JP2013219688A - Recording reservation system, video recording reservation system, video recording reservation instruction device, video recording controller and television receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recording reservation system which can highly precisely reserve recording of a program adjusted to a taste of a viewer and to provide a video recording reservation system, a video recording reservation instruction device, a video recording controller and a television receiver.SOLUTION: A television receiver (recording controller, video recording controller) 1 transmits a program viewed during broadcasting and viewing time of the program reproduced in a recorder 2 to a video recording reservation instruction device (recording reservation instruction device) 3. The video recording reservation instruction device 3 categorizes the program, integrates the viewing time by genres and classifies a plurality of television receivers 1 into groups in response to the viewing time integrated by the genres. The video recording reservation instruction device 3 gives an instruction on video recording reservation of the program equivalent to next broadcasting of the program viewed by the multiple television receivers 1 in the group to the television receiver 1 in the group. The program adjusted to the taste of the viewer is selected, and the program is securely recorded.

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording reservation system for making a recording reservation for a broadcast program according to the user's preference, a recording reservation system for making a recording reservation for a broadcast program, a recording reservation instruction device, a recording control device, and a television receiver. Related to the machine.

  Currently, television broadcast receivers and recording devices are in widespread use. The user views the broadcast program using a receiver at the time of broadcasting, or records the program on a recording device and views it later. Usually, in order to record a program, it is necessary to make a recording reservation in advance for designating a program to be recorded. When watching a program during broadcasting, the user can select a program that suits the taste, but when recording reservations, the contents of the program are not clear, so it is possible to select a program that suits the taste Is not limited.

  Therefore, a technology has been developed that allows a user to view a program that suits his / her preferences. In Patent Document 1, contents of recording reservations in a plurality of recording devices are totaled, the recording devices are grouped according to program preferences, and recording of programs for which recording reservations are made by a number of recording devices in the group. A technique for making a reservation to another recording apparatus is described. Patent Document 2 summarizes the viewing status of a plurality of users at the time of broadcasting a program, classifies the users according to the preference of the program, and uses the information on the program being watched by the user with the same preference. The technology introduced in is disclosed. With these techniques, it is possible to select a program that suits the user's preference for recording reservation.

JP 2004-320608 A JP 2003-189333 A

  However, the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 does not consider whether or not a recorded program has been viewed, although the recording reservation information is aggregated. Actually, there are programs that have been recorded but hardly meet the user's preference and are hardly viewed. For this reason, there is a high possibility that the program reserved for recording does not meet the user's preference. Further, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 2, since only the viewing status at the time of broadcasting the program is totaled, the preference for the recorded program is not reflected. As described above, the conventional technique has a problem that the accuracy of matching the selection of a program to the user's preference for recording reservation is poor.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to accurately match a user's preference by aggregating the viewing status of programs including recorded programs. A recording reservation system, a recording reservation system, a recording reservation instruction device, a recording control device, and a television receiver.

  The recording reservation system according to the present invention is a recording reservation system comprising a plurality of recording control devices for controlling recording of a broadcasted program, and a recording reservation instruction device for instructing recording reservations to the plurality of recording control devices. The recording control device is configured to identify a program reproduced from the recorded programs, a time length during which the program is reproduced, program information indicating the program identified by the means, and the time length. Means for transmitting time information to the recording reservation instruction device, the recording reservation instruction device classifying the program indicated by the program information received from the recording control device into one of a plurality of genres, Means for integrating the time length indicated by the time information received from each of the recording control devices for each genre into which the program is classified, and a jumper integrated by the means for each of the recording control devices. Means for classifying the plurality of recording control devices into a plurality of groups based on another time length, and a predetermined number or more of the recording control devices among the plurality of recording control devices classified into one group The means for specifying the program corresponding to the next broadcast of the program indicated by the same program information transmitted and the recording reservation instruction information for instructing the recording reservation of the program specified by the means are classified into the one group. Means for transmitting to a plurality of the recording control devices, and the recording control device further comprises reservation means for making a recording reservation for a program instructed to make a recording reservation by the recording reservation instruction information received from the recording reservation instruction device. It is characterized by providing.

  In the recording reservation system according to the present invention, the recording control device includes a means for receiving a broadcast signal representing a broadcast program, a program whose contents are output at the time of broadcasting based on the broadcast signal received by the means, and the Means for specifying the time length for which the content is output, program information indicating the program specified by the means, and means for transmitting the time information indicating the time length to the recording reservation instruction apparatus. Features.

  The recording reservation system according to the present invention includes a plurality of recording control devices that control recording of a broadcast program, and a recording reservation instruction device that instructs the plurality of recording control devices to make a recording reservation. The recording control device is configured to specify a program reproduced from the recorded programs, a time length during which the program is reproduced, program information indicating the program identified by the means, and the time length. Means for transmitting the time information shown to the recording reservation instruction device, wherein the recording reservation instruction device classifies the program indicated by the program information received from the recording control device into any of a plurality of genres, Means for accumulating the time length indicated by the time information received from each recording control device for each genre into which the program is classified, and a jean accumulated by the means for each recording control device; Means for classifying the plurality of recording control devices into a plurality of groups based on another time length; and a predetermined number or more of the recording control devices among the plurality of recording control devices classified into one group The means for specifying the program corresponding to the next broadcast of the program indicated by the same transmitted program information and the recording reservation instruction information for instructing the recording reservation of the program specified by the means are classified into the one group. Means for transmitting to a plurality of recording control devices, and the recording control device further comprises reservation means for making a recording reservation for a program instructed to make a recording reservation by the recording reservation instruction information received from the recording reservation instruction device. It is characterized by providing.

