JP2013229646A - Dispersed collation system and method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To verify viewing content by getting a survey household to have a station-categorized master creation function and allocating a channel for the master dynamically.SOLUTION: Based on a master table, if a master to be collated is another terminal, collation request data is transmitted to the terminal (S501, S502). The request destination terminal compares the collation request data with master data held by the terminal itself (S503), and returns collation result data (S504-S508). If there is not an identical master in the same group (S509), the master table is requested to another group (S510) and a response to it is received (S511). Based on the received master table, a collation destination is determined (S512), the collation request data is transmitted to a concerned terminal in another group (S513) and the result of collation processing is obtained (S514, S515).

Description

  The present invention relates to a distributed collation system and method, and more particularly to a media contact type distributed collation system and method in which master data creation and collation with terminal data are distributed and installed in a plurality of survey household devices.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been disclosed a system that constantly monitors broadcast waves and reflects the monitoring results in audience rating and listening rate aggregation.
FIG. 28 shows a configuration diagram of a conventional media contact rate investigation system (see Patent Document 1).
The conventional media contact rate survey system includes, for example, a monitor facility 100, a calculation facility 200, and a survey target person's home device 300. The computing facility 200 includes, for example, a computer 221, interfaces (I / F) 222 and 223, and a storage unit 224.

  The monitor facility 100 extracts a broadcast identification signal from the broadcast reception signal, creates and outputs quality data indicating the quality of the broadcast identification signal. The calculation facility 200 inputs the quality data from the monitor facility 100 via the interface 223, and inputs log data related to the audience rating / listening rate via the interface 223 from the survey target person's home device 300. The computer 221 of the calculation facility 200 obtains the audience rating / listening rate for each hour based on the received log data, identifies the time when the broadcast and broadcast identification signal are not normally received based on the quality data, and at that time The audience rating / listening rate of the corresponding created storage unit 224 is corrected, stored in an aggregate data file regarding the audience rating / listening rate, and output.

  In addition, in Patent Document 2, each vehicle records measurement data including a feature amount and a measurement timing of a reproduced audio signal of a car radio at a predetermined time for each predetermined measurement start time, and collects the measurement data at a later time. A car radio listening situation survey system that can accurately investigate the listening situation of a car radio by transmitting to is disclosed.

JP 2002-185416 A JP-A-11-275032

  Many "center matching techniques" have been proposed in the past for collating audio and video data collected from "viewing devices of survey subjects" with master data created at "master data creation center". In order to investigate the TV and radio broadcast contact status using this method, it is necessary to set up a “master data creation center” that can be operated for each broadcast area. May swell.

Further, since there is no master data, the survey cannot be established, and it is assumed that one “master data creation center” in one broadcasting area is affected by a disaster or the like.
It is necessary to have master data for each channel. However, even in the same broadcasting station or the same content provider, for example, the number of channels may change depending on the time zone, or only the audio part and the video part may be different for each channel in the same program. Even if the channel is the same, it may be broadcast in two languages depending on the program, multi-voice (for example, baseball broadcast, etc., the first voice is “normal” commentary, the second voice is “home team patronage commentary”, The third voice may be “no comment”.
If a master channel is allocated “fixedly” so as to be able to deal with all these cases, the master creation apparatus becomes enormous.

In view of the above, the present invention provides a distributed collation system and method for collating viewing contents by providing a master creation function for each station to a survey household and assigning a master channel in a non-fixed manner. One of the purposes is to provide.
In addition, the present invention provides a distributed collation system and method that can reduce the installation / operation cost of a master data creation device and cope with a failure or disaster by providing a master creation device for each station in some survey households. For other purposes.
Another object of the present invention is to prevent the master data of a desired station from being unable to be acquired due to a disaster, a failure such as a household power failure, or a communication failure.
Furthermore, the present invention makes it unnecessary to prepare a high-performance device in the center facility because the verification of the voice data and the video data with the master data is performed at the terminal of the survey household and the verification unit of the center facility is unnecessary. For other purposes.

According to the first solution of the present invention,
In a distributed verification system for obtaining audience ratings, listening rates, contact rates or other contact status of television, radio, web or other content viewed, listened to, or contacted by communication between multiple survey household devices,
Each of multiple survey household devices assigned to multiple groups
Content viewing devices,
A research device,
With
The terminal
A master table for storing the terminal number in the group for each broadcast time or time and channel code and audio or video type,
Stores station-specific master data including master characterization data obtained by extracting a characteristic component from a terminal number, channel code, audio or video type, broadcast time or time, audio or video signal for preset master content Master data storage section by station,
A terminal data storage unit that stores terminal data including characterization data obtained by extracting a component that is characteristic from the terminal number, data collection time, audio or video signal regarding the viewed content;
A viewing status data storage unit for storing viewing number data including a terminal number, channel code, audio or video type, broadcast time or time, and characterization data;
A collation unit,

The collation unit executes collation processing for comparing the characterization data of the terminal data and the master characterization data of the master data of each station for the time to be collated from the table of viewing status data, and is collated. If it is determined that the content specified by the master data for each station is being viewed,
If the collation is not performed, the collation unit searches the master table, and collates with the collation destination terminal in the retrieved group, the collation destination terminal number, channel code, broadcast time or time, audio or video type, collation Send verification request data including time, requesting terminal number and characterization data,
The collation unit, the collation request destination terminal performs collation processing for comparing the characterization data of the collation request data with the master characterization data of the master data of each station, and the collation destination terminal number, Returns the verification result data including channel code, broadcast time or time, audio or video type, comparison time, requesting terminal number, similarity,
The collation unit refers to a group list in which terminal numbers belonging to each group are stored for each group when station-specific master data that matches or is similar to the same group is not collated. Request another group master table,
When the collation unit receives a master table of another group, the collation request data is transmitted to a terminal of another group based on the master table of the other group,
The collation unit receives the collation request data, and the other group of terminals executes the collation process and returns collation result data to collate the content viewed by the viewing device of the content, A distributed collation system for storing viewing situation data in the viewing situation data storage unit is provided.

