JP3538420B1 - Meta Information Service System on Network - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to make it possible to view only a specific part of a program and to record the program with meta information so that the program can be reused. Kind Code: A1 A meta-information providing service apparatus and a user terminal of a user who has registered an interest field of a program in the apparatus.
And a TV receiver 40 that can be controlled from the user terminal 50. The meta-information providing service device 10 creates a plurality of meta-information having different interests related to broadcast programs on a plurality of broadcast channels of a plurality of broadcast networks, and the interests registered as interests in the field of the program do not match. Deliver to devices of similar users. The user terminal 50 receives the meta information from the device 10 by the meta information service reception / reproduction application program and
Is estimated or extracted, and the application program of the TV control performs T based on the obtained control information.
The V broadcast receiver 40 is controlled. The meta information may be delivered to the user terminal via any instant messaging device.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a meta information service system, and more particularly, to a meta information service system for automatically allowing a viewer to automatically watch a program on a TV broadcast network or the like in which the viewer is interested. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The number of channels and programs that can be viewed has become enormous due to the increase in the number of channels accompanying the digitization of TV broadcasts. Viewers generally find a program they want to watch or record based on TV program guides provided for each broadcast network, and select a station in time for the start of broadcasting of the program. In addition, when the number of programs increases, it takes time to find a program that the user wants to view, and it is difficult to select a channel corresponding to a timely manner.

[0003] In addition to watching one program from the beginning to the end thereof, some viewers want to view only a part of the program in which they are particularly interested. , And the number of programs is increasing. In this case, the viewer is watching a program,
At a certain time, the user switches to another channel of another broadcast network, and switches back to the original channel or the like when the part to be viewed is not being broadcast. Pi
One TV receiver, like a cture-in-Picture receiver
There are technologies that allow you to watch two programs at the same time, but switching between the main channel and the sub-channel is manual. Therefore, even if the viewer is watching another channel, there is a long-awaited proposal for a system that can automatically switch to the other channel when a desired portion of the other channel is broadcast. Have been.

[0004] On the other hand, various proposals have conventionally been made regarding TV programs and meta information (program-linked data). Such conventional methods include sending some meta information to the program that the viewer has already watched, or sending meta information about the program before the program is broadcast,
It is premised that the recording information is automatically recorded on a recording device owned by the viewer, and the meta information is reproduced at some later timing. However, the conventional method using meta information is based on the premise that the viewer watches the entire program, so that only a specific part of a certain program can be viewed, or the entire meta information can be recorded and reproduced. It cannot meet the needs of viewers such as using it. An object of the present invention is to provide a service system that can meet various needs as described above.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a service system on a network for providing meta-information linked to a broadcast program. Consists of a meta-information providing service device, a user device that has registered a field of interest of a program in the meta-information providing service device, and a broadcast receiver having a program playback unit that can be controlled from the user device.
The meta-information providing service device creates a plurality of meta-information related to broadcast programs of a plurality of broadcast channels of a plurality of broadcast networks and has different tastes, and the tastes registered as interests in the field of the program are identical or similar. Is configured to deliver to the user's device,
Control information extracting means for receiving meta information from the meta information providing service device and estimating or extracting control information of the broadcast receiver from the meta information, and controlling the broadcast receiver based on the estimated or extracted control information A meta information service system comprising a receiver control means is provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a service system on a network for providing meta information linked to a broadcast program, the service system comprising a meta information providing service device, an instant message providing service device, and an instant message providing service. The apparatus comprises a user's device that has registered an interest field of a program in a provided service device, and a broadcast receiver having program playback means that can be controlled from the user's device.
The meta information providing service device is configured to create meta information related to the broadcast program and to provide the meta information to the instant message providing service device, and the instant message providing service device converts the meta information from the meta information providing service device. And distributing the field of the program related to the meta information to the device of the user who has registered as the field of interest. The user device receives the message including the meta information from the instant message providing service device. A meta information extracting unit for extracting meta information from the message, a control information extracting unit for extracting or estimating control information of the broadcast receiver from the meta information, and a broadcast receiver based on the extracted or estimated control information. Meta information service system comprising receiver control means for controlling To provide.