  In the recording reservation system according to the present invention, the recording control device includes a means for receiving a broadcast signal representing a broadcast program, a program in which an image based on the broadcast signal received by the means is output during broadcasting, and the Means for specifying a time length during which video is output; program information indicating the program specified by the means; and means for transmitting time information indicating the time length to the recording reservation instruction apparatus. Features.

  In the recording reservation system according to the present invention, the recording control device includes means for receiving a broadcast signal representing a broadcast program, display means for displaying an image based on the broadcast signal received by the means, and the display means. Includes: a program displaying the video at the time of broadcasting; a means for specifying a time length during which the display means displays the video; program information indicating the program specified by the means; and time information indicating the time length. And a means for transmitting to the recording reservation instruction apparatus.

  In the recording reservation system according to the present invention, an external recording device is connected to the recording control device, and the reservation means stores information indicating a program for which recording reservation is instructed by the recording reservation instruction information. And means for causing the recording device to record the program when the program indicated by the information is broadcast.

  A recording reservation instructing apparatus according to the present invention is a recording reservation instructing apparatus that instructs a plurality of external devices to make a recording reservation. Program information indicating a broadcast program and time information indicating a length of time the program is viewed Means for receiving from the plurality of external devices; means for classifying a program indicated by the program information received by the means into any of a plurality of genres; and a time length indicated by time information received from each of the external devices And means for classifying the plurality of external devices into a plurality of groups based on the time length for each genre that the means has accumulated for each of the external devices. And a program corresponding to the next broadcast of the program indicated by the same program information transmitted from a predetermined number or more of the external devices among the plurality of external devices classified into one group And stage, the recording reservation instruction that instructs the recording reservation of a program which the device is identified, characterized in that it comprises means for transmitting to a plurality of the external devices that are classified into the one group.

  A recording control apparatus according to the present invention is a recording control apparatus for controlling recording of a broadcasted program, and means for specifying a program reproduced in the recorded program and a time length during which the program is reproduced. Means for transmitting program information indicating the program specified by the means and time information indicating the time length to the outside, means for receiving recording reservation instruction information for instructing recording reservation for the specific program from the outside, Means for making a recording reservation of a program instructed to make a recording reservation by the recording reservation instruction information received by the means.

  A television receiver according to the present invention reproduces a program recorded by an external recording device, means for receiving a broadcast signal representing a broadcast program, display means for displaying an image based on the broadcast signal, and In a television receiver comprising: a playback means for playing back the program by receiving a playback signal for recording from the recording device and displaying video based on the playback signal on the display means. A program, a means for specifying the length of time for which the playback means played back the program, a program information indicating the program specified by the means, and a means for transmitting the time information indicating the time length to the outside Means for externally receiving recording reservation instruction information for instructing recording reservation of the program, means for storing information indicating a program for which recording reservation is instructed by the recording reservation instruction information, When the program indicated information is broadcast, characterized in that it comprises a means for recording the program on the recording device.

  The television receiver according to the present invention includes means for receiving a broadcast signal representing a broadcast program, display means for displaying an image based on the broadcast signal, means for recording the program that has received the broadcast signal, In a television receiver comprising a reproducing means for reproducing the program by causing the display means to display a video of the program recorded by the means, the reproducing means reproduces the program reproduced by the reproducing means, and the program. Means for specifying the reproduced time length, program information indicating the program specified by the means, means for transmitting the time information indicating the time length to the outside, and recording reservation for instructing recording reservation for the specific program Means for receiving instruction information from the outside, means for storing information indicating a program for which recording reservation is instructed by the recording reservation instruction information, and pre-recording when the program indicated by the information is broadcast Characterized in that it comprises a means for recording the program on the device.

  The television receiver according to the present invention includes: a program for displaying a video based on a received broadcast signal on the display means during broadcasting; a means for specifying a time length for displaying the video on the display means; Further comprising means for transmitting the program information indicating the program identified by and the time information indicating the time length to the outside.

  In the present invention, the recording control apparatus transmits time information indicating the viewing time of the program reproduced after recording to the recording reservation instruction apparatus. The recording reservation instruction device categorizes programs, accumulates viewing times indicated by time information by genre, and classifies a plurality of recording control devices into groups based on the viewing times accumulated by genre. The recording reservation instructing device instructs the recording control device in the group to make a recording reservation for a program corresponding to the next broadcast of the program viewed by many recording control devices in the group.

  In the present invention, the recording control device (television receiver) transmits time information indicating the viewing time of the program reproduced after recording to the recording reservation instruction device. The recording reservation instruction apparatus divides programs into genres, accumulates viewing times indicated by time information by genre, and classifies a plurality of recording control apparatuses into groups based on the viewing times accumulated by genre. In addition, the recording reservation instructing device instructs the recording control device in the group to make a recording reservation for a program corresponding to the next broadcast of the program viewed by many recording control devices in the group.

