JP2010283849A - Server, user device, program, and index processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an audience share measurement system which measures an audience share using a program guide. <P>SOLUTION: A user terminal displays a program guide (s13) and is on standby (s14). A program in the program guide is selected (s15:NO, s16:YES). If the program is on the air (s17:YES), the program is displayed (s18). Next, a value of a variable sbc which is a member of channel data is set into ebc, and a channel of the selected program is set into sbc (s19). As a result, the channel of the program for which viewing has been ended is set into ebc, and the channel of the program which is viewed is set to sbc. Next, data including sbc and ebc is transmitted to a measurer's device (s20). The measurer's device adds one to a variable bn representing the number of viewers corresponding to sbc, and subtracts one from bn corresponding to ebc. The audience share of the channel corresponding to each bn is a ratio of the bn to the sum of all bns calculated each minute. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an audience rating survey system used when surveying an audience rating in television broadcasting or the like, and a recording rate survey system used when investigating a recording rate.

  Currently, a program table in which a plurality of programs are arranged in a table format is provided via a communication network such as the Internet. Some of these program guides can confirm the detailed contents of each program and make a recording reservation for a desired program.

  However, since the user who received the program guide as described above could not know what program was selected from the program guide for viewing or recording, this type of program guide was used. There was a request to know how much watching and recording was done.

  The present invention provides an audience rating survey system that can survey an audience rating using a program guide, and also provides a recording rate survey system that can investigate a recording rate using a program guide. For the purpose.

A configuration of the present invention for solving the above problem is shown below.
First, the audience rating survey system according to claim 1 is:
An audience rating survey system that surveys audience ratings based on data sent from the user side to the investigator side,
On the user side, a program guide display means for displaying a program guide, a viewing program specifying means capable of specifying a program to be viewed by the user from the program guide, and a program specified by the viewing program specifying means are displayed. Viewing program display means, and data transmission means for transmitting to the investigator channel data capable of specifying the broadcast channel of the program designated by the viewing program designation means,
Based on the channel data transmitted from the user side, the data receiving means for receiving the channel data transmitted from the data transmitting means on the user side to the investigator side, the broadcast channel specified by the channel data The audience rating is calculated based on the counting means for counting the number of users viewing the program for each broadcast channel, the number of users to be investigated, and the number of users counted by the counting means. And audience rating calculation means.

Each means provided on the user side in this audience rating survey system is provided in a terminal device such as a computer system, a portable information terminal, or a mobile phone.
The program guide display means and the viewing program display means are means for displaying the program guide and the video of the program on a display device such as a display of a personal computer, a display screen of a portable information terminal, or a television screen. The program guide or video displayed by each of these means may be displayed on the same display device. For example, the display screen may be divided and displayed, or any one of the display screens may be displayed. It is also possible to configure so that both displays can be arbitrarily switched. Moreover, you may comprise so that both may be displayed on another display apparatus.

  The viewing program designating unit is a unit for designating at least one program among the programs constituting the program table. For example, the viewing program designating unit moves the cursor displayed together with the program table with a pointing device such as a mouse, What is necessary is just to comprise so that a program can be designated by performing selection operation with a button.

Moreover, each means with which an investigator is provided is provided in a known computer system, for example.
In this audience rating survey system, first, the program guide display means displays the program guide. The program table is used in, for example, an electronic program guide, and has a table format in which programs are arranged by taking time in the vertical direction and broadcasting channels in the horizontal direction. The program guide is data received via a communication network or data read from a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, and the program guide display means displays the program guide based on such data.

  Next, when the user designates a program in the program guide by the viewing program designation means, the viewing program display means displays the video of the designated program, and the data transmission means transmits the channel data to the investigator side. The channel data may be any data that can specify the broadcast channel. For example, data indicating the broadcast channel name itself, a code corresponding to the broadcast channel, and the like can be used.

  Next, the counting means counts the number of users viewing the program for each broadcast channel. Here, the user who has transmitted the channel data by the data transmission means is counted as a user (hereinafter referred to as a viewer) who is viewing the program specified by the channel data. Each time the channel data is received, the counting means may execute a process of adding “1” to the number of viewers of the broadcast channel specified by the channel data. When watching a program of another broadcast channel immediately before, it is necessary to perform a process of subtracting “1” from the number of viewers of the corresponding broadcast channel. In order to perform such subtraction, for example, the following process may be performed. First, the channel data can specify the first broadcast channel that is the broadcast channel of the program designated by the viewing program designating means and the second broadcast channel that is the broadcast channel displayed by the viewing program display means until immediately before. Data. Then, the counting means adds “1” to the number of viewers of the first broadcast channel constituting the channel data, and subtracts “1” from the number of viewers of the second broadcast channel.