In the meta information service system according to the first and second aspects described above, the meta information includes a content ID uniquely identifying a program and a near future relating to a field of interest of the program. It is preferable to include information of an event that occurs in the event. Also, the receiver control means of the user's device a) turns the receiver on when the receiver is off, and b) sets the channel of the program specified by the content ID while the receiver is on. When the receiver cannot be received, the receiver is controlled to receive the program specified by the content ID. C) When the receiver is on but muted, the muting of the receiver is released. Is preferred.

Further, in the meta information service system described above, when the broadcast program is a TV broadcast program and the receiver is a TV receiver, the receiver control means further includes d)
When the TV receiver has a Picture-in-Picture function, the TV receiver is controlled so that the main channel is a program specified by the content ID, and e) the TV receiver has a recording unit. In the case, or when it is possible to cooperate with an external recording means capable of recording control, control is performed such that the program specified by the content ID is recorded for a specified time,
f) If the TV receiver has recording means such as a hard disk recorder, and the recorded part can be reproduced on a part of the screen on the receiver, on the entire screen or on another video display device while recording, G) when the TV receiver has a recording means, or when the TV receiver can cooperate with an external recording means capable of controlling the recording, and the recording means is specified by the content ID. It is preferable to control so as to extend the recording time when is already being recorded. Furthermore, in the meta information service system described above, it is preferable that the user's device further includes means for extracting and presenting visible or audible information included in the received meta information.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a service system on a network for providing meta information in conjunction with reproduction of content on a storage medium, the service system comprising a meta information providing service device and a storage medium. A user apparatus connected to a content reproducing apparatus for reproducing the stored content, wherein the user apparatus transmits a content ID for identifying the content to meta information in conjunction with the reproduction of the content by the content reproducing apparatus. Means for delivering to the providing service device, control information extracting means for receiving meta information from the meta information providing service device, and estimating or extracting control information of the content reproducing device from the meta information, Playback device control means for controlling the content playback device based on the meta information. The providing service device is configured to determine whether or not the meta information corresponding to the content ID distributed from the user device is held, and to distribute the meta information to the user device when the meta information is held. A meta-information service system characterized in that:

[0010] In the meta-information service system according to the third aspect, it is preferable that the user's device further includes means for extracting and presenting visible or audible information contained in the received meta-information. Further, the user device further includes a meta / information input / editing unit for enabling the user to create meta information, and a unit for distributing the created meta information to the meta information providing service device 20. Preferably, the meta-information providing service device is configured to be able to distribute meta-information created by a user. Furthermore, the user's device further includes a control information extracting unit that estimates meta information created by the user by another user's device, and estimates or extracts control information of the content reproduction device from the meta information, It is preferable that the information processing apparatus further comprises: a playback device control unit that controls the content playback device based on the extracted control information;

[0011]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining a first embodiment of a service system according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a meta-information providing service device configured as a web server for distributing meta-information on the Internet. Reference numeral 20 denotes a communication terminal, which is an information provider (partner contributor) registered as a partner with a service provider that provides meta information.
Is for posting to the meta-information providing service device 10, and is a mobile phone terminal that can be connected to the Internet,
It is composed of a personal computer or PDA. Reference numeral 30 denotes an information input terminal such as a personal computer, which allows an operator under the management of the meta information service provider to post information to the meta information providing service device 10 while watching TV programs on various channels of various broadcast networks. Information input terminal. The information input terminal 30 has a TV reception function,
T received by the operator and displayed on the monitor screen
Information may be input at an appropriate timing while watching the V program.