  In the present invention, the recording control apparatus transmits time information indicating the viewing time of a program viewed during broadcasting. The recording reservation instruction apparatus adds the viewing time of the program viewed during broadcasting to the viewing time of the reproduced program, and integrates the viewing time for each program genre.

  In the present invention, a program that accurately reflects the user's preference is specified based on the viewing time of the recorded and viewed program. The present invention has an excellent effect, such as reliably recording a program that matches the user's preference.

1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a configuration of a recording reservation system according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the television receiver and the recording device according to the first embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of a video recording reservation instruction | indication apparatus. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the example of the content of program data. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the example of the content of integration data. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the process which a television receiver performs, when a user views a broadcast program using a television receiver. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the example of the content of the stored program information and time information. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the process which transmits information to a recording reservation instruction | indication apparatus from a television receiver. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the process which a recording reservation instruction | indication apparatus instruct | indicates a recording reservation to a television receiver. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the structure of the video recording reservation system which concerns on Embodiment 2. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a television receiver according to Embodiment 2. FIG. FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of a recording reservation system according to a third embodiment.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings showing embodiments thereof.
(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of a recording reservation system according to the first embodiment. The recording reservation system includes a plurality of television receivers 1 and a recording reservation instruction device 3 capable of communicating with the television receiver 1 via a communication network N. A recording device 2 is connected to the television receiver 1. The television receiver 1 is a recording control device according to the present invention, and controls the operation of the recording device 2. The recording reservation instructing device 3 is configured using a general-purpose computer such as a server device, and performs processing for instructing each television receiver 1 to make a recording reservation.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the television receiver 1 and the recording device 2 according to the first embodiment. The television receiver 1 includes a calculation unit that performs calculation, a RAM (Random Access Memory) that stores information associated with the calculation, a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores a program necessary for the calculation, and the like. The control part 11 which controls operation | movement of each part of is provided. The television receiver 1 also includes an HDMI communication unit 13 that transmits and receives data according to the HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) standard. The HDMI communication unit 13 and the control unit 11 are connected to a CEC communication unit 14 that transmits and receives control data according to the CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) standard.

  The control unit 11 and the HDMI communication unit 13 are connected to a processing unit 12 that performs video processing and audio processing necessary for the television receiver 1. The processing unit 12 is connected to a tuner 17 that receives a broadcast signal by television broadcasting. The processing unit 12 performs a process of decoding a broadcast signal received by the tuner 17 and generating a video signal and an audio signal. The processing unit 12 includes a display device such as a liquid crystal panel or an EL (Electro Luminescence) panel, and includes a display unit 18 that displays an image, a speaker, an audio output terminal, and the like, and an audio output unit 19 that outputs audio. And are connected. The processing unit 12 displays video based on the video signal on the display unit 18 and causes the audio output unit 19 to output audio based on the audio signal. In this way, the video based on the broadcast signal is displayed, and the broadcasted program is viewed by the user.

  The control unit 11 is connected to a storage unit 15 that is a non-volatile memory or a hard disk, and a clock unit 16 that measures time. Further, the control unit 11 is connected to an external communication network N and a communication unit 110 that communicates with the outside. The control unit 11 performs processing for transmitting and receiving data from the communication unit 110 to the recording reservation instruction apparatus 3 via the communication network N. In addition, the television receiver 1 includes an operation unit (not shown) for receiving an operation from a user, or a reception unit (not shown) that receives a signal from a remote controller.

  The recording device 2 includes a calculation unit that performs a calculation, a RAM that stores information associated with the calculation, a ROM that stores a program necessary for the calculation, and the like, and includes a control unit 21 that controls the operation of each unit of the recording device 2. . The recording apparatus 2 includes a processing unit 22 that performs video processing and audio processing. The processing unit 22 is connected to a tuner 27, a hard disk drive (HDD) 28 that contains a hard disk and reads / writes data from / to the hard disk, and an optical disk drive 29 that reads / writes data from / to the optical disk. The processing unit 22 performs a process of decoding the broadcast signal received by the tuner 27 and generating a video signal and an audio signal. The processing unit 22 decodes the data read by the optical disc drive 29 and the HDD 28 to generate a video signal and an audio signal, and encodes the video signal and the audio signal to record them in the optical disc drive 29 and the HDD 28. Process to generate data. The optical program drive 29 or the HDD 28 records data obtained by encoding the video signal and the audio signal generated by the tuner 27 from the broadcast signal received by the tuner 27, thereby recording the broadcast program. The control unit 21 is connected to a storage unit 25 that is a non-volatile memory and a clock unit 26 that measures time. Note that the recording apparatus 2 may be provided with only one of the HDD 28 and the optical disk drive 29, or may be provided with other storage devices.

  An HDMI communication unit 23 is connected to the control unit 21 and the processing unit 22, and a CEC communication unit 24 is connected to the HDMI communication unit 23 and the control unit 21. The HDMI communication unit 23 is connected to the HDMI communication unit 13 of the television receiver 1 via a connection terminal and a communication cable. The HDMI communication unit 23 transmits the video signal and audio signal generated by the processing unit 22 to the television receiver 1. The HDMI communication unit 13 receives the video signal and the audio signal and inputs them to the processing unit 12. The processing unit 12 displays video based on the video signal on the display unit 18 and causes the audio output unit 19 to output audio based on the audio signal. In this way, the program recorded in the recording device 2 is reproduced.

