JP4072992B2 - Program information receiving method, user terminal, program information receiving program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a program information providing method and a program information providing system for providing information related to a television program to a terminal held by a program viewer via a communication line.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, a program information providing service for providing information related to a television program to a user's terminal via a communication line has been realized on the Internet and BS digital broadcasting.
[0003]
There is an Internet TV guide service as a service for providing TV program information on the Internet. This is a service that updates the latest about 10 days of TV program guide data every day and distributes it on the Internet. This is a program guide organized in the same manner as a program guide on a newspaper, and it is possible to obtain program names and some performer information by using dates, times, and TV station names as clues.
[0004]
Also, in BS digital broadcasting, information related to the contents of the program being broadcast as data broadcasting is distributed to the user's receiving terminal via the BS line, and further, a request from the user is transmitted via the telephone line. There are also services that receive and respond to requests. Information about the program content in BS digital broadcasting includes the program name, some performers, an outline of the program content, and the profile of the performers.
[0005]
In addition, there is a distribution service mainly for news videos from the homepage of each TV station as a service for secondary distribution of broadcast television program video itself over the Internet. This is provided with related information such as a broadcast program video and an overview of video content assigned to each video unit. When a broadcast program video itself is secondarily distributed via a communication line, clearance of rights related to a video such as a copyright is performed between the production copyright holder and the secondary distributor.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in any of the services introduced above, the provided program information has a relatively coarse granularity as information such as program name and performer information, and the finest information is assigned to each program unit. The program outline and the profile of the performers. For this reason, for example, detailed information regarding the scene content of the program video such as what kind of scene is aired at what time and what minute is not provided.
[0007]
Further, in the conventional program information providing system, the program request information from the program viewer is a level in which the program name is presented and information such as the outline of the corresponding program is received from the information provider side, There was a limit to the particle size. For this reason, there has been a problem that it is impossible to make a request for detailed information regarding the scene content of the program video. For example, it was not possible to make a detailed request to enter the program content by specifying a scene that is semantically important in the program, such as a scoring scene for a sports broadcast or an important scene in a drama, and requesting a scene similar to the specified scene. .
[0008]
In addition, in a service using a system for secondary distribution of the conventional program video itself, the rights of the broadcasted program video have been cleared between the right holder and the secondary distribution provider, but the distribution target Since the video data is not given information about the rights, there is a problem that it is impossible to prevent malicious use such as illegal distribution of video data downloaded by a user via a communication line.
[0009]
In addition, in a service using a conventional system for providing program information, provided TV program guide, program title, program overview, performer name, performer profile, etc. are manually input beforehand by a specialized operator. It was necessary to be registered in the system. For this reason, in operating the system, there is a problem that costs for hiring operators are required.
[0012]
The present invention Eyes In general, users can request program information at the same level as the program provider. Program information receiving method and To provide a user terminal.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the program information receiving method of the present invention comprises:
A user terminal having program information storage means, program information selection means, request transmission means, and channel switching means is provided with individual text information for each scene corresponding to scene information related to the scene contents in the TV program video and its time information. Program information received from a program information providing server via a communication line to provide program information consisting of text information common to programs including TV stations, program titles, and performer names A method,
A program information selection step for obtaining a program title, performer name, and scene information selected by a user from the program information stored in the program information storage means, performed by the program information selection means;
A request transmission step for transmitting the program title, performer name, and scene information selected in the program information selection step to the program information providing server via a communication line, performed by the request transmission unit;
After the request sending step, Program information providing server The program title, performer name, scene information and of Match by matching text , Individual text information for each scene , The matched scene Have Text information common to programs When The , At the timing synchronized with the broadcast of the matched scene A program information storage step of receiving from the program information providing server and storing the received information inside the user terminal;
When the individual text information for each scene and the text information common to the program are received by the program information storage means, the channel switching means performs the channel switching means and the channel of the television station included in the text information common to the received program. A channel switching step for automatic switching and
Consists of.
Another program information receiving method of the present invention is as follows:
A mobile phone, which is a user terminal having program information storage means, program information selection means, and request transmission means, provides individual text information for each scene corresponding to scene information related to the scene contents in the TV program video and its time information. Program information received from a program information providing server via a communication line to provide program information consisting of text information common to programs including TV stations, program titles, and performer names A method,
A program information selection step for obtaining a program title, performer name, and scene information selected by a user from the program information stored in the program information storage means, performed by the program information selection means;
A request transmission step for transmitting the program title, performer name, and scene information selected in the program information selection step to the program information providing server via a communication line, performed by the request transmission unit;
After the request sending step, Program information providing server The program title, performer name, scene information and of Match by matching text , Individual text information for each scene , The matched scene Have Text information common to programs When The , At the timing synchronized with the broadcast of the matched scene A program information storage step of receiving from the program information providing server and storing the received information inside the user terminal;
A program information output step for generating a sound performed by the program information output means when individual text information for each scene and text information common to the program are received by the program information storage means;
Consists of.