Reference numerals 40 and 50 denote communication terminals (hereinafter, "user terminals") such as a TV receiver on the user side and a personal computer connected to the Internet. The “meta information service receiving / reproducing application program” and the “TV control application program” provided from the meta information providing service device 10 are installed in the user terminal 50 in advance. TV receiver 4
0 has a computer function, the user terminal 5
0 is unnecessary, and conversely, the user terminal 50
If the TV receiver 50 has the function of “0”, the TV receiver 50 is unnecessary.

The operation of the service system having such a configuration will be described to clarify the configuration of the system. First, when using the meta-information providing service, the user, on a page provided by the device 10, displays the user's name, service use area (used to identify a broadcast channel in the area from the content ID), age. If there is an "idea" or "interest field" that clearly matches the gender and gender, select and register it to obtain a unique user ID. The fields of interest include, for example, various fields such as “professional baseball”, “movie”, “drama”, “gourmet”, “fashion”, and so on. And further subdivided.
Interest fields such as "celebrity", "record achievement" or "record achievement possibility" may be included.

[0014] When the user registers with the meta information providing service, the user can select and register several types of interests,
After that, the user can see the notification of the new service field sent during use of the service, add the service field as the user's interest field, or change the registered interest field. In addition, the meta-information providing service is notified of the evaluation of the actually viewed content (for example, a five-level evaluation), and the evaluation is recorded. Next, a session is established between the “meta information service receiving / reproducing application program” on the user terminal 50 and the meta information providing service device 10. Apart from the field of interest selected at the time of user registration in the meta-information providing service device 10, when a service of a new field of interest is started, the notification is transmitted and displayed each time, and the user sees the notification and determines the field of interest. Can be added. In the following description, it is assumed that the user has selected "Matsui", which is a subfield of "Giant Army", which is a subfield of "professional baseball", as a field of interest.

In such a situation, for example, a partner contributor in a baseball stadium can read “Matsui's batting order soon” from a mobile phone terminal as the communication terminal 20 via a mobile phone network and the Internet. Post to the provided service device 10 (step). As described above, the operator may input through the information input device 30 while watching the TV broadcast. Upon receiving such posted information, the meta-information providing service device 10 creates a meta-information by adding a content ID to the posted information as needed (step), and outputs the field of interest as “Matsui” via the Internet. "Player" is distributed to the designated user (step).

Note that even if the user has not selected "Matsui", the meta information providing service system 1
0 may distribute meta-information to the user. That is, based on the age, gender, field of interest, and the like of the user registered at the time of user registration, the meta information providing service system 10 automatically estimates whether or not the meta information meets the user's preferences, and It is also possible to determine whether to distribute to the user. Whether such automatic estimation and determination should be performed is a matter of choice by the user. In addition, the meta information service receiving / reproducing application program of the user terminal 50 may be configured to set whether to receive and detect the distributed meta information.

The meta information is, for example, <meta content = "ABC12345678" type = "Information" time = "~ + 3min"><body>Matsui's batting order soon </ body></meta><meta content = "ABC12345678 "type =" EPG "><body> Baseball broadcast has been extended </ body><url> http://www.abc.tv/epg-updates/ABC12345678.epg </ url></meta> Is represented as In this first example, the text information “Matsui's batting order soon” that can be visually recognized by the user is included, and the content ID is “ABC12345678” as machine readable information. Contains information that indicates an occurrence. The second example indicates that the broadcast time of the baseball broadcast is extended, and that information can be obtained from the location indicated by <url>. The content ID is an ID for uniquely specifying a program.