According to the second solution of the present invention,
In a distributed verification system for obtaining audience ratings, listening rates, contact rates or other contact status of television, radio, web or other content viewed, listened to, or contacted by communication between multiple survey household devices,
Each of multiple survey household devices assigned to multiple groups
Content viewing devices,
A research device,
With
The terminal
A master table for storing the terminal number in the group for each broadcast time or time and channel code and audio or video type,
Stores station-specific master data including master characterization data obtained by extracting a characteristic component from a terminal number, channel code, audio or video type, broadcast time or time, audio or video signal for preset master content Master data storage section by station,
A terminal data storage unit that stores terminal data including characterization data obtained by extracting a component that is characteristic from the terminal number, data collection time, audio or video signal regarding the viewed content;
A viewing status data storage unit for storing viewing number data including a terminal number, channel code, audio or video type, broadcast time or time, and characterization data;
A distributed verification method in a distributed verification system comprising a verification unit,

The collation unit executes collation processing for comparing the characterization data of the terminal data and the master characterization data of the master data of each station for the time to be collated from the table of viewing status data, and is collated. If it is determined that the content specified by the master data for each station is being viewed,
If the collation is not performed, the collation unit searches the master table, and collates with the collation destination terminal in the retrieved group, the collation destination terminal number, channel code, broadcast time or time, audio or video type, collation Send verification request data including time, requesting terminal number and characterization data,
The collation unit, the collation request destination terminal performs collation processing for comparing the characterization data of the collation request data with the master characterization data of the master data of each station, and the collation destination terminal number, Returns the verification result data including channel code, broadcast time or time, audio or video type, comparison time, requesting terminal number, similarity,
The collation unit refers to a group list in which terminal numbers belonging to each group are stored for each group when station-specific master data that matches or is similar to the same group is not collated. Request another group master table,
When the collation unit receives a master table of another group, the collation request data is transmitted to a terminal of another group based on the master table of the other group,
The collation unit receives the collation request data, and the other group of terminals executes the collation process and returns collation result data to collate the content viewed by the viewing device of the content, A distributed collation method for storing viewing status data in the viewing status data storage unit is provided.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a distributed collation system and method by providing a master creation function for each survey household and assigning a master channel in a fixed manner.
In addition, according to the present invention, by providing a master creation device for each station in some surveyed households, it is possible to reduce the installation / operation cost of the master data creation device, and to cope with failures and disasters, and the like A method can be provided.
Further, the present invention can prevent master data of a desired station from being unable to be acquired due to a disaster, a failure such as a household power failure, or a communication failure.

  Furthermore, the present invention reduces the load on the center that is concentrated at the time of collation by distributing collation places for collating audio / video data and master data, and does not require a high-performance collation device at the aggregation center. A system can be provided.

The system block diagram of master assignment. Explanatory drawing of a terminal parameter. The flowchart about the allocation process of a master. The sequence diagram about the flow of group master determination. Explanatory drawing of the request / response of investigation terminal confirmation. Explanatory drawing of a group table. Example of EPG. Explanatory drawing of a master table. The block diagram of a survey terminal. The block diagram of viewing apparatuses, such as television, and an audio / video acquisition part. The sequence diagram when the investigation terminal of the self group ranking first is in a state where communication is not possible. An example when the group table is changed. The sequence diagram which inquires on a network and performs data collation. Explanatory drawing of a collation request data format. Explanatory drawing of the collation result data format to reply. Explanatory drawing of a master table request | requirement format. The format of viewing status data that each terminal has. Explanatory drawing of a viewing condition data format initialization state. Explanatory drawing of viewing condition data with collated data. Illustration of how to create a master table The flowchart of viewing-and-listening data collation processing. Survey system configuration diagram. The block diagram of a terminal data creation part. Explanatory drawing of a terminal data format. The block diagram of the master data preparation part according to a station. Explanatory drawing of the master data format according to a station. The system block diagram of an aggregation center. The block diagram of the conventional media contact rate investigation system.

1. Viewing situation measurement system with distributed master data creation and verification locations

FIG. 22 shows a configuration diagram of the survey system.
This survey system includes, for example, a plurality of survey household devices 1 and a counting center 3. This survey system is used by the survey center device 1 to obtain the contact status such as audience rating / listening rate / contact rate, viewing rate, etc. of the contents such as TV, radio, and web that have been viewed / listened / contacted in the counting center 3. belongs to. The survey household device 1 receives a master data creation station from a viewing device 11 such as a television for viewing a television, radio, PC, portable information device, etc., a survey terminal 12, a communication device 13, a broadcast wave, a network, etc. A receiving unit 14 is provided. The survey household device 1 communicates with the aggregation center 3 via the network 2. The counting center 3 includes a communication device 31, a terminal data collection device 32, and a counting unit 33.

FIG. 9 shows a configuration diagram of the survey terminal.
The survey terminal 12 includes, for example, an audio / video acquisition unit 120, a terminal data creation unit 121, a terminal data storage unit 122, a selector / tuner unit 123, a station-specific master data creation unit 124, and a station-specific master data storage. Unit 125, station-specific master management unit 126, viewing data collating unit 127, viewing state data storage unit 128, communication control unit 129, and processing unit 1200. The survey terminal 12 receives the audio / video signal from the viewing device 11 such as a television by the audio / video acquisition unit 120. Further, the survey terminal 12 receives the broadcast wave from the receiving unit 14 by the selector / tuner unit 123. Further, the investigation terminal 12 communicates with the communication device 13 by the communication control unit 129.
Each survey terminal 12 holds in advance a group list in which a terminal number belonging to each group is stored for each group in an appropriate memory such as the terminal data storage unit 122.

FIG. 10 shows a configuration diagram of a viewing device such as a television and an audio / video acquisition unit.
The audio / video acquisition unit 120 includes, for example, an input switching unit 1201, a signal detection unit 1202, and a control unit 1203. The input switching unit 1201 is connected to the viewing device 11 such as a television, and is switched by the control unit 1203, and the audio / video signal (monitor output analog audio signal, monitor output analog video signal, earphone analog audio signal, speaker analog) from the television viewing device 11 Audio signals, optical digital audio signals, HDMI signals, and the like) are connected to the signal detection unit 1202.