Still another program information receiving method of the present invention includes:
A user terminal having program information storage means, program information selection means, and request transmission means has individual information for each scene corresponding to scene information relating to scene contents in a television program video, still images of the scene, and time information thereof. Program information received from a program information providing server via a communication line to provide program information consisting of text information common to programs including TV stations, program titles, and performer names A method,
A program information selection step for obtaining a still image of a scene selected by a user from the program information stored in the program information storage means, performed by the program information selection means;
A request transmission step of transmitting the still image selected in the program information selection step to the program information providing server via a communication line, performed by the request transmission unit;
After the request sending step, Program information providing server Done by a still image and of Match by matching image features and video features , Individual information for each scene , Text information common to programs corresponding to the matched information When The , At the timing synchronized with the broadcast of the matched scene A program information storage step of receiving from the program information providing server and storing the received information inside the user terminal;
Consists of.
[0019]
In addition, the user terminal of the present invention is common to programs including individual text information for each scene corresponding to scene information related to the scene contents in the TV program video and the time information, and a TV station, a program title, and a performer name. A user terminal that receives program information comprising simple text information when a program video is being broadcast from a program information providing server via a communication line,
Program information selection means for obtaining the program title, performer name, and scene information selected by the user from the program information stored in the program information storage means;
Request transmission means for transmitting the program title, performer name, and scene information selected by the program information selection means to the program information providing server via a communication line;
After the request transmission means transmits the program title, performer name, and scene information, Performed by the program information providing server Program title, performer name, scene information of Match by matching text , Individual text information for each scene , The matched scene Have Text information common to programs When The , At the timing synchronized with the broadcast of the matched scene The program information storage means for receiving the program information providing server and storing the received information inside the user terminal;
Channel switching means for automatically switching to the channel of the television station included in the text information common to the received program when individual text information for each scene and text information common to the program are received by the program information storage means;
Have
Other user terminals of the present invention are common to programs including individual text information for each scene corresponding to scene information related to the scene contents in the TV program video and its time information, and a TV station, a program title, and a performer name. A user terminal that is a portable terminal that receives program information comprising text information from a program information providing server via a communication line when the program video is broadcast,
Program information selection means for obtaining the program title, performer name, and scene information selected by the user from the program information stored in the program information storage means;
Request transmission means for transmitting the program title, performer name, and scene information selected by the program information selection means to the program information providing server via a communication line;
After the request transmission means transmits the program title, performer name, and scene information, Performed by the program information providing server Program title, performer name, scene information of Match by matching text , Individual text information for each scene , The matched scene Have Text information common to programs When The , At the timing synchronized with the broadcast of the matched scene The program information storage means for receiving the program information providing server and storing the received information inside the user terminal;
Program information output means for generating sound when individual text information for each scene and text information common to the program are received by the program information storage means;
Have
Still another user terminal according to the present invention includes individual information for each scene corresponding to scene information relating to scene contents in a TV program video, still images of the scene, and time information thereof, a TV station, a program title, and a performer name. A user terminal that receives program information consisting of text information common to programs including the program information from a program information providing server via a communication line when the program video is being broadcast,
Program information selection means for obtaining a still image of a scene selected by the user from the program information stored in the program information storage means;
Request transmitting means for transmitting the still image selected by the program information selecting means to the program information providing server via a communication line;
After the request transmission means transmits program information, Performed by the program information providing server Still images and of Match by matching image features and video features , Individual information for each scene , Text information common to programs corresponding to the matched information When The , At the timing synchronized with the broadcast of the matched scene The program information storage means for receiving the program information providing server and storing the received information inside the user terminal;
Have
[0024]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0025]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a program information providing system according to the first embodiment of this invention. This program information providing system includes a program information providing server 1, an NW (network) 2, a user terminal 3, and a charging device 4.
