JP2013126020A - Content distribution system and content distribution method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To expand a taste analysis range and thereby generate highly accurate content information which suits more to the tastes of users than before.SOLUTION: A content distribution apparatus comprises: a viewing information storage section 61 which accumulates therein the content information of video contents reproduced by a video data control unit 11; a taste analysis device 7 which calculates the degree of taste for video contents of the user using a video receiving terminal 1 on the basis of the content information accumulated in the viewing information storage section 61, and extracts the content information of video contents indicating a higher degree of taste than a preset threshold to create taste information; and a content extraction device 8 which collates the taste information created by the taste analysis device 7 and the content information of video content distributed by a multicast distribution video content server 21 and a unicast distribution video content server 22 to extract content information having a higher degree of conformity than a preset threshold. The video receiving terminal 1 acquires a video content appropriate to the extracted content information and reproduces it.

Description

  The present invention relates to distribution of digital video content via an IP network, and more particularly to a content distribution system and a content distribution method for providing digital video content information according to user preferences.

  Conventionally, in order to reduce the burden of searching for content that the user wants to view from a vast number of video content, the video content information viewed by the user is stored, and video content information recommended based on the stored video content is provided. doing. For example, in the recommended content display device disclosed in Patent Document 1, information of a program that was actually viewed is stored in an external storage medium, the stored program information is taken into the recommended content display device, and each program genre is displayed for each program genre. Accumulation is performed for each performer, for each director, or for each production company to analyze the preference, and based on the result of the preference analysis, content recommendation information is generated and presented to the user.

JP 2005-94115 A

  However, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above, since the preference analysis is performed using the viewing information when the live delivery video content of the multicast delivery is viewed and recorded, the range of information on which the preference analysis is based In addition, there is a problem that the range of recommended content is limited.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to extend the preference analysis range and generate highly accurate content information according to user preferences.

  The content distribution system according to the present invention includes a viewing information storage device that stores content information of video content reproduced by a control unit of the video receiving terminal, and a video receiving terminal based on the content information stored in the viewing information storage device. Created by a preference analysis device that calculates the degree of preference of the user's video content, extracts content information of the video content indicating the degree of preference above a preset threshold, and creates preference information, and a preference analysis device A content extraction device that collates the preference information with the content information of the video content distributed by the multicast distribution video content server and the unicast distribution video content server, and extracts content information having a matching degree equal to or higher than a preset threshold; The video receiving terminal is content An extraction content information storage unit that stores content information extracted by the output device is provided, and the control unit of the video reception terminal transmits the video content corresponding to the content information stored in the extraction content information storage unit via the network interface unit. It is acquired from the multicast distribution video content server and the unicast distribution video content server and reproduced.

  According to this invention, it can suppress that the range of the content information extracted in consideration of a user preference becomes limited. In addition, it is possible to improve the accuracy of content information extracted in consideration of user preferences.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a content distribution system according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of the content distribution system according to the first embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the content delivery system by Embodiment 2. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the content distribution system according to the second embodiment.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a content distribution system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
The content distribution system according to the first embodiment includes a video reception terminal 1, a video distribution server 2, a video display device 3, an input device 4, a video storage device 5, a user database server 6, a preference analysis device 7, and a content extraction device 8. Has been.
The video receiving terminal 1 further includes a video data control unit (control unit) 11, a network interface unit 12, an external device connection interface unit (external connection interface unit) 13, and an extracted content list storage unit 14. The video distribution server 2 includes a multicast distribution video content server 21 and a unicast distribution video content server 22. The user database server 6 includes a viewing information storage unit (viewing information storage device) 61 and a preference information storage unit 62.

First, playback and recording of digital video content will be described.
The video receiving terminal 1 receives digital video content data distributed from the video distribution server 2 via the network interface unit 12 of a wireless or wired IP network. The received digital video content data is decoded by the video data control unit 11 and displayed on the video display device 3 such as a display. The user can view the video content via the video display device 3.

