JP4206457B2 - Playback device, electronic program guide providing server, information providing server, storage server, information system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a reproducing apparatus that reproduces a program and provides various information related to the program.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a program table called an EPG (Electronic Program Guide), which is composed of broadcast channels, broadcast dates and times, a summary of program contents, etc., is displayed on the TV screen. There is a known function that allows the user to select and schedule recording. This EPG multiplexes data necessary for creating a program guide together with video data and audio data, transmits it from the broadcasting station side, receives data necessary for this program guide with a digital broadcast tuner, etc., and receives the received data. Based on this, a program guide is created and displayed on a TV screen. Thus, the program guide provided by the EPG is composed of one-way information provided from the broadcasting station side (see, for example, Patent Document 1), and data necessary for creating the program guide is video data, In the method of multiplexing with audio data and transmitting from the broadcasting station side, the amount of information provided is limited due to the balance of communication capacity and the like.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent No. 2838892 (page 3)
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in recent years, program viewers' preferences have diversified, and since program viewers have requested more detailed program information, program information provided by conventional EPG alone has become insufficient. It was.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a playback apparatus and the like that can provide more detailed information to the user while suppressing the amount of EPG data.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention]
The reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first receiving means includes electronic program guide data constituting an electronic program guide, and a program in the electronic program guide based on the electronic program guide data. And a plurality of keywords different from the program name of the program , and an information code including an ID corresponding to each keyword. The first output means outputs an electronic program guide based on the electronic program guide data received by the first receiving means, and a plurality of keywords related to programs in the electronic program guide based on the received electronic program guide data. , And output as a part of this electronic program guide. Then, the first transmitting means stores the ID corresponding to the keyword specified based on the operation received by the receiving means among the plurality of keywords output as a part of the electronic program guide by the first output means. The information is transmitted to the providing server, and the second receiving means receives the information corresponding to the transmitted ID from the information providing server, and the second output means outputs the received information. The history storage means stores history information including information related to the history of the ID transmitted using the first transmission means.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, the storage means for storing the user identification code for identifying the user of the playback apparatus, and the user identification code stored in the storage means are stored in the user information. It is good to provide the 2nd transmission means to transmit to the accumulation | storage server for grasping | ascertaining an acquisition tendency. As a communication medium used when realizing the second transmission means, a communication medium capable of transmitting data at a low cost such as the Internet is suitable. However, in consideration of privacy, it is desirable that the second transmission means transmits the user identification code using some encryption function such as SSL.
The information transmitted from the playback device to the storage server may be only the user identification code. However, as described in claim 2, the second transmission means uses the history information stored in the history storage means. It is good to transmit to a storage server with a person identification code.
[0007]
As a server for providing information and the like constituting the electronic program guide to such a playback device, the electronic program guide data and information codes constituting the electronic program guide as described in claim 5 are stored, and these are stored. An electronic program guide providing server configured to transmit to the playback device is preferable.
[0008]
Further, as an information providing server for providing information corresponding to the information code to the playback device, when receiving the information code from the playback device as described in claim 6 , information related to the program corresponding to the information code is obtained. An information providing server configured to transmit to the playback device is preferable.
[0009]
By combining such a playback device, an electronic program guide providing server, and an information providing server, the playback device provides various information according to the user's request while suppressing the amount of data received from the electronic program guide providing server. can do. The reason why the amount of data can be reduced is that the information code can reduce the amount of data compared to information related to the program itself (for example, text data representing the program content).
[0010]
By the way, the playback device may receive video data and audio data, and may play back the video data and audio data at the same time. However, as described in claim 3 , the video data, audio data, electronic program guide data and A recording control means for recording the information code on the recording medium may be provided. And it is good to be comprised so that these data recorded on the recording medium can be read and used.
[0011]
With this configuration, after the program broadcasts, the user can view the program when he / she wants to view it, and further, information related to the program can be acquired, which improves the usability of the user.
Further, as described in claim 4 , the recording medium may be a replaceable medium. Specific examples of media include DVD-R, DVD-RAM, video tape, memory card, replaceable hard disk, and the like.
[0012]
With this configuration, it is possible to view a program and acquire information using an information code with a playback device that is different from the recorded playback device, which improves the usability of the user.
[0013]
Moreover, as a server which receives the user identification code which such a reproducing | regenerating apparatus transmits, Claim 2 as described in Claim 7 , or Claim 3 or Claim 4 which cites Claim 2 The storage server may include a communication unit that communicates with any of the playback devices and a storage unit that stores the user identification code acquired from the playback device.
