program for the F1 layer is selected, and if the own attribute is the M1 layer, the program for the M1 layer is broadcast. A channel can be selected. As a result, commercials broadcast during and between programs are also easier to narrow down the target for each channel than before, so that a more prominent advertising effect can be expected.

  In recent years, broadcasting stations have started digital broadcasting in addition to or in place of conventional analog broadcasting, and are becoming widespread in society. Unlike analog broadcasting, the realization of multi-channel is one of the features of digital broadcasting. Currently, digital broadcasting for three channels is possible in a frequency band equivalent to one channel of analog broadcasting. .

  However, as a practical matter, even if digital broadcasting for three channels is possible, it is almost impossible to produce and broadcast different programs for three channels. Therefore, only one program is broadcasted in the frequency band for three channels as in the prior art.

  For example, if there is an X broadcasting station to which 9 channels of digital broadcasting are assigned, technically broadcast programs for 3 channels of 901 channels, 902 channels, and 903 channels (the number of channels can be set as appropriate). However, in reality, due to the problems of the above-mentioned program production etc., the same program is broadcasted in the same way as in the case of nine conventional channels with three channels, 901 channel, 902 channel, and 903 channel. is there.

  Therefore, in the automatic channel selection system 1 of the present invention, each broadcasting station uses the program even if the program itself is the same among the three channels assigned to it (the frequency for the assigned three channels). As for commercials to be broadcast, commercials for different target audiences are performed on each channel.

  Broadcasting stations broadcast on each channel are contents such as programs such as dramas and news, commercials, etc., which are broadcast by audio broadcasting such as television broadcasting and radio, data broadcasting, etc., but are not limited thereto.

  FIG. 1 shows a conceptual diagram of an automatic channel selection system 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows a conceptual diagram of an example of the system configuration of the automatic channel selection system 1.

  In the following embodiment, one broadcasting station performs digital broadcasting on a plurality of channels, and the programs themselves of each channel have the same contents, but the commercials between programs or between programs differ for each channel. Will be explained. At this time, in each channel, commercials for each audience are set in advance for each program. For example, a commercial for the F1 layer is set for the 901 channel, a commercial for the F2 layer is set for the 902 channel, and a commercial for the M1 layer is set for the 903 channel.

  Accordingly, the television set or the receiving device 2 such as a mobile phone in which the channel 901 is selected can view the commercial for the F1 layer during the commercial time, and the receiving device 2 for which the channel 902 is selected is for the F2 layer. In the image receiving device 2 in which the 903 channel is selected, the commercial for the M1 layer can be viewed.

  FIG. 5 schematically shows the relationship between a program broadcast by a broadcasting station, a commercial, and a channel.

  A digital broadcast wave from a broadcast station can be viewed on each image receiving device 2 such as a computer terminal, a mobile phone, a TV, a DVD, an HDD recorder, or a set top box having a digital broadcast wave reception function.

  The automatic channel selection system 1 of the present invention includes an image receiving device 2, a use registration server 3, a registrant attribute database server 4, an authentication server 5, a tuner control server 6, and a content database server 7. Note that the functions of these servers may be realized by a plurality of servers, or conversely, one server may be provided with the functions of a plurality of servers.

  As described above, the image receiving device 2 receives a digital broadcast wave broadcast by a broadcasting station, such as a computer terminal, a mobile phone, a television, a DVD, an HDD recorder, or a set-top box having a digital broadcast wave reception function. The image receiving device 2 includes a calculation device 30 such as a CPU that executes calculation processing of a program, a storage device 31 such as a RAM or a hard disk that stores information, a processing result of the calculation device 30 and information stored in the storage device 31. And at least a communication device 34 that transmits and receives via a network such as the Internet or a LAN. Each function (each unit) realized by the image receiving device 2 is executed when a unit (program, module, or the like) that executes the process is read into the arithmetic unit 30. When using the information stored in the storage device 31 in the processing, each function reads the corresponding information from the storage device 31 and uses the read information for the processing in the arithmetic device 30 as appropriate. The image receiving device 2 may include an input device 33 such as a keyboard, a mouse, a numeric keypad, a remote controller, and a button, and a display device 32 such as a display (screen). FIG. 3 schematically shows an example of the hardware configuration of the image receiving device 2.

  Each means in the present invention is only logically distinguished in function, and may be physically or practically the same area.

  In addition to the above devices, the image receiving device 2 receives a digital broadcast wave and processes the broadcast signal to display or record on the display device 32 (see FIG. Etc.) and functions that the image receiving device 2 should originally have, for example, a device that performs a call if it is a mobile phone, and a device that performs recording if it is a recording device.