Here, the contents of more detailed meta information that can be employed in the present invention will be described. Meta information includes the following attributes and elements (enclosed in [] is optional). <meta content = 'character string that uniquely identifies content (programs, DVD movies, etc.)' type = 'character string indicating the type of meta information' [action = 'method of meta information processing'] from = ' A character string that identifies the sender '[signature =' Information that guarantees the sender '] sent =' Time when the meta information was sent 'time =' Start time ... Identifies the part of the content where the meta information is valid Information '[duration =' Duration of scene where meta-information is valid ']><body> Text visual information </ body>[<html> HTML or XHTML visual information </ html>] [<info url =' ... the URL associated with the meta information ... '/>] </ meta>

The time information that can be specified by the time attribute is any of the following. hh: mm: ss Absolute time from start of program [~] [+] hh: mm: ss Relative time from time when meta information was sent (future) -hh: mm: ss Time when meta information was sent The relative time (past) from the type attribute includes, for example, the following example. Information Information about the person, region, product, etc. appearing in the scene Report Violence violence scenes such as breaking news and live reports Ads EPG EPG Program guides (program announcements, scheduled reruns, extension of broadcast time, etc.) The action attribute includes, for example, the following examples In. Tune Control the receiver and watch the channel.Receiver ON, mute release, P-in-P main channel switching Record Use the receiver's recording function to control the Skip receiver that records or reserves its contents Ticker Meta information reception / playback application that automatically presents visible information to the receiver or a device connected to the receiver via a network, dims the screen, turns on the mute, switches to the picture-in-picture sub-channel Display or execute text of visible information by ticker display. (When the user is interested and requests an action by clicking, etc.) Update Controls the receiver and its recording function, and changes program viewing, recording time, reservation time, etc.

On the user side, when the meta information service receiving / reproducing application program on the user terminal 50 receives the meta information from the meta information providing service apparatus 10 (step), the meta information service installed in the user terminal 50 is received. The TV control information is estimated or extracted from the received meta information by the reception / playback application program (step). User terminal 5
0 stores the user ID acquired at the time of user registration and the information of the set service area. Whether the information service reception / reproduction application program performs a predetermined process using the area information and the content ID, Alternatively, by inquiring the meta-information providing service device based on the user ID and the content ID, a broadcast channel (for example, ABC) and a program name (for example, Giant Hanshin Battle) in the area can be specified.

Then, the meta information service reception / reproduction application program further extracts TV control information for controlling the TV receiver from the received meta information. In this case, when the meta information includes the action attribute, the content of the action attribute itself becomes the control information. On the other hand, when the meta information does not include the action attribute, the action is determined from the correspondence table between the type attribute and the action. By changing the correspondence table, the user can change the standard acti
On can be set, and its initial value is set as follows, for example. When the user agrees to disclose such a correspondence table to the meta-information providing service, the same content is recorded in the meta-information providing service device 10. Also, if the meta information is action
When the attribute information is not included and the type attribute is not a known character string, the meta information receiving / reproducing application program inquires the meta information providing service device 10 of the content information.

At this time, the meta information providing service device 10
・ The information set by the user at the time of user registration ・ Evaluation of the content that the user has viewed in the past ・ How the user of the same generation and the same-sex user evaluated the content ・ The user, the same-generation user and the same-sex user Considering the contents of the disclosed "correspondence table", information that suggests the action that seems most appropriate to the user is returned. The user can set the meta-information receiving / reproducing application to unconditionally accept such suggestions and update the correspondence table, and every time such suggestions are received, the user himself / herself Can be set as required. When the estimation or extraction of the TV control information is completed in this way, a TV control application program installed in the user terminal 50 is activated, and the operation of the TV control is controlled by executing the program (step).