More specifically, when a user who is a viewer inputs a channel selection instruction via the input device 4 constituted by a remote controller or the like, the multicast distribution video content server 21 or the unicast distribution video is based on the channel selection instruction. The video content received from the content server 22 is decrypted and reproduced.
Distribution by the multicast distribution video content server 21 includes live video such as IP retransmission broadcast of terrestrial digital broadcast and multi-channel broadcast by a video service distributor. In addition, the distribution by the unicast distribution video content server 22 is based on a service in which video content is distributed at the time when a user requests, such as video on demand.

  In addition, the digital video content data input to the video data control unit 11 is transferred to the video storage device 5 via the external device connection interface unit 13 within the scope permitted by the copyright of the video content. Store in the storage area. On the other hand, the stored digital video content data is reproduced by digital video content stored by the video data control unit 11 via the external device connection interface unit 13 when the user selects video content viewed via the input device 4. Data is acquired and displayed on the video display device 3. As a result, the user can view the video content at any time. The external device connection interface unit 13 is configured by, for example, a USB, and the video storage device 5 is configured by a USB connection hard disk or the like.

Next, generation of user preference information and content extraction based on user preference information will be described.
The video data control unit 11 stores information such as the digital video content viewed by the user, that is, the digital video content output to the video display device 3 and the genre, program name, and performer of the digital video content stored in the video storage device 5. Acquired from the EIT (Event Information Table) included in the received data of each digital video content, summarizes it as user viewing information, and stores it in the viewing information storage unit 61.

The preference analysis device 7 acquires the user viewing information stored in the viewing information storage unit 61 and analyzes the user's preference.
First, user viewing information related to unicast video content is acquired, and the user's preference level is analyzed. Compared to passively receiving video content that the server is currently delivering in real time, such as live delivery video, the user actively selects video content for unicast video content such as video on demand. Because video content is often charged for viewing, unicast video content is judged to have a great influence when analyzing user preferences, and is given a high preference. To do. Extracting video content using user viewing information related to this unicast video content is effective in improving the accuracy of video content extraction.

Next, the preference analysis device 7 acquires user viewing information related to the video content stored in the video storage device 5 and user viewing information related to the video content for which a reservation to be stored in the video storage device 5 is set. Analyze the degree.
Since the video content that has been recorded and viewed in the video storage device 5 is a video content that is desired to be recorded and viewed without fail, a high degree of preference is given. Furthermore, a higher preference is given to video content that is viewed multiple times. Further, when video content having the same or similar program information is recorded a plurality of times, it is conceivable that the video content is accumulated and viewed together in a series, and therefore, high preference is given. On the other hand, since the video content recorded in the video storage device 5 may include a lot of video content that has been recorded but is not of interest to the user and is not viewed, the video content is not viewed. On the other hand, a low preference level is given.

Next, the preference analysis device 7 acquires user viewing information related to the multicast distribution video content and analyzes the user's preference level.
When viewing video content with the same or similar program name, or when viewing multiple video content of the same performer, a high degree of preference is given in the same manner as in the above processing.

  The preference analysis device 7 refers to the given preference level, and stores content information of digital video content having a preference level equal to or higher than a preset threshold value in the preference information storage unit 62 as user preference information.

The content extraction apparatus 8 compares the user preference information stored in the preference information storage unit 62 with the content information of the multicast distribution video content server 21 and the content information of the unicast distribution video content server 22 to calculate the fitness. Then, the content information having the matching degree equal to or higher than the preset threshold is extracted and listed, and the generated content information list is stored in the extracted content list storage unit 14 of the video receiving terminal 1.
The video data control unit 11 of the video receiving terminal 1 displays the extracted content list stored in the extracted content list storage unit 14 on the video display device 3 and reproduces the video content selected by the user. The video data control unit 11 also makes a recording reservation for the multicast distribution video content in the extracted content list.