  The image receiving device 2 includes an ID processing unit 21 and a channel selection processing unit 23 as application programs, and the storage device 31 includes an ID storage unit 22.

  The ID processing unit 21 executes a registration process related to the attribute of the user (digital broadcast viewer) of the image receiving device 2. For example, input of its own attribute information, age, gender, occupation, residence, etc. is received from the input device 33, and the attribute information is transmitted to the usage registration server 3. Then, the ID assigned in association with the attribute information is received from the usage registration server 3 and stored in the ID storage unit 22 described later.

  The ID storage unit 22 stores the ID received from the usage registration server 3 by the ID processing unit 21.

  The channel selection processing unit 23 extracts the ID stored in the ID storage unit 22 at a predetermined timing, for example, when the viewer switches the channel (broadcast station) or when the program switches, and sends it to the authentication server 5. By transmitting, a channel to be selected by the viewer and a command for switching to the channel are received from the tuner control server 6 described later. When these are received, the channel is automatically switched to the received channel.

  When the channel selection processing unit 23 executes a process of switching the channel, the image receiving device 2 receives the digital broadcast wave of the channel, and the program or commercial of the channel is displayed on the display device 32, for example.

  The usage registration server 3 receives the attribute information of the user (digital broadcast viewer) from the image receiving device 2 and registers the received attribute information in the registrant attribute database server 4 described later. At the time of registration, an ID is assigned to the attribute information by the registrant attribute database server 4, so that it is received and the ID is transmitted to the image receiving device 2.

  The registrant attribute database server 4 registers the attribute information received from the usage registration server 3. FIG. 6 schematically shows a conceptual diagram of the registrant attribute database server 4. When registering attribute information in the registrant attribute database, based on the attribute information, particularly age and gender, the total classification (M1, M2, F1, F3, etc.) of the individual audience rating to which the viewer belongs is determined. Then, it may be registered as a layer, or a layer may be determined by the use registration server 3 and registered by receiving it.

  The registrant attribute database server 4 may register the attribute information by assigning a unique ID in association with the attribute information. Similarly to the layer, the ID may be assigned by the use registration server 3 and may be registered by receiving it.

  The authentication server 5 receives the ID from the image receiving device 2 and searches the registrant attribute database server 4 based on the received ID, thereby obtaining attribute information (layer, age, gender, occupation, Get some or all of the living area). Part or all of the acquired attribute information is passed to the tuner control server 6. When receiving the ID, the authentication server 5 also receives information indicating which channel (broadcast station) the viewer has selected, and passes part or all of the attribute information to the tuner control server 6. At the same time, the information is also handed over.

  The tuner control server 6 is based on part or all of the attribute information acquired by the authentication server 5 from the registrant attribute database server 4 and information indicating which channel (broadcasting station) the viewer has selected. Among the channels currently being broadcast by the broadcasting station, the content database server 7 is referred to whether there is a program or commercial that satisfies the viewer's attribute information (layer, etc.). Obtain from the server 7. The channel information and a command for automatically switching to the channel are transmitted to the image receiving device 2.

  If there is no program that satisfies the viewer's attribute information as a result of referring to the content database server 7, information on a predetermined channel and a command for automatically switching to that channel, or a channel as it is may be used. The command shown is transmitted to the image receiving device 2. If the channel is not switched, the command need not be transmitted.

  The content database server 7 stores programs and commercials broadcasted by the broadcasting station on each channel and their target layers. In addition to programs and commercials currently being broadcast, their broadcast times may be stored as a program table. The content database server 7 may be provided for each broadcasting station, or information such as programs, commercials, and target layers of each broadcasting station may be registered and managed in a centralized manner. In addition, a target layer may be stored for each program or commercial, or a target layer of a channel for each time zone in which each program or commercial is broadcast may be stored.

  In the following description, a case of a mobile phone having a digital broadcast wave reception function as the image receiving device 2 will be described. The X broadcast station (9 channels assigned) broadcasts the same program on 901, 902, and 903 channels, but the 901 channel commercial is for the F1 layer, the 902 channel commercial is for the F2 layer, 903 channel commercials will be described when different commercials for the M1 layer are being broadcast.

  This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 4 and the conceptual diagrams of FIGS. The flowchart in FIG. 4A shows a registration process for registering viewer attribute information, and the flowchart in FIG. 4B shows an automatic channel selection process.

  First, when the viewer uses the automatic channel selection system 1 of the present invention for the first time, the user registration server 3 is accessed via the Internet by performing a predetermined operation with the mobile phone, and the age, sex, occupation, Enter attribute information such as residence and e-mail address. This input is received by the ID processing unit 21. FIG. 7 shows an example of a screen on the display device 32 of the mobile phone at that time.

