JP2009251757A - Content data storage device, content management system, and content deletion sequence determination method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a content data storage device, a content management system and a content deletion sequence determination method for preventing a recommended content from being missed by a user by reflecting recommendation from the other user such as a friend, and protecting the content stored by the user from being deleted while maintaining legality for protecting the right of a right holder such as a copyright holder a concerning content in which the right holder of a television program or the like exists. <P>SOLUTION: A content storage device 100 is provided with a content storage database 103 for storing content data is provided with an evaluation information reception part 101 for receiving evaluation information showing the content of evaluation performed to an arbitrary content by one or more prescribed users; and a content deletion sequence determination part 102 for setting a sequence in the case of deleting the content in each of content whose data are recorded in a content storage database 103 based on the received evaluation information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a content storage device and a content data management system for protecting data such as recorded data of a TV program used by an individual from deletion processing, and judges whether or not to delete using evaluation data by another person. The present invention relates to a content storage device, a content management system, and a content deletion order determination method that execute deletion processing.

In general, a hard disk recording apparatus that records a television program or the like stores data within the capacity of the hard disk by stopping new recording after recording to the full capacity of the hard disk (recording content data).
Or, as in the invention described in Patent Document 1, when recording to the full capacity of the hard disk, the recording data with old recording time, the recording data that is not protected by the user himself, or the content with low evaluation by the user himself / herself Data is recorded within the capacity range of the hard disk by deleting the recorded data in order and performing a new recording using the free capacity.

  On the other hand, when a user recommends another user to view a TV program by means of conversation, telephone calls, e-mail, etc., the user's recommended content is automatically recorded from his hard disk recorder. The protection is set not to be deleted.

Furthermore, a user who is the owner of the hard disk recording device may allow other preset users (such as friends) to perform recording processing on the hard disk recording device. That is, as in the invention disclosed in Patent Document 2, it is a method of reflecting recommendations from other users at the stage of recording content.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-190640 (paragraph 0014) JP 2006-309660 A

However, the hard disk recording apparatus including the inventions disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 have the following problems.
First, since many contents such as TV programs are often not permitted to be copied or distributed among users in order to protect copyrights and other rights, recording processing is performed for contents such as TV programs. Even if the data is stored by the method, the data itself cannot be distributed to other users. The same applies when the right of use is set for the content purchased by the user, and the content data itself cannot be sent to other users when there is a limit on the number of times the content can be used. There is.
Even if the content data itself can be sent to another user, depending on the type of content, it may not be appropriate to exchange the data itself. For example, in the case of content with a large amount of data such as moving images, data of content that has not been confirmed to be significant for the recommended user because communication resources are greatly consumed when data is transmitted and received. It is not preferable to communicate.

  Secondly, since a personal hard disk recording device has a capacity of a recording medium that is often too small to keep all the content recorded by the individual user, It is impossible in many cases.

  Thirdly, there is a case where communication for other users to give advice that recommends not deleting a content to a user who stores the content in his / her hard disk recording device is not established. The reason is that there is no opportunity to meet with the person who is recommended, the content holding user cannot receive a call from another user, or until an email with advice is read This is because the stored content may be automatically deleted during the period.

  Fourth, communication tools such as telephone and e-mail may not be suitable for communication to recommend not deleting content. The reason is that recommendations from other users may not be useful information each time for the user receiving the transmission. In addition, there may be a waste of receiving recommendations from multiple users for the same content. For those who receive content recommendations from a large number of users, it may occur that it is not beneficial to spend a huge amount of time on the operation of the communication tool to transmit such content.