  Then, the audience rating calculating means calculates the audience rating based on the number of users to be investigated and the number of viewers for each broadcast channel counted by the counting means. The number of users to be investigated is, for example, the number of all users who are using the program guide, the total number of users who are actually watching the program among all the users. The audience rating calculation means is configured to calculate, for each predetermined time, a ratio (viewer / survey target) of how many viewers of a specific broadcast channel are among the number of users to be surveyed as audience ratings. do it.

  According to the audience rating survey system configured as described above, when the program in the program guide is designated, the viewing program display means displays the designated program, and the data transmission means sends the channel data to the investigator side. Send to. Therefore, the investigator can investigate the audience rating of the program specified on the program guide based on the channel data. In particular, since this channel data is transmitted from all users who are viewing the program using the program guide, an accurate audience rating can be calculated.

The audience rating survey system according to claim 2 is:
The audience rating calculating means is configured to calculate an audience rating for each program of a broadcast channel,
The investigator side includes a program guide creation means for creating a program guide in which the audience rating of the program is described in an area corresponding to the program, and a program guide transmission means for sending the program guide to the user side,
The user side is provided with program guide receiving means for receiving the program guide transmitted by the program guide transmitting means on the survey side.

  In this audience rating survey system, the audience rating for each program calculated by the audience rating calculating means is, for example, an average audience rating obtained by averaging the audience ratings calculated a plurality of times per fixed time by the number of times calculated within the broadcast time of the program. The highest audience rating that has the highest value or the lowest audience rating that has the lowest value among the audience ratings calculated a plurality of times during the broadcast time.

  According to the audience rating survey system configured as described above, the audience rating of a program that has been broadcast and the audience rating of a program that is being broadcast can be confirmed on the program guide. Therefore, the user can easily check the audience rating of the program on the program guide.

The recording rate survey system according to claim 3 is:
A recording rate investigation system that investigates a recording rate based on data transmitted from the user side to the investigator side,
A program guide display means for displaying a program guide on the user side, a recorded program specifying means for specifying a program to be recorded by the user from the program guide, and a program specified by the recorded program specifying means is specified. Data transmitting means for transmitting possible recorded program data to the investigator side,
Based on the recorded program data transmitted from the user side, the data receiving means for receiving the recorded program data transmitted by the recorded program data transmitting means on the user side to the investigator side, specified by the recorded program data Recording means for calculating the recording rate based on the counting means for counting the number of users who record the program to be recorded for each program, the number of users to be investigated and the number of users counted by the counting means And a calculating means.

Each means provided on the user side in this recording rate survey system is provided in a terminal device such as a computer system, a portable information terminal, and a mobile phone.
The program guide display means is means for displaying the program guide on a display device such as a display of a personal computer, a display screen of a portable information terminal, or a television screen.

Moreover, each means with which an investigator is provided is provided in a known computer system, for example.
The recorded program designating means is a means for designating at least one of the programs constituting the program guide. For example, the recorded program designating means moves the cursor displayed together with the program guide with a pointing device such as a mouse, and What is necessary is just to comprise so that a program can be designated by performing selection operation with a button.

  In this recording rate checking system, first, the program guide display means on the user side displays the program guide. The program table is used in, for example, an electronic program guide, and has a table format in which programs are arranged with time in the vertical direction and broadcast channels in the horizontal direction. The program guide is data received via a communication network or data read from a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, and the program guide display means displays the program guide based on such data.

Next, when the user designates a program in the program guide by the viewing program designation unit, the data transmission unit transmits the recorded program data to the investigator side. The recorded program data may be any data as long as it can identify the program. For example, data indicating the program name itself or a code corresponding to the program one-to-one can be used.

  Next, the counting means counts the number of users who record the program for each program. Here, the user who transmitted the recorded program data by the data transmission means is counted as the user who records the program specified by the recorded program data. This counting means only needs to execute a process of adding “1” to the number of users who record the program specified by the recorded program data every time the recorded program data is received.