  The survey household device 1 first determines what output signal is used for determination from the target viewing device 11 such as a television. As shown in FIG. 10, the audio / video acquisition unit 120 detects the signal which is detected by the signal detection unit 1202 while switching the signal connected to the input side of the television viewing device 11 and the input switching unit 1201 with the control unit 1203. Is effective for the viewing situation measurement (signals valid for viewing situation determination differ depending on the viewing device or an external device such as a DVR connected to the viewing device). This processing is effective when the signals that can be used for determination differ depending on the viewing method even when the same viewing device is viewed, such as when viewing an externally connected device such as Blu-ray or DVR. The signal detection unit 1202 and the control unit 1203, for example, determine whether the signal is valid by monitoring the output of the signal and the presence / absence of the signal, or by presetting or manually setting the audio / video signal. Can be selected. The signal detection unit 1202 outputs the selected audio / video signal, and the control unit 1203 outputs master data type information.

FIG. 23 shows a configuration diagram of the terminal data creation unit. The terminal data creation unit 121 includes, for example, a feature amount acquisition unit 1211, a terminal data recording unit 1212, and a clock unit 1213. The audio / video signal input from the audio / video acquisition unit 120 is input to the feature amount acquisition unit 1211. The feature amount acquisition unit 1211 performs frequency analysis or the like on the selected audio / video signal and creates characterized data for viewing source determination. Characterized data (characterized data, feature amount) is, for example, a component obtained by extracting a characteristic component from an audio signal or video signal as disclosed in JP-A-11-275032. (Power vector obtained by logarithmically converting the average amplitude of each band) (details will be described later). Also, the feature amount acquisition unit 1211 creates characterized data indicating silence or no signal when a screen without silence or video is determined. The feature amount acquisition unit 1211 delivers the characterized data to the terminal data recording unit 1212.

The clock unit 1213 is calibrated through the communication control unit 127. The clock is calibrated using a method such as an NTP network or a radio clock or GPS.
The terminal data recording unit 1212 adds the terminal number and viewing device number set in advance to the data characterized by the feature amount acquisition unit 1211, the data collection time acquired from the clock unit 1213, and the master received from the audio / video acquisition unit 121. Header information (header portion) such as data type and data size is added, terminal data is created in a predetermined format (described later, FIG. 24), and stored in the terminal data storage unit 122.

FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram of the terminal data format.
The terminal data 101 includes, for example, characterized data that is data characterized by a header part. The header part includes a terminal number, viewing device number, data collection time, master data type, and data size. The master data type indicates, for example, types such as monitor output, earphone output, speaker output, optical output, HDMI signal, video output, audio output, optical output, and TS signal.

FIG. 25 shows the configuration of the station-specific master data creation unit.
The station-specific master data creation unit 124 includes, for example, a selector / tuner control unit 1241, a parameter unit 1242, a feature amount acquisition unit 1243, a clock unit 1244, and a master data recording unit 1245.
Content information including a master station or channel code and master data type determined in advance for each household is stored in the parameter storage unit 1242, and the selector / tuner control unit 1241 controls the selector / tuner unit 123 based on the parameter 1242. Then, a signal is received from the selector / tuner unit 123. The selector / tuner section output signal may be a signal such as audio or video or may be encoded data. In the case of an audio / video signal, it is input to the feature amount acquisition unit 1243, and frequency analysis or the like is performed on the selected audio / video signal to create characteristic data for viewing source determination. Characterized data (characterized data) is, for example, a component obtained by extracting a characteristic component from an audio signal or video signal (for example, for each passband as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-275032). (Power vector obtained by logarithmically converting the average amplitude) (details will be described later). The data characterized by the feature amount acquisition unit 1243 is input to the master data recording unit 1245. Also, in the case of encoded data such as an optical digital signal, it can be used as characteristic data as master data as it is, so that the selector / tuner control unit 1241 receives the data encoded by the parameter 1242 from the selector / tuner unit. If it is known, the data is directly input to the master data recording unit 1245.

The master data recording unit 1245 uses the feature data input from the feature amount acquisition unit 1243 or the data input from the selector / tuner control unit 1241 as the characteristic data, and the terminal number, broadcast type, channel code obtained from the parameter 1242 , Master data type, audio type, etc., broadcast time obtained from the clock unit 1244, and data size are added to the characterization data as a header part, and station-specific master data in a predetermined format (described later, FIG. 26). Created and stored in the master data storage unit 1209 for each station.
The clock unit 1244 is calibrated through the communication control unit 123. The clock is calibrated using a method such as an NTP network or a radio clock or GPS.

FIG. 26 is an explanatory diagram of the master data format for each station.
The station-specific master data 102 includes, for example, characterization data that is data characterized by a header portion. The header part includes a terminal number, group code, channel code, master data type, audio type, video type, broadcast time, and data size. The master data type indicates, for example, types such as monitor output, earphone output, speaker output, optical output, HDMI signal, video output, audio output, optical output, and TS signal. The audio type indicates the type of audio channel such as main audio and sub audio. The branch number indicates, for example, a number added when two or more programs are broadcast on one station / channel only in a specific time zone.

FIG. 1 shows a configuration diagram of a system for assigning masters of survey households.
The survey terminal 12 installed in the survey household 1 acquires the viewing status of the viewing device 11 such as a television to be viewed, creates terminal data, and creates master data. Since the survey household is an environment in which the viewing device 11 such as a television can be viewed, if the receiving unit 14 input to the viewing device is input to the survey terminal 12, master data of the same broadcast as the viewing device can be created. Is possible. However, since it is difficult to install a large device in a general household, in this example, the master data created in one household is for one station, and the survey terminal 12 is downsized. Further, since the survey terminal 12 collects data in a plurality of formats such as analog voice and digital voice, the master data can be collated by collecting a plurality of formats. In the survey household device 1, “collecting station”, “master data type”, “voice channel”, and the like are determined in advance (for example, stored in the parameter storage unit 1242 described above).