In the above example of the meta information, the following control is automatically executed according to the state by the TV control application program. a) When the TV receiver 40 is in the off state, it is turned on. b) When the TV receiver 40 is in the ON state but in the muting state, the muting is released. c) When the TV receiver 40 is in the ON state (the state of broadcasting), even if a program unrelated to the service of providing meta information is being broadcast, the TV is tuned to the ABC channel and broadcast. d) When the TV receiver 50 has the Picture-in-Picture function, the main channel is tuned to the ABC channel even when the main channel is broadcasting a program unrelated to the service of providing meta information. And let it air. When the sub-channel is tuned to the ABC channel, the main channel and the sub-channel are exchanged so that the ABC channel becomes the main channel. e) If the TV receiver has a recording means, or if it can cooperate with an external recording means capable of recording control, the program of the ABC channel is recorded for a designated time. f) If the TV receiver has a recording means, and if the already recorded portion can be reproduced on a part of the screen on the receiver, the entire screen or another video display device while recording, the reproduction is started. I do. For example, when meta information that can specify where “Matsui's Home Run in the Third Time” is recorded is delivered while recording a baseball broadcast on a PVR (Hard Disk Recorder), a screen connected to the PVR is displayed. The home run scene can be reproduced on a screen of a video display device that is partially or directly connected to the PVR or via a network. g) If the TV set has a recording means, or if it can cooperate with an external recording means capable of recording control,
When the recording means already records a program on the ABC channel and the extension of the broadcast time is included in the meta information, control is performed to extend the recording time. At the same time, the user terminal 50 displays “Matsui's batting order soon” or “Baseball broadcast extended” as visible information related to the current broadcast scene of the ABC channel.

Note that the automatic control of the TV receiver 40 can be individually prohibited by setting by the user. In the case where the prohibition is set, when the reception of the meta information is detected by the user terminal 50, the fact that the meta information is detected on the screen of the user terminal 50 and "Matsui's batting order is displayed soon" are displayed. It can be set so that the TV control application program is started by simply performing a one-touch operation such as clicking on the button. The notification that the meta information has been detected may be displayed on an arbitrary display screen such as the TV receiver 40 or the like in addition to the case where the meta information is displayed on the screen of the user terminal 50, or may be notified by voice. .

Next, a second embodiment of the service system of the present invention will be described. In the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the meta information providing service device 10 is configured to directly deliver the meta information to the user terminal 50, but in the second embodiment, the service is an existing service. It is configured to deliver the meta information to the user terminal 50 using the instant messaging service, which is different from the first embodiment. That is, in the second embodiment, as an option of the instant messaging service, a meta information distribution service is provided for a fee or free of charge. The instant messaging service is any information delivery service that includes meta information and can be delivered in real time or at a practically sufficient speed, such as a chat service, an email service, and a BBS service. In the instant messaging service, the field of interest described in relation to the first embodiment is formed as a group as a specific or dedicated group. For example, a “professional baseball chat group” is formed for the field of interest “professional baseball”. As described above, it is also possible to form a group of subordinate concepts of these groups as necessary.

When the chat service is used, the second
FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, 60
Is an instant messaging service device.
In the second embodiment, the meta information providing service device 1
0 has a postbot (posting robot) that posts a chat message in which meta information is embedded,
For users who have subscribed to the meta information distribution service, a chat application program incorporating a chatbot (chat robot) for extracting meta information embedded in the chat message and transferring it to the meta information service reception / reproduction application program , A meta information service reception / playback application program, and a TV control application program are provided and installed in the user terminal 50. At this time, if a chat application program desired by the user is available, chatbot is provided as the plug-in. Then, chatbot monitors the message with meta information flowing to the chat group specified by the service.

The operation of the second embodiment will be described by taking as an example a case where the user is registered in the "Matsui player group". When the meta information providing service apparatus 10 receives the post “Matsui's batting order soon” input from the communication terminal 20 or the information input terminal 30 (step), it adds a content ID to the received information and outputs a message (FIG. 1). (Similar to the above message) (step). Then, a message is posted to the chat service device 60 in a chat format in which meta information is embedded by a chat postbot (step). Then, the chat service device 6
0 indicates the posted message as "Matsui Player Group"
Is distributed to the user terminals 50 belonging to (step). At the same time, meta information may be posted to the operator of the meta information providing service device 10 in a chat format. As described above in relation to the first embodiment, the message with meta information includes chatbot in addition to the text information.
Contains machine-readable information that can be detected, extracted, interpreted, and executed. For example, <message to = "Matsui player group" from = "Meta information distribution service"...><x xmlns = "jabber: x: oob "><meta content =" ABC12345678 "type =" Report "time =" ~ + 3min "/></x><body>Matsui's batting order </ body></message> .