  Then, the recording rate calculation means calculates the recording rate based on the number of users to be investigated and the number of users counted by the counting means. The number of users to be surveyed is, for example, the total number of users who use the program guide, the total number of users who record programs broadcast in the same time zone among all the users. . Further, the recording rate calculation means, for example, calculates the ratio (recording user / survey target) of how many recording users record a specific program out of the number of users to be investigated as the recording rate. What is necessary is just to comprise.

  According to the recording rate investigation system configured as described above, when a program in the program guide is designated, the data transmission means transmits the recorded program data to the investigator side. Therefore, the investigator can investigate the recording rate of the program specified on the program guide based on the recorded program data. In particular, since this recorded program data is transmitted from all users who record programs using the program guide, an accurate recording rate can be calculated.

The recording rate survey system according to claim 4 is:
The investigator side includes a program guide creation means for creating a program guide in which the program recording rate is described in an area corresponding to the program, and a program guide transmission means for sending the program guide to the user side,
The user side is provided with program guide receiving means for receiving the program guide transmitted by the program guide transmitting means on the survey side.

  According to the recording rate investigation system configured as described above, the recording rate of the program can be confirmed on the program guide. Therefore, the user can easily check the program recording rate on the program guide.

The figure which shows embodiment of an audience rating investigation system Flow chart showing processing procedure of audience rating survey system The figure which shows the image displayed on the display of the user side terminal The flowchart which shows the program schedule preparation process of an investigator side apparatus The figure which shows the image displayed on the display of the user side terminal The figure which shows the image displayed on the display of the user side terminal

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with examples.
[First Embodiment]
As shown in FIG. 1, the audience rating survey system 1 includes a researcher-side device 10 configured to allow data communication via the Internet 100, a user-side terminal 20, and the like.

  The investigator side device 10 is configured by a known computer system including a CPU 11, a hard disk (hereinafter referred to as HD) 12, a communication device 13, a display 14, a keyboard 15, and the like. It is connected to the Internet 100.

  The user side terminal 20 is configured by a known computer system including a CPU 21, a hard disk 22, a communication device 23, a display 24, a keyboard 25, a mouse 26, a television tuner 27, and the like. It is connected to the Internet 100. Further, the user side terminal 20 incorporates a program guide program that causes the user side terminal 20 to execute a program guide process to be described later.

Next, program guide processing executed by the user terminal 20 will be described with reference to FIG. This program guide process is executed according to a program guide program.
First, the user terminal 20 initializes a variable sbc and a variable ebc (sets “0”) (s11). The variable sbc and the variable ebc are used for setting data indicating a broadcast channel in the subsequent processing.

  Next, the user terminal 20 requests the investigator apparatus 10 to transmit a program guide (s12). In this process, request data including data for requesting transmission of the program guide and data indicating the time zone and region of the requested program guide is transmitted to the investigator-side device 10. When the process of s12 is first performed in the program guide process, the requested program schedule time zone is configured to be a time zone after the time when the process of s12 is executed. The requested program guide area is configured to be an area preset by the user. Then, from the investigator side apparatus 10 that has received the request data, a program guide for 3 hours after the time requested by the request data is transmitted. Here, the investigator side apparatus 10 that transmits the program guide by receiving the request data functions as the program guide transmitting means in the present invention.

  Next, the user terminal 20 receives the program guide transmitted from the investigator apparatus 10 and displays it on the display 24 (s13). The program table displayed here is in the form of a table in which broadcast time is arranged on the vertical axis and broadcast channels are arranged on the horizontal axis. As shown in FIGS. The area is displayed in the first area A1 among the three divided areas. Of the display areas divided into three, the second area A2 is an area in which the video of the program selected as the program to be viewed by the user in the subsequent processing is displayed. The third area A3 is an area in which information such as menu images, detailed contents of the program selected by the user, performers, and subtitles is displayed in the subsequent processing.

  Next, the user terminal 20 is in a standby state until an operation on the program guide is performed (s14). After the program guide is displayed in the process of s13, the user can perform various operations with the keyboard 25 and the mouse 26.

  For example, in the first area A1 of the display 24, a pull-down menu M1 capable of selecting one area from a plurality of areas and a pull-down menu M2 capable of selecting one time from a plurality of times are displayed. The user can request the researcher side apparatus 10 to retransmit the program guide of the selected region or time by performing an operation of selecting the region or time from these menus.