[0026]
The program information providing server 1 inputs TV program video, stores and manages video scene information and time information corresponding to the scene as program information, and outputs program information to be stored and managed as necessary. It has a TV tuner 11, a video input unit 12, a time information input unit 13, a program information input unit 14, a program information DB 15, and an information distribution unit 16, and can be realized by, for example, a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a personal computer). It is. When implemented on a personal computer, video capture can be achieved by mounting a commercially available hardware board for video capture on the personal computer and using software for operating the hardware board. Further, when the stored program information is output via a communication line, it can be realized by mounting a hardware board having a network communication function on a personal computer and using software for performing network communication.
[0027]
The TV tuner 11 can be realized as a hardware board for capturing video signals to be attached to the program information providing server 1. For example, it can be realized by using a commercially available hardware board for a personal computer and having a function of tuning a television video signal when the captured signal is a television video signal in addition to the video signal capturing function.
[0028]
The video input unit 12 processes the TV program video signal output from the TV tuner 11 and inputs and stores it for display on the screen. For example, the video input unit 12 can be realized by a memory on a personal computer.
[0029]
The time information input unit 13 inputs and stores standard time information. For example, when the program information providing server 1 is mounted on a commercially available personal computer, the information on the internal clock attached to the personal computer is standardized by a predetermined method. This can be realized by synchronizing with the time and reading the information of the internal clock into the memory as necessary. In this case, as a method of synchronizing the internal clock with the standard time, for example, the standard time information having a standard time providing server on the Internet is periodically received, or the standard time of the telephone service “117” of the time notification is provided. This can be achieved by adjusting the time information inside the PC manually according to the guidance.
[0030]
The program information input unit 14 inputs information regarding scene contents in the TV program video input by the video input unit 12 and standard time information input by the time information input unit 13 and inputs them as program information. There are two main methods for inputting information relating to scene contents in a television program. The first is manual input by hand. For example, a dedicated operator visually confirms the content of the TV program video input by the video input unit 12, and the scene content information is input by typing on a personal computer keyboard. This can be realized by selecting text information or a still image of the scene using graphical user interface software on a personal computer and inputting it as program information. The second one will be described later, but can be realized by automatically analyzing the video content using a predetermined video analysis algorithm for the TV video input by the video input unit 12 and inputting the result. .
[0031]
The program information database 15 stores and manages the program information input by the program information input unit 14, and can be realized as a file on a hard disk of a personal computer, for example. Alternatively, in the case of performing more advanced management such as information search and list, it can be realized by using dedicated database software.
[0032]
The information distribution unit 16 transmits program information in the program information database 15 to the user terminal 3 via a communication line, and can be realized as software on a personal computer, for example.
[0033]
The network 2 is a communication line for transmitting information distributed from the information distribution unit 16 to the user terminal 3, and only needs to be able to exchange information between the program information providing server 1 and the user terminal 3, and can be used on a public telephone network or the Internet. Good.
[0034]
The user terminal 3 is a terminal that receives program information distributed from the program information providing server 1 and has an output function such as display, and can be realized by a personal computer, for example. Alternatively, a set-top box, a television, a video remote control terminal, or a mobile phone may be used.
[0035]
The charging device 10 has a function of acquiring information related to information transmission / reception of the user terminal 3 via the network 2 and charging the user of the user terminal 3 according to the acquired content. This can be realized by the billing server implemented above. Further, instead of providing a billing server separately, it is also possible to provide billing information in the program information providing server 1 and manage billing information in the program information providing server 1.
[0036]
FIG. 2 is a tabular list showing an example of program information stored and managed in the program information database 15.
[0037]
The upper part of FIG. 2 shows that program information includes broadcast date, TV station name, broadcast time zone, program title, and performer information. Such information is equivalent to the program information provided from the conventional program information providing system as the granularity of information.
[0038]
In the lower middle column and the right column in FIG. 2, information about the scene contents in the video is written in text format and still images, and the time information corresponding to the scene contents is written in the left column. It is shown. As shown in the upper part of FIG. 2, in the present embodiment, a music program is shown as an example of the program content. As text information regarding the scene content in the middle column in the lower part of FIG. There are information that the guest wants to appear, information on the talk scene between the presenter and the guest, information on the performance scene of the guest's music, and the like. This makes it possible to provide program details in more detail than information provided from a conventional program information providing server.
[0039]
As a method for acquiring and inputting detailed scene information of a program as compared with the conventional method, as shown above, for example, a specialized operator visually confirms the video content of a television broadcast, and confirms the confirmed content. There are a method of manually registering in the database, and a method of automatically registering in the database without human intervention by applying an algorithm for automatically analyzing video content that has been proposed conventionally.
[0040]
FIG. 3 shows how the program information received by the user terminal 3 is displayed. FIG. 3 shows a state in which a set-top box is placed as a user terminal 3 that receives program information from the program information providing server 1 on a television receiver.