  Thus, the viewer inputs the attribute information and performs a predetermined operation, so that the ID processing unit 21 of the mobile phone transmits the attribute information to the usage registration server 3 from the mobile phone. The usage registration server 3 that has received this attribute information assigns an ID in association with the attribute information (S110), and registers the attribute information in the database of the registrant attribute database server 4 in association with the ID. In addition, the layer to which the viewer belongs is determined and registered based on the age, sex, and the like in the attribute information. For example, it is assumed that the ID given to the viewer is “4227-xxxx”.

  The ID may be given randomly or sequentially, or may have some significance. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, meanings such as age, sex, occupation, residential area, personal identification number, etc. may be given.

  When the attribute information is registered in the registrant attribute database server 4 in this way, the usage registration server 3 transmits the ID assigned in S110 to the mobile phone. When receiving the ID from the usage registration server 3, the ID processing unit 21 of the mobile phone stores it in the ID storage unit 22 (S120). At this time, what kind of ID is given to the viewer may be displayed on the display device 32. FIG. 9 shows an example of a screen on the display device 32 of the mobile phone at this time.

  Next, when the viewer wants to receive the digital broadcast with the mobile phone, the viewer performs a digital broadcast receiving operation with the mobile phone. At this time, the channel (or broadcast station) to be viewed or the channel (or broadcast station) that was last viewed is selected. For example, it is assumed that the channel (or broadcast station) that the viewer watched last is the 9th channel of the X broadcast station.

  When the channel selection processing unit 23 detects the above operation, the channel selection processing unit 23 extracts the ID “4227-xxxxxxx” stored in the ID storage unit 22 and transmits the ID and channel (or broadcast station) information via the Internet. To the authentication server 5 (S200). An example of the screen on the display device 32 of the mobile phone at this time is shown in FIG.

  Upon receiving the ID and channel (or broadcast station) information from the mobile phone, the authentication server 5 authenticates whether the ID is registered by searching the registrant attribute database server 4 based on the received ID. (S210) After authentication, a part or all of the attribute information associated with the ID is acquired (S220). When the ID is “4227-xxxx”, it is acquired that the layer is “F1”. Here, only the layer is acquired from the attribute information, but other information may be acquired.

  If the ID is significant, the meaning of each digit of the ID may be searched from the registrant attribute database server 4 and determined. For example, in the case of FIG. 8, the layer is “F1” based on the digits indicating the ID layer, that is, the digits “4” (early 20s) and “1” (female) of age and gender. You may get that.

  When all or part of the attribute information is acquired in this way, the authentication server 5 performs tuner control on the information (layer is “F1”) and channel (or broadcast station) information (9 channels or X broadcast station). Pass to server 6. When the tuner control server 6 receives the information from the authentication server 5, the tuner control server 6 determines whether a program or a commercial corresponding to the attribute information exists in the channel (or broadcast station). That is, the content database server 7 is referred to whether there are programs and commercials targeting the F1 layer in the nine channels broadcast by the X broadcast station (S230).

  Here, among the nine channels of the X broadcast station, the same program, program A, is broadcast from channel 901 to channel 903, but the commercial is different for each channel. In other words, programs and commercials for the F1 layer are broadcast on the 901 channel, for the F2 layer on the 902 channel, and for the M1 layer on the 903 channel.

  Then, since the tuner control server 6 has received the information that it is the F1 layer from the authentication server 5, it can be determined that the channel 901 satisfies the condition (S240), the information “901 channel” and the selection A command for automatically switching to the designated channel is transmitted to the mobile phone via the Internet (S250).

  The channel selection processing unit 23 of the mobile phone that has received the information switches to the channel 901 based on the information and the command (S260). However, since the viewer originally selected 9 channels on the surface, there are many cases where the viewer has not noticed that the switching has been made. This is because the same program is broadcast on channels 901, 902, and 903, and the commercials are simply different.

  On the other hand, if there is no F1 layer for the 901 channel, 902 channel, and 903 channel as a result of the reference in S230, information on a predetermined channel (for example, 902 channel) and a command for automatically switching to that channel Is transmitted to the mobile phone via the Internet (S270). The channel selection processing unit 23 of the mobile phone that has received the information switches to the 902 channel based on the information and the command.

  If there is no channel that satisfies the condition, a command indicating that the channel may be used may be transmitted to the mobile phone, or the command may not be transmitted in the first place.

  FIG. 11 schematically shows the above flow. Regarding commercials, it is preferable that one or a plurality of different commercials be broadcast in the same time zone. However, the target layer of the commercial to be broadcast is preferably set for each channel.