  Fifth, use cases are increasing in which a method of reflecting feedback from other users in an operation called recording processing is not suitable. The reason is that, since the capacity of the recording medium of the individual user increases, content such as TV programs is recorded only for viewing, so that many viewing contents are recorded and selected from among them. This is because it has changed. Recently, there has also been a viewing mode in which programs for all channels are recorded, including content for which it is unknown whether to watch or not, and then content is selected and viewed using extraction means such as search. However, as described above, since the capacity of the recording medium of the personal hard disk recording device is limited, it is practically impossible to delete the content at all in recording or in an environment close thereto.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and with respect to content in which a right holder such as a TV program exists, other users such as friends while maintaining the legality of protecting the right of the right holder such as the copyright holder. To provide a content storage device, a content management system, and a content deletion order determination method in which a user's recommended content is not missed by reflecting the recommendation from the user and protecting the content stored by the user from being deleted With the goal.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a content storage device including a recording unit for storing content data, wherein one or more predetermined users perform the operation on arbitrary content. The evaluation information receiving means for receiving the evaluation information indicating the contents of the evaluation, and the order in which the contents recorded in the recording means are deleted based on the evaluation information received by the evaluation information receiving means. It is an object of the present invention to provide a content storage device including a deletion order determination unit for setting.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a content management system having a plurality of content storage devices, each of the plurality of content storage devices being a record for storing content data. Means for receiving evaluation information indicating the contents of evaluation performed on arbitrary content by one or more predetermined users, and recording means based on the evaluation information received by the evaluation information receiving means. It is an object of the present invention to provide a content management system having deletion order determining means for setting an order of deletion for each content in which data is recorded.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for determining a deletion order of content data in a content storage device including a recording unit for storing content data, wherein one or more Receiving at least one of evaluation information indicating the contents of evaluation performed on arbitrary content by the predetermined user and statistical information on the arbitrary content, and storing data in the recording means based on the received evaluation information and statistical information. The content deletion order determining method is characterized in that the order of deletion is set for each of the contents in which the contents are recorded.

  According to the present invention, with respect to content in which a right holder such as a TV program exists, while maintaining the legality of protecting the right of the right holder such as the copyright holder, the recommendation from other users such as friends is reflected, and the user is reflected. By protecting the stored content from being deleted, it is possible to provide a content storage device, a content management system, and a content deletion order determination method in which the user does not miss the recommended content.

As shown in FIG. 1 (a), a content storage device 100 according to the present invention is a device that includes a content storage database 103 for storing content data. An evaluation information receiving unit 101 that receives evaluation information indicating the content of the evaluation performed on the content, and each content whose data is recorded in the content storage database 103 based on the evaluation information received by the evaluation information receiving unit 101 And a deletion order determination unit 102 that sets the order of deletion. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 1B, the content storage device 100 according to the present invention is a device including a content storage database 103 for storing content data, and receives statistical information about arbitrary content. A statistical information receiving unit 104; and a deletion order determining unit 105 that sets an order of deletion for each content recorded in the content storage database 103 based on the statistical information received by the statistical information receiving unit 104. It is characterized by having.
By setting it as such a structure, the order at the time of deleting a content can be set based on the evaluation information or statistical information by another user.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a content management system can be configured by combining a plurality of content storage apparatuses having the above-described configuration.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described.

[First Embodiment]
A first embodiment in which the present invention is suitably implemented will be described. FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the content management system according to this embodiment. The content management system includes a content distribution device 1, a friend list management device 2, a content evaluation information storage device 3, a plurality of content storage devices 5, and an evaluation information distribution management device 6.
Hereinafter, as shown in the figure, a configuration in which three content protection devices 5 exist is taken as an example, and each content protection device is distinguished by adding a suffix “1 to 3” at the end of the reference numeral. Components in the content protection apparatus are also distinguished by attaching the same identifier. It should be noted that, in the case of representing a plurality of content protection devices 5 in general, they are generalized by adding an X to the reference numeral.

The content distribution device 1 distributes the content to the content information receiving unit 51 _{X in} the content storage device 5 _X via a broadcast wave or a network.

The friend list management device 2 includes a friend list database 21 and a relationship information receiving unit 22.
The friend list management apparatus 2, the relationship information between the user possessing the content storing device 5 _X is input from the content storing device 5 _X via the relationship information reception unit 22. The relationship information received by the relationship information receiving unit 22 is stored in the friend list database 21. The relationship information between users will be described in detail later.

The content evaluation information storage device 3 includes a content evaluation information receiving unit 31 and a content evaluation information database 33.
The content evaluation information receiving unit 31 receives evaluation information for each content of each user from the content evaluation information input unit 54 _X provided in the content storage device 5 _X. The content evaluation information database 33 stores the evaluation information received by the content evaluation information receiving unit 31.