[0014]
In this way, the storage server can manage information related to users, and it is also possible to realize various services that require user management such as pay-per-view services using the information. Become [0015]
In addition, the storage server that receives the user identification code and the history information transmitted from such a playback device, as recited in claim 7 , refers to claim 2 or claim 2. Alternatively , the communication unit that communicates with the playback device according to claim 4 and the communication unit stores history information received from the playback device in addition to the user identification code acquired from the playback device. It should be. The history information received from the playback device by the communication means here is the second of the playback device according to claim 2 or claim 3 quoting claim 2. It refers to information including information related to the history of IDs transmitted by the transmission means and transmitted using the first transmission means.
[0016]
In this way, the storage server can analyze the viewing behavior of the user and the data of the information acquired by the user, and by using these analysis results, the program viewing tendency and information of the user can be analyzed. The acquisition tendency can be grasped, and one-to-one marketing such as distribution of the optimal targeting advertisement becomes possible. The audience rating and information acquisition rate can also be grasped.
[0017]
By the way, as described in claim 8 , the playback apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , the electronic program guide providing server according to claim 5 , and the information providing server according to claim 6. May be combined to form an information system. Specifically, for example, a system in which a BS digital broadcasting station transmits an information code together with EPG data, and a BS digital television receiver that has received the information code transmits the information code to a WWW server via the Internet to acquire information. Can be considered. In this case, the BS digital broadcasting station corresponds to an electronic program guide providing server, the BS digital television receiver corresponds to a playback device, and the WWW server corresponds to an information providing server.
[0018]
In addition, as described in claim 9 , the playback device according to claim 2 or any one of claim 3 or claim 4 that cites claim 2, and the electronic program providing server according to claim 5. An information system may be configured by combining the information providing server according to claim 6 and the storage server according to claim 7 . Specifically, for example, it may be realized by adding a database server functioning as a storage server to the above-described example. If it is a database server, it is usually possible to search the data accumulated at various points of view, aggregate and analyze at various granularities, so that it is possible to grasp the program viewing tendency and information acquisition tendency from various aspects .
[0020]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments to which the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to the drawings. The embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the following examples, and it goes without saying that various forms can be adopted as long as they belong to the technical scope of the present invention.
[0021]
[First embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the information system of the first embodiment. The information system of this embodiment includes a broadcasting station 3, a TV receiver 5, the Internet 7, an information providing server 9, and a user management server 11.
[0022]
The broadcast station 3 transmits to the TV receiver 5 an information code for acquiring video data, audio data, electronic program guide data, and information related to the program. For this transmission, any of a satellite broadcasting system, a CATV system, and a system using terrestrial waves may be used. Thus, the broadcasting station 3 fulfills the function of the electronic program guide providing server described in the claims in addition to the function of transmitting video data and audio data.
[0023]
Here, a configuration example of the electronic program guide data and the information code is shown in FIG. The electronic program guide data 31 shown in FIG. 2A includes a channel 31a, a broadcasting station 31b, a date 31c, a genre 31d, a title 31e, and contents 31f. As an actual data example, in FIG. 2A, “3ch” as the channel 31a, “XX broadcast station” as the broadcast station 31b, “2002/12/31 19:00 to 21:00” as the date 31c, and the genre 31d “Music” as the title 31e, “2002 Best Hit” as the title 31e, and “Count down 50 songs hit in 2002!” As the content 31f.
[0024]
On the other hand, the information code 33 shown in FIG. 2B includes a performer 33a, a performer ID 33b, a song title 33c, a song title ID 33d, a product 33e, a product ID 33f, a sponsor 33g, and a sponsor ID 33h. As an example of data, in FIG. 2B, “XXXXX” as the performer 33a, “1234” as the appearance ID 33b, blank for the song name 33c, song name ID 33d, product 33e, and product ID 33f, and “△ ΔΔ” as the sponsor 33g. “5678” is shown as “Δ Corporation” and sponsor ID 33h.
[0025]
Returning to FIG. 1, the TV receiver 5 is configured to receive video data, audio data, and electronic program guide data transmitted from the broadcasting station 3, and the user operates a remote control switch (not shown). Thus, the selection of a program, the display of an electronic program guide, and the like are performed. The TV receiver 5 is connected to the Internet 7 and can communicate with the information providing server 9 and the user management server 11 via the Internet 7. The TV receiver 5 stores an identification code (corresponding to the user identification code described in the claims). Although only one TV receiver 5 is illustrated in FIG. 1, a plurality of TV receivers 5 may exist. However, when there are a plurality of units, each TV receiver 5 stores a different identification code. The TV receiver 5 corresponds to a playback device in the claims.
[0026]
The information providing server 9 is connected to the Internet 7 and can provide talent, products, theme songs, providing / supporting companies, and other information in response to a request from the TV receiver 5.
The user management server 11 is connected to the Internet 7 and can receive and store an identification code transmitted from the TV receiver 5. This user management server 11 corresponds to a storage server in the claims.