  In the first embodiment, the case where the same program is broadcast on the 901 channel, 902 channel, and 903 channel broadcast by the X broadcast station and the commercials are different has been described, but the present invention can also be applied to data broadcasting. That is, at least the programs are the same in the 901 channel, 902 channel, and 903 channel broadcast by the X broadcast station, but different data broadcasts may be performed for the data broadcasts broadcast simultaneously.

  For example, channel 901 is data broadcasting for men (that is, data broadcasting targeting M1, M2, and M3 layers), and channel 902 and channel 903 are data broadcasting for women (targeting F1, F2, and F3 layers). Data broadcasting), and the channel can be switched based on the reference result in the tuner control server 6 as described above. FIG. 12 shows an example of this case.

  In the first and second embodiments, the case where the viewer inputs his / her attribute information from the mobile phone when the viewer's attribute information is registered has been described. For example, a credit card number or the like is input. Accordingly, the usage registration server 3 that has received the access accesses the predetermined server of the credit card company and acquires attribute information from the server, thereby registering the attribute information of the viewer in the registrant attribute database server 4. It can also be configured to do.

  In addition to the credit card number, it may be an IC card (B-CAS card) number used for copyright management when receiving digital broadcasts. In that case, it is not a credit card company server, The attribute information is acquired by accessing a predetermined server of the company that manages the card.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where one broadcast station broadcasts the same program on a plurality of channels and only the commercial is different has been described. However, the content of the program itself may be different for each channel. For example, even if the same drama is broadcast for each channel, if the program has a different story, a drama with a different story for each target can be viewed. That is, it is possible to view a drama of a story that matches the viewer's attributes.

  In the first to fourth embodiments described above, the case where one ID is assigned to one image receiving device 2 has been described. However, a plurality of IDs may be stored in the image receiving device 2. For example, an ID may be assigned to each viewer who uses the image receiving device 2 and the ID may be stored.

  In this case, the image receiving device 2 receives an input as to which viewer is using the image receiving device 2. This input can be performed at the stage when the image receiving device 2 is activated or at an arbitrary stage. Then, the processing of each embodiment described above can be executed by transmitting the input ID to each server.

  As described above, since a plurality of IDs can be used in one image receiving device 2, for example, when the image receiving device 2 is used by a family, the sex, generation such as father, mother, and child who can be viewers are different. However, it is possible to realize automatic channel selection processing corresponding to each.

In addition to the above-described embodiments, the viewer can store the ID assigned to the viewer so that the viewer can input and execute the process when using another image receiving device 2.
That is, one ID may be shared by a plurality of image receiving devices 2.

  For example, when there is a mobile phone and a television as the image receiving device 2, when the first registration process is executed from the mobile phone and an ID is assigned, the ID of the viewer is stored in the mobile phone. When the viewer uses the television, the ID is stored in the television ID storage unit 22 by inputting the ID by a predetermined method. By such processing, automatic channel selection processing can be executed in the same manner when using not only a mobile phone but also a television. This may be done by the viewer entering his / her own ID on the television or by transmitting data from the mobile phone to the television.

  With the automatic channel selection system 1 of the present invention, it is possible to automatically select and view a channel that broadcasts a program according to the viewer's attribute among programs broadcast by a broadcasting station. Thus, for example, if the own attribute is the F1 layer, the channel broadcasting the program for the F1 layer is selected, and if the own attribute is the M1 layer, the program for the M1 layer is broadcast. A channel can be selected. As a result, commercials broadcast during and between programs are also easier to narrow down the target for each channel than before, so that a more prominent advertising effect can be expected.

It is a conceptual diagram which shows typically the whole concept of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram which shows typically an example of the system configuration | structure of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a hardware configuration typically. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process of this invention typically. It is a figure which shows typically the relationship between the program which a broadcasting station broadcasts, a commercial, and a channel. It is a conceptual diagram which shows a registrant attribute database server typically. It is a display example of a screen when inputting attribute information. It is a figure which shows typically an example of a digit and a meaning at the time of giving significance to ID. It is a display example of a screen when an ID is acquired. It is an example of a display of the screen which is transmitting ID. It is a display example which shows the change of a screen about the automatic selection of the channel according to a viewer's layer. It is an example of a display in the case of data broadcasting.