  In addition, a cursor frame F is displayed together with the program guide in the first area A1 of the display 24. The user moves the cursor frame F and then presses the enter key to move the cursor frame F. An operation of selecting a program at a certain position can also be performed. Each program in the program table is associated with data indicating the broadcast channel, broadcast start time, and broadcast end time of the program, and the user can select the program to perform the program broadcast channel and broadcast. The start time and the broadcast end time can be extracted as data.

Also, an operation for ending the program guide process can be performed.
In the process of s14, when an operation for requesting retransmission of the program guide is performed (s15: YES), the process returns to s12.

  Further, in the process of s14, when an operation for selecting a program in the program guide is performed (s15: NO, s16: YES), the user terminal 20 determines whether the selected program is a broadcast program. A check is made (s17). In this process, by comparing the broadcast start time and the broadcast end time extracted by selecting a program in the program table in the process of s14 with the current time, is the selected program a broadcast program? Is checked. In the process of s17, if the selected program is a broadcast program (s17: YES), the user terminal 20 displays the video of the selected program in the second area A2 of the display 24 ( s18). In this process, if the video of the program is already displayed in the second area A2 of the display 24, the broadcast channel is switched to that of the selected program.

  Next, after setting the data of the variable sbc in the variable ebc, the user terminal 20 sets the data indicating the broadcast channel of the program selected in the process of s14 in the variable sbc (s19). As a result, the broadcast channel of the program whose video has been displayed in the second area A2 of the display 24 until immediately before, that is, the broadcast channel of the program that has been viewed is set in the variable ebc, and the broadcast channel of the program that is newly viewed is the variable sbc. It will be set to.

  Next, the user terminal 20 transmits the channel data to the investigator apparatus 10 (s20). The channel data transmitted in this process is data composed of a variable sbc and a variable ebc.

  The investigator-side device 10 receives the channel data, and among the variables bn (1 to n) indicating the number of viewers prepared for each broadcast channel, the survey channel specified by the variable sbc constituting the channel data. That is, “1” is added to the variable bx corresponding to the broadcast channel of the program that the user newly views, and simultaneously the broadcast channel specified by the variable ebc, that is, the broadcast of the program that the user has finished viewing. “1” is subtracted from the variable by corresponding to the channel. Here, when “0” is set in the variable sbc, viewing of the program by the present system is terminated in the subsequent processing, and therefore, addition to the variable bx is not performed. If “0” is set in the variable ebc, it means that no other program has been viewed in a straight line, and no subtraction from the variable by is performed. In addition, the investigator side apparatus 10 which receives the channel data transmitted from the user side terminal 20 functions here as a data receiving means in this invention. Further, the investigator apparatus 10 that adds “1” to the variable bx and subtracts “1” from the variable by functions as the counting means in the present invention.

  Then, the investigator apparatus 10 calculates the audience rating every minute for each broadcast channel after the start of the broadcast of the program broadcast at the beginning of the day according to the time schedule, and the hard disk as needed. 12 to store. Here, first, the total number of viewers (total number of viewers) of the variables b1 to bn is calculated every minute, and the ratio of the total number of viewers to the number of viewers on the broadcast channel (number of viewers / The total number of viewers) is calculated as the audience rating. In addition, as a system that can use this audience rating survey system 1 by the membership system or the registration system, the ratio of the number of viewers of the broadcast channel to all the members or all registered users (total users) (number of viewers / (Total users) may be calculated as the audience rating. Moreover, the investigator side apparatus 10 which calculates an audience rating as mentioned above functions as an audience rating calculation means in the present invention.

Thus, when the process of s20 is completed, the user terminal 20 returns to the process of s14.
On the other hand, if the program selected in the process of s14 is not a broadcast program (s17: NO), a menu image is displayed in the third area A3 of the display 24 (s21). As shown in FIG. 3C, the menu image displayed in this process includes a detail request button B1 for requesting the investigator apparatus 10 to transmit detailed data, and a recording reservation for reserving a program for recording. The button B2 and an end button B3 for erasing the menu image from the third area A3 are configured.