[0041]
The television screen of FIG. 3A shows that a broadcast of football is displayed. The lower part of the TV screen in FIG. 3A shows that text information received from the program information providing server 1 is displayed as back program information while watching a soccer broadcast program. In the case of FIG. 3 (a), the content of the program scene is not the granularity of the information equivalent to that of the prior art such as the program name in the back program information, but the information of the music performance scene of the artist in the music program as shown in FIG. More detailed information about is provided. For this reason, in the case of FIG. 3 (a), while watching the soccer broadcast program, it is possible to know the performance scene information of the artist that the user particularly wants to see among the music programs of the back program. Instead of checking the contents of the back program while switching the program appropriately, it is possible to view a desired video by switching the TV channel as necessary from the provided program information. On the other hand, there may be a case where the channel information is automatically switched to the back program instead of displaying the back program information as text in the program being viewed.
[0042]
The left figure in FIG. 3B shows a state where a soccer broadcast program is displayed, and the right figure shows a state where a variety program is displayed. FIG. 3 (b) shows a case where the information of the variety program of the back program is transmitted as the desired program information from the program information providing server 1 while watching the soccer broadcast program, and the channel is automatically switched to the variety program. .
[0043]
As a result, it is not necessary for the user to switch the TV channel as in the example of FIG. 3A, and the desired program content can be automatically viewed.
[0044]
FIG. 4 shows how the program information received by the user terminal 3 is displayed. In FIG. 4, a mobile phone is used as the user terminal 3.
[0045]
The mobile phone screen in FIG. 4 displays program information provided from the program information providing server 1 in a text format. FIG. 4 shows a state in which program information is received and a notification sound “beep” sounds at the display timing. As a result, even if the user does not watch TV, he / she can receive program information if he / she has a mobile phone. In some cases, the user can watch the television by receiving this notification, or can view the desired television scene by recording the television.
[0046]
Various methods can be considered for the accounting process according to the type of contract between the user and the information provider. For example, when the fixed amount system is used as the contract type, the user is permitted to provide and use the program information by paying the information provider to the information provider for each fixed period. In the case of a pay-as-you-go system rather than a flat-rate system, the user can provide program information according to the number of times the user has been provided with program information and the length of connection time between the user terminal 3 and the program information providing server 1. The amount of the fee paid to the person can vary.
[0047]
FIG. 5 shows the procedure of the charging process performed by the charging device 4 in the program information providing system when the contract type relating to the fee payment between the user and the program information provider is a pay-as-you-go system. 3 shows a charging procedure in the case of calculating a charge according to the connection time between 3 and the program information providing server 1.
[0048]
In step 21, the value of the total usage fee P of the user within a predetermined period is initialized to 0. In step 22, it is determined whether or not the target period for calculating the usage fee has ended. If the period has ended, the process proceeds to step 26. If the period has not ended, the process proceeds to step 23. In step 23, it is determined whether or not the user terminal 3 and the program information providing server 1 are connected. If they are connected, the process proceeds to step 24, and if they are not connected, the process proceeds to step 22. Determination of whether or not the user terminal 3 and the program information providing server 1 are connected can be realized by, for example, commercially available network monitoring software when both are personal computers. In step 24, a usage fee amount P corresponding to the connection time between the user terminal 3 and the program information providing server 1 is calculated. As a calculation method, for example, there is a method of setting a rule such as charging 10 yen per 3 minutes of connection time and calculating based on this rule. In this case, if the connection time is 9 minutes, P is 30 yen. In step 25, it is determined whether or not the connection between the user terminal 3 and the program information providing server 1 has been terminated. If the connection has been terminated, the process proceeds to step 22, and if the connection has not been terminated, the process proceeds to step 24. In step 26, the user is charged for the total usage fee P per period. As a billing method, billing amount information and payment deadline information may be notified by e-mail or the like via a communication line, or may be mailed to a user as a bill.
[0049]
FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a program information providing system according to the second embodiment of this invention. The same number is attached | subjected to the same component as in FIG. In the program information providing server 1 of the present embodiment, a right information input unit 17 is added to the program information providing server 1 of FIG. 1, and the information content stored in the program information database 18 is different from the program information database 15. . Therefore, this difference will be mainly described below.