Explanation of symbols

1: Channel automatic selection system 2: Image receiving device 3: User registration server 4: Registrant attribute database server 5: Authentication server 6: Tuner control server 7: Content database server 21: ID processing unit 22: ID storage unit 23: Channel selection Processing unit 30: arithmetic device 31: storage device 32: display device 33: input device 34: communication device

The invention of claim 1 is an automatic channel selection system in which a single broadcast station automatically selects a channel according to the attributes of the viewer when performing digital broadcasting on a plurality of channels of the broadcast station. The automatic channel selection system receives information related to the attributes of the viewer from the first digital broadcast receiving device, and assigns an ID corresponding to the attribute information to register it in the registrant attribute database server. A channel previously selected by the first image receiving device from the use registration server that transmits the ID to the first image receiving device and the first image receiving device that stores the ID received from the use registration server. Alternatively, by receiving broadcast station information and the ID, a part or all of the attribute information corresponding to the ID is stored in the registrant attribute database. An authentication server to retrieve from over server, a content database server the broadcast station program to be broadcast on each channel, commercial, audio broadcasting, stores in advance those target layer for any one or more of the data broadcasting, the By referring to the content database server using part or all of the attribute information acquired by the authentication server and the channel or broadcasting station information selected in advance by the first image receiving device, the broadcasting station A tuner that determines which of the broadcast channels satisfies the condition of the viewer's attribute information and transmits at least the information of the satisfied channel to the image receiving device based on the determination result a control server, has, the authentication server further by the viewer Information about the channel or broadcasting station previously selected by the second image receiving device from the second image receiving device storing the same ID as the ID stored in the first image receiving device. By receiving the ID, part or all of the attribute information corresponding to the ID is acquired from the registrant attribute database server, and the tuner control server further includes a part of the attribute information acquired by the authentication server. Or, by referring to the content database server by using all and the channel or broadcast station information previously selected by the first receiving device, which of the channels being broadcast by the broadcast station is selected. It is determined whether the channel satisfies the condition of the viewer attribute information, and at least the satisfied channel is determined based on the determination result. Channel information is transmitted to the second image receiving device, and the first image receiving device or the second image receiving device switches to the channel based on the channel information received from the tuner control server. It is a selection system.

According to the invention of claim 2 , when one broadcasting station performing digital broadcasting broadcasts the same program and commercials for different target layers on a plurality of channels of the broadcasting station, A channel automatic selection system that automatically selects a channel according to an attribute, the channel automatic selection system including a first image receiving device, a second image receiving device, a usage registration server, a registrant attribute database server, and an authentication server and it has a tuner control server and the content database server, the first receiver apparatus, the viewer's age or generation, and the ID processing unit that performs a registration process including at least the attribute information and sex, ID And an ID storage unit for storing the channel, and a channel selection processing unit for performing automatic channel selection processing at a predetermined timing. The second image receiving device, includes an ID storage unit for storing the ID input by the viewer, the channel selection processing unit that executes processing for automatic selection of channels in the predetermined timing, the cage, the ID processing unit of the first receiver apparatus, said by accepting an input of the attribute information, and sends the attribute information to the usage registration server, the usage registration server attributes from the first receiver apparatus Upon receiving the information, and registers the attribute information to the registrant attribute database server sends the ID assigned in association with the attribute information to the first receiver apparatus, ID of the first receiver apparatus processing unit receives the ID from the usage registration server, storing the ID to the ID storage unit, the channel selection processing unit of the first receiver apparatus or the second image receiving device Wherein at a predetermined timing, the first extracting image receiving device or the ID from the ID storage unit of the second receiver apparatus, is pre-selected by the ID and the first receiver apparatus and the second receiver apparatus Channel information or broadcast station information is transmitted to the authentication server, and when the authentication server receives the ID from the first image receiving device or the second image receiving device, the information is registered in the registrant attribute database server. Part or all of the attribute information associated with the ID is passed to the tuner control server, and the tuner control server uses the first image receiving device or the second image receiving device in advance. Stores the target layer of the program, commercial or channel of each channel broadcasted by the selected channel or broadcaster The content database server is referred to using part or all of the attribute information received from the authentication server to determine whether there is a channel that satisfies the attribute information. , said channel information, and transmits the command to switch to that channel to the first receiver apparatus and the second receiver apparatus, channel selection processing section of the first receiver apparatus and the second receiver apparatus is The channel automatic selection system automatically switches to the channel when receiving the channel information and the command to switch to the channel from the tuner control server.

The invention of claim 1 can also be configured as in the present invention. The same technical effect can be obtained even when configured as in the present invention.