  Next, the user terminal 20 is in a standby state until an operation for selecting each button is performed (s22). After the menu image is displayed in the process of s21, the user performs an operation of selecting the detail request button B1, an operation of selecting the recording reservation button B2, and an operation of selecting the end button B3 with the keyboard 25 and the mouse 26. be able to. If the program selected in the process of s14 is a program that has been broadcast, the operation for selecting the recording reservation button B2 cannot be performed.

  Next, when the operation performed in the process of s22 is an operation of selecting the detail request button B1 (s23: YES), the user terminal 20 requests the investigator apparatus 10 to transmit detailed data. (S24). In this process, request data for requesting the investigator apparatus 10 to transmit detailed data is transmitted. Then, the detailed data is transmitted from the investigator side apparatus 10 that has received the request data.

  Next, the user side terminal 20 receives the detailed data transmitted from the investigator side device 10 and displays it in the third area A3 of the display 24 (s25). The detailed data displayed in this process indicates the contents of the program, performers, and subtitles in text.

  On the other hand, when the operation performed in the process of s22 is an operation of selecting the recording reservation button B2 (s23: NO, s26: YES), the user terminal 20 sends the recorded program data to the investigator apparatus 10. Transmit (s27). The recorded program data transmitted in this process is data specifying the broadcast channel of the program selected in the process of s14, the broadcast start time and the broadcast end time of the program.

  The investigator apparatus 10 that has received the recorded program data calculates the recording rate based on the recorded program data. In the investigator side apparatus 10, among the variables cn (c1 to cn) prepared for each program, “1” is set in the variable ci corresponding to the program specified by the recorded program data, that is, the program recorded by the user. to add. Here, the investigator side apparatus 10 that receives the recorded program data transmitted from the user side terminal 20 functions as data receiving means in the present invention. Further, the investigator side apparatus 10 that adds “1” to the variable ci functions as a counting means in the present invention.

  The investigator-side apparatus 10 calculates the recording rate based on the variable ci every time the investigator-side apparatus 10 receives the recorded program data. Here, first, a total value C is calculated by summing variables cn corresponding to all programs broadcast in the same time zone as the program specified by the received recorded program data. Then, the ratio (ci / C) between the total value C and the variable ci corresponding to the program specified by the recorded program data is calculated as the recording rate. The investigator side apparatus 10 for calculating the recording rate in this way functions as a recording rate calculation means in the present invention.

  Next, the user-side terminal 20 transmits the recorded program data to the investigator-side device 10, and at the same time, based on the broadcast channel of the program selected in the process of s15, the broadcast start time and the broadcast end time of the program. Then, a program recording reservation is made (s28).

Thus, when the process of s25 or the process of s28 is completed, the process returns to the process of s22. Thereafter, the process from s22 to s25 or s28 is repeatedly executed. However, when the operation performed in the process of s22 is an operation of selecting the end button B3 (s23: N
O, s26: NO), the process returns to s14.

  Thereafter, the processing from s14 to s20, the processing from s21 to s25 or s28, and the processing from s12 to s15 are repeatedly executed. The operations performed in the processing of s14 Is an operation for ending the program guide process (s15: NO, s16: NO), the user terminal 20 determines whether “0” is set in both the variable sbc and the variable ebc. Check (s29).

  When a value other than “0” is set in either the variable sbc or the variable ebc in the process of s29 (s29: NO), the user terminal 20 sets the data of the variable sbc in the variable ebc. Thereafter, the variable sbc is initialized ("0" is set) (s30).

  Next, the user side terminal 20 transmits the channel data to the investigator side device 10 (s31). The channel data transmitted in this process is data including a variable sbc and a variable ebc. As described above, the investigator-side device 10 that has received this channel data is specified by the variable sbc that constitutes the channel data among the variables bn (1 to n) indicating the number of viewers prepared for each broadcast channel. “1” is added to the variable bx corresponding to the broadcast channel, and “1” is subtracted from the variable by corresponding to the broadcast channel specified by the variable ebc. Here, when the variable sbc is set to “0”, the addition to the variable bx is not performed, and when the variable ebc is set to “0”, the subtraction from the variable by is not performed.

  In this way, when the process of s31 ends or when “0” is set in both the variable sbc and the variable ebc in the process of s29 (s29: YES), the program guide process ends.

  Note that, depending on the operation performed in the process of s14 or s22, there may be a case of shifting to another process. However, since such a process is not a main part of the present invention, description thereof is omitted. In addition, an operation for ending the program guide process may be performed at an arbitrary timing during the execution of each process described above.