In the distributed verification system, the master data is created by the survey terminal 12 installed in the survey target household, but the survey target household is divided into several groups 3, and a channel (channel code) is assigned to each group. To do. These survey terminals 12 are connected by the network 2.
The method of determining the group can be set in advance as follows, for example. In other words, a group can be determined for each area where a certain broadcasting station or content provider can view, or in a household with the same broadcasting schedule that can be obtained by a broadcasting station or content provider selected by a tuner or IP address. For example, in terrestrial digital broadcasting, it can be divided into stations (NHK General, NHK E Tele, Nippon Television, etc.).

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of terminal parameters. Each investigation terminal holds in advance “terminal number”, “area number”, “group code”, and “order within group” as the terminal parameters 501 in FIG.
Below, description of each data of the terminal parameter 501 is described.
・ Terminal number: A number assigned so that all surveyed terminals are unique.
・ Region number: Broadcasts and content providers that can be received vary depending on the area. This area number characterizes stations and providers that can create master data.
Group code: A code that identifies a station or content provider. Terminals having the same group code always have the same area number.
・ Group order: Priority within the same group. Of the groups that can communicate at a certain timing (time division, periodic, etc.), the survey terminal with the highest priority is the “group master”, and the channel code and the master sampling method are designated for any terminal in the group.

2. Master assignment process

FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of the master assignment process. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing the flow of group master determination.
What kind of master data each survey terminal creates is determined by the “group master” based on a broadcast schedule (such as a program schedule). This processing is executed by the processing unit 1200 of the survey terminal.
In each group, the operable devices change from moment to moment due to the influence of the survey period of each household and the failure of equipment. In order to manage these, the group master is determined at a fixed cycle or a predetermined time.
The flow of group master determination is mainly steps S101 to S107 and step S111 in FIG.

The processing unit 1200 starts master assignment when the determined master confirmation time comes (S101). If it is broadcast, you may make it match with the timing etc. which EPG (Electronic Program Guide: Electric Program Guide) is updated. Usually, since a program guide several days ahead can be obtained from a broadcast station or a content provider, it is sufficient that the master confirmation time is once a day. However, in broadcasts where the program content may change due to special broadcasts, etc., the group master and terminal can check the program table at regular intervals and update the master confirmation time when the content changes. It is.
When the master confirmation time (S101) is reached, the processing unit 1200 transmits an investigation terminal confirmation request (S102). If the terminal parameter (see FIG. 3) group ranking is first, the processing unit 1200 transmits a request to the investigation terminal (S103).
As this transmission method, as shown in FIG. 4, it is possible to broadcast to each investigation terminal on the network (S201), and each investigation terminal in the same group responds (S202). It is also possible to limit the broadcast range to the same group depending on the network configuration.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the request / response for checking the survey terminal.
In step S201 and step S202, the command transmitted as the request / response for the survey terminal confirmation is as shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the group table.
The group table 502 stores area numbers, group codes, ranks within groups, and terminal numbers belonging to groups. Each of these data is set in advance, and updated / reconstructed according to processing such as master assignment processing.
In the survey terminal having the first rank in the group (eg, # 1), the processing unit 1200 receives the terminal number, the area number, the group code, and its own group rank in response to the survey terminal confirmation request. set. Then, the processing unit 1200 refers to the group table and transmits the request to each investigation terminal having the terminal number in the same group as itself. Further, the processing unit 1200 is initialized by clearing the in-group order of the group table. The area number and / or group code may be further cleared. The processing unit 1200 uses the area number and group code transmitted as a request command for confirming the investigation terminal received by each investigation terminal (eg, # 2, # 3) as the area number of its own parameter (see FIG. 3). If it matches with the group code, in the format 502 of FIG. 5, the response is made by setting its own terminal number, area number, and group code group order to the response for checking the investigation terminal.
The processing unit 1200 of the survey terminal ranked first in the group (eg, # 1) waits for a certain period of time during which a response can be returned from each survey terminal (eg, # 2, # 3) (S104). If there is a survey terminal that has responded, the processing unit 1200 stores data such as the rank within the group corresponding to the terminal number in the received data in the format shown in FIG. 5 in the group table in FIG.

  The processing unit 1200 sets in advance a response timeout time as a response return time from all the investigation terminals of the same group, and waits for a response from the investigation terminal until this timeout occurs (S107). If the processing unit 1200 times out and has received a response from one or more terminals (S108), the processing unit 1200 reconstructs the group table 503 in FIG. 6 from information of all survey terminals that have received the response. Here, the processing unit 1200 reconstructs the group rank by removing terminals that have stopped responding from the list and sorting the rank within the group (S109). The processing unit 1200 transmits the group table updated there to each investigation terminal in the same group (S110, S204). In the survey terminal that has received the group table, the processing unit 1200 updates the in-group rank of its own parameter 501 based on the group table received in the format as shown in FIG. 6 (S205). In each survey terminal, the processing unit 1200 confirms reception of the group table (S206). The communication contents at this time may have only the meaning of communication confirmation, or may be transmitted in a format as shown in FIG. 5 including the updated in-group rank.

Next, the processing unit 1200 acquires a broadcast schedule from a broadcast station or content provider (S111). This schedule table indicates, for example, an EPG (electronic program guide) for digital broadcasting. As shown in FIG. 7, in the EPG, it is possible to acquire program broadcast type information such as the same broadcast on a plurality of channels or the broadcast in two languages or multiple sounds depending on the time zone.
The processing unit 1200 creates a master table using these pieces of information (S112).

  FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the master table. The master data type here is for collecting masters corresponding to these because the signals used for viewing state determination differ depending on the viewing device (see FIG. 10).

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram showing a method for creating a master table. Hereinafter, a specific creation method in which the processing unit 1200 creates a master table (S112) will be described.
The processing unit 1200 acquires a channel code, a broadcast start time, a broadcast fraction, an audio number, and a video number from the EPG. As for the number of videos, for example, if there are “ordinary camera” in professional baseball broadcasting and “director camera” in which the video of the director is always shown, the number of videos is two.
The processing unit 1200 allocates the audio type and video type of the master table based on the number of sounds and the number of videos.
The processing unit 1200 presets the area number and the group code as appropriate, and the terminal number as appropriate, such as sequential or random.
The master data type is assigned because the type of master data to be compared differs depending on which terminal is used from the device (TV or the like) that is the target of the viewing situation survey. What data should be taken is determined in advance. For example, as shown in the figure, if the input terminal and the master data type are assigned, there are four types of analog audio / analog video / digital audio / digital video. The types can be increased in various ways, but can be determined by the form of survey.