The content storage device 5 _X includes a relation information input unit 50 _X , a content reception unit 51 _X , a content recording unit 52 _X , a content storage database 53 _X , a content evaluation information input unit 54 _X , a recording medium remaining capacity management unit 55 _X , a content The rating determination unit 56 _X and the content deletion processing unit 57 _X are included.
The relationship information input unit 50 _X receives input of relationship information indicating the relationship between the user of the own device and the user of another content storage device, and transmits the received relationship information to the friend list management device 2. The content receiving unit 51 _X receives the content distributed from the content distribution device 1 and transmits it to the content recording unit 52 _X. The content recording unit 52 _X stores the content received from the content information receiving unit 51 _X in the content storage database 53 _X. The content storage database 53 _X stores content in response to an instruction from the content recording unit 52 _X. The content storage database 53 _X corresponds to the content storage database 103 in FIG. The content evaluation information input unit 54 _X receives an input operation of evaluation contents from the user for each content, and transmits it to the content evaluation information reception unit 31 included in the content evaluation information storage device 3. The recording medium remaining capacity management unit 55 _X manages the remaining capacity of the recording medium and the capacity of the content to be stored in the future, and manages the schedule of the capacity from which the content will be deleted in the future. The content rating determination unit 56 _X includes the relationship information between users stored in the friend list database 21 provided in the friend list management device 2 and the content stored in the content evaluation information database 33 provided in the content evaluation information storage device 3. And the time information of the contents stored in the content storage database 53 _X are obtained, and the contents are evaluated based on these. The content rating determination unit 56 _X corresponds to the evaluation information receiving unit 101 and the content deletion order determining unit 102 in FIG. The content deletion processing unit 57 _X acquires rating information for each content from the content rating determination unit 56 _X and the total storage capacity to be deleted from the recording medium remaining capacity management unit 55 _X , and selects the content to be deleted. Te, to delete the selected content from the content storage database 53 _X.

The evaluation information distribution management device 6 refers to the evaluation information stored in the content evaluation information database 33 and the relationship information between users stored in the friend list database 21, so that the content evaluation of related users is performed. give to deliver the evaluation information to the determination section 56 _X.

The operation of the content management system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
Friends list management device 2 stores the relationship information between two users which is input from the relationship information input unit 50 _X. This may be friend relationship information established in both directions such as SNS (Social Networking Service) or link information of a person established in one direction such as Twitter service. Further, not only whether or not there is a relationship between users, but also when there is a relationship as shown in FIG. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the user U1 is more strongly affected by the user U2 who evaluates with a weight of 0.7 than the user U3 who evaluates with a weight of 0.3. If weights are set among all users and they are set with the same weights, an average rating for all users can be extracted. Moreover, the weighting between users does not need to have symmetry. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the user U1 weights the user U3 as 0.3, whereas the user U3 weights the user U1 as 1, and the mutual weights are asymmetric.
Moreover, the relationship information between users does not need to be set directly by the users. That is, the relationship information input unit 50 _X may be configured to indirectly input the relationship information based on the frequency of operations such as calls and e-mail transmission / reception and the similarity of operations for evaluating content. For example, a user who frequently communicates such as calls and e-mails is more strongly reflected in the evaluation, or a user who gives a similar evaluation to a certain content is more strongly reflected in the evaluation. It is also possible to do so.

  The content distribution apparatus 1 is an apparatus that holds content and distributes it to users through a broadcast wave or a network.

FIG. 6 shows the flow of operations during content storage.
Content information receiving section 51 _{1-51 3} receives the content, respectively (step S11), and stores the content content recording unit 52 ₁ to 52 ₃ in the content storage database 53 _{1-53 3} respectively (step S12). By setting the user policy at this time, once or store all received content, but the pattern of such or store only those selected contemplated, where 3 user of the content storage device 51 _to 5 all ₃ it is assumed that temporarily stores all content received.

FIG. 7 shows the flow of operations during content evaluation.
The content evaluation information input units 54 _{1 to} 54 ₃ are input with respect to the content directly or indirectly through an operation of viewing. Here, direct input means setting of social bookmark (Social BookMark: SBM), input of evaluation level (adding stars), input of rating to a part of content, input of comment on content, increase / decrease of evaluation level Operation (plus / minus button operation). On the other hand, indirect input refers to the number of times content is used (viewed), usage interval, skip operation, time interval from playback start to skip execution during skip operation, content selection method (whether the content is specified directly) For example, when a certain piece of music is played, information such as whether the song was designated as a song alone or as part of multiple songs (album)) May be obtained through the interface. The content evaluation information input units 54 _{1 to} 54 ₃ transmit the evaluation information input directly or indirectly to the content evaluation information receiving unit 31.