  In the audience rating survey system 1 described above, the user terminal 20 that receives the program guide transmitted from the researcher device 10 in the process of s13 in FIG. 2 serves as the program guide receiver in the present invention. It functions. Further, the user terminal 20 that displays the program guide in the third area A3 of the display 24 by the process of s13 functions as the program guide display means in the present invention.

  Further, the keyboard 25 and the mouse 26 that perform the movement of the cursor frame F and the selection of the program by pressing the enter button in the process of s14 in FIG. 2 function as a viewing program specifying means in the present invention.

  Further, the user terminal 20 that displays the video of the program in the second area A2 of the display 24 in the process of s18 in FIG. 2 functions as a viewing program display means in the present invention.

Further, the user side terminal 20 that transmits the channel data to the investigator side device 10 in the process of s20 in FIG. 2 functions as the data transmission means in the present invention.
Further, the keyboard 25 and the mouse 26 for selecting the recording reservation button B2 in the processing of s22 in FIG. 2 function as a recorded program specifying means in the present invention.

  According to the audience rating survey system 1 configured as described above, when a program in the program guide is designated, the designated program is displayed on the display 24 and the channel data is transmitted to the investigator side apparatus 10. Is done. Therefore, the investigator-side apparatus 10 can investigate the audience rating of the program specified on the program guide based on the channel data. In particular, since this channel data is transmitted from all users who are viewing the program using the program guide, an accurate audience rating can be calculated.

  Further, by selecting the recording reservation button B2 in the menu image, the recorded program data is transmitted to the investigator side apparatus 10. Therefore, the investigator-side apparatus 10 can investigate the recording rate of the program for which the recording reservation button B2 is selected based on the recorded program data. In particular, since this recorded program data is transmitted from all users who record programs using the program guide, an accurate recording rate can be calculated.

[Second Embodiment]
The audience rating survey system 2 is only implemented in such a manner that, when the researcher-side device 10 receives a program guide request from the user-side terminal 20, the program guide creation processing described later is executed. In the following description, only differences from the first embodiment will be described in detail.

  The program guide creation process executed by the investigator side apparatus 10 will be described with reference to FIG. This program guide creation process is started by receiving from the user side terminal 20 request data having a content requesting transmission of the program guide.

  First, the investigator side apparatus 10 reads out the program table of the requested area and time based on the request data from the hard disk 12 (s51). The program table read out by this processing is a program table for 3 hours after the time requested based on the request data.

  Next, the investigator-side apparatus 10 creates a program guide in which the audience rating of the program is described in an area corresponding to the program (s52). In this process, the audience rating described in the display area of each program is calculated from the audience rating stored in the hard disk 12, and the audience rating calculated a plurality of times at regular intervals is calculated within the broadcast time of the program. It is the average audience rating averaged by the number of calculations. If the program in the program guide is a program that is continuously broadcast a plurality of times in a certain period, the viewing rate and the recording rate in the previous broadcast are described in the area corresponding to the program. May be. Further, the audience rating described in the display area of the program may be, for example, the highest audience rating that is the maximum value among the audience ratings that are broadcast times of the corresponding program.

  Then, the investigator side apparatus 10 transmits the program table created in the process of s52 to the user side terminal 20 (s53). As shown in FIG. 5, the user terminal 20 that has received the program guide displays the program guide in which the viewing rate and the recording rate are described in the display area of each program.

  In the audience rating survey system 2 described above, the investigator-side apparatus 10 that creates a program table in which the audience rating of a program is described in an area corresponding to the program functions as a program table creating unit in the present invention. It is.

  According to the audience rating survey system 2 configured in this way, the user can easily check the audience rating of a program for which broadcasting has ended and the audience rating of a program being broadcast on the program guide. In addition, the user can easily check the recording rate of the program on the program guide.

[Modification]
As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to said specific embodiment, It can implement with a various form besides this.