The chatbot incorporated in the chat application on the user terminal of the user terminal 50 monitors the distributed message with meta information, extracts the meta information from the message, and transfers it to the meta information receiving / reproducing application. (Step). Then, the meta information receiving / reproducing application estimates or extracts the TV control information from the meta information (step), and activates the TV control application program. Thereby, control corresponding to the estimated or extracted TV control information is executed for the TV receiver 40 (step). This second
Also in the embodiment, any of the above-described controls a to f is executed, and these controls are individually prohibited.
User settings are possible. In addition, text information of "Matsui's batting order soon" is also displayed so as to be viewable. In the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the TV control application program on the user terminal 50 is not automatically started, but is started by a user's one-touch operation. You may do so.

In the second embodiment, the meta information input from the communication device 20 or the input device 30 is
The message is automatically converted into a chat message by the postbot of the meta information providing service device 10 and posted to the instant messaging providing service device 60. When the chat application is installed in these devices 20 or 30, FIG. As indicated by the thin dotted arrow, a message with meta information may be directly posted to the instant messaging providing service device 60 without going through the postbot.

In the above-described first and second embodiments, information related to a broadcast program (for example, “Matsui's batting order”) is incorporated in the meta information in a text format. It may be incorporated in any form such as a URL. In addition, the system of the present invention not only automatically switches the channel of a TV broadcast program, but also functions of all broadcast-type services such as broadcast media and streaming media such as radio broadcasts and Internet broadcasts, or functions equivalent thereto. This is also applicable to the case where is automatically switched.

In addition to the event (event) currently in progress, visible or audible information on an event that will occur in the near future and an event that has occurred in the past can also be sent to the meta information. By incorporating the event information that is currently in progress, it is possible to prevent the event information from being overlooked. By incorporating future event information, the broadcast time of the event can be confirmed, so that oversight is prevented, partial viewing is possible, and scheduled recording is also possible. When performing scheduled recording,
According to future event information, cruel scenes and the like can be deleted and recorded as necessary. By incorporating past event information, if the event is recorded, you can jump to a specific scene during playback,
It can be played on the sub screen.

Referring to FIG. 3, a third embodiment of the meta information service system according to the present invention will be described. This third embodiment is a modification of the first embodiment described above, and is provided not from a broadcast program but from a content and a meta information providing service device 10 stored in a storage medium such as a DVD or a hard disk recorder. It is possible to synchronously reproduce the meta information. According to the third embodiment, in addition to the conventional method of appreciating the content stored in the storage medium from the beginning, a program broadcasted and recorded in the past can be viewed with meta information distributed at the time of the broadcast. It is possible to view only a particular "key point" of interest. In FIG.
Is a DVD playback device, and a DVD control application program is installed in the user terminal 50 together with a meta information service reception / playback application program.

When the reproduction of the DVD is started by the DVD reproducing apparatus 70, the DVD control application program on the user terminal 50 executes the DVD control application program to extract the content information from the DVD in synchronization with the reproduction (step). Next, the meta information service receiving / reproducing application determines whether or not the meta information related to the extracted content information is present in the meta information providing service device 10.
An inquiry is made to the device 10 via the Internet (step). Content information for inquiry is, for example, Is represented as

Upon receiving the content information, the meta information providing service apparatus 10 specifies the user ID that transmitted the content information from the session, detects whether or not meta information corresponding to the content information exists, and If so, the meta information is returned to the user terminal 50 in a lump or via the Internet at a time (step). Each meta information distributed to the user terminal is, for example, <response to = "userID" from = "mids@mediagram.co.jp"><meta content = "DVD12345678" type = "Violence" time = "00:35 : 00 "duration =" 30sec "/><body> Violent scene for 30 seconds </ body></meta><meta content =" DVD12345678 "type =" Information "time =" 01:20:30 "duration =" 1min "/><body> This scene was shot at Filoli Garden </ body><url> Represented as http://www.filoli.org/ <url></meta></response> You. In this example, two pieces of meta information are returned for the DVD content specified by the user. The first meta information has a violent scene for 30 seconds after 35 minutes from the beginning of the content, and the second meta information has been reproduced. It contains information about a scene that lasts 1 minute, 20 minutes, 30 seconds after the start and 1 minute (in this case, the actual place where the scene was shot).