The content evaluation information receiving unit 31 that has received the evaluation information from the content evaluation information input units 54 _{1 to} 54 ₃ stores the received evaluation information in the content evaluation information database 33 (step S21).

In response to a request from the content storage devices 5 _{1 to} 5 ₃ or at a predetermined timing, the evaluation information distribution management device 6 refers to the content evaluation information database 33 and the friend list database 21 to evaluate each user. Only from the content evaluation information database 33. The evaluation information distribution management device 6 transmits the extracted evaluation information to the content rating with determination section 56 _{1-56 3} content storage apparatus 5 ₁ to 5 ₃ corresponding to each user. In this way, the evaluation information distribution management device 6 transmits the evaluation information to the content storage devices 51 to 53 by push distribution or pull distribution.
Content rating with determination section 56 _{1-56 3,} respectively to reflect the review information received by the performing evaluation with the respective contents (step S22).

For example, the evaluation of the content C1 for the user U1 can be calculated as an evaluation value by the following formula (1).

As a specific example, consider a case where the following evaluation value can be set as evaluation information.
Evaluation value when SBM is given 1
Evaluation value when given 5 stars (★★★★★) 1
Rating when given 4 stars (★★★★ ☆) 0.8
Evaluation value when given three stars (★★★ ☆☆) 0.6
Evaluation value when given two stars (★★ ☆☆☆) 0.4
Evaluation value when given one star (★ ☆☆☆☆) 0.2
Evaluation value per count per viewing (or evaluation value per 10 minutes viewing time) 0.01
Evaluation value when an evaluation or comment is given to a part of the content 0.3

When the evaluation value is set as described above, the friend list database 21 is set as shown in FIG. 5, and the content evaluation information database 33 is set as shown in FIG. 8, the evaluation value of the content C1 for the user U1 is the content It is calculated as follows using the above formula (1) evaluation with determination unit 56 _1.

The above equation (1) can also be used when the content rating determination unit 56 _X derives an evaluation value of an arbitrary content for an arbitrary user. Therefore, such an evaluation value can be calculated for all combinations of users and contents.

Further, the content rating with determination unit 56 ₁ uses the evaluation value to the value of the function that varies over time, to determine the evaluation value of the content C1 for the user U1.
For example, the function that changes with the passage of time is f (x) = max {10− (the number of days elapsed since content reception), 0} / 10
If the content C1 is received three days ago, f (x) = max {10−3,0} /10=0.7. Therefore, the evaluation value as a whole is 0.827 × 0.7 = 0.5789. Note that f (x) = max (a, b) is a function whose return value is the larger value of a and b. Here, the evaluation value is changed according to the number of days elapsed since the reception of the content. However, the number of days elapsed since the content was registered in the content distribution apparatus 1, the number of days elapsed since the input or reception of the evaluation value for the content, and the content The evaluation value may be changed according to the interval at which the evaluation is performed (because content that is frequently evaluated is considered to be seasonal content). The time unit for changing the evaluation value is arbitrary, and can be changed in units of one hour or one minute.

  Here, as an example of the change with the passage of time, the case where the evaluation value decreases with the passage of time using the attenuation function is described, but it is not always necessary to decrease the evaluation value with the passage of time. For example, the evaluation of content that is broadcast regularly may be performed so that the evaluation value increases or decreases with the passage of time in association with the broadcast interval (so that the evaluation value increases immediately before and after the broadcast time). .

  This evaluation value is a numerical value that can be calculated for a combination of an arbitrary user set and content set. The evaluation value can realize various policies by changing the setting of the value of the function and evaluation information that changes with the passage of time.

Content rating with determination section 56 _{1-56 3} obtained evaluation values respectively recorded in the content storage database 53 _{1-53 3} records are sorted in descending order of evaluation value (step S23), a low evaluation value Removed from content.