[0050]
The right information input unit 17 adds information related to the right of the video to the video information input by the video input unit 12. Examples of video rights include copyright and portrait rights of characters. The right information input unit 17 inputs information about the right of the television image as the image attribute information while inputting the image. An implementation method is, for example, manual input manually, and can be realized by an operator who obtains information on the rights of the video as information on the paper separately by typing the rights information on a keyboard of a personal computer.
[0051]
The program information database 18 stores and manages video data to which the right information input by the video input unit 12 is added in addition to the program information described with reference to FIG. 2, for example, on a hard disk of a personal computer. It can be realized as a video file with rights information. Alternatively, when searching for a specific video file from a large group of stored video files or performing advanced management such as obtaining a list of video file names, use dedicated database software. realizable.
[0052]
FIG. 7 schematically shows an example of granting rights information to the video and restricting the use of the video according to the rights information.
[0053]
FIG. 7A shows video data in a conventional format to which no right information is assigned. In this case, after the video data is downloaded by the user terminal 3, it can be transferred to a third party without permission from the right holder of the video data or illegal distribution can be easily performed. On the other hand, FIG. 7B shows video data in a form to which right information regarding video is given. In the case of such a data format, it is possible to prevent illegal distribution in secondary usage by providing information on restriction on the usage range of video as rights information. FIG. 7B shows an example in which, as a limitation of the usage range in the right information, a setting is made such that after the video data is downloaded from the program information provider, the number of times the video data is reproduced is limited to three. By setting such usage restrictions, secondary distribution to users other than the primary user who directly downloaded the video data can be restricted. Specifically, rights protection of video data proposed in the literature “Akashi et al.,“ Information distribution method using encapsulation mechanism: Flea Market ”, Transactions of Information Processing Society of Japan, Vol.39, No. 02, 1998” This can be realized by using technology.
[0054]
FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the user terminal 3. The user terminal 3 includes a program information storage unit 31, a program information selection unit 32, a program information output unit 33, and a request transmission unit 34.
[0055]
The user terminal 3 receives program information and video information from the program information providing server 1 and presents the received contents, or conversely transmits a request from the user to the program providing server 1 side. Alternatively, it can be realized by using a set top box, a television, a video remote control terminal, a mobile phone, and software for controlling the terminal.
[0056]
The program information storage unit 31 stores program information received from the program information providing server 1 via a communication line, and can be realized by storing it on a memory of a personal computer, for example.
[0057]
The program information selection unit 32 selects program information that the user desires to provide. For example, the program information selection unit 32 inputs a title, a person name, and the content of a scene in an arbitrary program in a text format, or the program information providing server 1 The program information is received and stored in the program information storage unit 31, and then arbitrary program information is selected. For example, the program information on the memory can be accessed from software on the personal computer.
[0058]
The program information output unit 33 outputs the program information stored in the program information storage unit 31. For example, when the user terminal 3 is a personal computer, the program information is displayed on the display screen or printed on paper. This can be realized by outputting the information as a printer. In addition, when the user terminal 3 is a set top box, it can be realized by displaying it on a television screen. Similarly, when the user terminal 3 is a mobile phone, it can be realized by displaying on the display screen of the mobile phone. These examples are also described in FIGS.
[0059]
The request transmission unit 34 transmits the program information selected by the program information selection unit 32 as request information to the program information providing server 1 and can be realized as software on a personal computer.
[0060]
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a terminal screen when program information is selected on the user terminal 3.
[0061]
FIG. 9 shows a state in which a set top box is used as the user terminal 3 and program information is selected on the screen of a television receiver connected to the set top box. In the screen content of FIG. 9, a program title, performer name, and scene information are selected as request information. The text information is input using a set-top box or a remote control attached to a television or video. In the case of the example of FIG. 9, by sending the contents displayed in the figure to the program information providing server 1 as a request, program information that matches the contents of the request is sent from the program information providing server 1 thereafter. become. FIG. 9 shows an example of the screen of the user terminal 3 by a combination of a set top box and a TV. Program information can be selected with the same screen configuration as in FIG.
[0062]
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a terminal screen when program information is selected in the user terminal 3. In this example, program information is not specified in the text format as in the example of FIG. 9, but arbitrary information is selected from program information delayed from the program information providing server 1 in advance and used as a request. The example of a screen in the case of sending to the program information provision server 1 is shown.
[0063]
FIG. 10 shows an example in which a set top box and a television receiver are used as the user terminal 3. In the figure, as a program information received from the program information providing server 1, twelve still images indicating program contents are displayed in a format in which a number is added to the lower right of the image.
[0064]
FIG. 10 shows a state where the fifth, sixth, and seventh images are selected from the displayed twelve images. In this way, a program information selection method may be used in which arbitrary text information is not input as shown in FIG. 9, but an arbitrary image is selected from information once sent as program information.