When the user terminal 50 receives the returned meta information, the meta information service receiving / reproducing application program is started, and the user terminal 50 receives the DV from the meta information.
Estimate or extract D control information (step). Then, the DVD control application program is executed to control the operation of the DVD reproducing device 70 (step). If the user sets to skip the violence scene, in the above example of meta information, type = "Vi
olence ", so that the content corresponding to 35 minutes to 30 seconds after the start of the program is skipped,
The DVD playback device 70 is controlled. In this case, as in the first and second embodiments, the start of reproduction control by the DVD control application program is prohibited by the user setting, and the user looks at the visible information displayed on the user terminal and checks the screen of the terminal. Control can also be started by one-touch operation of the upper button or the like.

When a plurality of pieces of meta information are distributed at one time, the meta information service receiving / reproducing application temporarily stores the meta information and obtains the reproduction time information from the DVD control application program. Is extracted. In this way, the user can obtain the meta information related to the content in conjunction with the reproduction of the content, so that the user can skip the uninteresting part of the content or increase the audio volume of the particularly interesting part. Etc. can be controlled automatically (or one-touch operation).

FIG. 4 shows a fourth embodiment of the meta information service system according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the user himself creates the meta information for the recorded content or DVD and inputs it to the meta information service receiving / reproducing application, so that the meta information providing service apparatus 10 does not own the unique meta information. In addition, the content can be reproduced. In addition, the meta information is made public on the meta information providing service apparatus 10 or another user terminal on which the meta information providing application operates, so that other users can reuse the meta information. To do so, a “meta information input / edit application program” is installed in the user terminal 50 in addition to the meta information service reception / playback application program and the TV (or DVD) control application program.

The operation of the fourth embodiment will be described below. The user inputs and stores a plurality of pieces of meta information while playing back a recorded program or DVD under the meta information input / edit application program (step).
Then, when the user specifies the meta information to be used from among the plurality of stored meta information when the content is reproduced (step), the meta information is extracted by the meta information service reception / reproduction application program (step). , TV (or DVD) control application program, the TV receiver 40 (or DVD 70)
Is controlled based on the extracted control information (step). On the other hand, when a plurality of pieces of meta information created by a user are registered in the meta information providing service device 20 for the purpose of disclosure (step), another user (a meta information service receiving / reproducing application and a TV (or DVD) control application program) are opened. As described in relation to the third embodiment, “retention” can receive and use meta information corresponding to content to be reproduced from the meta information providing service device 10 (step). User terminal 5
By installing the “meta information providing application program” on other users (meta information service receiving / reproducing application program and TV)
(Or owns a DVD control application program) may be able to obtain the meta information directly from the user terminal 50 that created the meta information.

[0039]

According to the meta information service system relating to the content provided by the broadcast program according to the present invention, the meta information relating to the broadcast program of the field of interest which has been declared in advance is provided by the meta information providing service apparatus. And a receiver such as a TV is automatically controlled based on the meta information. Thus, even if the user does not know that the program of interest is on the air itself, is not watching another channel of another broadcast network or is not watching TV, You can watch only the specific part that interests you. That is, according to the present invention, a user can view a program that he did not know that is being broadcast, and can also view only a part that he is interested in. Further, according to the service system of the present invention, a user can easily find and view a program that suits his / her taste, a reputed program, or a program with a high degree of urgency without referring to a program table or the like. it can. Further, in the meta information providing service system for contents stored in a storage medium such as a DVD according to the present invention, it is possible to control skipping of an uninteresting part, and increase in voice of an especially interesting part. ,
Very convenient for the user.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a first diagram of a meta information service system according to the present invention.
It is a figure for explaining an embodiment.