FIG. 9 shows the flow of operations when deleting content.
Content deletion processing section 57 _{1-57 3,} the remaining capacity (free space) of the recording medium to form the content storage database 53 _{1-53 3} from the recording medium remaining capacity managing unit 551 _to 554 ₃ and the content accumulated from this A capacity is obtained (step S31). If the free space of the recording medium is substantially constant and becomes such a setting, such as is done in the content storing device 5 _1, may acquire only the capacitance of the contents yet to be accumulated. The content deletion processing units 57 _{1 to} 57 ₃ compare the confirmed free capacity with the capacity of the content to be stored in the future, and determines whether or not the stored content needs to be deleted. Further, if it is necessary to delete the content, the size of the capacity to be deleted is also determined (step S32). Then, the contents stored in the content storage databases 53 _{1 to} 53 ₃ are deleted in ascending order of evaluation value.
It should be noted that it is preferable not to delete content that the user has used before (for example, content that was viewed last time) regardless of evaluation values calculated based on evaluation information by other users.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the evaluation value for the content of another user (such as a friend) is reflected as an index of protection from the automatic deletion function for the content data stored in its own content storage device. Thereby, content evaluation information can be exchanged between users, and it is possible to prevent a user from missing a popular content around the user. This also reflects the weighting of the user, enabling the propagation of reputation for content that is closer to more realistic communication.

When reflecting evaluation values by other users as an index of protection from the automatic deletion function for content data stored in their content storage device, communication by telephone call or e-mail is unnecessary, which may impair user convenience. , The evaluation value by other users is not reflected or lost.
Further, it is possible to cope with a usage form in which a large amount of contents are stored and selected from among them.

  In the above description, the case where evaluation information by other users is reflected between directly related users has been described as an example. However, evaluation information is reflected via another user between users who are not directly related. It is also possible to make it. For example, even when there is no direct relationship between user A and user B (relation information is not registered), both user A and user B are related to user C (relation information is registered). The evaluation information by the user C may be reflected when the content deletion order of the user A is determined. As described above, when the evaluation information by the indirectly related user is reflected, it is preferable to reflect the evaluation information by the directly related user more weakly. Although the above example is a case where evaluation information by a user corresponding to a so-called “friend of a friend” is reflected, it goes without saying that evaluation information by a user who is in a farther relationship can be reflected.

[Second Embodiment]
A second embodiment in which the present invention is suitably implemented will be described.
FIG. 10 shows the configuration of the content management system according to this embodiment.
In the present embodiment, content evaluation information databases 59 _{1 to} 59 ₃ are provided in the content storage devices 5 _{1 to} 5 ₃ , respectively.

Since the content storage location is different from that in the first embodiment, the content evaluation information storage device 3 in the first embodiment is not required in the operation of the ordering process using content evaluation. In addition, the contents storage devices 5 _{1 to} 5 ₃ directly notify and execute the operations performed in the evaluation information distribution management device 6 in the first embodiment.

  Since other aspects are the same as those in the first embodiment, a duplicate description is omitted.

  The content management system according to the present embodiment can obtain the same effects as those of the first embodiment in a system environment where there is no device such as a content evaluation information storage device.

[Third Embodiment]
A third embodiment in which the present invention is preferably implemented will be described.
FIG. 11 shows the configuration of the content management system according to this embodiment.
Configuration of a content management system according to the present embodiment is almost the same as the second embodiment is provided with a friend list database 5a ₁ to 5 A ₃ to the content storage apparatus 5 ₁ to 5 _3, respectively. The relationship information input from the relationship information 50 _X is stored in the friend list database 5a _X in its own device.

  In this embodiment, since the friend list is stored in the content storage device, the evaluation reflecting the evaluation information by other users can be performed without communicating with the friend list management device.

  Since other aspects are the same as those in the first and second embodiments, a duplicate description is omitted.

[Fourth Embodiment]
A fourth embodiment in which the present invention is preferably implemented will be described.
FIG. 12 shows the configuration of the content management system according to this embodiment.
Configuration of a content management system according to the present embodiment is substantially the same as the first embodiment is provided with a friend list database 5a ₁ to 5 A ₃ to the content storage apparatus 5 ₁ to 5 _3, respectively. As in the third embodiment, the relationship information entered from the relationship information 50 _X, it is stored in the friend list database 5a _X in its own device.

  In this embodiment, since the friend list is stored in the content storage device, the evaluation reflecting the evaluation information by other users can be performed without communicating with the friend list management device.

When calculating the evaluation value, except to use the relationship information stored in the friend list database 5a _X where the content storing device 5 _X comprises is similar to the first embodiment, the redundant description will be omitted .