[0065]
In FIG. 10, assuming that the fifth, sixth, and seventh images are three shot scene images in a soccer broadcast program, when these three images are sent to the program information providing server 1 as request information, the same soccer game thereafter. It may be a relay program, or program information related to a soccer shoot scene is sent to the user terminal 3 from another soccer relay program at a later date.
[0066]
In this way, in addition to the shooting scene of the above-mentioned soccer broadcast program, the program information such as the home run scene of the baseball broadcast program, the scene where the drama is exciting, the performance scene of the favorite artist in the music program, etc. is shown in FIG. When information is received, program information can be selected by a simpler method without inputting text as shown in FIG. 9 by selecting a desired image from the information.
[0067]
In addition, although the example of FIG. 10 showed the example of the screen of the user terminal 3 by the combination of a set top box and a television, even if a personal computer, a mobile phone, etc. are used as the user terminal 3, the function to designate each screen content is shown. Therefore, program information can be selected with the same screen configuration as in FIG.
[0068]
FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the information distribution unit 16.
[0069]
The information distribution unit 16 distributes program information in the program information database 15 or 18 in the program information providing server 1 or video information to the user terminal 3 via a communication line, and is realized as software on a personal computer, for example. it can.
[0070]
The information distribution unit 16 includes a program information storage unit 41, a request storage unit 42, an information comparison unit 43, and a program information transmission unit 44.
[0071]
The program information storage unit 41 reads and stores program information from the program information database 15 or 18, and can be realized by storing the information on the memory of a personal computer.
[0072]
The request storage unit 42 reads and stores request information for program information received from the user terminal 3 via a communication line, and can be realized by storing the information on the memory of a personal computer.
[0073]
The information comparison unit 43 compares the program information stored in the program information storage unit 41 and the request storage unit 42 with the request information, and outputs corresponding program information when there is program information that matches the request information. For example, it can be realized by performing a calculation process for comparison on the memory of a personal computer.
[0074]
There can be various methods for comparing the program information in the program information database 15 or 18 actually performed by the information comparison unit 43 and the request information transmitted from the user terminal 3 according to the content of the request.
[0075]
For example, when a request from the user terminal 3 is transmitted in a text format such as the program title, performer name, and scene as described in the example of FIG. 9, the information is stored in the program information database 15 or 18. The comparison process can be realized by matching the text information to the text. In this case, the text information in the program information database 15 or 18 may be manually input by a specialized operator as described in the example of FIG. 2, or the text information obtained by using a video analysis algorithm. But you can. Examples of video analysis algorithms include the literature “Kuwano et al.,“ Telop character frame detection error suppression method based on edge congestion, ”Proceedings of Society Conference of the IEICE, D-12-22,“ Kuwano et al. Low resolution telop character region extraction by line unit binarization, "2000 IEICE Society Conference Proceedings, D-12-20", "Mori et al." Telop character recognition in video, which is displayed in the video as proposed in “The IEICE Transactions, D-II, Vol. J83-D-II, No. 7, pp. 1658-1666.” The recognition result text code obtained by recognizing the telop character can be used.
[0076]
When the request from the user terminal 3 is image information received from the program information providing server 1 as described in the example of FIG. 10, it is stored in the program information database 15 or 18 in the program information providing server 1. The comparison process depends on the storage format of the image information.
[0077]
When the image information is provided with comment information about the image contents in the program information database 15 or 18 in a text format, the comparison processing can be performed by matching the texts.
[0078]
On the other hand, when text information such as a comment related to the image information is not given, or the image information is automatically obtained using the video analysis algorithm as described in FIG. In this case, even if text information related to the image information is not given, the comparison process can be realized by matching image feature amounts and video feature amounts directly obtained from images and video information.
[0079]
Image feature amount and image feature amount are information such as the color of the subject in the image, the shape, size, position, movement, camera work, voice, music, etc. of the subject. Literature "Kuwano et al.," Terror character frame detection error suppression method based on edge congestion "1997 IEICE Society Conference Proceedings, D-12-22", Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-214210, "Video Cut Point Detection Method and Apparatus" The method proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-307580 “Voice Search Method and Apparatus” can be used. As a method for matching the obtained feature amounts, a similar video matching algorithm proposed in Japanese Patent Application No. 11-137335 “Video Search Method” or the like can be used.
[0080]
The program information transmission unit 44 transmits the program information received from the information comparison unit 43 to the user terminal 3, and can be realized, for example, by operating data on a memory of a personal computer and sending it to an external terminal.
