JP2011009971A - Program reservation device, method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a television program table designed to suit a taste based on the program information at a destination, without additional operation on a terminal even at the destination.SOLUTION: Schedule data containing user's destination and a period of stay at the destination is obtained from outside. A name of the place to which the user moves is extracted. Based on the name of the place to which the user moves and the period of stay at the destination, a television program table presented by a program information presenting service is obtained. The taste of a user is extracted with reference to a view history or activity history. A program which agrees with the taste is selected from the television program table. The program data is converted into view reservation data in a predetermined mode and then stored in a view reservation data memory means. The view reservation data stored in the view reservation data memory means is registered in a mobile phone of the user or Web site.

Description

  The present invention relates to a program reservation apparatus, method, and program, and more particularly, to a program reservation apparatus and method for performing viewing and recording reservation of a program on IPTV (Internet Protocol Television), VOD (Video On Demand), digital TV, and the like. Regarding the program.

  Conventionally, the correspondence between a television receiver and a terminal (operating terminal) that remotely operates the television receiver and the viewer who is operating the television receiver is clarified, and the correspondence between the viewer and the area where the viewer is located is also defined. There is a program information notification method that makes it possible to obtain information on a program that suits the viewer's preference by absorbing the regional difference even if the program to be broadcast differs depending on the region (for example, patent document) 1).

JP 2005-323314 A

  However, the above-described conventional method requires a means for obtaining GPS location information and location information provided by a mobile phone company, and location specification by manual input, in order to identify the region where the operator is located. It becomes. Further, when the user goes on a trip or the like and is in an area different from usual, it is necessary for the user to access the information generating device that generates the recommended information from the destination and perform processing for acquiring the recommended information.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and obtains a TV program guide suitable for a preference based on program information at a destination without performing additional terminal operations even at the destination. It is an object of the present invention to provide a program reservation apparatus, method, and program capable of performing the above.

  FIG. 1 is a principle configuration diagram of the present invention.

The present invention (Claim 1) is a program reservation apparatus that provides television program information in accordance with personal preference and schedule,
A schedule acquisition unit 101 that acquires schedule data including a user's destination and a stay period at the destination from outside and stores the schedule data in the schedule storage unit 102;
A destination analysis unit 103 that acquires schedule data from the schedule storage unit 102 and extracts a destination location name;
Program acquisition means 104 for acquiring a TV program guide provided by the program information providing service based on the destination location name and the stay period of the destination;
The user's preference is extracted by referring to either or either of the viewing history storage means 106 storing the user's viewing history and / or the behavior history storage means 107 storing the user's behavior history, and the program acquisition means 104 A program selection means 105 for selecting a program that matches the preference from the TV program guide acquired in step (b),
Viewing reservation data creating means 108 for converting the program data into viewing reservation data in a predetermined form and storing it in the viewing reservation data storage means 110.

  The present invention (Claim 2) further includes registration means 109 for transmitting the viewing reservation data stored in the viewing reservation data storage means 110 to the user's mobile phone.

  The present invention (Claim 3) further includes registration means 109 for transmitting the viewing reservation data stored in the viewing reservation data storage means 110 to a Web site accessible from a computer used by the user at the destination. .

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the principle of the present invention.

The present invention (Claim 4) is a program reservation method for providing television program information in accordance with personal preference and schedule,
Computer
A schedule acquisition step (step 1) for acquiring schedule data including the user's destination and the stay period at the destination from outside and storing the schedule data in the schedule storage means;
A destination analysis step (step 2) for acquiring schedule data from the schedule storage means and extracting a place name of the destination;
A program acquisition step (step 3) for acquiring a TV program guide provided by the program information providing service based on the destination place name and the stay period of the destination,
The user's preference is extracted by referring to the viewing history storage means storing the user's viewing history and / or the behavior history storage means storing the user's behavior history, and acquired in the program acquisition step A program selection step (step 4) for selecting a program that matches the preference from the TV program guide;
A viewing reservation data creation step (step 5) is performed in which the program data is converted into viewing reservation data in a predetermined form and stored in the viewing reservation data storage means.