For example, in the present embodiment, the investigator-side apparatus 10 is illustrated as being configured by one computer system, but may be configured by a plurality of computer systems.
In the present embodiment, the user side terminal 20 is configured by a known computer system. However, as the user side terminal 20, a portable information terminal, a mobile phone, or the like can be used.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the program table displayed on the display 24 of the user terminal 20 is transmitted from the investigator apparatus 10 in the process of s13 in FIG. May be read from a recording medium such as a CD-ROM. Further, the program guide transmitted from the investigator side device 10 may be stored in the hard disk 22 of the user side terminal 20 so that it can be read out as necessary.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, although the display 24 of the user side terminal 20 illustrated what was displayed in the state which divided | segmented the display area into three, 1st area | region A1, 2nd area | region A2, and 3rd area | region A3. The display in each of the first area A1, the second area A2, and the third area A3 may be configured to be displayed as a pop-up screen.

  In the present embodiment, when it is checked in step s17 in FIG. 2 whether or not the selected program is a program being broadcast, the broadcast start time associated with each program in the program guide and Although an example of checking whether the broadcast is in progress by comparing the broadcast end time with the current time is illustrated, the method for checking whether the broadcast is in progress is not particularly limited. For example, when a user selects a program in the program guide, the user side terminal 20 transmits a code identifying the selected program to the investigator side device 10 and receives the code. In this method, the apparatus 10 checks whether the program is broadcast by comparing the broadcast time of the program specified by the code with the current time, and transmits the check result to the user terminal 20. In this case, there is no need to associate a plurality of data such as a broadcast channel, broadcast start time, and broadcast end time with each program in the program table, and it is only necessary to assign a code corresponding to each program. Can be reduced.

  Further, in the process of s17 in FIG. 2, when the program selected in the process of s14 is a broadcast program, the user side terminal 20 displays the video of the program in the first area A1 of the display 24 and selects it. In the case where the displayed program is not a broadcast program, the menu image is displayed in the third area A3 of the display 24. However, when the program in the program guide is selected in the process of s14, the program is viewed. In this case, a menu image including selection items to be selected may be displayed so that the selection items can be selected for a program being broadcast.

  Further, in the processing of s20 in FIG. 2, the channel data transmitted to the investigator-side device 10 is exemplified by the variable sbc and the variable ebc. The general data structure is not limited. For example, the channel data may be configured by a code assigned to each program in the program guide, and the investigator side device 10 may be able to specify the broadcast channel based on this code.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6A, advertisers providing programs may be displayed as a list as detailed data displayed in the process of s25 in FIG. Further, by performing an operation of selecting each advertiser, as shown in FIG. 6B, CM viewing button B11 for setting to switch the broadcast channel when the commercial broadcast time comes, and recording reservation for the commercial is recorded. An advertiser menu image composed of a CM recording button B12 for accessing the link and a link button B13 for accessing the advertiser's website may be displayed in the third area A3.

  In the present embodiment, in the process of s28 in FIG. 2, the user side terminal 20 makes a recording reservation based on the broadcast start time and the broadcast end time associated with each program in the program guide. Although illustrated, data necessary for program recording reservation may be downloaded from the investigator side device 10 or the like via the Internet 100, and recording reservation may be performed based on this data.

  In addition, the audience rating survey system may be configured to collect data such as programs and commercials that are viewed for each user, as used by users registered in advance. In this case, if the advertisement (image, text) is displayed together with the program guide or menu image based on the collected data, the advertisement displayed in this way can be said to be suitable for the user's hobbies and preferences. The effect can be expected.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the investigator-side device 10 described the audience rating and the recording rate in the program guide in s52 of FIG. 4, but the program guide shows either the audience rating or the recording rate. It may be configured so that only these are described. Further, in addition to the audience rating or the recording rate, the time when the highest (or lowest) audience rating, the average number of people who watched the program, and the like may be described.

  1, 2 ... audience rating survey system, 10 ... investigator side device, 20 ... user side terminal.

Claims (1)

An audience rating survey system that surveys audience ratings based on data sent from the user side to the investigator side,
On the user side, a program guide display means for displaying a program guide, a viewing program specifying means capable of specifying a program to be viewed by the user from the program guide, and a program specified by the viewing program specifying means are displayed. Viewing program display means, and data transmission means for transmitting to the investigator channel data capable of specifying the broadcast channel of the program designated by the viewing program designation means,
Based on the channel data transmitted from the user side, the data receiving means for receiving the channel data transmitted from the data transmitting means on the user side to the investigator side, the broadcast channel specified by the channel data The audience rating is calculated based on the counting means for counting the number of users viewing the program for each broadcast channel, the number of users to be investigated, and the number of users counted by the counting means. An audience rating survey system characterized by comprising audience rating calculation means.

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