  The processing unit 1200 transmits this master table to each investigation terminal (S113, S208). In each investigation terminal, when receiving the master table, the processing unit 1200 stores all the master tables (including information other than the master to be stored) (S209), and makes a reception confirmation response (S210).

  Next, FIG. 11 shows a sequence diagram when the investigation terminal with the highest self group ranking is in a state where communication is not possible. If the survey terminal with the first rank in the group cannot communicate, the survey terminals with the second rank or lower in the group rank time out while waiting for a request for confirmation of the survey terminal as in steps S114 and S115 in FIG. When the time-out occurs, the processing unit 1200 increases the self group rank by one, and the master that has been second in the group rank until that time becomes the group rank 1, and when the master confirmation time comes, the request for confirmation of the survey terminal is made through steps S101 and S102. Is transmitted (S103, S301). Hereinafter, the processing unit 1200 issues a confirmation request to a terminal whose group rank is lower than its own rank, based on the master table held so far.

When the survey terminal with the first group ranking cannot communicate, there is no response terminal shown in step S108. At this time, the self-parameter is rewritten with the self-group order set to the lowest order previously determined.
In addition, when a survey terminal with a group rank of 2 or lower becomes unable to communicate, the survey terminal with a rank of 2 or lower is removed from the group table. If the second or lower survey terminal is in a state in which communication is not possible while the device is operating due to a temporary communication failure or the like, steps S114 to S116 are repeated in order, and finally the group rank is first and step S104 to step S104. As a result of performing the process of step S108, since a response cannot be received, the self group rank of step S117 is made the lowest rank.

FIG. 12 shows an example when the group table is changed. When the group table before reaching the master confirmation time (S101) is as shown in FIG. (A), the processing unit 1200 determines that the terminals in the first and fourth ranks in the group can no longer communicate. After S107, it is updated only by the terminals that can communicate as shown in FIG. (B), and in step S109, it is sorted as shown in FIG. (C) to create a new group table.
A master table (FIG. 8) is created based on this table.
Furthermore, a newly installed terminal or a terminal that cannot communicate with the above process and has leaked from the group table responds to the received investigation terminal confirmation request (S201) at the next master confirmation time or investigates itself. A terminal confirmation response can be sent to the first terminal in the group to join the group.

In this embodiment, at the time of creating the group table, broadcasts are made to the terminals in the same group. However, the terminal with the first rank in the group order inquires the second rank or lower, or the terminal with the next lower rank (no response) It can also be realized by inquiring the next order).
If broadcasts cannot be made in this way, the newly added investigation terminals or investigation terminals excluded from the group table due to poor communication, etc., collect the group table from one of the terminals in the group, and A terminal addition request is transmitted to the terminal with the highest group ranking. The terminal with the highest rank in the group creates a new group table with the added new terminal as the lowest rank and reflects it in the next master confirmation time.

3. Matching process

FIG. 13 shows a sequence diagram for inquiring on the network and performing data collation. This processing is executed by, for example, the viewing data collation unit 127-1 of the survey terminal.
First, the viewing data collating unit 127-1 obtains a time to be collated based on a table of its own viewing status data, etc., searches the master table (FIG. 8) of the time to be collated (S501), and collates it. If the master to be verified is the own terminal, it is compared with the characterization data of the master data of each station, and if the master to be verified is another terminal, verification request data is transmitted to the terminal (S502).

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of the collation request data format. The verification request data includes the terminal number of the request destination (verification destination) and the channel code, broadcast start time, broadcast fraction, audio type, video type, master data type in the master table, data collection time, verification start time, It includes the request source terminal number, viewing device number, data size, and characterization data. The collation start time indicates the time at which collation is started from the master data for each station, and is the same as or later than the broadcast start time. When judging only real-time viewing, the collation start time is the same as the data collection time. When judging a recorded / viewed program, the time before the data collection time is set, and collation is started when collating the request destination. The similarity between the time and the data collection time is calculated.

At the requested terminal, the viewing data collating unit 127-1 compares the characterization data of the master data by station based on the characterization data of the verification request data (S503), and obtains the comparison time and similarity. The collation result data including these data is returned (S504).

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of a verification result data format to be returned.
The viewing data collation unit 127-1 makes a collation request based on the master table, but if the survey terminal does not reply (S505), it requests another survey terminal having the same master (S506).

When there is no master that matches the same group (S509), the viewing data collation unit 127-1 requests a master table from another group (S510).

  FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram of the master table request format. The master table request specifies a range of times (master target start time / end time) to be referred to as the master table, in addition to the area number and group code. Each survey terminal holds in advance a group list storing the terminal numbers belonging to each group in an appropriate memory such as the terminal data storage unit 122 for each group. In addition, when there is a change such as increase / decrease of survey terminals, group change, etc., the group list may be automatically changed by a manual or a notification signal from the changed survey terminal. Since this request destination is stored for all survey terminals belonging to each group (S112, S209), the viewing data collating unit 127-1 refers to the group list and selects an arbitrary terminal belonging to each group. be able to. The viewing data collating unit 127-1 refers to the group list when the terminal does not respond due to a communication error or the like, or does not have a master table of the time range to be referred to and does not return the result data, Contact another device.

In the survey terminal requested for the master table, the viewing data collating unit 127-1 or the processing unit 1200 returns the master table 504 of the group (S511).
The viewing data collation unit 127-1 determines the collation destination based on the master table (S512). In the same manner as described above, the viewing data collation unit 127-1 transmits the collation request data to the survey terminal having the master data for each station (S513), and the viewing data collation unit 127-1 is received at the survey terminal that has received the request. Performs the above-mentioned collation processing of the characteristic data (S514), and returns the result (S515).