  The present invention (Claim 5) further performs a registration step (Step 6) of transmitting the viewing reservation data stored in the viewing reservation data storage means to the user's mobile phone.

  The present invention (Claim 6) further performs a registration step of transmitting the viewing reservation data stored in the viewing reservation data storage means to a website accessible from a computer used by the user at the destination.

  The present invention (Claim 7) is a program reservation program for causing a computer to function as each means constituting the program reservation apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 3.

  As described above, according to the present invention, there is a certain area without obtaining the user's location with GPS or location information provided by the mobile phone company and without manually specifying the user's location separately by manual input. Even if a program is broadcast on the site, if it is in that area that day, it can be recommended according to the user's preference. Furthermore, by registering the viewing reservation data in the mobile phone, the television is automatically operated, so that the program can be viewed without performing a process of obtaining recommendation information from a destination or the like and without overlooking it.

  In addition, even if the channel number differs depending on the region and the program cannot be found immediately, according to the present invention, the mobile phone automatically operates the TV according to the channel on which the program is broadcast. There is a merit.

  Since these are performed automatically, convenience for the user is improved. Furthermore, there is an effect that an improvement in audience rating can be expected from the program provider side. Eventually, we can expect to contribute to the activation of the content distribution business.

It is a principle block diagram of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the principle of this invention. 3 is an image of a service realized by the present invention. It is a block diagram of the home server in one embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence chart of operation | movement in the case of carrying out viewing reservation registration to the mobile telephone in one embodiment of this invention. It is an example of the schedule data in one embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence chart of an operation in the case of making a viewing reservation on a Web site in an embodiment of the present invention.

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

  FIG. 3 shows an image of a service realized by the present invention. FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the home server in one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a sequence chart of operations in one embodiment of the present invention.

  In the following, as shown in FIG. 3, the user has a home server 1 that can be connected to a PC (personal computer) 3, an STB (Set Top Box), and a recording device 5, and the home server 1 is a home network. An environment connected to a server 6 for providing a scheduler service on the Web, a terrestrial digital transmission, a video distribution service such as CATV, or a program information providing service 6 on the Web via an example 7 will be described.

  The STB and the recording device 5 connected to the home server 1 provide viewing history to the home server 1, and the home server 1 stores the obtained viewing history in a viewing history storage unit (DB). It shall be.

  Home server 1 includes schedule acquisition unit 101, schedule storage unit 102, destination analysis unit 103, EPG (Electric Program Guide) acquisition unit 104, program selection unit 105, viewing history storage unit 106, action history storage unit 107, and viewing reservation. The data creation unit 108, the viewing reservation data storage unit 110, the viewing reservation registration unit 109, and the data update unit 111 are configured. Note that the viewing history storage unit 106 and the viewing history storage unit 107 store the viewing history and behavior history acquired in advance by the home server 1, and the collection method thereof will not be mentioned.

  Below, the case where viewing reservation registration is carried out to the mobile telephone 2 is demonstrated.

  Step 101) When a schedule for a trip, (business trip), or a meeting is determined, the user writes the schedule in a scheduler such as the PC 3 or the mobile phone 2 or through them (PC, mobile phone, etc.) on the Web. The scheduler service 4 may be used.

  Step 102) The schedule acquisition unit 101 of the home server 1 connected to the network 7 receives the user's schedule data from each of the devices and services, and stores it in the schedule storage unit 102. The receiving method is a method in which the user adds a schedule or updates an existing schedule, and transmits the information from each device to the home server 1 or periodically makes an inquiry to each device from the home server 1 to add or update a new schedule. There is a way to receive that information when there is. The updating method will be described later.

Step 103) The destination analysis unit 103 of the home server 1 analyzes when and where the user is from the schedule data stored in the schedule storage unit 102. When a schedule as shown in FIG. 6 is stored in the schedule storage unit 102,
S1: Stay in "F City" from 8:30 on February 1, 2009 to 15:00 on February 2;
S4: March 18th, 2009 from 8:30 to March 20th, 17:00 staying around University E;
I understand that. In addition, when the information regarding a place name is not directly entered like S4, a place name is judged from a proper noun using a knowledge base (not shown). In the case of S4, it is assumed that “E university” is searched for as a key and “M city” is acquired.