The invention of claim 4 is an automatic channel selection system in which a single broadcast station automatically selects a channel according to the attributes of the viewer when performing digital broadcasting on a plurality of channels of the broadcast station. The channel automatic selection system receives attribute information corresponding to the credit card number from a predetermined server of the credit card company by receiving the credit card number as an ID from the digital broadcast receiving device, and use registration server to register the registrant attribute database server the ID and the acquired attribute information is a credit card number in association with the ID stored in the receiver apparatus, by receiving from the receiver apparatus, Acquire part or all of attribute information corresponding to the ID from the registrant attribute database server That an authentication server, a program that the broadcast station is broadcast on each channel, commercial, audio broadcast, and the content database server that stores in advance those target layer for any one or more of the data broadcasting, acquired by the authentication server By referring to the content database server using a part or all of the attribute information, which channel is broadcasting among the channels, which channel satisfies the condition of the viewer's attribute information And a tuner control server that transmits at least information on the satisfied channel to the image receiving device based on the determination result, and the image receiving device receives information on the channel received from the tuner control server. A channel automatic selection system that switches to the channel based on It is.
According to the invention of claim 5, when one broadcasting station that performs digital broadcasting broadcasts the same program and commercials for different target layers on a plurality of channels of the broadcasting station, An image receiving device that automatically selects a channel according to an attribute of the image receiving device, wherein the image receiving device includes an ID storage unit that stores a credit card number assigned in advance to a viewer as an ID, and a channel A channel selection processing unit that performs automatic channel selection processing at a timing including any one or more of switching by a viewer, switching of a program or commercial , and the image receiving device includes: Further, based on the ID, by transmitting an ID which is a credit card number stored in the ID storage unit to a predetermined server. From a server credit card company, the credit card information corresponding to the number to acquire a predetermined server, is registered in association with said ID and attribute information in a predetermined database server, the channel selection processing unit, In the image receiving device, when it is detected that the channel has been switched by the viewer, or the program or commercial has been switched, the ID stored in the ID storage unit and the image received device are selected at that time. The selected channel or the broadcasting station is registered with the predetermined database server among the selected channel or the channel broadcasted by the broadcasting station by transmitting the information on the channel or the broadcasting station to a predetermined server. Program or commercial that satisfies the attribute information conditions corresponding to the ID Automatically to determine a channel that broadcasts the Le, by receiving the determination result, automatically switches to the determined channel, a receiver apparatus.

The invention of claim 1 is an automatic channel selection system in which a single broadcast station automatically selects a channel according to the attributes of the viewer when performing digital broadcasting on a plurality of channels of the broadcast station. The automatic channel selection system receives information related to the attributes of the viewer from the first digital broadcast receiving device, and assigns an ID corresponding to the attribute information to register it in the registrant attribute database server. A channel previously selected by the first image receiving device from the use registration server that transmits the ID to the first image receiving device and the first image receiving device that stores the ID received from the use registration server. Alternatively, by receiving broadcast station information and the ID, a part or all of the attribute information corresponding to the ID is stored in the registrant attribute database. An authentication server to be acquired from a server, a content database server that stores in advance a target layer for any one or more of programs, commercials, audio broadcasts, and data broadcasts that the broadcast station broadcasts on each channel; By referring to the content database server using part or all of the attribute information acquired by the authentication server and the channel or broadcasting station information selected in advance by the first image receiving device, the broadcasting station among the channels being broadcast, determines which channels satisfies the condition of the attribute information of the viewer, based on the determination result, the information of the channel that at least the satisfaction, the first receiver apparatus A tuner control server for transmitting to the authentication server, the authentication server further Information on the channel or broadcasting station previously selected by the second image receiving device from the second image receiving device that stores the same ID as the ID stored in the first image receiving device input by And part of the attribute information corresponding to the ID is acquired from the registrant attribute database server, and the tuner control server further receives one of the attribute information acquired by the authentication server. By referring to the content database server using a part or all of the information and the channel or broadcast station information previously selected by the second image receiving device, among the channels being broadcast by the broadcast station, It is determined which channel satisfies the condition of the attribute information of the viewer, and based on the determination result, at least the satisfied The information of the channel, the transmitted to the second receiver apparatus, the first receiver apparatus and the second receiver apparatus based on the information of the channel received from the tuner control server, switching to the channel, the channel It is an automatic selection system.