As for this collation order, if you know the past trend such as the data collection time from the past history, there are many cases where you are watching the X channel in real time, or the series program called Y is regularly recorded and viewed, By comparing the channels and programs with priority, it is possible to reduce the communication frequency and processing time.
Such processing is a method that can be realized by the present system in which the program information and the viewing status of the self-survey terminal are known in relation to the program information.

FIG. 21 shows a flowchart of the viewing data matching process. The following steps are executed by the viewing data collating unit 127.
First, the viewing data collating unit 127 checks whether the data has increased from the number of data in the terminal data storage unit 122 (S401). If it has increased (S402), viewing status data (FIG. 10 described later) is created in a predetermined format and added to the viewing status data storage unit 122 (S403). The viewing status data newly created in S403 is copied from the terminal data 101 with reference to the terminal data storage unit 122, and the terminal number, viewing device number, data collection time, master data type, data size, and characterization data are copied from the terminal data 101. Then, the state is set to unverified, and the group code, channel code, audio type, video type, and broadcast time are created in a blank state.

Subsequently, the viewing status data storage unit 128 is referred to, the status of the viewing status data is confirmed, and it is checked whether there is unmatched data (S404). If there is unmatched data (S405), it is checked whether there is silence or no signal from the characterization data of the data (S406).
If silence or no signal is detected for a certain time (S407), the state of the viewing status data is set to no data (no viewing), and the group code, channel code, audio type, video type, and broadcast time are left blank. deep.

  If there is no silence or no signal in S407, the characterization data of the viewing status data is collated with the characterization data of the station-specific master data stored in the station-specific master data storage unit 125 stored by itself (S409). ). If the similarity is high (S410), the group code, channel code, audio type, video type, and broadcast time are set from the header of the station-specific master data 102 within a predetermined time range, and the status is verified. (S411). Here, the predetermined time range in the collation is, for example, a data collection time or a time after a predetermined time from the data collection time as a “collation start time” and a predetermined time (time range). Can do. The collation start time here indicates the start time of the broadcast time for which the viewing status data 103 is to be collated, and is used for investigating real-time viewing of broadcasts and time-shifted viewing of recorded programs. If only real-time viewing is investigated, the collation start time coincides with the data collection time, and the collation start time when surveying including time-shifted viewing is a time that goes back from the data collection time.

  If there is no similar master data in S410, as shown in the sequence diagram of FIG. 13 and the verification request format of FIG. The status (existence / non-existence) of the master data that can be verified is confirmed from the response from 1 (S412). If unmatched master data is found, matching request data is transmitted to the survey terminal 12 of the survey household 1 having unmatched master data (S414). The survey terminal having unmatched master data collates the characterization data of the received collation request data with the characterization data of the master data of the self-survey terminal, and collation including similarity in the format shown in FIG. In order to send back the result data 109, it is received and the collation result data 109 is stored in an appropriate internal storage unit (S415).

  When the collation with all the master data is completed in S413, the similarities of the collation result data 109 stored inside are compared, and it is confirmed whether there is master data having a similarity greater than or equal to a specified value (S416). This specified value is not only higher than a certain degree of similarity, but when there are multiple master data with a high degree of similarity, it may be a value determined from multiple conditions such as judging from the degree of similarity before and after it can.

If collation result data with a similarity equal to or greater than the specified value is found in S416, the group code, channel code, audio type, video type, and broadcast time are set from the header part of the collation result data, and the status is verified. Viewing status data is created (S417).
If master data having a similarity greater than or equal to the specified value is not found in S416, the state is identified as the contact status unknown, and viewing status data is created (S419). In the case of unknown contact status, game use, Blu-ray disc, DVD disc playback, etc. can be considered, but if the usage state of the viewing device 11 can be specified by the master data type information acquired by the audio / video acquisition unit 120, it is used. A group code, a channel code, and a branch number predetermined for each state are set in the viewing status data 103.

4). Matching result / aggregation center

At the stage where the viewing status data is collected before collation, the data at each collection time is not collated as shown in FIG. On the other hand, as a result of collation, data as shown in FIG. 19 is obtained.

FIG. 17 shows an explanatory diagram of the viewing status data format possessed by each terminal.
The viewing status data 103 includes, for example, the terminal number, viewing device number, data collection time, master data type, data size, and characterization data obtained from the terminal data 101, and the master data 102 or similar collation that is regarded as similar. It includes the group code, channel code, audio type, video type, and broadcast time obtained from the result data. The portion excluding the data size and the characterization data is used as a viewing status determination header, and this viewing status determination header is transmitted to the aggregation center 3 via the communication device 13 and the network 2 at a predetermined time or a predetermined period.
At the stage where the viewing status data is collected before collation, the data at each collection time is not collated as shown in FIG. On the other hand, as a result of collation, data as shown in FIG. 19 is obtained.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram of an initialization state of viewing status data.
Although the viewing status data 104 at the time of initialization is set from the terminal data 101, the terminal number, viewing device number, data collection time, master data type, data size, and characterization data are set from the terminal data 101, but the group code, channel code, audio type The video type and broadcast time are blank. In the example of FIG. 11, in the flowchart S2 of FIG. 9, the terminal data storage unit 122 stores three pieces of terminal data of October 10th, 2010 at 10:00, 10:00 on the same day, and 10:02:00 on the same day. Is shown, and the state when viewing status data is created in S3 is shown.

FIG. 19 shows an explanatory diagram of the viewing situation data with the collated data.
When collation is completed including detection of silence / no signal, the state is changed, and the identified group code, channel code, audio type, video type, and broadcast time are set. In the example of FIG. 12, it is determined that 10:00:00 on 10th October 2010 is not viewed in the flowchart S8 of FIG. 9, and 10:10:00 on 10th October 2010 is the terrestrial digital broadcast 101 channel in S417. It is similar to the broadcast of branch number 0 Oct. 09, 2010, 20:30, and the viewing situation was unknown at 10: 10: 00: 00 on Oct. 10, 2010 in S418, but by the audio / video acquisition unit 120 The state of the viewing status data when the DVD reproduction can be determined by the acquired master data type information is shown.