  Step 104) Based on the above analysis, the EPG acquisition unit 104 of the home server 1 executes the F city during the user's schedule period (in the case of S1, from February 1, 2009, 8:30 to February 2, 15:00). And TV program guide (EPG) broadcast in M city is acquired through the network.

Step 105) Based on the acquired EPG and schedule data, the program selection unit 105 of the home server 1
Programs broadcast from "F City" from 8:30 February 1st 2009 to 15:00 February 2nd;
Program broadcast on March 18th, 2009 from 8:30 to March 20th, 17:00 on “M City”;
A program that matches the user's preference is extracted from the list. As for the user's “preference”, a viewing history acquired from a TV or STB and stored in the viewing history storage unit 106, a purchase acquired from a mobile phone or Web stored in the behavior history storage unit 107, and the like. It is analyzed comprehensively using information such as history and behavior history. As a method for obtaining the preference, for example, a technique described in JP-A-2003-260146 can be used.

  Step 106) The viewing reservation data creation unit 108 generates program data (viewing reservation data) in a format that can be used by the mobile phone 2 from the program extracted by the program selection unit 105, and stores it in the reservation data storage unit 110.

  Step 107) The viewing reservation registration unit 109 acquires the created viewing reservation data from the viewing reservation data storage unit 110 and registers it in the mobile phone 2. As a registration method, a method using e-mail, infrared communication, proximity communication using Bluetooth, or the like can be considered.

  Step 108) The user goes to a place that is traveling or traveling with the mobile phone 2 as scheduled. If you start the application on the mobile phone 2 and place it in front of the TV in a hotel or other accommodation, you can use the infrared remote control function of the mobile phone according to the above viewing reservation data at the specified channel at the specified time. By switching to, the user views a program that suits the user's preference at that location on that day.

  Further, when the schedule acquisition unit 101 of the home server 1 periodically inquires the scheduler 4 about whether or not a new addition is made, the data acquisition is as follows.

  (1) The schedule acquisition unit 101 makes an inquiry to the scheduler 4.

  (2) If there is no new addition, it ends.

  (3) If there is a new addition, get that data.

  (4) The above processes (2) and (3) are repeated until there is no new addition.

  In addition, when the unit for receiving the schedule data is the entire schedule, it is necessary to remove the past schedule from the search target at the time of performing the search. For example, when the entire data shown in FIG. 6 is received, if the search date and time is 12:00 on February 5, 2009, S1 and S2 that are in the past at this time are excluded from the search targets. Therefore, the data update unit 111 deletes the records S1 and S2.

In the case of updating and deleting a schedule, it is necessary to compare with existing reservation information stored in the viewing reservation data storage unit 110. That is,
(1) The schedule acquisition unit 101 acquires schedule update data.

  (2) The data update unit 111 acquires schedule update data from the schedule acquisition unit 101, checks whether there is already reserved data in the viewing reservation data storage unit 110, and if there is, performs processing according to the update content. .

  For example, if the “start date / time” is postponed after the broadcast date / time of the reserved program, the reserved reservation is canceled. Cancel the existing reservation even if the "location" is changed and the contents no longer match. Specifically, the data update unit 111 searches the viewing reservation data storage unit 110 for a record corresponding to the date and time of the schedule update data read from the schedule storage unit 102, and deletes the record. When the location is changed, first, a record corresponding to the date and time of the schedule update data is searched. If the result (location) obtained by the destination analysis unit 103 and the location of the record are different, the record Is deleted.

  (3) Based on the new schedule update data, the same search as in the case of new addition after step 103 in FIG. 5 is performed.

  In the above, the case where viewing is registered in the mobile phone 2 has been described, but a case where viewing reservation is made as a service on the Web is also conceivable.