According to the invention of claim 2, when one broadcasting station performing digital broadcasting broadcasts the same program and commercials for different target layers on a plurality of channels of the broadcasting station, A channel automatic selection system that automatically selects a channel according to an attribute, the channel automatic selection system including a first image receiving device, a second image receiving device, a usage registration server, a registrant attribute database server, and an authentication server An ID processing unit that executes a registration process of attribute information including at least the age or generation of the viewer, and gender, and an ID processing unit, a tuner control server, and a content database server; an ID storage unit for storing, channel to perform processing for channel automatic selection at a predetermined timing in the first receiver apparatus Has a selection unit, wherein the second image receiving device, an ID storage unit for storing the ID input by the viewer, the automatic channel at a predetermined timing in the second receiver apparatus A channel selection processing unit that executes a selection process, and the ID processing unit of the first image receiving device transmits the attribute information to the usage registration server by receiving the input of the attribute information. When the use registration server receives the attribute information from the first image receiving device, the use registration server registers the attribute information in the registrant attribute database server, and assigns the ID assigned in association with the attribute information to the first registration device. When the ID processing unit of the first image receiving device receives the ID from the use registration server, the ID processing unit stores the ID in the ID storage unit and transmits the first image receiving device. Vessel or channel selection processing unit of the second receiver apparatus at a predetermined timing in the first receiver apparatus or the second receiver apparatus, the ID storage portion of the first receiver apparatus and the second receiver apparatus The ID is extracted, and the ID and information on a channel or a broadcasting station previously selected by the first image receiving device or the second image receiving device are transmitted to the authentication server. When the ID is received from the second image receiving device or the second image receiving device, a part or all of the attribute information associated with the ID registered in the registrant attribute database server is acquired, and the acquired tuner is used as the tuner. The tuner control server broadcasts the channel or broadcasting station previously selected by the first image receiving device or the second image receiving device. For each channel program, commercial, or channel, the content database server storing the target layer is referred to using part or all of the attribute information received from the authentication server, thereby satisfying the attribute information. If there is a channel to be satisfied, the information on the channel and a command for switching to the channel are transmitted to the first image receiving device or the second image receiving device, When the channel selection processing unit of the first image receiving device or the second image receiving device receives the channel information and the command for switching to the channel from the tuner control server, the channel automatic processing is automatically switched to the channel. It is a selection system.

The invention of claim 4 is an automatic channel selection system in which a single broadcast station automatically selects a channel according to the attributes of the viewer when performing digital broadcasting on a plurality of channels of the broadcast station. The channel automatic selection system receives attribute information corresponding to the credit card number from a predetermined server of the credit card company by receiving the credit card number as an ID from the digital broadcast receiving device, A registration server that registers an ID that is a credit card number and the acquired attribute information in a registrant attribute database server and an ID that is the credit card number stored in the image receiving device. by receiving the attribute information corresponding to the ID is the credit card number An authentication server that acquires a part or all of the information from the registrant attribute database server, and a target layer for any one or more of programs, commercials, audio broadcasts, and data broadcasts that the broadcast station broadcasts on each channel in advance Which channel among the channels being broadcast by the broadcasting station by referring to the content database server by using the content database server stored and part or all of the attribute information acquired by the authentication server And a tuner control server that transmits at least information on the satisfied channel to the image receiving device based on a result of the determination. The image receiving device is based on the channel information received from the tuner control server. There are, switching to the channel is a channel automatic selection system.
According to the invention of claim 5, when one broadcasting station that performs digital broadcasting broadcasts the same program and commercials for different target layers on a plurality of channels of the broadcasting station, An image receiving device that automatically selects a channel according to an attribute of the image receiving device, wherein the image receiving device includes an ID storage unit that stores a credit card number assigned in advance to a viewer as an ID, and a channel A channel selection processing unit that performs automatic channel selection processing at a timing including any one or more of switching by a viewer, switching of a program or commercial, and the image receiving device includes: further, by transmitting the ID for credit card numbers are stored in the ID storage unit to the first predetermined server, based on the ID There from a server of a credit card company, the attribute information corresponding to the credit card number by obtaining the first predetermined server, is registered in association with said ID and attribute information in a predetermined database server, the channel selection processing unit in the receiver apparatus, when detecting any of said timing, the ID and the ID stored in the storage unit, the a channel or a broadcast station information selected at that time in the receiver apparatus the second Of the selected channel or the channel broadcasted by the broadcasting station, the condition of the attribute information corresponding to the ID registered in the predetermined database server is satisfied. Automatically determines the channel that broadcasts the program or commercial to be received and receives the result of the determination In Rukoto, automatically it switches to the determined channel, a receiver apparatus.