[Fifth Embodiment]
A fifth embodiment preferably implementing the present invention will be described.
FIG. 13 shows the configuration of the content management system according to this embodiment.
In the present embodiment, a statistical data management device 4 is provided instead of the friend list management device 2 and the content evaluation information storage device 3. The statistical data management device 4 includes a statistical data database 41, and is a device that manages and distributes available statistical data (such as audience rating data in a television program). Further, the content storage device 5 _X does not include the content evaluation information input unit 54 _X.
In the present embodiment, the content evaluation determination unit 56 _X corresponds to the statistical information reception unit 104 and the content deletion order determination unit 105 in FIG.

  In the first embodiment, the evaluation values calculated in the social bookmark, the number of stars, the number of viewing times, and the viewing time are evaluated using external statistical data in the present embodiment. Since the data to be evaluated is different, the data in the statistical data management device 4 is evaluated in the operation of the ordering process using content evaluation. This data is, for example, statistical data published after a television program broadcast, such as a viewer rating for a television program. Using this, the evaluation value of the content can be calculated, and the evaluation value can be derived together with a function that changes over time. In this case, the content evaluation value is a value that does not change depending on the user.

  Since the other points are the same as in the above embodiment, a duplicate description is omitted.

In the present embodiment, it is possible to calculate the evaluation value and manage the content without the user performing an operation of inputting the evaluation value. For this reason, it is not necessary to provide the content evaluation information input unit 54 _X in the content management device 5 _X.

[Sixth Embodiment]
A sixth embodiment in which the present invention is preferably implemented will be described.
FIG. 14 shows the configuration of the content management system according to this embodiment. The content management system according to the present embodiment further includes a statistical data management device 4 in addition to the configuration of the first embodiment. The statistical data management device 4 is the same as that of the fifth embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the content storage apparatus 5 ₁ to 5 _3, and the evaluation information by other users that are delivered from the evaluation information distribution management device 6, based on both the statistical information delivered from the statistical data management apparatus 4 The evaluation value of content can be determined.
The method for determining the content evaluation value based on the evaluation information by other users and the method for determining the content evaluation value based on the statistical data are the same as those in the first and fifth embodiments. Is omitted.

  Here, the configuration in which the statistical data management device 4 is added to the content management system according to the first embodiment is shown, but the statistical data management device is added to the content management system according to the second, third, and fourth embodiments. It is also possible to add.

  In the above description, the case where the statistical information stored in the statistical data database 41 is directly distributed to each content storage device is taken as an example, but in the case of a system including the content evaluation information storage device 3, The statistical information may be transmitted to the content evaluation information receiving unit 31 and stored in the content evaluation information database 33 after being associated with the evaluation information.

[Seventh Embodiment]
A seventh embodiment in which the present invention is preferably implemented will be described.
FIG. 15 shows the configuration of the content management system according to this embodiment. The content management system according to the present embodiment includes a content distribution device 1, a content evaluation information storage device 3, a plurality of content storage devices 5, an evaluation information distribution management device 6, and a related information management device 7. The content distribution device 1, the content evaluation information storage device 3, and the evaluation information distribution management device 6 are the same as those in the first embodiment.

The content protection device 5 _X is substantially the same as in the first embodiment, but does not include the relationship information input unit 50 _X. In addition, the friend list management device 7 includes a relationship information database 71. In the relationship information database 71, relationship information predetermined by a third party is registered. For example, when the user of the content storage device 5 _X belongs to a certain organization, related information based on the configuration of the organization is registered.

In the present embodiment, the content storing device 5 _X can determine the evaluation value of the content to reflect the evaluation information according to another of the user identified by the predetermined relationship information by a third party. For this reason, the user of the content storage device 5 _X forgets to register the relation information of an arbitrary user or incorrectly weights the content to be protected, which is accidentally deleted. There is nothing. Therefore, content with high evaluation can be reliably excluded from the deletion target.

  In this case, in the content management system having the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, the case where the relationship information predetermined by a third party is distributed to the content storage device is taken as an example. A configuration similar to that of the embodiment is also possible.

[Eighth Embodiment]
An eighth embodiment in which the present invention is preferably implemented will be described. FIG. 16 shows the configuration of the content management system according to this embodiment. The content management system according to the present embodiment includes a content distribution device 1, a friend list management device 2, a content evaluation information storage device 3, a plurality of content storage devices 5, an evaluation information distribution management device 6, and a related information management device 7. That is, the content management system according to the present embodiment further includes a friend list management device 2 in addition to the configuration of the seventh embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the content storing device 5 _X includes evaluation information according to another of the user identified by the predetermined relationship information by a third party is input through the relation information input unit 50X, friend list database 21 The evaluation value of the content can be determined based on both the relation information stored in. For this reason, the evaluation with respect to arbitrary content can be reliably excluded from the deletion target in consideration of the weights of other users set by the user himself / herself.