[0081]
FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the program information input unit 14.
[0082]
The program information input unit 14 inputs a video signal and standard time information, automatically extracts scene information in the video signal by video analysis processing, and outputs the extracted scene information and standard time information corresponding to the scene information. For example, it can be realized on a memory of a personal computer.
[0083]
The program information input unit 14 includes a video storage unit 51, a scene information extraction unit 52, and a program information output unit 53.
[0084]
The video storage unit 51 receives and stores a video signal from the video input unit 12, and can be realized on a memory of a personal computer, for example.
[0085]
The scene information extraction unit 52 automatically analyzes the video signal information stored in the video storage unit 51 using a predetermined method. The result of the automatic analysis is used as scene information of the input video, and the time corresponding to the acquired scene information. Information is taken out from the time information input unit 13. As a method for automatically analyzing video and acquiring scene information, for example, “Kuwano et al.,“ Telop character frame detection error suppression method by edge congestion ”, 1997 IEICE Society Conference Proceedings, D-12- 22 ”, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-214210“ Video Cut Point Detection Method and Device ”, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-307580“ Voice Search Method and Device ”, and the like can be used. These are for detecting and recognizing scene switching, telop characters, music, and voice in a video, and can be realized as software on a computer such as a personal computer.
[0086]
The time information storage unit 53 inputs time information from the time information input unit 13 and stores it, and can be realized on a memory of a personal computer, for example.
[0087]
The program information output unit 54 outputs scene information in the video obtained by the scene information extraction unit 52 and time information corresponding to the scene information to the outside of the program information input unit 14, and is realized on a memory of a personal computer, for example. It can be done.
[0088]
The processing in the program information providing server 1 and the user terminal 3 described above is recorded as a program on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, floppy disk, magneto-optical disk, or hard disk, and is executed on a computer such as a personal computer. You can also.
[0089]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the present invention has the following effects.
[0090]
Visual Similarly, the contents of a request made from the information transmission / reception terminal of the listener can request more detailed contents such as scene information as well as the program title and outline as in the conventional system.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a program information providing system according to a first embodiment of this invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of program information stored and managed in a program information database 15;
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display example of program information received by a user terminal 3;
4 is a diagram showing a display example of program information received by a user terminal 3. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an accounting process.
FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a program information providing system according to a second embodiment of this invention.
FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of granting rights information to a video and restricting the use of the video according to the rights information.
FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a specific device configuration of the user terminal 3;
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a terminal screen when program information is selected on the user terminal 3;
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a terminal screen when program information is selected on the user terminal 3;
11 is a block diagram illustrating a specific device configuration of the information distribution unit 16. FIG.
12 is a block diagram showing a specific device configuration of a program information input unit 14. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Program information providing server
2 network
3 user terminals
4. Billing device
11 TV tuner
12 Video input section
13 Time information input section
14 Program information input section
15 Program information database
16 Information distribution department
17 Rights information input section
18 Program information database
21-26 steps
31 Program information storage
32 Program information selection section
33 Program information output section
34 Request transmitter
41 Program information storage unit
42 Request storage
43 Information Comparison Department
44 Program information transmitter
51 Video storage unit
52 Scene information extraction unit
53 Program information output section

Claims (8)

A user terminal having program information storage means, program information selection means, request transmission means, and channel switching means is provided with individual text information for each scene corresponding to scene information related to the scene contents in the TV program video and its time information. Program information received from a program information providing server via a communication line to provide program information consisting of text information common to programs including TV stations, program titles, and performer names A method,
A program information selection step for obtaining a program title, performer name, and scene information selected by a user from the program information stored in the program information storage means, performed by the program information selection means;
A request transmission step for transmitting the program title, performer name, and scene information selected in the program information selection step to the program information providing server via a communication line, performed by the request transmission unit;
The performed by a program information providing server after the request transmission step, program title, performer names, matching by the matching text between the scene information, the program having a separate text information for each scene, the matched scene a program information storing step of a common text information, received at a timing synchronized with the broadcast of the match scene from the program information providing server stores information received inside the user terminal, the
When the individual text information for each scene and the text information common to the program are received by the program information storage means, the channel switching means performs the channel switching means and the channel of the television station included in the text information common to the received program. A program information receiving method comprising: a channel switching step for automatically switching. A mobile phone, which is a user terminal having program information storage means, program information selection means, and request transmission means, provides individual text information for each scene corresponding to scene information related to the scene contents in the TV program video and its time information. Program information received from a program information providing server via a communication line to provide program information consisting of text information common to programs including TV stations, program titles, and performer names A method,
A program information selection step for obtaining a program title, performer name, and scene information selected by a user from the program information stored in the program information storage means, performed by the program information selection means;