Claims (6)

A channel automatic selection system that automatically selects a channel according to the attributes of a viewer when one broadcast station performs digital broadcasting on a plurality of channels of the broadcast station,
The channel automatic selection system includes:
A registrant attribute database in which attribute information of a viewer who uses the image receiving device and the ID are stored in association with each other by receiving an ID stored in advance in the image receiving device of the digital broadcast from the image receiving device. An authentication server for obtaining a part or all of attribute information corresponding to the ID from a server;
Using some or all of the attribute information acquired by the authentication server, it is determined which channel satisfies the attribute information condition among the channels being broadcast by the broadcasting station, and the determination result is A tuner control server for switching to the channel by transmitting at least information on the satisfied channel to the receiving device;
A channel automatic selection system characterized by comprising: A channel automatic selection system that automatically selects a channel according to the attributes of a viewer when one broadcast station performs digital broadcasting on a plurality of channels of the broadcast station,
The channel automatic selection system includes:
A registrant attribute database in which attribute information of a viewer who uses the image receiving device and the ID are stored in association with each other by receiving an ID stored in advance in the image receiving device of the digital broadcast from the image receiving device. An authentication server for obtaining a part or all of attribute information corresponding to the ID from a server;
Using some or all of the attribute information acquired by the authentication server, it is determined which channel satisfies the attribute information condition among the channels being broadcast by the broadcasting station, and the determination result is A tuner control server for transmitting at least information on the satisfied channel to the image receiving device;
Have
The image receiving device is:
Switching to the channel based on the channel information received from the tuner control server,
An automatic channel selection system characterized by this. The channel automatic selection system further includes:
Use of receiving information related to viewer attributes from the image receiving device, registering the viewer attribute information in the registrant attribute database server in association with the ID, and transmitting the ID to the image receiving device Registration server,
The channel automatic selection system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by comprising: The channel automatic selection system further includes:
A content database server that pre-stores the target layer for any one or more of programs, commercials, audio broadcasts, and data broadcasts that the broadcast station broadcasts on each channel;
Have
The tuner control server is
By using part or all of the attribute information acquired by the authentication server, by referring to the content database server, a channel that satisfies the condition of the viewer's attribute information is determined, and based on the determination result, Transmitting at least information on the satisfied channel to the receiving device;
The automatic channel selection system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the automatic channel selection system is provided. When one broadcasting station that is broadcasting digitally broadcasts the same program and commercials for different target audiences on multiple channels of that broadcasting station, the channel that matches the viewer's attributes is automatically selected Automatic channel selection system,
The channel automatic selection system includes an image receiving device, a use registration server, a registrant attribute database server, an authentication server, a tuner control server, and a content database server.
The image receiving device is:
An ID processing unit that executes a registration process of attribute information including at least the age or generation of the viewer, and gender;
An ID storage unit for storing the ID;
And a channel selection processing unit that executes automatic channel selection processing at a predetermined timing,
The ID processing unit
By receiving the input of the attribute information, the attribute information is transmitted to the usage registration server,
The usage registration server
Upon receiving the attribute information from the image receiving device, the attribute information is registered in the registrant attribute database server, and an ID given in association with the attribute information is transmitted to the image receiving device,
The ID processing unit
Upon receiving the ID from the usage registration server, the ID is stored in the ID storage unit,
The channel selection processing unit
At a predetermined timing, the ID is extracted from the ID storage unit, and the ID and information of a channel or a broadcasting station previously selected by the image receiving device are transmitted to the authentication server,
The authentication server is
Upon receiving the ID from the image receiving device, obtain part or all of the attribute information associated with the ID registered in the registrant attribute database server, pass it to the tuner control server,
The tuner control server is
The content database server that stores the target layer for the program, commercial, or channel of each channel that is pre-selected by the image receiving device or broadcasted by the broadcasting station is received from the authentication server. By referring to a part or all of the information, it is determined whether there is a channel that satisfies the attribute information. If there is a channel that satisfies the attribute information, the channel information and a command for switching to the channel are displayed. Send it to the receiving device,
The channel selection processing unit
When receiving the channel information and the command to switch to the channel from the tuner control server, the channel is automatically switched to the channel.
An automatic channel selection system characterized by this. When one broadcasting station that is broadcasting digitally broadcasts the same program and commercials for different target audiences on multiple channels of that broadcasting station, the channel that matches the viewer's attributes is automatically selected Receiving device to be selected,
The image receiving device is:
An ID storage unit storing an ID given in advance to the viewer;
A channel selection processing unit that performs automatic channel selection processing at a predetermined timing;
Have
The channel selection processing unit
In the image receiving device, when it is detected that the channel has been switched by the viewer, or the program or commercial has been switched, the ID stored in the ID storage unit and the image received device are selected at that time. By transmitting the information of the channel or broadcasting station to the predetermined server, the attribute information corresponding to the ID of the selected channel or the channel broadcast by the broadcasting station is transmitted in the predetermined server. A channel that broadcasts a program or commercial that satisfies the conditions is automatically determined, and the determination result is received from the predetermined server to automatically switch to the determined channel;
An image receiving device characterized by that.

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