Next, a preference analysis and content extraction operation of the content distribution system according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the content distribution system according to the first embodiment.
The preference analysis device 7 acquires user viewing information of the unicast distribution video content from the viewing information storage unit 61, and calculates the preference level (step ST1). Similarly, the user viewing information of the recorded video content is acquired from the viewing information storage unit 61, the preference level is calculated (step ST2), the user viewing information of the multicast distribution video content is acquired from the viewing information storage unit 61, and the preference level is calculated. Is calculated (step ST3). The preference analysis device 7 refers to the user viewing information and the preference level acquired in steps ST1 to ST3, and uses the content information of the video content having the preference level equal to or higher than a preset threshold as the user preference information as a preference information storage unit. 62 (step ST4).

  The content extraction device 8 collates the user preference information stored in step ST4 with the content information of the multicast distribution video content server 21 and the content information of the unicast distribution video content server 22 (step ST5). In the collation in step ST5, content information whose degree of matching between the user preference information and each content information is equal to or greater than a preset threshold is extracted (step ST6), the extracted content information is listed, and the extracted content list of the video receiving terminal 1 is extracted. Store in the storage unit 14 (step ST7).

  The video data control unit 11 determines whether or not an instruction to display the extracted content list is input from the input device 4 (step ST8). When a content list display instruction is input (step ST8; YES), the video data control unit 11 reads the extracted content list from the extracted content list storage unit 14 and displays it on the video display device 3 (step ST9). On the other hand, when a content list display instruction is not input (step ST8; NO), the processing is repeated.

  When the user selects a desired video content from the extracted content list displayed on the video display device 3 (step ST10; YES), the video data control unit 11 multicasts video content data corresponding to the selected video content. Obtained from the content server 21 or the unicast video content server 22 (step ST11). The video content data acquired in step ST11 is decoded and displayed on the video display device 3 (step ST12).

  On the other hand, when the extracted content list is stored in step ST7, the video data control unit 11 also determines whether or not the extracted content list includes multicast distribution video content scheduled to be distributed (step ST13). When the multicast distribution video content scheduled to be distributed is not included (step ST13; NO), the process is terminated. On the other hand, when multicast distribution video content to be distributed is included (step ST13; YES), the video data control unit 11 sets a recording reservation for the content (step ST14), and ends the process.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, user viewing information related to unicast video content, user viewing information related to multicast video content, and user viewing information related to video content stored in the video storage device 5 are stored. Since it is configured to include the viewing information storage unit 61 and the preference analysis device 7 that analyzes the user's preference level in consideration of the three types of user viewing information stored in the viewing information storage unit 61, a more expanded range Therefore, it is possible to select content that is estimated to be of interest to the user.

  Further, according to the first embodiment, in addition to the content information stored in the multicast distribution video content server 21, the content information stored in the unicast distribution video content server 22 is also taken into account, so that it matches the user preference information. Since the content extraction device 8 for calculating the degree of content and extracting the content information recommended for the user is provided, the range of the recommended content information is suppressed from being limited, and the range of interest of the user is expanded. Can be made.

  Further, according to the first embodiment, when the preference analysis device 7 gives the user's preference level, for example, viewing of unicast video content is judged to have a high influence on the user's preference level. Since the degree of preference is given by weighting according to the type of video content, for example, the degree of preference is given, it is possible to create highly accurate user preference information.

  In the above-described first embodiment, the extracted content information is listed and stored in the extracted content list storage unit 14 of the video receiving terminal 1. However, the display of the content information is limited to the list display. Instead, it can be changed as appropriate.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
In the second embodiment, a configuration in which user preference information is shared among a plurality of video receiving terminals will be described.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a content distribution system according to the second embodiment.
In the second embodiment, a configuration is shown in which two video receiving terminals 1a and 1b are connected via a video distribution server 2 and a user database server 6 '. Hereinafter, when the user A uses the video receiving terminal 1a, the user B uses the video receiving terminal 1b, and the user A and the user B are, for example, acquaintances, the user A wants to share preferences or video content In the following description, it is assumed that the user B sharing the above is registered in the video receiving terminal 1a. The video receiving terminals 1a and 1b are the same as the video receiving terminal 1 shown in the first embodiment, but the video data control units 11a and 11b, the network interface units 12a and 12b, the external device connection interface units 13a and 13b, and the extracted content. The list storage units 14a and 14b are configured and the block diagram showing them is the same as that shown in FIG.

  The user database server 6 ′ stores a user A viewing information storage unit 61a that stores user viewing information input from the video receiving terminal 1a of the user A and a user viewing information input from the video receiving terminal 1b of the user B. A user B viewing information storage unit 61b. Furthermore, a user A preference information storage unit 62a for storing user preference information generated by the preference analysis device 7 ′ based on the user viewing information stored in the user A viewing information storage unit 61a, and a user B viewing information storage unit 61b. A user B preference information storage unit 62b that stores user preference information generated based on the user viewing information stored in the user viewing information.

  The preference analysis device 7 ′ refers to the user viewing information stored in the user A viewing information storage unit 61a, calculates the preference level of the user A, and stores it in the user A preference information storage unit 62a. Similarly, the preference level of the user B is calculated with reference to the user viewing information stored in the user B viewing information storage unit 61b and stored in the user B preference information storage unit 62b.

The content extraction device 8 ′ includes a preference information integration unit 81 that integrates user A's preference information and user B's preference information, and a content extraction unit 82 that extracts content information based on the integrated preference information.
The preference information integration unit 81 receives an instruction from the input device 4a of the user A as to whether or not to extract content information in consideration of the preference information of the user B. On the other hand, from the input device 4b of the user B, information indicating what recommendation level the user B's preference information is to be provided to is input. That is, the user B can adjust the recommendation level of his / her preference information to the user A, and sets the recommendation level of his / her preference level high so that the content he / she wants to share with the user A is extracted. be able to. As a result, the content that the user A wants to share can be easily extracted on the user A side.

  The preference information integration unit 81 receives the preference information of the user A and the user B from the user A preference information storage unit 62a and the user B preference information storage unit 62b when an instruction for adding the preference information of the user B is input. get. The integrated preference information is generated by integrating the acquired preference information of the user A and the preference information of the user B to which the recommendation degree designated through the input device 4b of the user B is added.

The content extraction unit 82 of the content extraction device 8 ′ calculates the fitness by comparing the generated integrated preference information with the content information of the multicast distribution video content server 21 and the content information of the unicast distribution video content server 22, Content information having a fitness level equal to or higher than a preset threshold value is extracted and listed, and the generated content information list is stored in the extracted content list storage unit 14a of the video receiving terminal 1a of the user A.
The video data control unit 11a of the video receiving terminal 1a displays the extracted content list stored in the extracted content list storage unit 14a on the video display device 3a, and reproduces the video content selected by the user. In addition, the video data control unit 11a makes a recording reservation for multicast distribution video content in the extracted content list.

  Next, a preference analysis and content extraction operation of the content distribution system according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the content distribution system according to the first embodiment. In the following, the same steps as those in the content distribution system according to Embodiment 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those used in FIG.

  The preference analysis device 7 'receives user viewing information of the user A from the user A viewing information storage unit 61a as user viewing information for unicast distribution video content, user viewing information for recorded video content, and user viewing information for multicast distribution video content. Obtaining and calculating the degree of preference of each user viewing information (step ST21). Furthermore, the video content information whose preference degree calculated in step ST21 is equal to or greater than a preset threshold value is stored in the user A preference information storage unit 62a as user A preference information (step ST22).

  Furthermore, the preference analysis device 7 ′ receives user viewing information of the user B from the user B viewing information storage unit 61b, user viewing information for unicast delivery video content, user viewing information for recorded video content, and user viewing information for multicast delivery video content. And the degree of preference of each user viewing information is calculated (step ST23). Furthermore, the video content information whose preference calculated in step ST23 is equal to or greater than a preset threshold is stored in the user B preference information storage unit 62b as user B preference information (step ST24).

  The preference information integration unit 81 of the content extraction device 8 ′ determines whether or not a preference information integration instruction is input from the input device 4a of the user A (step ST25). When the preference information integration instruction has not been input (step ST25; NO), the process proceeds to step ST5 of the flowchart of FIG. 2 described in the first embodiment. On the other hand, if the preference information integration instruction is input (step ST25; YES), the preference information integration unit 81 uses the preference information of user A stored in step ST22 and the preference information of user B stored in step ST24. Acquired and integrated to generate integrated preference information (step ST26). In addition, when the information which instruct | indicates with what recommendation degree preference information is provided is input from the input apparatus 4b of the user B, the preference information integration part 81 sets this recommendation degree to the preference information of the user B. Integrated preference information is generated in consideration of the above.

  The content extraction unit 82 of the content extraction device 8 ′ collates the integrated preference information generated in step ST26 with the content information of the multicast distribution video content server 21 and the content information of the unicast distribution video content server 22 (step ST27). ). In the collation in step ST27, content information whose degree of matching between the user preference information and each content information is equal to or higher than a preset threshold is extracted (step ST6), the extracted content information is listed, and the extracted content list of the video receiving terminal 1a Store in the storage unit 14a (step ST7). Since the subsequent processing in the video receiving terminal 1a is the same as that of the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, the content extraction device 8 ′ is integrated with the preference information integration unit 81 that integrates the user preference information registered when the preference is shared with the user's preference information. A content extraction unit 82 for collating the user preference information with the content information of the multicast distribution video content server 21 and the content information of the unicast distribution video content server 22 and extracting content information having a matching degree equal to or higher than a threshold value. Since it comprised, the user can exploit the new preference recommended from other users' preference information out of a huge number of contents in a video delivery server.
Furthermore, it is possible to improve the probability of viewing content such as movies and dramas viewed by many of the friends, thereby providing a richer entertainment venue for the user.

  In the second embodiment described above, the configuration in which the user A uses the preference information of the user B is shown. However, the user B may extract the content information using the preference information of the user A. Further, three or more video receiving terminals used by three or more users may be connected via a user database server and a video distribution server.

  In the second embodiment described above, the extracted content information is listed and stored in the extracted content list storage unit 14a of the video receiving terminal 1a. However, the display of content information is limited to list display. Instead, it can be changed as appropriate.

  In the present invention, within the scope of the invention, any combination of the embodiments, or any modification of any component in each embodiment, or omission of any component in each embodiment is possible. .

  1, 1a, 1b Video receiving terminal, 2 Video distribution server, 3, 3a, 3b Video display device, 4, 4a, 4b Input device, 5, 5a, 5b Video storage device, 6 User database server, 7, 7 'preference Analyzing device, 8, 8 'content extracting device, 11, 11a, 11b Video data control unit, 12, 12a, 12b Network interface unit, 13, 13a, 13b External device connection interface unit, 14, 14a, 14b Extracted content list storage Unit, 21 multicast distribution video content server, 22 unicast distribution video content server, 61, 61a, 61b viewing information storage unit, 62, 62a, 62b preference information storage unit, 81 preference information integration unit, 82 content extraction unit.

Claims (6)