FIG. 27 shows a system configuration diagram of the aggregation center.
The aggregation center 4 includes, for example, a communication device 41, a terminal data collection device 42, an aggregation unit 43, and an output file 44 such as audience rating data.
The viewing status data transmitted from the survey household 1 is received by the communication device 41 via the network 2. The communication device 41 sends the received viewing status data to the collection unit 421 of the terminal data collection device 42. The collection unit 421 creates a viewing status data file 422 for each terminal number and viewing device of the survey household, and updates the collection status with the terminal data collection information file 423.

The totaling unit 43 totals the data of the viewing status data file 422 at a period determined for each survey, and creates a total data file 44 such as the viewing rate and the content contact rate of the survey target period of each station. In this case, the number of collections stored in the terminal data collection information file 423 may be added as a collection rate.

5. Characterization data calculation example

Hereinafter, an example of processing for calculating the characterized data (characterized data) (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-275032) will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and an appropriate processing method can be used.
First, the amplitude data of the 10-second section is further divided into time frames of 100 frames and replaced with the respective average amplitudes V _j (i). One frame is a 100 millisecond interval. If the total number of amplitude data collected in the i-th frame interval is N, and the amplitude of the k-th data in the j-th band filter output is S _j (k), the i-th frame interval. Average amplitude V _j (i) is obtained by the following equation (1).

Next, the average amplitude V _j (i) of the j-th band filter output in the i-th frame section is logarithmically converted by the following equation (2) to obtain the power P _j (i).

The power P _j (i) is obtained for each of the four bands, and a power vector divided and calculated in the four bands is defined as a power vector P (i), which is expressed by the following equation (3), The characteristic data of the i-th frame section is used.

Characteristic data of the frame section as described above is obtained for each of 100 frames. A vector of the 100 frames of characteristic data is defined as block data CB (i) as in the following equation (4), This is the characterization data for the audio signal measured this time.

As described above, the feature quantity acquisition units 122, 313, etc. generate block data CB _R (i, b) shown in the following equation (5) relating to the received unknown broadcast station R at each measurement period. .

  The present invention can be applied to various investigations such as audience rating, listening rate, media contact rate, etc. of televisions, personal computers, radios, portable devices and the like. The present invention can be applied to data for viewing various media such as viewing data, listening data, and contact data, content, and the like, and processing such as viewing rate, listening rate, and contact rate. In addition to the identification information of the survey terminal, identification information of a television, radio, PC, portable survey terminal, or the like may be used or added as the terminal ID.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Survey household apparatus 11 Television viewing equipment 12 Survey terminal 13 Communication apparatus 14 Antenna 2 Network 3 Totaling center 31 Communication apparatus 32 Terminal data collection apparatus 33 Totaling part

Claims (18)

In a distributed verification system for obtaining audience ratings, listening rates, contact rates or other contact status of television, radio, web or other content viewed, listened to, or contacted by communication between multiple survey household devices,
Each of multiple survey household devices assigned to multiple groups
Content viewing devices,
A research device,
With
The terminal
A master table for storing the terminal number in the group for each broadcast time or time and channel code and audio or video type,
Stores station-specific master data including master characterization data obtained by extracting a characteristic component from a terminal number, channel code, audio or video type, broadcast time or time, audio or video signal for preset master content Master data storage section by station,
A terminal data storage unit that stores terminal data including characterization data obtained by extracting a component that is characteristic from the terminal number, data collection time, audio or video signal regarding the viewed content;
A viewing status data storage unit for storing viewing number data including a terminal number, channel code, audio or video type, broadcast time or time, and characterization data;
A collation unit,

The collation unit executes collation processing for comparing the characterization data of the terminal data and the master characterization data of the master data of each station for the time to be collated from the table of viewing status data, and is collated. If it is determined that the content specified by the master data for each station is being viewed,
If the collation is not performed, the collation unit searches the master table, and collates with the collation destination terminal in the retrieved group, the collation destination terminal number, channel code, broadcast time or time, audio or video type, collation Send verification request data including time, requesting terminal number and characterization data,
The collation unit, the collation request destination terminal performs collation processing for comparing the characterization data of the collation request data with the master characterization data of the master data of each station, and the collation destination terminal number, Returns the verification result data including channel code, broadcast time or time, audio or video type, comparison time, requesting terminal number, similarity,
The collation unit refers to a group list in which terminal numbers belonging to each group are stored for each group when station-specific master data that matches or is similar to the same group is not collated. Request another group master table,
When the collation unit receives a master table of another group, the collation request data is transmitted to a terminal of another group based on the master table of the other group,
The collation unit receives the collation request data, and the other group of terminals executes the collation process and returns collation result data to collate the content viewed by the viewing device of the content, A distributed collation system that stores viewing status data in the viewing status data storage unit.
The distributed verification system according to claim 1,
The terminal further includes
A group table storing group codes, group ranks, and terminal numbers correspondingly;
A processing unit;
With
The processing unit refers to the group table when a master confirmation time according to a predetermined period or monitoring timing comes,
If the group rank is 1st,
The processing unit sends a confirmation request to a plurality of other terminals in the same group,
The processing unit receives a confirmation response including a terminal number, a group code, and an intra-group rank of the other terminal for responding to the confirmation request transmitted from each of the other terminals.
The processing unit, based on the confirmation response, stores the rank within the group for each of the other terminal numbers in the group table,
The processing unit transmits the group table to a plurality of the other terminals in the same group, stores the group table in the other terminals,