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the meta information service system according to the present invention.
It is a figure for explaining an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a third diagram of the meta information service system according to the present invention;
It is a figure for explaining an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a fourth diagram of the meta information service system according to the present invention;
It is a figure for explaining an embodiment.

Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-2002-207765 (JP, A) JP-A-2001-359081 (JP, A) JP-A-2002-84523 (JP, A) JP-A-2002-112208 (JP, A) Open 2002-300544 (JP, A) JP 2002-320246 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 7/10, 7/16-7/173 H04H 1 / 00 H04N 5/38-5/46 H04N 5/91-5/956

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A service system on a network for providing meta information linked to a broadcast program, the service system comprising: a meta information providing service device;
The meta information providing service device includes a user device that registers an area of interest of a program in the meta information providing service device, and a broadcast receiver having a program playback unit that can be controlled from the user device. Meta-information related to a broadcast program on a broadcast channel of
D, and a plurality of meta-information including information on an event that will occur in the broadcast program in the future is created, and the meta-information is configured to be distributed to a device of a user who has registered the field of the program as a field of interest, The user device receives the meta information from the meta information providing service device, and estimates or extracts the control information of the broadcast receiver from the meta information, and broadcasts based on the estimated or extracted control information. Receiver control means for controlling the receiver, a) turning on the receiver when the receiver is off, and b) channel of the program specified by the content ID although the receiver is on Is not received, the receiver control means configured to control the receiver to receive the program specified by the content ID. Meta information service system characterized in that that example. 2. A service system on a network for providing meta information linked to a broadcast program, the service system comprising: a meta information providing service device;
The meta information providing service device comprises: an instant message providing service device, a device of a user who has registered a field of interest of the program in the instant message providing service device, and a broadcast receiver having a program reproducing means controllable from the user device. An instant message providing service device that creates meta information related to a broadcast program, including a content ID for uniquely identifying the broadcast program and information on an event that will occur in the broadcast program in the future. The instant message providing service device distributes the meta information from the meta information providing service device to the device of the user who has registered the field of the program related to the meta information as the field of interest. The user's device is composed of instant messages A meta information extracting unit that receives a message including meta information from the providing service device and extracts meta information from the message, a control information extracting unit that extracts or estimates control information of the broadcast receiver from the meta information, A receiver control means for controlling a broadcast receiver based on extracted or estimated control information, comprising: a) turning on the receiver when the receiver is off, and b) turning on the receiver when on. A receiver control means configured to control the receiver to receive the program specified by the content ID when the channel of the program specified by the content ID is not received Meta information service system characterized by the following. 3. The meta-information service system according to claim 2, wherein the instant message providing service device is a chat service device, an e-mail service device,
A meta-information service system, which is an arbitrary information distribution service device capable of distributing information including meta-information, such as a BS service device. 4. The meta-information service system according to claim 1, wherein the broadcast program is a TV broadcast program, the receiver is a TV receiver, and the receiver control means further comprises: c) a receiver. When the TV is in the on state but in the muting state, the muting of the receiver is released. D) If the TV receiver has a Picture-in-Picture function, the main channel is specified by the content ID. E) if the TV receiver has a recording means, or if it can cooperate with an external recording means capable of recording control,
F) controlling to record the program specified by the content ID for a designated time; f) the TV receiver has a recording means such as a hard disk recorder, and the part already recorded while recording is recorded on the receiver; If it can be reproduced on a part of the screen, on the whole screen or on another video display device, control the reproduction. G) When the TV set has a recording means, or A meta-information service system, wherein coordination is possible, and when a recording means is already recording a program specified by a content ID, control is performed to extend the recording time. 5. The meta-information service system according to claim 1, wherein the user device further comprises means for extracting and presenting visible or audible information included in the received meta-information. A meta-information service system characterized by: