JP4081780B2 - Program viewing information acquisition apparatus, program viewing information acquisition method, and receiving apparatus - Google Patents

Description

    The present invention relates to a program selection history information acquisition apparatus and method, and is suitable for application to, for example, a program selection history information acquisition apparatus and method for storing and transmitting audience rating data of a television program in sanitary broadcasting.

  Conventionally, the audience rating of a television program broadcast from a broadcasting station has been investigated by a specific audience rating survey system based on, for example, the number of samples of about 500 to 600 households. The audience rating survey system stores audience rating data consisting of channel number information and time information representing a selected time at a predetermined time interval by a specific storage device attached to the viewer's television receiver. The audience rating data is aggregated by transferring it to a predetermined aggregation center for each storage device. Then, the aggregation center calculates an audience rating result for each program based on the audience rating data thus aggregated, and notifies the broadcaster and the program production company of the result.

  The broadcaster considers continuation and discontinuation of the program based on the audience rating results for each program, and reports the audience rating results to the sponsor company that broadcasts commercials between the programs. Continued, and based on the audience rating results, we will find a sponsor company that will broadcast a new commercial. A program production company determines the degree of popularity of a program based on the audience rating result, and examines the contents of a new program to be produced next.

  Thus, audience rating results have become a very important factor for broadcasters and program production companies, and these audience rating results can be calculated based on audience rating data from as many viewers as possible. It is desired.

  For example, in recent years, satellite broadcasts using communication satellites have been realized, and a receiver called an IRD (Integrated Receiver Decoder) is known as a receiver for receiving television signals digitized by such satellite broadcasts. is there. This IRD is designed so that a large number of programs encoded by a predetermined image compression method and broadcast from a broadcasting station can be selectively received via a communication satellite, and is selected by a user. The program is displayed on a monitor by decoding it through an internal decoder.

  By the way, in the IRD having such a configuration, audience rating data is stored by a specific storage device attached to the IRD main body, and audience rating data is transmitted in response to a transfer request from the audience rating aggregation center. As a result, the aggregation center must individually send a transfer request to prevent the line calls from overlapping when the audience rating data is aggregated (hereinafter referred to as congestion). There was a problem that the calculation work of rate data became complicated.

  In addition, it is difficult for the aggregation center to change the aggregation contents (contents of audience rating data and transmission time) once set as an initial setting, and there is a problem that the degree of freedom of the aggregation work is low.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and intends to propose a program viewing information acquisition apparatus , a program viewing information acquisition method, and a receiving apparatus capable of performing aggregation with a high degree of freedom.

In the present invention for solving the above problems, the program viewing information acquisition unit that acquires the viewing information of program viewed is Yotsute selected by the user, the viewing information of the program viewed is Yotsute selected by the user An acquisition means for acquiring, an accumulation means for accumulating viewing information, and a program viewing information acquisition apparatus by connecting to the center via a public line based on a transmission time for automatically transmitting the viewing information to a predetermined center, When a line is connected to the center, transmission / reception means for transmitting viewing information to the center and receiving a setting instruction regarding the transmission time from the center is provided.

As a result , the viewing information can be transmitted to the center at the timing of automatically transmitting the viewing information to the center, and a setting instruction regarding the transmission time can be received from the center.

As described above, according to the present invention, in the program viewing information acquisition device that acquires viewing information of a program selected and viewed by the user, the viewing information of the program selected and viewed by the user is acquired. Then, based on the transmission time for automatically transmitting the acquired viewing information to a predetermined center, when the line connection is established between the program viewing information acquisition apparatus and the center via the public network, the viewing information is sent to the center. A program viewing information acquisition device and program that can arbitrarily change the transmission time of viewing information by transmitting a command to set the transmission time to the center from the center, and can efficiently communicate with the center A viewing information acquisition method and a receiving apparatus can be realized.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(1) First Embodiment In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an audience rating survey system as a whole, and a broadcaster (broadcast station) 2 compresses video data and audio data by a predetermined encoding method such as MPEG2 respectively. A transport stream is generated by encoding and packetizing. Subsequently, the broadcaster 2 packet-multiplexes the generated transport streams for a plurality of channels, modulates the multiplexed bit stream obtained thereby by a predetermined modulation method, and uses this as transmission data D1, for example, 10 [GHz ] To the communication satellite 3 in the frequency band.

  The communication satellite 3 receives the transmitted transmission data D1, amplifies the transmission data D1 to a predetermined level by a transponder (not shown), and converts the frequency to, for example, a frequency band of 1 [GHz]. The transmission data D2 is generated by the above, and this is transmitted to the user homes 4A to 4Z on the ground.

  For example, the antenna 6A provided in the user home 4A receives the transmission data D2, and transmits a reception data stream D3 obtained by demodulating the transmission data D2 to the reception device (IRD) 5. The IRD 5 restores the video data and audio data of the program by demultiplexing and decoding the received data stream D3, displays video through a monitor (not shown), and audio through a speaker (not shown). Is output.

At this time, the IRD 5 stores, in the internal memory, audience rating data as selection history information of a program selected and sampled by the user, and when the audience rating data D4 for one day is accumulated, a predetermined time period is stored. In addition, the audience rating data D4 for one day is automatically transmitted to the totaling center 8 via the public telephone line network 7 every day. Here, the audience rating data D4 is time information (t1) and channel number (CH _NO ) of a program that the user has auditioned.

  The aggregation center 8 calculates the audience rating result for each program based on the daily audience rating data D4 of all the sample households sent (in this case, 15,000 households), and promptly obtains the audience rating result data D5. By notifying the broadcaster (broadcasting station) 2, the consideration is received from the broadcaster 2.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a receiving device (IRD) 5 having a program selection history information acquisition device according to the present invention is first supplied with power by a power supply circuit 10 connected to an AC outlet (not shown) via a plug. Then, when a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 22 is started up, the CPU 22 executes processing according to the operation by the user's remote controller 27.

  The CPU 22 receives the remote control signal S1 representing the channel number output from the user's remote control 27 by the remote control signal light receiving unit 28, and inputs it as the remote control signal S2. The CPU 22 generates a channel selection signal S3 corresponding to the input remote control signal S2, and supplies it to the front end unit 11.

  The front end unit 11 receives the received data stream D3 received via the antenna 6, and a program corresponding to the channel selection signal S3 in the received data stream D3 transmitted from the transponder (not shown) of the communication satellite 3 Only the received data stream D3 is sent to the demultiplexer 12.

  The demultiplexer 12 temporarily stores the received data stream D3 in the buffer memory 13, and then reads the encryption key information of the contract channel stored in the IC card 21 connected via the card interface (IF) 20 and When the key information matches the encryption key information of the selected channel number program, the received data stream D3 stored in the buffer memory 13 is separated into a plurality of packet data based on a clock signal generated inside the CPU 22. .

  Then, the demultiplexer 12 takes out only the packet data of the channel number program corresponding to the channel selection signal S3, supplies the packet data D10 consisting of the video data portion to the MPEG2 video decoder 14, and the packet data D11 consisting of the audio data portion. The MPEG audio decoder 15 is supplied.

  Incidentally, in addition to the encryption key information, the IC card 21 stores billing information according to the trial listening time of the program that the user auditioned. The billing information is sent by the CPU 22 in response to a transfer request from the counting center 8. The data is read out and transmitted to the totaling center 8 via the modem 26 and the public telephone line network 7.

  The MPEG2 video decoder 14 temporarily stores a plurality of packet data D10 composed of video data portions in the memory 16, and then decodes the data before compression encoding by decoding it by the MPEG2 system based on a clock signal generated inside the CPU 22. The video data D12 is converted and sent to an NTSC (National Television System Commitee) converter 18.

  The NTSC converter 18 converts the video data D12 into a video signal composed of a luminance (Y) signal, a color (C) signal, and a composite signal, and outputs it to a monitor (not shown), thereby selecting the screen of the monitor. Display the channel number.

  The MPEG audio decoder 15 temporarily stores a plurality of packet data D11 comprising an audio data portion in the memory 17 and then decodes the data according to the MPEG system based on a clock signal generated in the CPU 22 in the same manner as the MPEG2 video decoder 14. Thus, the audio data D13 before compression encoding is converted and sent to the digital / analog conversion unit 19.

  The digital / analog conversion unit 19 performs an analog / analog conversion process on the audio data D13 to generate an analog L (left) audio signal and an R (right) audio signal, which are output to a speaker (not shown). ) To output as stereo sound.

  The CPU 22 is connected to a RAM (Ramdom Access Memory) 23, a flash memory 24, and an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) 25, and executes various processes by using the RAM 23 as a work area. The audience rating data D4 for one day that the user listens to using a part of the area can be stored. Here, the area in which the audience rating data D4 is stored in the RAM 23 has a capacity capable of storing the audience rating data D4 for two days or more with a margin.

  The flash memory 24 displays an initial setting screen and an identification number input screen which will be described later, and program information for performing processing according to a command selected and input by the user based on the menu screen by the CPU 22 is written. It is a non-volatile memory, and when new program information is received from the communication satellite 3, the program contents can be rewritten.

  The EEPROM 25 is also a non-volatile memory, and stores final channel number information when the power of the IRD 5 is turned off and the volume state at that time (volume). The CPU 22 is turned on again. When the state is reached, the contents of the data stored in the EEPROM 25 are read out so that the same channel number and volume state as when the power is turned off can be reset.

  Here, in the IRD 5, when the plug is inserted into the AC outlet for the first time after purchase, the power supply circuit 10 is started up. When power is supplied by the power supply circuit 10, the CPU 22 first stores it in the flash memory 24. By reading the programmed information, an initial setting screen 51 as shown in FIG. 3 is displayed on the monitor screen. When the user intends to apply for the audience rating, the user inputs a 5-digit password designated in advance from the aggregation center 8 in the password input field 52 of the initial setting screen 51.

  In this case, when the CPU 22 recognizes that the five-digit password designated from the totaling center 8 has been entered in the password entry field 52, it next displays a recognition number entry screen 53 as shown in FIG. 4 on the monitor screen. . The user inputs the telephone number of the home connected to the public telephone line network 7 in the telephone number input field 54 of the identification number input screen 53 from the city code, and finally confirms the audience rating application 55 “Yes” icon 55 Alternatively, one of the “No” icons 56 is selected.

  If the “No” icon 56 is selected by the user, the CPU 22 cancels the processing assuming that there is no intention to apply for the audience rating, but if the “Yes” icon 55 is selected, it is input. The telephone number is set as the user identification number for the audience rating application, and this is transmitted to the aggregation center 8 via the modem 26 and the public telephone line network 7. By registering the sent user identification number in the totaling center 8, registration of the setting for storing the audience rating data D4 for one day that the user listens to in the IRD 5 and automatically transmitting it to the totaling center 8 is completed. .

  Thereby, the aggregation center 8 receives the audience rating data D4 when the audience rating data D4 transmitted together with the user identification number from the IRD 5 matches the user identification number registered at the time of applying for the audience rating. If not, the audience rating data D4 is not accepted.

  In this case, the IRD 5 receives the remote control signal S1 transmitted from the remote controller 27 via the remote control signal light receiving unit 28, and the CPU 22 receives the front based on the remote control signal S2 transmitted via the remote control signal light receiving unit 28. By controlling the processing of the end unit 11 and the demultiplexer 12, the channel number information of the program the user is listening to and the time information indicating the selected time are always recognized.

  Therefore, the CPU 22 performs channel number information when the power supply is turned on by the operation of the remote controller 27 and the time information at that time, and the channel number information when the power supply is turned off and the current time information. The time information, the channel number information at the time when the program being auditioned is changed, and the time information at that time are stored in a partial area of the RAM 23 as audience rating data D4.

  Therefore, if the channel number is never changed, only the time information when the power is turned on and off and one type of channel number information are stored as the audience rating data D4. That is, the CPU 22 stores only the channel number information at the selection timing representing the change point where the channel number is changed except when the power is turned on and off, and the time information at that time in the RAM 23 as the audition rate data, thereby reducing the amount of data to be stored. It is made to let you.

  Further, the CPU 22 registers video reservation information including channel number information and recording start and end times in the RAM 23 in accordance with the remote control signal S2 transmitted from the remote control 27 and the remote control signal light receiving unit 28, and thereby at the recording start time. In other words, a video signal and an audio signal supplied from the NTSC converter 18 and the digital analog converter 19 are recorded by controlling a VTR (Video Tape Recorder) 29 connected via the video interface 30.

  In this case, the CPU 22 stores in the RAM 23 as audience rating data D4 in which recording start and end time information is added as additional information in addition to the channel number information recorded by the timer, and transmits it to the totaling center 8 to thereby transmit the totaling center. 8, it is possible to determine whether the audience rating data D4 is data that has been sampled only once, or data that may be sampled repeatedly several times by being recorded on a video tape. It can be tabulated as audience rating data D4.

  Here, the audience rating data D4 is divided into a header portion 61 and a data portion 62 as shown in FIG. 5. The header portion 61 includes an identification number information area 63 representing the user's telephone number in 40 bits, and a stored audience rating. Date / time information area 64 representing the date of data D4 in 16 bits, and the number of stored audience rating data D4 samples (that is, the number of audience rating data D4 obtained when the power supply is turned on / off and whenever the program is changed) Is constituted by a sample information area 65 representing 16 bits. Further, the data portion 62 includes channel number information when the power supply is turned on and off and time information at that time, and channel number information changed so that the user can listen to a desired program and time information at that time. It is expressed in bits.

  The CPU 22 accumulates the selection information of such a data structure for one day (for example, PM23: 00: 00 of the previous day to PM22: 59: 59 of the current day) and stores it in the RAM 23, and then stores PM23: 00: 00 on the current day. During the next morning AM07: 00: 00, audience rating data D4 as selection history information consisting of a plurality of selection information for one day is automatically transmitted to the free dial via the modem 26 and the public telephone line network 7. It is made like that. In this case, the CPU 22 can avoid congestion of the line by transmitting the audience rating data D4 between PM23: 00: 00 where the line is available and AM07: 00: 00 the next morning.

  Here, the CPU 22 has a random number generation unit 22A inside, and the random number generation unit 22A generates a unique random number for all IRDs 5A to 5Z for 15,000 households, and transmits for one minute according to the random number. By assigning the time zone to each user's telephone number (identification number), when the audience rating data D4 is transmitted between PM23: 00: 00 and AM07: 00: 00, calls for 15,000 households do not overlap. It is designed to be able to transmit efficiently.

  In this case, the IRDs 5A to 5Z for 15,000 households transmit the audience rating data D4 in the individually assigned transmission time zone for 1 minute, and the aggregation center 8 uses the 50 lines owned by the totaling center 8 in 5 hours for 15,000 households. All the audience rating data D4 can be collected. As a result, the aggregation center 8 can reliably and easily aggregate audience rating data D4 for the number of 15,000 households without separately transmitting data transfer requests like collection of billing information. The audience rating result data D5 for one day is calculated based on the minute audience rating data D4, and this can be promptly notified to the broadcaster 2.

  By the way, the IRD 5 has a power failure detection circuit 10A inside the power supply circuit 10, and detects a power failure (that is, power is no longer supplied by the power supply circuit 10) by the power failure detection circuit 10A. Then, when it is detected that power is supplied by the power supply circuit 10, the CPU 22 resets the audience rating application once set and registered, and displays the initial setting screen 51 (FIG. 3) again. Has been made.

  That is, the IRD 5 always removes the plug from the AC outlet when the main body is transferred between users. In this case, the CPU 22 detects that power is not supplied, and then the plug is connected to the AC outlet. When the power is supplied by the power supply circuit 10 after being inserted, the initial setting screen 51 is displayed again on the monitor.

  As a result, the user who has transferred the IRD 5 main body sees the initial setting screen 51 and determines whether or not to enter the audience rating password. At this time, if the transferred user intends to apply for the audience rating, he / she inputs the five-digit password designated from the totaling center 8 and displays the identification number display screen 53 (FIG. 4) displayed next. Enter your own telephone number in the identification number input field 54. At this time, the IRD 5 recognizes for the first time that the transferred user's audience rating application has been received, and performs setting registration for storing and automatically transmitting the audience rating data D4.

  As a result, when the audience rating data D4 to which the transferred user identification number is added is transmitted from the IRD 5, the aggregation center 8 compares the registered identification number with the identification number assigned to the audience rating data D4. When the identification numbers match, the audience rating data D4 is received. When the identification numbers do not match, the audience rating data D4 is not received, so that only the audience rating data D4 of the user who applied for the audience rating is received. Have been made to tabulate.

  In the above configuration, the IRD 5 stores the one-minute transmission time zone for each user according to the random number generated by the random number generation unit 22A provided in the CPU 22 and stored in the RAM 23. The daily audience rating data D4 can be automatically transmitted to the aggregation center 8 using the allocated transmission time zone.

  Therefore, the IRDs 5A to 5Z corresponding to the number of 15,000 households automatically transmit the audience rating data D4 to the totaling center 8 using the transmission time zone that is uniquely assigned to each line to be used. Each can be transmitted efficiently while preventing overlap. As a result, the aggregation center 8 does not need to individually transmit a transfer request for the audience rating data D4 to each user in order to prevent call overlap, and the audience rating data D4 for the number of 15,000 households is sent to PM23: 00: 00. Can be aggregated easily and efficiently between ~ AM07: 00: 00.

  According to the above configuration, the IRD 5 stores the audience rating data D4 in the RAM 23 provided therein, and automatically transmits the audience rating data D4 to the aggregation center 8 using the transmission time zone uniquely assigned. By doing so, the audience center data D4 of a very large number of samples can be aggregated easily and efficiently in the aggregation center 8.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case has been described in which the audience rating data D4 is stored using a partial area of the RAM 23 provided in the IRD. A memory for storing only the rate data D4 may be provided separately, and the audience rating data D4 may be stored therein.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where a unique transmission time zone is assigned as an identification number for each user according to the random number generated by the random number generator 22A has been described. Not limited to this, time information at the time of applying for the audience rating is stored in the RAM 23, the time information is used as an identification number, and a transmission time zone of 1 minute is assigned based on the early order of the time information. You may do it.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the case where a unique transmission time zone is assigned to each user based on the random number generated by the random number generation unit 22A has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The transmission time zone of minutes may be assigned based on the order of younger telephone numbers connected to the public telephone line network 7. Even in this case, an individual transmission time zone can be assigned to each telephone number.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the program selection history information acquisition apparatus of the present invention is configured by the RAM 23 and CPU 22 as storage means and the modem 26 and CPU 22 as transmission means has been described. The invention is not limited to this, and may be constituted by other various receiving means, storing means, and transmitting means.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the program selection history information acquisition apparatus of the present invention is applied to a digital satellite broadcasting receiving apparatus (IRD) 5 that stores audience rating data D4 and automatically transmits it. However, the present invention is not limited to this, but may be applied to a normal terrestrial broadcast television receiver, a cable television television receiver, or a radio receiver that receives audio information and text information. May be.

(2) Second Embodiment FIG. 7 in which the same reference numerals are assigned to the parts corresponding to those in FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of a receiving apparatus (IRD) 50 having program selection history information acquisition means according to the present invention. The form is shown and installed in each of the user homes 4A to 4Z shown in FIG. When power is supplied to each circuit unit of the IRD 50 via the power supply circuit 10 connected to a commercial power supply (not shown), the CPU 22 is activated.

  The CPU 22 executes various processes according to a program stored in the flash memory 24. For example, the CPU 22 displays an initial setting screen or an identification number input screen on a monitor, or a user based on a menu screen. The remote commander 27 or the operation panel 40 is operated to analyze the selected command and execute various processes according to the command.

  Here, in the IRD 50, when the power source is connected to the commercial power source for the first time after being purchased and the power source is turned on, the CPU 22 first reads out the execution program stored in the flash memory 24, thereby causing the monitor (not shown) to read. An initial setting screen 51 similar to that described above with reference to FIG. 3 is displayed. If the user intends to participate in the survey of audience rating data, the remote commander 27 or the 5-digit password notified in advance from the aggregation center 8 (FIG. 1) is entered in the password input field 52 of the initial setting screen 51. The operation panel 40 is operated for input.

  When the CPU 22 recognizes that the 5-digit password designated by the totaling center 8 has been entered in the password entry field 52, the management number as shown in FIG. 7 is next displayed on the monitor (not shown) screen. An input screen 73 is displayed. The user is notified in advance of a management number unique to the IRD 50 from the aggregation center 8 (FIG. 1), and is managed in the management number input field 74 of the management number input screen 73 by operating the remote commander 27 or the operation panel 40. Enter the number.

  Then, either a “Yes” icon 75 or a “No” icon 76 is selected as a confirmation icon for confirming an application to finally participate in the audience rating survey.

  When the “No” icon 76 is selected by the user, the CPU 22 cancels the processing assuming that the user does not intend to participate in the audience rating survey, and in response to this, the “Yes” icon 75 is displayed. Is selected, the input management number is used as the identification number of the IRD 50 that has applied for audience rating transmission, and this is transmitted to the aggregation center 8 (FIG. 1) via the modem 26 and the public telephone line network 7. . The registration center 8 completes registration when receiving the audience rating data D100 acquired by the user viewing the program in the IRD 50 by registering the sent identification number.

  Thus, when the audience rating data D100 including the identification number (management number) is transmitted from the IRD 50, the aggregation center 8 (FIG. 1) performs the aggregation based on the identification number of the audience rating data D100.

  Here, the management number (identification number) notified in advance to the user from the aggregation center 8 (FIG. 1) is 16-digit information individually assigned to each user (IRD), as shown in FIG. A common ID number “777” is assigned to the upper three digits when applying for the audience rating survey, and the subsequent six digits are the aggregation center 8 of the audience rating data D100 assigned to the user (IRD). The transmission time to is assigned. In the case of FIG. 8, this transmission time is “123456”, which indicates that the audience rating data D100 is transmitted to the aggregation center 8 from 12:34:56. Also, the 7 digits following this transmission time are a serial number assigned to the user who makes the application for the audience rating survey. In the case of FIG. 8, this serial number is “7890123”, which is the audience rating. This indicates that the survey application was applied for 7890123rd.

  When the management number is input by the user, the CPU 22 stores the management number in the RAM 23. When the internal timer indicates the transmission time assigned by the management number, the CPU 22 stores the management number at this time. The audience rating data D100 is transmitted to the aggregation center 8 (FIG. 1) via the modem 26 and the public telephone line network 7. In this way, by assigning a specific transmission time to each user (IRD50) as a management number, a specific transmission time is set for each region of the user (IRD50), or an audience rating survey contractor (user). The transmission time of the audience rating data D100 can be set for each age. As a result, in the aggregation center 8 (FIG. 1), when the users (IRD 50) are grouped according to the characteristics such as the region and the age, the time for receiving the audience rating data D100 for each group can be collected within a certain range. It is possible to increase the degree of freedom of the tabulation work, for example, by tabulating the audience rating data D100 for each group.

  Here, the remote commander 27 has a plurality of operation keys, and when the user operates any one of the operation keys, a command signal S1 corresponding to the operation key is superimposed on, for example, infrared light and the remote control signal light receiving unit of the IRD 50. 28. The remote control signal light receiving unit 28 converts the command signal S1 superimposed on the infrared light into an electrical signal, and sends this to the CPU 22 as the command signal S2.

  For example, when the user operates a channel selection key of the remote commander 27 to select any channel, the CPU 22 supplies a channel selection signal S3 corresponding thereto to the front end unit 11.

  The front end unit 11 receives the received data stream D3 including the channel designated by the user via the antenna 6, and performs error correction processing using the error correction code on the received data stream D3. This is supplied to the demultiplexer 12. The demultiplexer 12 reads the encryption key information of the contract channel stored in the IC card 21 connected via the card interface (card I / F) 20, and the encryption key information and the user at this time When the encryption key information of the selected channel number program matches, the packet data of the channel is separated from the received data stream D3 and is decrypted using the encryption key information. The packet data D10 consisting of the video data part is supplied to the MPEG2 video decoder 14 and the packet data D11 consisting of the audio data part is supplied to the MPEG audio decoder 15.

  Incidentally, in addition to the encryption key information, the IC card 21 stores billing information corresponding to the viewing time of the program viewed by the user, and the preset timing or the broadcaster 2 (FIG. 1). When a transfer request is input to the IRD 50 via the public telephone line network 7 from the totaling center 8 (FIG. 1), the CPU 22 reads the billing information from the IC card 21 and performs service via the modem 26 and the public line network 7. Transmit to the center 8.

  The MPEG2 video decoder 14 temporarily stores a plurality of packet data D10 composed of video data portions in the memory 16, and then decodes the data by the MPEG2 system based on a clock signal generated inside the CPU 22. Thereby, the video data D12 before compression encoding is restored, and the MPEG2 video decoder 14 sends the video data D12 to an NTSC (National Television System Committee) converter 18.

  The NTSC converter 18 converts the video data D12 into a luminance (Y) signal, a color (C) signal and a composite signal, and outputs them to a monitor (not shown). Can be displayed visually via a monitor.

  The MPEG audio decoder 15 temporarily stores a plurality of packet data D11 consisting of audio data portions in the memory 17, and then decodes the data by the MPEG system based on a clock signal generated inside the CPU 22. Thereby, the audio data D13 before compression encoding is restored, and the MPEG audio decoder 15 sends the audio data D13 to the digital / analog conversion unit 19.

  The digital / analog conversion unit 19 generates an L (left) channel audio signal and an R (right) channel audio signal, which are analog signals, by performing digital / analog conversion processing on the audio data D13. It outputs as a stereo sound via a speaker (not shown).

  Also, the luminance (Y) signal, color (C) signal and composite signal output from the NTSC converter 18, and the L (left) channel audio signal and R (right) channel audio output from the digital / analog converter 19. The signal is supplied to an analog video tape recorder (VTR) 29. Therefore, when the recording start command is input as the control signal S7 supplied from the CPU 22 via the infrared light emitting unit 157, the analog VTR 29 at this time outputs the luminance (Y) signal, color ( C) The signal and composite signal, and the L (left) channel audio signal and the R (right) channel audio signal output from the digital / analog converter 19 are recorded on a video tape.

  Incidentally, in addition to the analog VTR 29, the IRD 50 includes a plurality of digital recording / reproducing devices such as a magneto-optical disc device (MD: Mini Disc) 152, a digital VTR 153, and a hard disc recorder 154, and a digital TV (Television) device 155 defined by IEEE 1394. The data bus BUS and the interface (IEEE1394 I / F) 151 are connected.

  Therefore, the CPU 22 of the IRD 50 provides, for example, a channel that provides video and audio signals, a channel that provides game software and various information, or music (audio data) as a plurality of channels that are superimposed on the received data stream D3. The demultiplexer 12 separates and extracts the channels to be selected, and the channel selected by the user by the remote commander 27 is used as the compressed and encoded data before decoding through the data bus BUS and the interface 51, respectively. Is supplied to the digital recording / reproducing apparatus and / or the digital TV apparatus 155 designated by the user.

  At this time, the CPU 22 controls the corresponding digital recording / reproducing device (the magneto-optical recording / reproducing device 152, the digital VTR 153 or the hard disk recorder 154) and / or the digital TV device 55 through the data bus BUS and the interface 151, thereby performing the digital recording / reproducing. The apparatus is operated for recording, and the digital TV apparatus 155 is made to perform MPEG decoding and display operation of input data. As a result, the digital recording / playback device designated by the user records the channel information designated by the user, and the digital TV device 155 outputs the image and / or sound recorded at this time.

  Incidentally, the magneto-optical disk device 152 records and reproduces audio data compressed and encoded by an ATRAC (Adaptive TRansform Acoustic Coding) method with respect to a 2.5-inch magneto-optical disk, and is separated via the demultiplexer 12. Among the recorded data, audio data compressed and encoded by the ATRAC method is input. The magneto-optical disk device 152 records the audio data compressed and encoded by the ATRAC system on the magneto-optical disk while being compressed and encoded. The magneto-optical disk device 152 has an ATRAC decoder for decoding the audio data recorded on the magneto-optical disk by the ATRAC system, and an audio signal decoded thereby has an external output terminal (not shown). The audio data on the magneto-optical disk can be reproduced by outputting to an external speaker or the like.

  The digital VTR 153 records and reproduces a video signal and an audio signal compressed and encoded by the MPEG method on a video tape, and compresses the data separated through the demultiplexer 12 by the MPEG method. The encoded video signal and audio signal are input. Then, the digital VTR 153 records the video signal and the audio signal on the video tape while being compressed and encoded. Further, the digital VTR 153 has an MPEG decoder for decoding video and audio data recorded on the video tape by the MPEG method, and the video and audio signals decoded thereby are externally connected via an external output terminal (not shown). The video and audio signals recorded on the video tape can be reproduced by outputting to the monitor or speaker.

  Further, the hard disk recorder 154 records and reproduces various information on the hard disk. Among the data separated through the demultiplexer 12, for example, various data of the channel that provides game software and other various information is stored. Enter and record.

  In addition, the demultiplexer 12 extracts electronic program guide information (EPG: Electronic Program Guide) distributed and superimposed on each channel at a predetermined timing, and stores it in the buffer memory 13. The electronic program guide information is a network information table (NIT) in program specification information called PSI (Program Specific Information) added to the header of a data stream transmitted from a broadcasting station. Assigned to.

  This network information table (NIT) has a configuration as shown in FIG. In FIG. 9, a table ID (table descriptor) D101 indicates that the data is a network information table (NIT) of tables defined in MPEG, and a network ID (network identifier). ) D102 indicates a data stream in which the network information table (NIT) is multiplexed, and is used to identify a transponder of a communication satellite that relays the data stream. The version number D103 is added every time the contents of the table are updated, and the current / next / instruction data D104 is used for identification when the old and new versions are transmitted simultaneously.

  In addition to this, the network information table (NIT) describes the length determined by the transport descriptor length data D105 following the transport stream TS descriptor length data D105. A service list descriptor D120 shown in FIG. 10 is described as the child D106.

  The service list descriptor D120 represents the identification information of the service multiplexed in the data stream, the descriptor tag data D121 represents the type of the descriptor, and the service ID data D122 represents the identification information of the EPG data. The service type data D123 represents the contents of EPG data.

  The electronic program guide information includes information on programs of each broadcast channel from the current time to several tens of hours later (for example, program channel, broadcast time, title, genre, program description, etc.). The electronic program guide information is frequently distributed at a predetermined timing, so that the latest information is always stored in the buffer memory 13.

  When the user operates the remote commander 27 to output the electronic program guide information, the CPU 22 reads the latest electronic program guide information EPG from the buffer memory 13, and reads this through the MPEG2 video decoder 14 and the NTSC converter 18. By outputting to an externally connected monitor, the contents of the program provided in each channel are displayed to the user by various display characters.

  While viewing the electronic program guide information displayed on the monitor, the user selects a desired program by operating the remote commander 27 or the operation panel 40 and designates a desired treatment for the program by the user. For example, when the selected program is recorded on the externally connected analog VTR 29, the user inputs the command to the CPU 22 by operating the remote commander 27 or the operation panel 40. In response to the instruction, the CPU 22 detects the start of the broadcast of the program selected at this time using an internal timer, extracts the video data and audio data at the demultiplexer 12 simultaneously with the start of the program, and then outputs the video data. Is supplied to the analog VTR 29 connected to the outside via the MPEG2 video decoder 14 and the NTSC converter 18, and the audio data is supplied to the analog VTR 29 via the MPEG audio decoder 15 and the digital / analog converter 19. At this time, the CPU 22 supplies the control signal S7 to the analog VTR 29 via the infrared light emitting unit 57 to cause the analog VTR 29 to perform a recording operation, whereby the program selected by the user is recorded on the video tape of the analog VTR 29. The

  Incidentally, the NTSC converter 18 superimposes a copy protection signal on the input video data. When the input video data has been previously purchased by the user, the CPU 22 The contract status is read from the IC card 21 and the NTSC converter 18 is stopped from superimposing the copy protect signal. As a result, the copy protection is canceled and the analog VTR 29 records the program for which the user has a purchase contract.

  Similarly, in each digital recording / reproducing apparatus (the magneto-optical disk apparatus 152, the digital VTR 153, and the hard disk recorder 154) connected to the outside via the data bus BUS and the interface 151, the user can also use the electronic program guide information. When a recording (recording) command is input to the CPU 22 based on this, when the CPU 22 starts receiving a program (music software, game software, movie software, etc.) designated at this time based on the command, the corresponding digital signal is received. Record in the recording / playback device. At this time, the CPU 22 collates and decrypts the encryption key information in the demultiplexer 12 using the encryption key information of the contracted program stored in the IC card 21, so that only the program for which the user has been contracted in advance is digitally recorded / reproduced. Can be recorded on the device.

  The CPU 22 is connected to a RAM (Random Access Memory) 23 and an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) in addition to a flash memory 24 that stores various operation programs, and the RAM 23 is used as a work area. While performing various processes, it stores the audience rating data for a day viewed by the user using a partial area of the RAM 23.

  When the IRD 50 receives a new program for various execution programs stored therein, the flash memory 24 rewrites the program with new contents. This rewriting process is called program download.

  The EEPROM 25 is a non-volatile memory, and stores final channel number information set immediately before the power of the IRD 50 is switched off and the sound level at that time. When the power source is switched on again, the CPU 22 reads the data contents stored in the EEPROM 25 to reset the same channel number and volume level as when the power source is turned off.

  Here, the CPU 22 displays data representing a program that the user is viewing (or recording) every predetermined time (for example, every 10 seconds) and various additional information as audience rating data (program selection history information). It is stored in the RAM 23 as D100. As shown in FIG. 11, the audience rating data D100 is divided into a header portion 161 and a data portion 162. The header portion 161 indicates the user management number (identification number) described above with reference to FIG. 8 as a BCD (Binary Coded Decimal) 48. An identification number information area 163 for identifying the IRD 50 by representing it in bits, and date / time information representing the data acquisition date of the stored audience rating data D100 as the date (however, the upper two digits of the year are not transmitted) in BCD24 bits. An area 164 and a sample number information area 165 representing the number of samples of the stored audience rating data D100 (that is, the number of samples of the gater part 162 stored at this time following the header part 161) in binary16 bits. Has been.

  The data portion 162 includes data representing the viewing state of the user acquired by the CPU 22 every predetermined time (for example, every 10 seconds) as one data unit (sample data) 166 for each acquisition. Each sample data 166 includes various additional information (8 bits), time information (24 bits) when the sample data was acquired, and the sample data 166. User selected program information (channel number information (16 bits)) at the time is assigned.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the additional information assigned to each sample data 166 is composed of 8-bit data as a whole, and the IRD 50 at the time when the sample data 166 is acquired is video software (program composed of video and audio). When the purchase is made and the program is recorded and / or displayed, “1” is assigned to the least significant bit, and at the time when the sample data 166 is acquired, the IRD 50 performs the recording by timer reservation. “1” is assigned to the second lowest bit, and “1” is assigned to the third lowest bit when the IRD 50 is displaying the electronic program guide information EPG at the time when the sample data 166 is acquired. In addition, the IRD 50 is flashed at the time when the sample data 166 is acquired. When a new program for version upgrade of an execution program stored in the memory 24 is being downloaded, “1” is assigned to the fourth least significant bit, and at the time when the sample data 166 is acquired. When the IRD 50 purchases a music program and downloads the music program to the magneto-optical recording / reproducing apparatus 52 during downloading, “1” is assigned to the fifth lowest bit.

  In this way, in the plurality of sample data 166 acquired at each time, the program selection state of the IRD 50 (that is, the viewing state by the user) at the acquisition timing is recorded in detail as additional information, and each sample data is stored in the RAM 23. Each 166 is stored sequentially.

  The CPU 22 accumulates the audience rating data D100 obtained in this way in the RAM 23 for one day, and totals the data as audience rating data (program selection history information) for one day via the modem 26 and the public telephone line network 7. Transmit to the center 8 (FIG. 1). In this case, when the time specified by the management number (identification number) is reached in advance, the CPU 22 stores the audience rating data D100 stored in the RAM 23 via the modem 26 and the public telephone line network 7 (FIG. 1). Send to. At this time, as shown in FIG. 13, when the IRD 50 connects the line with the totaling center 8, the data processing unit 8D of the totaling center 8 (FIG. 1) converts the audience rating data D100 transmitted from the IRD 50 into the modem 8A. When the content of the audience rating data D100 needs to be changed with respect to the IRD 50, a change command D200 of the audience rating data D100 is transmitted to the IRD 50.

  When the change command D200 is input, the CPU 22 of the IRD 50 rewrites the program relating to the audience rating acquisition in the flash memory 24 in response to this, and changes the information content to be acquired and sent to the aggregation center 8 as audience rating data D100. For example, when a command for changing the telephone number of the aggregation center 8 from the specified date and time is transmitted as the change command D200 from the aggregation center 8 to the IRD 50, the CPU 22 of the IRD 50 specifies the specified date and time according to the change command D200. To the telephone number to which the audience rating data D100 is transmitted.

  When a command for changing the transmission time of the audience rating data D100 set by the initial management number to the aggregation center 8 is transmitted from the aggregation center 8 to the IRD 50 as the change command D200, the CPU 22 of the IRD 50 In accordance with the change command D200, the transmission time of the audience rating data D100 is changed by rewriting a part of the management number (sending time) in the flash memory 24. As a result, for example, when a new grouping is performed for each region or each user's age for a plurality of users (IRD) in the aggregation center 8, the transmission time for each group is set to a new time. Can be set again.

  When a command to stop transmission of the audience rating data D100 is transmitted from the aggregation center 8 to the IRD 50 as the change command D200, the CPU 22 of the IRD 50 subsequently acquires the audience rating data D100 according to the change command D200. Transmission to the aggregation center 8 is stopped.

  When a command for changing the content of the audience rating data D100 is transmitted from the aggregation center 8 to the IRD 50 as the change command D200, the CPU 22 of the IRD 50 obtains and subsequently obtains the audience rating data D100 according to the change command D200. The content to be transmitted to the aggregation center 8 is changed. In this case, for example, the time interval at which the audience rating data D100 is acquired and stored in the RAM 23 is changed from every 10 seconds until then every 30 seconds, or the content of the additional information described above with reference to FIG. 12 is changed to new content. There are items to be changed.

  When the IRD 50 connects the line with the totaling center 8 in this way, the change command D200 is transmitted from the totaling center 8 to the IRD 50, and the acquisition content, transmission time, etc. of the audience rating data D100 are changed. Various setting items related to the audience rating data D100 set in the IRD 50 can be changed in accordance with the change of the aggregation processing of the aggregation center 8. Incidentally, various setting items related to the audience rating data D100 are stored in the database 8E of the aggregation center 8 together with the management number (identification number) of each user (IRD), and the data processing unit 8D changes the database according to the change of the setting items. Rewrite 8E.

  In the above configuration, the aggregation center 8 notifies the user (IRD) of the individual management number in advance, and the user sets this management number in the IRD 50, whereby the unique management number in the IRD 50 is flashed as an identification number. In addition to being stored in the memory 24, the management number (identification number) is registered in the aggregation center 8 by a user setting operation.

  This management number is composed of the time when the audience rating data D100 is transmitted from the user's home to the aggregation center 8 and the serial number assigned to the user (IRD) participating in the audience rating survey, and is a unique number for each IRD. . Therefore, even when there is only one telephone line connected to the user's house and a plurality of IRDs 50 are installed in the user's house, each telephone number of the user's house is used as an identification number. By assigning individual management numbers to the IRDs 50, the aggregation center 8 can individually aggregate the audience rating data D100 using the management numbers assigned to each IRD.

  Further, by using the time at which the audience rating data D100 is transmitted from the IRD 50 to the totaling center 8 as the management number, the totaling center 8 can be assigned as the time by region or by the user's age. The user (IRD) Can be grouped according to characteristics such as region and age, the transmission time of the audience rating data D100 can be summarized for each group.

  Further, when the audience rating data D100 is transmitted from the user's home (IRD 50) to the totaling center 8 via the public telephone line network 7, the totaling center 8 uses the fact that the public telephone line network 7 is connected. By sending a change command D200 of the audience rating data D100 to the IRD 50 and changing the contents and transmission time of the audience rating data D100, the contents and transmission time of the audience rating data D100 once determined in the initial setting are totaled. It can be changed arbitrarily and easily for the convenience of the center 8 side.

  Thus, according to the above configuration, the audience rating data D100 for each IRD can be aggregated based on the management number (identification number) unique to the IRD 50, and the contents and transmission time of the audience rating data D100 can be arbitrarily changed. Thus, the audience data D100 can be easily aggregated with a high degree of freedom.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the time when the audience rating data D100 is transmitted to the aggregation center 8 is used as the management number (identification number) assigned to the IRD 50 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the IRD 50 (user Various other information can be assigned, such as code information according to the area of the house and the age of the user. In this case, the aggregation center 8 can determine the transmission time for each region of the IRD 50 and the age of the user, and set the transmission time using the change command D200.

  In the above-described embodiment, by transmitting the change command D200 from the aggregation center 8 to the IRD 50, the contents of the audience rating data D100 (additional information, etc.), the telephone number of the aggregation center 8, the transmission stop, and the transmission time Although the case where the item is changed and when the item is changed has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is possible to add new acquisition information required for the aggregation work in the aggregation center 8.

  In the above-described embodiments, the case where the present invention is applied to a system that distributes a program via a communication satellite has been described. This is also suitable for application.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the audience rating investigation system by this invention. It is a block diagram which shows 1st Embodiment of IRD by this invention. It is a basic diagram which shows an initial setting screen. It is a basic diagram which shows the identification number input screen in 1st Embodiment. It is an approximate line figure showing the data structure of audience rating data in a 1st embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows 2nd Embodiment of IRD by this invention. It is a basic diagram which shows the management number input screen in 2nd Embodiment. It is a basic diagram which shows the structure of a management number. It is a basic diagram which shows the structure of NIT data. It is a basic diagram which shows the data structure of a service list descriptor. It is a basic diagram which shows the data structure of audience rating data in 2nd Embodiment. It is a basic diagram which shows the structure of additional information. It is a block diagram for explanation of transmission / reception of audience rating data and audience rating data change command.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Audience rating survey system, 2 ... Broadcasting company, 3 ... Communication satellite, 5, 50 ... IRD, 7 ... Public telephone line network, 8 ... Counting center, 8D ... Data processing part, 8E …… Database, 10 …… Power supply circuit, 11 …… Front end section, 12 …… Demultiplexer, 22 …… CPU, 23 …… RAM, 24 …… Flash memory, 26 …… Modem, 27 …… Remote commander , 28... Remote control signal light receiving unit, 151... IEEE 1394 interface, 152... Magneto-optical recording / reproducing device, 153 .. digital video tape recorder, 154... Hard disk recorder, 155. IEEE 1394 data bus.

Claims (5)

In a program viewing information acquisition device for acquiring viewing information of the program selected and viewed by a user,
Obtaining means for obtaining viewing information of the program selected and viewed by the user;
Storage means for storing the viewing information acquired by the acquisition means;
When a line connection is established between the program viewing information acquisition apparatus and the center by connecting to the center via a public network based on a transmission time for automatically transmitting the viewing information to a predetermined center. Transmitting / receiving means for transmitting the viewing information to the center and receiving a setting instruction regarding the transmission time from the center;
A program viewing information acquisition apparatus characterized by comprising: 2. The program viewing information according to claim 1, wherein the transmission / reception means automatically transmits the viewing information to the center based on a set new predetermined time in accordance with a setting instruction regarding the transmission time from the center. Acquisition device. The transmission reception means, the selection history information stored predetermined period, program viewing information acquisition apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that periodically transmitted to the center. In a program viewing information acquisition method in a program viewing information acquisition apparatus that acquires viewing information of a program selected and viewed by a user,
An acquisition step of acquiring viewing information of the program selected and viewed by the user;
An accumulation step of accumulating the viewing information in an accumulation means;
When a line connection is established between the program viewing information acquisition apparatus and the center by connecting to the center via a public network based on a transmission time for automatically transmitting the viewing information to a predetermined center. A transmission / reception step of transmitting the viewing information to the center and receiving a setting instruction regarding the transmission time from the center;
Program viewing information acquisition method characterized in that it comprises a. In a receiving device for receiving a program,
Receiving means for receiving the program;
Obtaining means for obtaining viewing information of the program selected and viewed by the user from among the plurality of programs receivable by the receiving means;
Storage means for storing the viewing information acquired by the acquisition means;
When the line connection is established between the receiving apparatus and the center by connecting to the center via a public network based on the transmission time for automatically transmitting the viewing information to a predetermined center, the viewing Transmitting / receiving means for transmitting information to the center and receiving a setting instruction regarding the transmission time from the center;
A receiving apparatus comprising:

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