  In the above description, the case where the statistical information stored in the relationship information database 71 is directly distributed to each content storage device is taken as an example, but in the case of a system including the friend list management device 2, The information may be transmitted to the relationship information receiving unit 22 and stored in the friend list database 21 after being associated with the relationship information from each content storage device.

Each of the above embodiments is an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, in each of the above-described embodiments, the case in which evaluation is performed for each file of content data alone has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a television program that is regularly broadcast For example, it is possible to evaluate the content data set as a unit, or it is possible to limit the evaluation to a specific part of one file of the content data or to comment.
In the first embodiment, the content distribution device 1, the friend list management device 2, the content evaluation information storage device 3, and the evaluation information distribution management device 6 are configured as separate devices. The part may be integrally formed.
Further, in each of the above embodiments, the case where content is distributed via a broadcast wave or a network is taken as an example, but the method for acquiring content and the type of content are not particularly limited.
As described above, the present invention can be variously modified.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the content storage apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the content management system which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows another structure of the content management system which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the content management system which concerns on 1st Embodiment which implemented this invention suitably. It is a figure which shows an example of a friend list. It is a figure which shows the flow of operation | movement at the time of content reception. It is a figure which shows the flow of operation | movement at the time of content evaluation. It is a figure which shows an example of content evaluation information. It is a figure which shows the flow of operation | movement at the time of content deletion. It is a figure which shows the structure of the content management system which concerns on 2nd Embodiment which implemented this invention suitably. It is a figure which shows the structure of the content management system which concerns on 3rd Embodiment which implemented this invention suitably. It is a figure which shows the structure of the content management system which concerns on 4th Embodiment which implemented this invention suitably. It is a figure which shows the structure of the content management system which concerns on 5th Embodiment which implemented this invention suitably. It is a figure which shows the structure of the content management system which concerns on 6th Embodiment which implemented this invention suitably. It is a figure which shows the structure of the content management system which concerns on 7th Embodiment which implemented this invention suitably. It is a figure which shows the structure of the content management system which concerns on 8th Embodiment which implemented this invention suitably.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Content distribution apparatus 2 Friend list management apparatus 3 Content evaluation information storage apparatus 4 Statistical data management apparatus 5, 100 Content storage apparatus 6 Evaluation information distribution management apparatus 21, 5a Friends list database 22 Relation information reception part 31 Content evaluation information reception part 33 , 59 Content evaluation information database 41 Statistical data database 50 Relation information input unit 51 Content information receiving unit 52 Content recording unit 53, 103 Content storage database 54 Content evaluation information input unit 55 Recording medium remaining capacity management unit 56 Content rating determination unit 57 Content deletion processing unit 101 Evaluation information receiving unit 102, 105 Content deletion order determining unit 104 Statistical information receiving unit

Claims (32)