[0027]
Next, the electronic program guide displayed on the TV receiver 5 will be described with reference to the image diagram shown in FIG. The electronic program guide example 21 shown in FIG. 3A is in a matrix format in which the horizontal axis represents channels and the vertical axis represents time. The electronic program guide example 21 is composed of nine cells A to I. In each cell, information relating to a program such as the cell example 33 shown in FIG. 3B is displayed. The cell example 33 shows a case where the data of the electronic program guide data 31 and the information code 33 described with reference to FIG. 2 is used. Specifically, the genre “music”, title “2002 best hit”, content “count down 50 songs hit in 2002!”, Performer “XXX”, sponsor “△△△△ corporation” It is displayed. However, performers and sponsors are underlined and distinguished from others, and when the user selects them using a remote controller, the information acquisition process described later is started to display more detailed information. Is done.
[0028]
Next, information acquisition processing executed by the TV receiver 5 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. As described above, this process is started by selecting an underlined keyword in the electronic program guide.
First, the ID paired with the selected keyword is stored in the TV receiver 5. If there are already accumulated IDs, they are newly accumulated in addition to them (S100). Subsequently, the ID paired with the selected keyword is transmitted to the information providing server 9 (S110), and the process waits until the information corresponding to the ID transmitted from the information providing server 9 is acquired (S120). When the information is acquired, the acquired information is displayed on the screen (S130), and this process is terminated.
[0029]
A screen display example is shown in FIG. The screen display example 25 is a screen display example obtained when the performer ID is transmitted to the information providing server 9. Information about the performers (name, date of birth, constellation, blood type, birthplace).
Next, information transmission processing executed by the information providing server 9 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. This process is activated when the above-described ID transmitted from the TV receiver 5 is received. When activated, a search is first made from a database holding information corresponding to the received ID (S200). Further, the ID may be transmitted to be searched from a server other than the information providing server 9. In this way, more information can be provided. When the information search is completed, the searched information is transmitted to the TV receiver 5 that has transmitted the ID (S210). When the transmission is completed, this process ends.
[0030]
Next, user information transmission processing executed by the TV receiver 5 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. This process is periodically executed by the TV receiver 5. It may be executed when the power is turned on or immediately before the power is turned off. When this process is started, first, the accumulated ID is read (S300). Subsequently, the user identification code and the stored ID are transmitted to the user management server 11 (S310). When the transmission is completed, all accumulated IDs are deleted (S320), and this process is terminated.
[0031]
Next, user information reception processing executed by the user management server 11 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. This process is activated and executed when an identification code and ID are received from the TV receiver 5. When executed, the received identification code and ID are stored in a database (S400), and this process is terminated.
[0032]
As described so far, according to the information system of the present embodiment, the TV receiver 5 has various data according to the user's request while suppressing the amount of data other than the video data and the audio data received from the broadcasting station 3. Information can be provided. The reason why the data amount can be suppressed is that the information code 33 can reduce the data amount as compared with the information related to the program itself (for example, text data).
[0033]
In addition, the user management server 11 can manage information about the user, and it is possible to realize various services that require user management, such as a pay-per-view service, using the information. Further, the user management server 11 can analyze the viewing behavior of the user and the data of the information acquired by the user, and by using these analysis results, the tendency of the user to watch the program and the information acquisition tendency can be obtained. One-to-one marketing such as distribution of optimal targeting advertisements is possible. The audience rating and information acquisition rate can also be grasped.
[0034]
Next, a second embodiment will be described.
[Second Embodiment]
Since the information system of the second embodiment has a configuration similar to that of the information system of the first embodiment, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment and description thereof is omitted. Hereinafter, the difference will be mainly described.
[0035]
As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 9, the information system of the second embodiment includes a broadcasting station 17, a PC 13, an EPG server 15, an information providing server 9, and a user management server 11.
Unlike the broadcast station 3 (see FIG. 1) of the first embodiment, the broadcast station 17 transmits video data and audio data to the PC 13. For the transmission, any of a satellite broadcasting system, a CATV system, and a system using terrestrial waves may be used. Although different from the block diagram shown in FIG. 9, video data and audio data may be transmitted via the Internet 7.
[0036]
The PC 13 is a PC having reception and playback functions for television broadcasting. The PC 13 corresponds to a playback device in the claims. All the functions of the TV receiver 5 described in the first embodiment are provided. The PC 13 has a DVD-R disc writing function, and an electronic program guide data 31 received from the EPG server 15 and an information code 33 for acquiring information related to the program, together with video data and audio data, It can be stored on an R disk. It is also possible to reproduce video data and audio data read from a DVD-R disc. Further, the ID included in the information code 33 read from the DVD-R disk can be transmitted to the information providing server 9 and the corresponding information can be received from the information providing server 9. Although only one PC 13 is illustrated in FIG. 9, a plurality of PCs may exist.