A multicast distribution video content server for multicast distribution of video content;
A unicast video content server that unicasts video content;
A network interface unit that receives video content distributed from the multicast distribution video content server and the unicast distribution video content server, and a control unit that reproduces and displays the video content acquired via the network interface unit on a display device In a content distribution system comprising a video receiving terminal having
Viewing information storage device for storing content information of unicast video content reproduced by the control unit and content information of video content multicast-distributed;
Content of video content indicating the degree of preference of a user using the video receiving terminal with respect to video content based on content information stored in the viewing information storage device, and indicating a degree of preference equal to or greater than a preset threshold A preference analyzer that extracts information and creates preference information;
Content having a matching degree equal to or higher than a preset threshold value by comparing the preference information created by the preference analysis device with the content information of the video content distributed by the multicast distribution video content server and the unicast distribution video content server A content extraction device for extracting information,
The video receiving terminal includes an extracted content information storage unit that stores content information extracted by the content extraction device, and the control unit stores video content corresponding to the content information stored in the extracted content information storage unit. A content distribution system that acquires and plays back from the multicast distribution video content server and the unicast distribution video content server via the network interface unit. A multicast distribution video content server for multicast distribution of video content;
A unicast video content server that unicasts video content;
A network interface unit that receives video content distributed from the multicast distribution video content server and the unicast distribution video content server, and a control unit that reproduces and displays the video content acquired via the network interface unit on a display device In a content distribution system comprising a plurality of video receiving terminals having
Viewing information storage device for storing content information of unicast video content reproduced by the control unit and content information of video content multicast-distributed;
Based on the content information stored in the viewing information storage device, the degree of preference for the video content for each user who uses each video receiving terminal is calculated, and the video content indicating the degree of preference above a preset threshold is calculated. A preference analyzer for extracting content information and creating preference information for each user;
Of the preference information for each user created by the preference analysis device, the preference information integration unit that selects and integrates the preference information of users who should share preferences, the preference information integrated by the preference information integration unit, and the multicast A content extraction unit comprising: a distribution video content server; and a content extraction unit that collates content information of video content distributed by the unicast distribution video content server and extracts content information having a matching degree equal to or higher than a preset threshold value Equipment,
Each of the video receiving terminals includes an extracted content information storage unit that stores content information extracted by the content extraction device, and the control unit stores video content corresponding to the content information stored in the extracted content information storage unit. The content distribution system is obtained from the multicast distribution video content server and the unicast distribution video content server through the network interface unit and plays back.   The control unit receives an instruction to select video content to be displayed and reproduced on the display device with the content information stored in the extracted content information storage unit, and based on the input selection instruction, the multicast distribution video content server or 3. The content distribution system according to claim 1, wherein video content is received from the unicast distribution video content server and reproduced. A video storage device for storing video content received by the video receiving terminal;
The video receiving terminal includes an external connection interface unit that outputs the video content acquired by the control unit to the video storage device and reads the video content stored in the video storage device and outputs the video content to the control unit,
The viewing information storage device stores content information of video content output to the video storage device via the external connection interface unit, and content information of video content read from the video storage device by the external connection interface unit. ,
The control unit acquires the multicast distribution video content corresponding to the content information stored in the extracted content information storage unit from the multicast distribution video content server, and stores the multicast distribution video content in the video storage device via the external connection interface unit. The content distribution system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein Multicast delivery video content server multicast delivery of video content, unicast delivery video content server unicast delivery of video content, and video receiving terminal receives and plays the multicast delivery and unicast delivery video content In the content distribution method,
A viewing information storage device stores content information of unicast video content played back at the video receiving terminal and content information of video content multicast-delivered;
The preference analysis device calculates the degree of preference of the video content of the user based on the content information stored in the viewing information storage device, and extracts the content information of the video content indicating the preference level equal to or higher than a preset threshold value And creating preference information,
The content extraction device collates the preference information created by the preference analysis device with the content information of the multicast distribution video content and the unicast distribution video content, and obtains content information having a fitness equal to or higher than a preset threshold. Extracting, and
The video receiving terminal stores the content information extracted by the content extraction device, and acquires video content corresponding to the stored content information from the multicast distribution video content server and the unicast distribution video content server. A content distribution method comprising: a reproducing step. Multicast delivery video content server multicast delivery of video content, unicast delivery video content server unicast delivery of video content, a plurality of video receiving terminals receive the multicast delivery and the unicast delivery video content, In the content distribution method to be played back,
A viewing information storage device storing content information of unicast-delivered video content reproduced in the plurality of video receiving terminals and content information of multicast-delivered video content;
A preference analysis device calculates a degree of preference for video content for each user using the video receiving terminal based on content information accumulated in the viewing information storage device, and sets a degree of preference equal to or greater than a preset threshold. Extracting content information of the video content shown to create preference information;
The content extraction device selects and integrates user preference information that should be shared among the preference information for each user created by the preference analysis device, the integrated preference information, and the multicast delivery video content Collating content information of a video content distributed by the server and the unicast video content server, and extracting content information having a degree of conformance equal to or higher than a preset threshold value,
Each video receiving terminal stores the content information extracted by the content extraction device, and the video content corresponding to the stored content information is transmitted from the multicast distribution video content server and the unicast distribution video content server. A content distribution method comprising: obtaining and reproducing the content.

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