The processing unit acquires a broadcast schedule including a channel code and audio or video type corresponding to a broadcast time or time,
The processing unit, based on the broadcast schedule table and the group table, assigns a terminal number in a group for each broadcast time or time and channel code and audio or video type, creates and stores the master table,
The processing unit transmits the master table to a plurality of the other terminals in the same group,
Each of the other terminals stores the received master table, receives a broadcast signal in accordance with the broadcast time or time and channel code and audio or video type assigned in the master table, and stores the master data for each station. Is created and stored in the station-specific master data storage unit.
The distributed collation system according to claim 2,
Each of the terminals is set to the first rank in the group according to a preset time or period, and the distributed collation system is characterized in that
In the distributed collation system according to claim 2 or 3,
If the group ranking is not first,
When the processing unit receives the confirmation request from a terminal with the first rank in the group within the same group, the processing unit transmits a confirmation response including the terminal number of the terminal, the group code, and the rank within the group,
The distributed check system according to claim 1, wherein when the reception of the confirmation request is over, the processing unit moves up the rank within the group of the own terminal.
The distributed collation system according to any one of claims 2 to 4,
The distributed verification system, wherein the confirmation request is sequentially transmitted to a terminal in the next rank in the group or broadcast to a terminal in the group.
The distributed collation system according to any one of claims 2 to 5,
The distributed monitoring system, wherein the predetermined monitoring timing is a timing at which the broadcast schedule is detected to be changed.
The distributed collation system according to any one of claims 2 to 6,
The processing unit uses the data in the group table set by the received confirmation response, assigns the rank within the group except the data of the terminal number that did not receive the confirmation response, and updates the group table Distributed collation system characterized by that.
The distributed collation system according to any one of claims 2 to 7,
The processing unit, when creating the master table, assigns a predetermined number and / or proportion of terminals according to a channel, according to a channel.
The distributed collation system according to any one of claims 2 to 8,
A distributed collation system, wherein a newly installed terminal or a terminal leaking from the group table joins the group by transmitting the confirmation response at a master confirmation time.
The distributed collation system according to any one of claims 2 to 9,
A newly installed terminal or a terminal that has leaked from the group table collects the group table from any terminal of the group, and transmits a terminal addition request to the terminal in the group ranking first place at that time,
A distributed collation system, wherein a terminal having the highest rank in the group creates a new group table in which the terminal that has transmitted a terminal addition request is the lowest rank, and refers to it at the next master confirmation time.
The distributed collation system according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
The distributed verification system, wherein the processing unit transmits verification request data to another terminal in accordance with a preset priority order of channel code and / or audio or video type.
The distributed collation system according to any one of claims 1 to 11,
The processing unit refers to the master table when the verification result data is not received, and transmits verification request data to another terminal in the same group having the same master data for each station. system.
The distributed collation system according to any one of claims 1 to 12,
The processing unit refers to the master table, selects one terminal number in the group for each broadcast time or time, channel code, and audio or video type, or selects a terminal number in the group for each channel code, referring to the master table A distributed collation system, wherein a predetermined number is selected and the collation request data is transmitted to the selected terminal number.
The distributed collation system according to any one of claims 1 to 13,
The collation unit of the terminal that has received the collation request data is
Master data is read from the master data storage unit for each station within the predetermined time range based on the data collection time and / or the verification start time specified by the verification request data, and the characterization data for the verification request data and the characterization of the master data for each station Collate the data sequentially,
Using the request source terminal number of the verification request data and the data collection time, using the channel code, audio or video type, broadcast time or time of the master data by station with the highest similarity, set the similarity and verify Create result data,
Send verification result data to the requesting terminal,

The collation unit of the terminal
When verification result data is received from a plurality or all terminals that have transmitted verification request data, and station-specific master data having a similarity equal to or higher than a specified value is detected, the verification result data includes a station or channel code, audio or video type, A distributed collation system, wherein broadcast time or time is written in the viewing status data.
The distributed collation system according to any one of claims 1 to 14,
When investigating real-time viewing, the collation start time coincides with the data collection time, or a predetermined time or time before and after the data collection time. On the other hand, the collation start time when investigating including time-shifted viewing is determined in advance from the data collection time. A distributed collation system characterized by a predetermined time or a time that goes back in time.
The distributed collation system according to any one of claims 1 to 15,
The characterization data is a power vector obtained by logarithmically converting the average amplitude for each passband.
The distributed collation system according to any one of claims 1 to 16,
After classifying viewing status data received from the plurality of survey household devices for each terminal number, a terminal data collection unit that stores the terminal viewing device data in the terminal viewing device data storage unit,
Reading the terminal viewing device data from the terminal viewing device data storage unit, totaling the audience rating data for each station and each content, and storing in the audience rating data storage unit as audience rating data,
A distributed collation system, further comprising a tally center having
In a distributed verification system for obtaining audience ratings, listening rates, contact rates or other contact status of television, radio, web or other content viewed, listened to, or contacted by communication between multiple survey household devices,
Each of multiple survey household devices assigned to multiple groups
Content viewing devices,
A research device,
With
The terminal
A master table for storing the terminal number in the group for each broadcast time or time and channel code and audio or video type,
Stores station-specific master data including master characterization data obtained by extracting a characteristic component from a terminal number, channel code, audio or video type, broadcast time or time, audio or video signal for preset master content Master data storage section by station,
A terminal data storage unit that stores terminal data including characterization data obtained by extracting a component that is characteristic from the terminal number, data collection time, audio or video signal regarding the viewed content;
A viewing status data storage unit for storing viewing number data including a terminal number, channel code, audio or video type, broadcast time or time, and characterization data;
A distributed verification method in a distributed verification system comprising a verification unit,

The collation unit executes collation processing for comparing the characterization data of the terminal data and the master characterization data of the master data of each station for the time to be collated from the table of viewing status data, and is collated. If it is determined that the content specified by the master data for each station is being viewed,
If the collation is not performed, the collation unit searches the master table, and collates with the collation destination terminal in the retrieved group, the collation destination terminal number, channel code, broadcast time or time, audio or video type, collation Send verification request data including time, requesting terminal number and characterization data,
The collation unit, the collation request destination terminal performs collation processing for comparing the characterization data of the collation request data with the master characterization data of the master data of each station, and the collation destination terminal number, Returns the verification result data including channel code, broadcast time or time, audio or video type, comparison time, requesting terminal number, similarity,
The collation unit refers to a group list in which terminal numbers belonging to each group are stored for each group when station-specific master data that matches or is similar to the same group is not collated. Request another group master table,
When the collation unit receives a master table of another group, the collation request data is transmitted to a terminal of another group based on the master table of the other group,
The collation unit receives the collation request data, and the other group of terminals executes the collation process and returns collation result data to collate the content viewed by the viewing device of the content, A distributed collation method for storing viewing status data in the viewing status data storage unit.

Images