  In addition, the control unit 11 executes processing for controlling the operation of the recording device 2 by transmitting and receiving control data according to the CEC standard. The HDMI communication unit 13 and the HDMI communication unit 23 are configured to transmit and receive HDMI data and control data corresponding to CEC separately from each other. The control unit 11 causes the CEC communication unit 14 to transmit control data corresponding to CEC from the HDMI communication unit 13 to the recording device 2. The HDMI communication unit 23 inputs control data corresponding to CEC among the received data to the CEC communication unit 24. The CEC communication unit 24 inputs control data to the control unit 21, and the control unit 21 controls the operation of the recording device 2 according to the input control data.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the recording reservation instruction apparatus 3. The recording reservation instructing device 3 includes a CPU 31 that performs calculation, a RAM 32 that stores temporary information generated along with the calculation, a drive unit 33 such as a CD-ROM drive that reads information from the recording medium 4 such as an optical disk, And a storage unit 34 such as a hard disk. The CPU 31 causes the drive unit 33 to read the program 41 recorded on the recording medium 4 from the recording medium 4 and causes the storage unit 34 to store the read program 41. The program 41 is loaded from the storage unit 34 to the RAM 32 as necessary. Based on the loaded program 41, the CPU 31 executes processing necessary for the recording reservation instruction apparatus 3. In addition, the recording reservation instruction apparatus 3 includes a communication unit 35 that performs communication via the communication network N and a clock unit 36 that measures time. Note that the program 41 may be downloaded from another server device (not shown) connected to the communication network N to the recording reservation instruction device 3 and stored in the storage unit 34.

  The storage unit 34 stores program data in which information about programs broadcast in the past and programs scheduled to be broadcast in the future is recorded. FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of contents of program data. A broadcast start time and a channel, which are information for specifying a program, are recorded in association with a program ID for distinguishing individual programs. Other information for specifying the program may be associated with the program ID. In addition, the program ID is recorded in association with the program genre. In the program data, information related to a program broadcast and a program scheduled to be broadcast during a predetermined period including at least the past week and the future week is recorded.

  In addition, the storage unit 34 stores accumulated data in which the length of time obtained by accumulating the viewing time of a program viewed on each television receiver 1 by genre is recorded. FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of the contents of integrated data. An accumulated viewing time obtained by integrating the length of time that a program of each genre is viewed by the television receiver 1 and a program ID of a program classified into each genre are recorded in association with each genre. Integration data is stored for each television receiver 1. The recording reservation instruction device 3 may be composed of a plurality of computers.

  Next, the operation of the recording reservation system will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing executed by the television receiver 1 when a user views the broadcast program using the television receiver 1. The controller 11 waits for the start of viewing of the program by the user as needed (S11). When the tuner 17 receives a broadcast signal and displays a video based on the received broadcast signal on the display unit 18 during the broadcast, the control unit 11 determines that the program being broadcast is being viewed. . When the HDMI communication unit 13 receives a video signal and the video based on the received video signal is displayed on the display unit 18, the control unit 11 is viewing a program reproduced by the recording device 2. Is determined. At this time, in the recording device 2, the data of the program recorded by the optical disk drive 29 or the HDD 28 is read, the processing unit 22 generates a video signal from the read data, and the HDMI communication unit 23 transmits the video signal. As a result, the recorded program is reproduced. In this way, the control unit 11 detects the real-time viewing of the program being broadcast and the viewing of the program reproduced by the recording device 2. When viewing of the program is not started (S11: NO), the control unit 11 continues waiting.

  When viewing of the program is started (S11: YES), the control unit 11 specifies the program (S12). When a broadcast program is being viewed, the processing unit 12 extracts information that can identify the program from the broadcast signal, and inputs the extracted information to the control unit 11. The control unit 11 specifies a program by inputting information that can specify the program from the processing unit 12. The information that can specify the program is, for example, information indicating the broadcast start time of the program and the broadcast channel. The information that can identify the program may be other information. When the program reproduced by the recording device 2 is being viewed, the processing unit 22 extracts information that can identify the program from the data read by the optical disk drive 29 or the HDD 28, and the HDMI communication unit 23 can identify the program. Send information. The HDMI communication unit 13 receives information that can specify a program and inputs the received information to the control unit 11. The control unit 11 specifies a program by inputting information that can specify the program from the HDMI communication unit 13. Further, the control unit 11 stores the viewing start time measured by the clock unit 16 when viewing of the program is started. Note that the control unit 11 may perform processing for causing the clock unit 16 to start measuring viewing time.

  Next, the control unit 11 determines whether or not the program being viewed has been changed (S13). When the program being viewed is changed by changing the channel of the broadcast signal, when the broadcast of the program ends and the broadcast of another program starts, or when the playback of the program ends and the playback of the other program starts When it is, the control unit 11 determines that the program being viewed has been changed. The control unit 11 is also viewed when viewing of a program being broadcast is stopped and playback of the program is started, or when playback of a program is stopped and viewing of the program being broadcast is started. It is determined that the current program has been changed. When the program being viewed is changed (S13: YES), the control unit 11 specifies the viewing time of the program that has been viewed (S14). In step S14, the control unit 11 acquires the viewing end time measured by the clock unit 17 when the program is changed, and specifies the viewing time by calculating the elapsed time from the viewing start time to the viewing end time. To do. Note that the control unit 11 may perform processing for acquiring the viewing time measured by the clock unit 16 and causing the clock unit 16 to reset the measurement of the viewing time when the program is changed. The viewing time corresponds to the length of time that the video based on the broadcast signal representing the program is output at the time of broadcasting, or the length of time that the program is played back.