A content storage device comprising a recording means for storing content data,
Evaluation information receiving means for receiving evaluation information indicating details of evaluation performed by one or more predetermined users on arbitrary content;
Deletion order determining means for setting an order of deletion for each content whose data is recorded in the recording means, based on the evaluation information received by the evaluation information receiving means. Content storage device. A first relationship information input unit that receives input of first relationship information indicating a relationship between users, and a relationship information storage unit that stores the first relationship information;
The content archiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the deletion order determining unit sets the order based on the first relationship information stored in the relationship information storage unit. An input unit that receives input of other user information indicating a relationship with another user;
Means for transmitting the other user information to a first relationship information management apparatus that manages first relationship information indicating a relationship between users;
Means for receiving from the first relationship information management device the first relationship information generated based on the other user information in the first relationship information management device;
2. The content storage device according to claim 1, wherein the deletion order determination unit sets the order based on the first relation information.   4. The content storage device according to claim 2, wherein the first relationship information is weighted to a relationship between users. Further comprising relationship information receiving means for receiving the second relationship information notified from a second relationship information management device that manages second relationship information indicating a relationship between users;
5. The content storage device according to claim 1, wherein the deletion order determination unit sets the order based on the second relationship information. 6.   The content storage device according to claim 5, wherein the second relationship information is weighted to a relationship between users.   7. The content storage apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising content evaluation information input means for receiving an input operation for evaluating the content stored in the recording means.   The content storage apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the content is evaluated by setting a social bookmark.   10. The content storage device according to claim 8, wherein the content is evaluated indirectly by using content data.   The content storage device according to claim 1, further comprising means for storing the evaluation information.   The content storage apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the content is evaluated for a part of content data.   12. The content storage device according to claim 1, wherein the content is evaluated for a content group that is a set of related content. Having statistical information receiving means for receiving statistical information on arbitrary content;
The content storage device according to claim 1, wherein the deletion order determination unit determines the order based on the statistical information. A content storage device comprising a recording means for storing content data,
Statistical information receiving means for receiving statistical information on arbitrary content;
Content storage, comprising: deletion order determining means for setting the order of deletion for each of the contents recorded in the recording means based on the statistical information received by the statistical information receiving means apparatus.   The deletion order determining means sets the order of deletion for each of the contents recorded in the recording means based on the elapsed time since the content data was recorded in the recording means. The content storage device according to any one of claims 1 to 14. A content management system having a plurality of content storage devices,
Each of the plurality of content storage devices is
A recording means for storing content data;
Evaluation information receiving means for receiving evaluation information indicating details of evaluation performed by one or more predetermined users on arbitrary content;
Deletion order determining means for setting an order of deletion for each content in which data is recorded in the recording means based on the evaluation information received by the evaluation information receiving means. Content management system. Each of the content storage devices
A relationship information input unit that receives input of first relationship information indicating a relationship between users; and a relationship information storage unit that stores the first relationship information. The deletion order determination unit includes the relationship information storage unit The content management system according to claim 16, wherein the order is set based on the first relation information stored in. A first relationship information management device that manages first relationship information indicating a relationship between users;
Each of the content storage devices
An input unit that receives input of other user information indicating a relationship with another user;
Means for transmitting the other user information to the first related information management device;
Means for receiving the first relationship information generated based on the other user information in the first relationship information management device from the first relationship information management device;
The content management system according to claim 16, wherein the deletion order determination unit sets the order based on the first relation information.   19. The content management system according to claim 17, wherein the first relation information is weighted to a relation between users. A second relationship information management device for managing second relationship information indicating a relationship between users;
The deletion order determining means sets the order based on the second relation information notified from the second relation information management device. The content management system described.   21. The content management system according to claim 20, wherein the second relationship information is weighted to a relationship between users.   The content management according to any one of claims 16 to 21, wherein each of the content storage devices has content evaluation information input means for receiving an input operation for evaluating the content stored in the recording means. system.   The content management system according to claim 22, wherein the content is evaluated by setting a social bookmark.   The content management system according to claim 22 or 23, wherein the evaluation of the content is performed indirectly by using content data in each of the content storage devices.   The content management system according to any one of claims 16 to 24, wherein the content storage device includes means for storing the evaluation information.   The content management system according to any one of claims 16 to 25, further comprising a content evaluation information management device comprising means for storing the evaluation information.   The content management system according to any one of claims 16 to 26, wherein the content is evaluated on a part of content data.   The content management system according to any one of claims 16 to 27, wherein the content is evaluated for a content group that is a set of related content. It further has a statistical data management device for storing statistical information about arbitrary content,
The content storage device includes statistical information receiving means for receiving the statistical information,
29. The content management system according to claim 16, wherein the deletion order determination unit determines the order based on the statistical information. A content management system having a plurality of content storage devices and a statistical data management device for storing statistical information about arbitrary content,
Each of the plurality of content storage devices is
A recording means for storing content data;
Statistical information receiving means for receiving the statistical information;
Deletion order determining means for setting the order of deletion for each of the contents recorded in the recording means based on the statistical information received by the statistical information receiving means. Feature content management system.   The deletion order determining means sets the order in which each content recorded in the recording means is deleted based on the elapsed time since the content data was recorded in the recording means. The content management system according to any one of claims 16 to 30. A method for determining a deletion order of content data in a content storage device comprising a recording means for storing content data,
Receiving at least one of evaluation information indicating details of evaluation performed by one or more predetermined users on arbitrary content and statistical information on the arbitrary content;
A content deletion order determination method, comprising: setting a deletion order for each content whose data is recorded in the recording unit based on the received evaluation information and statistical information.

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