  FIG. 7 is a sequence chart of an operation when making a viewing reservation on the website according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the following, it is assumed that the PC and the television are connected via a network, and channel switching and the like can be controlled via the network. Accordingly, a service that receives video distribution from a network such as IPTV is suitable for the television, not a regular television. Alternatively, it may be possible to have a broadcast program tuner on a PC and view a TV program. In this case, control is performed between software in the PC.

  Step 201) At a stay destination such as a trip, the user operates the PC provided at the place of stay or the PC brought by the user to access the Web service site and perform some operation on the site (such as button click).

  Step 202) On a Web site (such as “My Page” on IPTV), viewing reservation data is created in accordance with an instruction from the user and transmitted to a PC used by the user.

  Step 203) When it is time for the recommended program, the PC activates the television and performs channel switching control.

  As a result, the user can view a program that suits the taste.

  The operation of each component of the home server 1 described above can be constructed as a program, installed on a computer used as the home server and executed, or distributed via a network.

  Further, the constructed program can be stored in a portable storage medium such as a hard disk, a flexible disk, or a CD-ROM, and can be installed or distributed in a computer.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and applications can be made within the scope of the claims.

1 home server 2 mobile phone 3 personal computer 4 scheduler service device on the web, scheduler 5 STB or recording device 6 video distribution service or program information providing service device 7 network 101 schedule acquisition means, schedule acquisition unit 102 schedule storage means, Schedule storage unit 103 Destination analysis unit, destination analysis unit 104 Program acquisition unit, program acquisition unit 105 Program selection unit, program selection unit 106 Viewing history storage unit, viewing history storage unit 107 Behavior history storage unit, Behavior history storage unit 108 Viewing reservation data creation means, viewing reservation data creation section 109 registration means, viewing reservation data registration section 110 viewing reservation data storage means, viewing reservation data storage section 111 data update section

Claims (7)

A program reservation device that provides TV program information tailored to individual preferences and schedules,
Schedule acquisition means for acquiring schedule data including the user's destination and stay period at the destination from outside and storing the schedule data in the schedule storage means;
A destination analysis means for acquiring the schedule data from the schedule storage means and extracting a place name of the destination;
Program acquisition means for acquiring a TV program guide provided by the program information providing service based on the destination location name and the stay period of the destination;
The user's preference is extracted with reference to the viewing history storage means storing the user's viewing history and / or the behavior history storage means storing the user's behavior history, and the program acquisition means Program selection means for selecting a program that matches the preference from the acquired television program guide;
Viewing reservation data creating means for converting the program data into viewing reservation data in the predetermined form and storing it in the viewing reservation data storage means;
A program reservation apparatus characterized by comprising: 2. The program reservation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising registration means for registering the viewing reservation data stored in the viewing reservation data storage means in the user's mobile phone. 2. The program reservation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising registration means for registering the viewing reservation data stored in the viewing reservation data storage means on a Web site accessible from a computer used by the user at a destination. A program reservation method that provides TV program information tailored to individual preferences and schedules,
Computer
A schedule acquisition step of acquiring schedule data including a user's destination and a stay period at the destination from outside and storing the schedule data in a schedule storage unit;
A destination analysis step of obtaining the schedule data from the schedule storage means and extracting a place name of the destination;
A program acquisition step of acquiring a TV program guide provided by the program information providing service based on the location name of the destination and the stay period of the destination;
The user's preference is extracted by referring to the viewing history storage means storing the user's viewing history and / or the behavior history storage means storing the user's behavior history, and in the program acquisition step, A program selection step of selecting a program that matches the preference from the acquired television program guide;
Viewing reservation data creating step of converting the program data into the predetermined form of viewing reservation data and storing it in the viewing reservation data storage means;
The program reservation method characterized by performing. 5. The program reservation method according to claim 4, further comprising a registration step of registering the viewing reservation data stored in the viewing reservation data storage means in the user's mobile phone. 5. The program reservation method according to claim 4, further comprising a registration step of registering the viewing reservation data stored in the viewing reservation data storage means on a Web site accessible from a computer used by the user at a destination.   The program reservation program for functioning a computer as each means which comprises the program reservation apparatus of any one of Claim 1 thru | or 3.

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