  Next, the control unit 11 stores the program information indicating the program specified in step S12 and the time information indicating the viewing time specified in step S14 in the storage unit 15 in association with each other (S15). FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of the contents of stored program information and time information. As the program information, information indicating the broadcast start time of the program and the broadcast channel is stored, and information indicating the viewing time is stored in association therewith. Further, information indicating a difference between a program that was viewed during broadcasting or a program that was reproduced and viewed was stored. Program information and time information are stored for each of the viewed programs. After step S15 ends, the control unit 11 returns the process to step S12, and identifies the program being viewed.

  When there is no change in the program in step S13 (S13: NO), the control unit 11 determines whether or not the viewing of the program has ended (S16). For example, when a power switch (not shown) of the television receiver 1 is turned off, or when reception of a video signal at the HDMI communication unit 13 is interrupted and viewing of another program is not started, the control unit 11 Is determined to have been viewed. When viewing of the program has not ended (S16: NO), the control unit 11 returns the process to step S13. When the viewing of the program ends (S16: YES), the control unit 11 specifies the viewing time of the program that has been viewed (S17). Next, the control unit 11 stores the program information indicating the program specified in step S12 and the time information indicating the viewing time specified in step S17 in association with each other in the storage unit 15 (S18), and ends the process. The television receiver 1 repeats the processes of steps S11 to S18 as needed.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing for transmitting information from the television receiver 1 to the recording reservation instruction apparatus 3. The control unit 11 of the television receiver 1 performs a process of waiting for a predetermined time based on the time measured by the clock unit 16 in parallel with the processes of steps S11 to S18 (S21). If it is not the predetermined time (S21: NO), the control unit 11 continues to wait. When the predetermined time is reached (S21: YES), the control unit 11 performs a process of transmitting the program information and time information stored in the storage unit 16 to the recording reservation instruction apparatus 3 (S22). In step S <b> 22, the control unit 11 causes the communication unit 110 to transmit program information and time information to the recording reservation instruction apparatus 3 via the communication network N. The control unit 11 deletes the transmitted program information and time information from the storage unit 15. Note that the television receiver 1 may execute the process of step S22 every time a predetermined time elapses, instead of executing the process of step S22 every time a predetermined time comes. Moreover, the television receiver 1 may perform the process of step S21-S22 every day, and may perform it for every period more than two days. Moreover, the television receiver 1 may perform the process of step S22 each time the program information and the time information are generated.

  The recording reservation instruction apparatus 3 receives the program information and time information transmitted from the plurality of television receivers 1 via the communication network N by the communication unit 35 (S23). The CPU 31 refers to the program data stored in the storage unit 34, and classifies the program indicated by the program information into one of a plurality of genres (S24). For example, the CPU 31 searches the program data for a program ID associated with the same broadcast start time and channel as the broadcast start time and channel included in the time information, and sets the genre associated with the searched program ID to the program. By reading from the data, the genre of the program indicated by the program information is determined. When a plurality of pieces of program information are transmitted from the television receiver 1, the programs are classified for each piece of program information. Next, the CPU 31 refers to the accumulated data stored in the storage unit 34 for the television receiver 1 that is the transmission source of program information, and adds the viewing time indicated by the time information to the accumulated viewing time for each genre. The viewing time is updated (S25), and the process ends. In step S25, the CPU 31 adds the viewing time indicated by the time information associated with the program information to the accumulated viewing time associated with the genre of the program indicated by the program information in the accumulated data, and uses the added value as the accumulated data. Process to record. Further, in step S25, the CPU 31 records the program ID of the program indicated by the program information in the integrated data in association with the genre.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing in which the recording reservation instruction apparatus 3 instructs the television receiver 1 to make a recording reservation. The CPU 31 performs a process of waiting for a predetermined time based on the time measured by the clock unit 36 (S31). If it is not the predetermined time (S31: NO), the CPU 31 continues to wait. When the predetermined time comes (S31: YES), the CPU 31 performs a plurality of genre-based cumulative viewing times recorded in the cumulative data stored in the storage unit 34 for each television receiver 1. The television receiver 1 is classified into a plurality of groups (S32). In step S32, for example, the CPU 31 classifies the plurality of television receivers 1 by genre with the longest accumulated viewing time. Further, for example, the CPU 31 classifies the plurality of television receivers 1 according to the difference in the order in which the genres are arranged in the order of the accumulated viewing time. Further, for example, the CPU 31 classifies the plurality of television receivers 1 according to the combination of genres whose accumulated viewing time is equal to or longer than a predetermined time. The recording reservation instruction apparatus 3 may store information indicating the classification criteria in the storage unit 34.

  Next, the CPU 31 selects one group from a plurality of groups into which the plurality of television receivers 1 are classified (S33). The CPU 31 refers to the accumulated data stored in the storage unit 34 for the television receivers 1 included in the selected group, and identifies a program viewed by a predetermined number or more of the television receivers 1 (S34). For example, the CPU 31 extracts a program ID by extracting the same program ID recorded in the accumulated data of the television receivers 1 of a predetermined ratio number or more among a plurality of television receivers 1 in the group. Is identified. Further, for example, the CPU 31 extracts the same program ID recorded in the integrated data of a predetermined number of predetermined television receivers 1. Next, the CPU 31 refers to the program data stored in the storage unit 34 and identifies a program corresponding to the next broadcast of the identified program (S35).

  Next, the CPU 31 generates recording reservation instruction information for instructing to make a recording reservation for the identified program, and performs processing for transmitting the generated recording reservation instruction information to the plurality of television receivers 1 in the group ( S36). The recording reservation instruction information includes information indicating a program to be reserved for recording, such as the broadcast start time and channel of the program. In step S <b> 36, the CPU 31 causes the communication unit 35 to transmit the recording reservation instruction information to the plurality of television receivers 1 in the group via the communication network N. Next, the CPU 31 determines whether or not there is another group that has not performed the processes of steps S33 to S36 (S37). If there is another group (S37: YES), the CPU 31 returns the process to step S33 and selects another group. If there is no other group (S37: NO), the CPU 31 ends the process. Note that the recording reservation instructing device 3 may execute the processing of steps S32 to S37 not every time a predetermined time is reached, but every time a predetermined time elapses. Further, the recording reservation instruction apparatus 3 may execute the processes of steps S31 to S37 every day or every two or more days. Further, the recording reservation instruction apparatus 3 may execute the process of step S32 immediately after step S25, and store the accumulated data classified by group in the storage unit 34. Further, the recording reservation instruction apparatus 3 may temporarily store the information received in step S23 in the storage unit 34, and execute the processes in steps S24 and S25 between steps S31 and S32.

  The television receiver 1 receives the recording reservation instruction information transmitted from the recording reservation instruction device 3 via the communication network N by the communication unit 110 (S38). As the program to be recorded, the control unit 11 stores in the storage unit 15 reservation data in which information specifying the program for which recording reservation is instructed in the recording reservation instruction information as the program to be recorded is stored in the storage unit 15 (S39). Exit. In the reservation data, information indicating a program for which recording reservation is instructed by the recording reservation instruction information, such as the broadcast start time and channel of the program, is recorded. Note that the control unit 11 may perform a process of causing the CEC communication unit 14 to transmit reservation data to the recording device 2 via the HDMI communication unit 13 in step S39. At this time, in the recording apparatus 2, the CEC communication unit 24 receives the reservation data via the HDMI communication unit 23, and the control unit 21 stores the reservation data in the storage unit 25. The recording reservation system repeats the processing of steps S21 to S25 and the processing of steps S31 to S39 as needed.

  When the broadcast start time of the program specified by the reservation data is reached, the control unit 11 causes the CEC communication unit 14 to transmit recording instruction information for instructing recording of the program to the recording device 2 via the HDMI communication unit 13. . The recording instruction information includes information indicating a program channel. In the recording device 2, the CEC communication unit 24 receives the recording instruction information via the HDMI communication unit 23, the tuner 27 receives a broadcast signal representing the program instructed to record by the recording instruction information, and the processing unit 22 Processing for recording program data in the HDD 28 or the optical disk drive 29 is performed. The television receiver 1 receives a broadcast signal by the tuner 17 and transmits a video signal and an audio signal of the program to the recording device 2, and the recording device 2 encodes the data obtained by encoding the received video signal and audio signal. It may be recorded. Further, in the form in which the recording data is stored in the recording device 2, the control unit 21 refers to the time measured by the clock unit 26, and when the broadcast start time of the program designated by the reservation data comes, the tuner 27 The broadcast signal is received, and the processing unit 22 is caused to execute processing for data recording. In this way, the recording apparatus 2 records the program for which the recording reservation instruction apparatus 3 has instructed the recording reservation.

  As described above in detail, in the present embodiment, the television receiver 1 is time information indicating the viewing time of a program viewed during broadcasting, and time information indicating the viewing time of a program reproduced by the recording device 2. Is transmitted to the recording reservation instruction apparatus 3. The recording reservation instruction apparatus 3 categorizes programs, accumulates viewing times indicated by time information by genre, and classifies the plurality of television receivers 1 into groups based on the viewing times accumulated by genre. The recording reservation instructing device 3 instructs the television receivers 1 in the group to make recording reservations for programs corresponding to the next broadcast of the programs viewed on many television receivers 1 in the group. Since the television receiver 1 is classified according to the viewing time accumulated for each program genre, the television receiver 1 is classified according to the user's preference. Since the classification based on the viewing time of the recorded and viewed program is performed in addition to the program viewed at the time of broadcasting, the classification of the television receiver 1 in which the user's preference is accurately reflected is performed. . There is a high possibility that a program corresponding to the next broadcast of a program viewed on many television receivers 1 classified in the same group is a program that matches the user's preference. For this reason, programs that match the user's preference are selected. By making a recording reservation for this program, the recording of the program that matches the user's preference is surely performed.

  In the present embodiment, the television receiver 1 is connected to the communication network N. However, the recording device 2 is connected to the communication network N, and the television receiver 1 A form in which information is transmitted to the communication network N via the device 2 may be employed.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of a recording reservation system according to the second embodiment. In the present embodiment, a television receiver 5 having a recording function is connected to the communication network N as a recording control device. FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the television receiver 5 according to the second embodiment. The television receiver 5 includes an HDD 51 and an optical disc drive 52, and the HDD 51 and the optical disc drive 52 are connected to the processing unit 12. Other configurations in the television receiver 5 are the same as those in the first embodiment, and corresponding portions are denoted by the same reference numerals. Note that the television receiver 5 may include only one of the HDD 51 and the optical disk drive 52 or may include another storage device.

  In the present embodiment, the television receiver 5 executes a process that combines the television receiver 1 and the recording device 2 in the first embodiment. That is, the television receiver 5 transmits to the recording reservation instructing device 3 the time information indicating the viewing time of the program viewed at the time of broadcasting and the reproduced program, and the recording reservation instructing device 3 instructs the recording reservation. Make a recording reservation. Also in the present embodiment, the recording reservation of the program that matches the user's preference is performed, and the program that meets the user's preference is surely recorded.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 12 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of a recording reservation system according to the third embodiment. In the present embodiment, the recording control device is a set top box 6. A television receiver 1 and a recording device 2 are connected to the set top box 6, and the set top box 6 is connected to a communication network N. The set-top box 6 receives a broadcast signal broadcast by a method such as television broadcast, cable broadcast, or Internet broadcast, displays a video based on the broadcast signal on the television receiver 1, and displays a program represented by the broadcast signal. The recording device 2 is made to record.

  The set top box 6 executes processing as a recording control device. That is, the set-top box 6 transmits time information indicating the viewing time of the program displayed on the television receiver 1 and the program reproduced on the recording device 2 to the recording reservation instructing device 3 at the time of broadcasting. Processing for causing the recording device 2 to record a program instructed to be reserved by the instruction device 3 is performed. Also in the present embodiment, the recording reservation of the program that matches the user's preference is performed, and the program that meets the user's preference is surely recorded. The set top box 6 may have a form having the function of the recording device 2. In this embodiment, the set-top box 6 transmits time information indicating the viewing time of the program whose video is displayed on the television receiver 1 during broadcasting and the program reproduced by itself to the recording reservation instructing device 3, and the recording reservation instruction The recording reservation of the program instructed to be reserved by the apparatus 3 is performed. Even in this form, recording reservation of a program that matches the user's preference is performed.

  The recording reservation system of the present invention may include a plurality of types of recording control devices. For example, in the recording reservation system, the television receiver 1 described in the first embodiment, the television receiver 5 described in the second embodiment, and the set-top box 6 described in the third embodiment are communication networks. N may be connected.

  In the above first to third embodiments, the recording reservation system for recording a program including a video is shown. However, the present invention may be a recording reservation system for recording an audio broadcast program that does not include a video. The recording reservation system includes a recording reservation instruction device similar to the recording reservation instruction device 3 and a recording control device similar to the set top box 6. An audio output device and a recording device for recording an audio broadcast program are connected to the recording control device. The recording control device may have a function of an audio output device or a recording device. Similar to the recording control apparatus, the recording control apparatus transmits program information indicating a program reproduced by the recording apparatus and time information indicating a time length during which the program is reproduced to the recording reservation instruction apparatus. The recording reservation instructing device instructs the recording control device to make a recording reservation for a specific program by performing the same processing as the recording reservation instructing device. Also in this form, the recording reservation of the program that matches the user's preference is performed, and the program that matches the user's preference is surely recorded.

1, 5 Television receiver (recording control device)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Control part 12 Processing part 15 Memory | storage part 16 Clock part 17 Tuner 18 Display part 110 Communication part 2 Recording apparatus 3 Recording reservation instruction | indication apparatus 31 CPU
34 Storage Unit 35 Communication Unit 4 Recording Medium 6 Set Top Box (Recording Control Device)

Claims (11)

In a recording reservation system comprising a plurality of recording control devices for controlling recording of a broadcasted program, and a recording reservation instruction device for instructing recording reservation to the plurality of recording control devices,
The recording control device
Means for identifying a program reproduced in the recorded program, and a length of time during which the program was reproduced;
Means for transmitting program information indicating the program specified by the means and time information indicating the time length to the recording reservation instruction device;
The recording reservation instruction device
Means for classifying the program indicated by the program information received from the recording control device into one of a plurality of genres;
Means for integrating the time length indicated by the time information received from each of the recording control devices by genre into which the program is classified;
Means for classifying the plurality of recording control devices into a plurality of groups on the basis of the time length of each genre accumulated for each of the recording control devices;
Means for identifying a program corresponding to the next broadcast of the program indicated by the same program information transmitted from a predetermined number or more of the recording control devices among the plurality of recording control devices classified into one group;
Means for transmitting recording reservation instruction information for instructing recording reservation of the program specified by the means to the plurality of recording control devices classified into the one group;
The recording control device further includes:
A recording reservation system comprising: reservation means for performing recording reservation of a program for which recording reservation is instructed by the recording reservation instruction information received from the recording reservation instruction device. The recording control device
Means for receiving a broadcast signal representing the broadcasted program;
Means for specifying a program whose contents are output at the time of broadcasting based on a broadcast signal received by the means, and a time length during which the contents are output;
The recording reservation system according to claim 1, further comprising: program information indicating the program specified by the means, and means for transmitting time information indicating the time length to the recording reservation instruction apparatus. In a recording reservation system comprising a plurality of recording control devices that control recording of a broadcast program, and a recording reservation instruction device that instructs recording reservations to the plurality of recording control devices,
The recording control device comprises:
Means for identifying a program reproduced in the recorded program, and a length of time during which the program was reproduced;
Means for transmitting program information indicating the program specified by the means and time information indicating the time length to the recording reservation instruction device;
The recording reservation instruction device
Means for classifying the program indicated by the program information received from the recording control device into one of a plurality of genres;
Means for integrating the time length indicated by the time information received from each of the recording control devices by genre into which the program is classified;
Means for classifying the plurality of recording control devices into a plurality of groups based on the time length of each genre accumulated for each of the recording control devices;
Means for identifying a program corresponding to the next broadcast of the program indicated by the same program information transmitted from a predetermined number or more of the recording control devices among the plurality of recording control devices classified into one group;
Means for transmitting recording reservation instruction information for instructing recording reservation of the program specified by the means to the plurality of recording control devices classified into the one group;
The recording control device further includes:
A recording reservation system comprising: reservation means for performing recording reservation of a program for which recording reservation is instructed by the recording reservation instruction information received from the recording reservation instruction device. The recording control device comprises:
Means for receiving a broadcast signal representing the broadcasted program;
Means for specifying a program in which video based on a broadcast signal received by the means is output during broadcasting, and a time length for which the video is output;
The recording reservation system according to claim 3, further comprising: program information indicating the program specified by the means and means for transmitting time information indicating the time length to the recording reservation instruction apparatus. The recording control device comprises:
Means for receiving a broadcast signal representing the broadcasted program;
Display means for displaying video based on the broadcast signal received by the means;
A program for displaying the video during broadcasting by the display means, and a means for specifying a length of time for which the display means displays the video;
The recording reservation system according to claim 3, further comprising: program information indicating the program specified by the means and means for transmitting time information indicating the time length to the recording reservation instruction apparatus. The recording control device is connected to an external recording device,
The reservation means is
Means for storing information indicating a program for which recording reservation is instructed by the recording reservation instruction information;
6. The recording reservation system according to claim 5, further comprising means for causing the recording device to record the program when the program indicated by the information is broadcast. In the recording reservation instructing device for instructing recording reservation to a plurality of external devices,
Means for receiving, from the plurality of external devices, program information indicating a broadcast program, and time information indicating the length of time the program has been viewed;
Means for classifying the program indicated by the program information received by the means into any of a plurality of genres;
Means for integrating the time length indicated by the time information received from each of the external devices by genre into which the program is classified;
Means for classifying the plurality of external devices into a plurality of groups based on time lengths by genre accumulated by the means for each of the external devices;
Means for identifying a program corresponding to the next broadcast of the program indicated by the same program information transmitted from a predetermined number of external devices among the plurality of external devices classified into one group;
A recording reservation instruction apparatus comprising: means for transmitting recording reservation instruction information for instructing a recording reservation of a program specified by the means to the plurality of external devices classified into the one group. In a recording control device that controls recording of a broadcasted program,
Means for identifying a program reproduced in the recorded program, and a length of time during which the program was reproduced;
Means for transmitting program information indicating the program specified by the means and time information indicating the time length to the outside;
Means for receiving recording reservation instruction information for instructing recording reservation of a specific program from the outside;
A recording control apparatus comprising: means for performing recording reservation of a program for which recording reservation is instructed by the recording reservation instruction information received by the means. A means for receiving a broadcast signal representing a broadcast program, a display means for displaying an image based on the broadcast signal, and a playback signal for playing back a program recorded by an external recording device are received from the recording device. In a television receiver comprising playback means for playing back the program by displaying video based on the playback signal on the display means,
Means for specifying the program played by the playback means and the length of time the program played back by the playback means;
Means for transmitting program information indicating the program specified by the means and time information indicating the time length to the outside;
Means for receiving recording reservation instruction information for instructing recording reservation of a specific program from the outside;
Means for storing information indicating a program for which recording reservation is instructed by the recording reservation instruction information;
Means for causing the recording device to record the program when the program indicated by the information is broadcast. Means for receiving a broadcast signal representing a broadcast program; display means for displaying a video based on the broadcast signal; means for recording a program that has received the broadcast signal; and a video of the program recorded by the means. In a television receiver comprising playback means for playing back the program by displaying on a display means,
Means for specifying the program played by the playback means and the length of time the program played back by the playback means;
Means for transmitting program information indicating the program specified by the means and time information indicating the time length to the outside;
Means for receiving recording reservation instruction information for instructing recording reservation of a specific program from the outside;
Means for storing information indicating a program for which recording reservation is instructed by the recording reservation instruction information;
Means for causing the recording device to record the program when the program indicated by the information is broadcast. A program for displaying a video based on the received broadcast signal on the display means during broadcasting, and a means for specifying a length of time for which the video is displayed on the display means;
The television receiver according to claim 9 or 10, further comprising: program information indicating the program specified by the means, and means for transmitting time information indicating the time length to the outside.

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