A request transmission step for transmitting the program title, performer name, and scene information selected in the program information selection step to the program information providing server via a communication line, performed by the request transmission unit;
Performed by said program information providing server after the request transmission step, program title, performer names, matching by the matching between the scene information and text, and individual text information for each scene, the program having the matching scene and a common text information, the program information storing step of said received at a timing synchronized with the broadcast of the match scene from the program information providing server stores information received inside the user terminal,
A program information output step for generating a sound performed by the program information output means when individual text information for each scene and text information common to the program are received by the program information storage means;
A program information receiving method comprising: A user terminal having program information storage means, program information selection means, and request transmission means has individual information for each scene corresponding to scene information relating to scene contents in a television program video, still images of the scene, and time information thereof. Program information received from a program information providing server via a communication line to provide program information consisting of text information common to programs including TV stations, program titles, and performer names A method,
A program information selection step for obtaining a still image of a scene selected by a user from the program information stored in the program information storage means, performed by the program information selection means;
A request transmission step of transmitting the still image selected in the program information selection step to the program information providing server via a communication line, performed by the request transmission unit;
The performed by said program information providing server after a request transmitting step, the image feature amounts of the still image, matching by the matching between the image feature, and individual information for each scene, the program corresponding to the matched information and a common text information, received from the program information providing server at a timing synchronized with the broadcast of the match scene, a program information storage step of storing information received inside the user terminal,
A program information receiving method comprising: Providing program information consisting of individual text information for each scene corresponding to scene information related to the scene content in the TV program video and its time information, and text information common to the program including the TV station, program title, and performer name Is a user terminal that receives a program video from a program information providing server via a communication line,
Program information selection means for obtaining the program title, performer name, and scene information selected by the user from the program information stored in the program information storage means;
Request transmission means for transmitting the program title, performer name, and scene information selected by the program information selection means to the program information providing server via a communication line;
After the request transmission means transmits the program title, performer name, and scene information , each scene is matched by matching the text with the program title, performer name, and scene information performed by the program information providing server. and text information, and a common text information in the program with the matched scene, it said received at a timing synchronized with the broadcast of the match scene from the program information providing server, the received information within the user terminal The program information storage means for storing;
Channel switching means for automatically switching to the channel of the television station included in the text information common to the received program when individual text information for each scene and text information common to the program are received by the program information storage means; User terminal having Providing program information consisting of individual text information for each scene corresponding to scene information related to the scene content in the TV program video and its time information, and text information common to the program including the TV station, program title, and performer name Is a user terminal that is a mobile terminal that receives a program video from a program information providing server via a communication line,
Program information selection means for obtaining the program title, performer name, and scene information selected by the user from the program information stored in the program information storage means;
Request transmission means for transmitting the program title, performer name, and scene information selected by the program information selection means to the program information providing server via a communication line;
After the request transmission means transmits the program title, performer name, and scene information , each scene is matched by matching the text with the program title, performer name, and scene information performed by the program information providing server. and text information, and a common text information in the program with the matched scene, it said received at a timing synchronized with the broadcast of the match scene from the program information providing server, the received information within the user terminal The program information storage means for storing;
Program information output means for generating sound when individual text information for each scene and text information common to the program are received by the program information storage means;
User terminal having It consists of scene information related to scene contents in TV program video, individual information for each scene corresponding to the still image of the scene and its time information, and text information common to the program including the TV station, program title, and performer name. A user terminal that receives program information when a program video is broadcast from a program information providing server via a communication line,
Program information selection means for obtaining a still image of a scene selected by the user from the program information stored in the program information storage means;
Request transmitting means for transmitting the still image selected by the program information selecting means to the program information providing server via a communication line;
Information after the request transmission means has transmitted the program information, the image feature amount of the still image to be performed by said program information providing server, matching by the matching between the image feature, and individual information for each scene, which is the matched and a common textual information to the program corresponding to the said program information storage means for receiving from said program information providing server at a timing synchronized with the broadcast of the match scene, stores information received inside the user terminal,
User terminal having   The program information receiving program for making a computer implement the program information receiving method of any one of Claim 1 to 3.   A recording medium on which a program information receiving program for causing a computer to execute the program information receiving method according to any one of claims 1 to 3 is recorded.

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