[0037]
The EPG server 15 transmits to the PC 13 an electronic code table data 31 and an information code 33 for acquiring information related to the program in response to a request from the PC 13. The EPG server 15 corresponds to the electronic program guide providing server in the claims.
The functions of the information providing server 9 and the user management server 11 are the same as those described in the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, the communication target is the TV receiver 5 (see FIG. 1). In the embodiment, the communication target is the PC 13.
[0038]
According to the information system of this embodiment, in addition to the effects described in the first embodiment, video data, audio data, electronic program guide data 31 and information code 33 can be stored in the DVD-R. After the program broadcast, the program can be viewed when the user wants to view it. Furthermore, since information related to the program can also be acquired, user convenience is improved. A PC different from the PC 13 that has performed recording can be the same as the PC 13 that has been recorded by reading data from the DVD-R, thereby improving the usability of the user.
[0039]
Other embodiments will be described below.
In the first and second embodiments, the information providing server 9 and the user management server 11 are realized by separate servers, but may be realized by a single server. In the second embodiment, the information providing server 9, the user management server 11, and the EPG server are realized by separate servers, but may be realized by a single server. Even if it becomes like this, the same effect can be acquired.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an information system according to a first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of electronic program guide data and information codes.
FIG. 3 is an image diagram of an electronic program guide.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining information acquisition processing;
FIG. 5 is a screen display example of acquired information.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining information transmission processing;
FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining user information transmission processing;
FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining user information reception processing;
FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an information system according to a second embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 ... Broadcasting station, 5 ... TV receiver, 7 ... Internet, 9 ... Information provision server, 11 ... User management server, 13 ... PC, 15 ... EPG server, 17 ... Broadcasting station.

Claims (9)

A playback device that receives video data and audio data constituting a program and plays back the data by playback means,
Electronic program guide data constituting the electronic program guide, a plurality of keywords related to a program in the electronic program guide based on the electronic program guide data, a plurality of keywords different from the program name of the program , and each of the keywords First receiving means for receiving an information code including an ID corresponding to the keyword;
An electronic program guide based on the electronic program guide data received by the first receiving means is output, and a plurality of keywords related to programs in the electronic program guide based on the received electronic program guide data are output to the electronic program guide First output means for outputting as part of
Accepting means for accepting various user operations;
Of the plurality of keywords output as part of the electronic program guide by the first output unit, the ID corresponding to the keyword specified based on the operation received by the receiving unit is sent to the information providing server. First transmitting means for transmitting;
Second receiving means for receiving information corresponding to the ID transmitted by the first transmitting means from the information providing server;
Second output means for outputting the information received by the second receiving means;
History storage means for storing history information including information relating to the history of the ID transmitted using the first transmission means;
A playback apparatus comprising: The playback device according to claim 1,
Storage means for storing a user identification code for identifying the user of the playback apparatus;
Second transmission means for transmitting the history information stored in the history storage means and the user identification code stored in the storage means to a storage server for grasping a user's information acquisition tendency; ,
A playback apparatus comprising: In the reproducing | regenerating apparatus of Claim 1 or Claim 2,
Furthermore, the image data, the audio data, the electronic program guide data and the information code are recorded on a recording medium, and recording / reading means for reading out the recording data is provided.
The reproducing means reproduces the video data and the audio data read by the reading means,
The first output means outputs an electronic program guide based on the electronic program guide data and the information code read by the reading means, and outputs a plurality of the keywords related to programs in the output electronic program guide. Output as part of this electronic program guide,
Among the plurality of keywords output as a part of the electronic program guide by the first output means, the ID corresponding to the keyword specified based on the operation received by the receiving means is the information providing server. A playback apparatus. The playback device according to claim 3, wherein
The reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium is a replaceable medium. Communication means for communicating with the playback device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
Storage means for storing electronic program guide data constituting an electronic program guide, and an information code for the playback device to acquire information related to the program;
With
The electronic program guide providing server, wherein the communication means reads out the electronic program guide data and the information code from the storage means and transmits them to the playback device. Communication means for communicating with the playback device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
Storage means for storing information related to the program in association with the information code;
With
When the communication unit receives the information code from the reproduction device, the communication unit reads the information corresponding to the information code from the storage unit and transmits the information code to the reproduction device. Communication means for communicating with the playback apparatus according to claim 2 or claim 3 or claim 4 that cites claim 2;
The storage server, wherein the communication means stores the user identification code and the history information acquired from the playback device.   An information system comprising a combination of the playback device according to claim 1, the electronic program guide providing server according to claim 5, and the information providing server according to claim 6.   The playback apparatus according to claim 2 or claim 3 or claim 4 that cites claim 2, the electronic program guide providing server according to claim 5, and the information provision according to claim 6. An information system comprising a combination of a server and the storage server according to claim 7.

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