JP4468789B2 - BML content provision system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a digital content providing system that distributes program content, and more particularly to a BML content providing system for providing BML content.

  Currently, a digital content providing system has been realized, and an interactive service capable of providing information linked with program content has also been realized. In order to provide this interactive service, program contents in the BML (Broadcast Markup Language) format are used in the digital broadcasting service.

  Normally, BML multiplexed content is broadcast and distributed by multiplexing program data consisting of video and BML data, and can be viewed using a BML browser provided in a digital broadcasting terminal. In order to broadcast / distribute the BML multiplexed content, program data consisting of video and BML data are multiplexed in advance. After this multiplexing, the BML data portion cannot be corrected. For this correction, the BML data is corrected and then multiplexed with the program data.

Although this method is not currently used in actual services, it is possible to link a BML multiplexed content to be broadcast / distributed to another BML file on the center side. In a digital broadcasting service or the like, a digital broadcasting terminal and a center are IP-connected, and a BML file can be transmitted to the digital broadcasting terminal by a server / client method. Therefore, in the BML multiplexed content to be broadcast, only link information to another BML file on the center side is described, and information including the design displayed on the digital broadcasting terminal is displayed on the center side BML file. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
JP 2004-7127 A

  In the conventional server / client system, in order to dynamically change the display contents of the BML in accordance with viewing conditions such as information stored in the digital broadcasting terminal and access time, the display contents are dynamically displayed in the BML file section. All the programs such as scripts for changing to the BML file must be written in the BML file, and high know-how is required to generate the BML file. In addition to this, the screen design work and the program coding work cannot be separated, the script becomes complicated, and the complexity including the file size inevitably increases.

  In addition, the specification of BML is not as widespread as HTML, and since there are few engineers capable of developing BML, the development cost becomes high.

The objective of this invention is providing the BML content provision system which solved said subject.

  The present invention relates to information stored in a digital broadcast terminal (viewer attribute information or viewer attribute information) when requesting a BML server on the center side from a digital broadcast terminal for a BML file to be displayed superimposed on video for program content created in BML format. Other digital broadcasting terminal information) is also transmitted, and the BML server dynamically creates a BML file based on the information transmitted from the digital broadcasting terminal, so that the center side dynamically responds to the digital broadcasting terminal information. The contents are changed and transmitted to the digital broadcasting terminal.

  In addition, the BML server can be accessed by combining it with a metadata server that can provide program metadata, a recommendation server that can provide recommended programs, an electronic flyer server that can provide product information, etc. When receiving, BML that switches the display contents dynamically depending on the situation, which is practically impossible with conventional BML contents, by retrieving information from these servers and generating a BML file using the information For multiple contents, it is possible to work separately between the design person who designs the screen and the program person who develops the program that controls the screen transition and dynamically searches the information to be embedded in the screen. In addition, the degree of freedom in expressing BML content is significantly improved.

As described above, the present invention is characterized by the following system .

( 1 ) A digital broadcasting terminal installed on the viewer side and having means for connecting to the center side via an IP network or the like, and means for performing two-way digital broadcasting communication with the center side
A BML server installed on the center side and having means for storing BML files and distributing them to the digital broadcasting terminal;
A distribution device installed on the center side and having means for accumulating a plurality of program contents including BML multiplexed contents composed of BML data multiplexed with video and distributing the contents to the digital broadcasting terminal;
A viewer installed on the center side based on means for accumulating additional information (program metadata) such as titles, performers, and outlines related to program content distributed from the distribution device and operation history information collected from the viewer A recommendation server having means for calculating a recommended evaluation value of a program for and a means for searching in order of the recommended evaluation value when searching for the program metadata;
A BML content providing system comprising:
First means for storing viewer information such as age and sex of viewers, preference genre, family structure, residence, or digital broadcast terminal information such as device information connected to the digital broadcast terminal;
A second means for sending digital broadcasting terminal operation history information as a set to the recommendation server together with the viewer information and the device information;
Third means for calculating a program recommended evaluation value by aggregating digital broadcasting terminal operation history information for each group classified by the viewer information and the device information;
A fourth means for receiving at the digital broadcasting terminal the BML multiplexed content linked to the BML file stored in the BML server;
A fifth means for transmitting the digital broadcast terminal information stored in the first means together with a viewer operation in the digital broadcast terminal or automatically when making a BML file request to the BML server;
When receiving a BML file request from the digital broadcasting terminal, sixth means for receiving digital broadcasting terminal information transmitted together with the request;
Seventh means for searching and acquiring recommended program metadata suitable for the viewer from the recommendation server, if necessary, using the received digital broadcasting terminal information;
An eighth means for dynamically generating a BML file using the digital broadcast terminal information received from the digital broadcast terminal and the program metadata acquired from the metadata server;
A ninth means for transmitting the dynamically generated BML file to the digital broadcasting terminal;
A BML content providing system comprising:

  As described above, according to the present invention, the BML content provided to the digital broadcasting terminal is dynamically generated on the BML server side in accordance with the digital broadcasting terminal information including the attribute information of the viewer and the access situation. Therefore, it is not necessary to describe all the programs such as scripts for dynamically changing the display contents according to the digital broadcasting terminal information in the BML file, and the generation cost of the BML content can be reduced.

  The BML file is dynamically processed by pre-processing on the BML server, which is the center side equipment, a part of the program that had to be written in the BML file, such as a script for dynamically changing the display contents. Since the file is generated, the size of the BML file can be suppressed.

  In general, there are fewer BML content producers than HTML content creators, and because the specifications for BML content are not widespread, BML content production is expensive, and the display content can be changed dynamically. In order to produce the BML content described above, it must be realized by writing a script of the BML content having a high development cost. Part or all of the BML content script can be supplemented by a technology such as JSP or CGI on the BML server, and development costs can be reduced.

  In addition, the conventional BML contents must be described in the same file as the screen design and the program part that can change the display contents dynamically, and it is impossible to separate the work of the designer and the programmer. It was. According to the present invention, a screen design portion is described in a BML template described in JSP or the like, information processing that could not be processed only by a program such as a script on a BML file is generated on the BML server, and the BML template Since it becomes possible to embed information and screen design work and program coding work can be separated, a system for efficiently providing BML content can be realized.

  FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. Based on this, a BML content providing system related to claims 1 and 3 of the present invention will be described in detail.

  In FIG. 1, a viewer side A has a digital broadcasting terminal 1 having means for connecting to the center side B via an IP network and the like, and means for performing two-way communication of digital broadcasting, and the received digital broadcasting as video / audio. And a television monitor 2 for outputting.

  The center side B stores a BML server 3 that provides means for storing and distributing BML files, a distribution device 4 that stores and distributes a plurality of program contents including BML multiplexed content, and distributes from the distribution device 4. And a metadata server 5 having means for storing and distributing additional information (hereinafter referred to as program metadata) such as titles, performers, and outlines regarding the program content to be played.

  As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 2, the digital broadcasting terminal 1 includes a receiving device 1A that receives a digital broadcasting program, a video / audio output unit 1B that outputs the received video / audio to the monitor television 2, and a BML. A BML browser 1C for displaying BML data and BML files included in multiple contents, an information storage device 1D capable of storing video and various information, and a network card for connecting to the content distribution side or broadcasting station side by IP 1E.

  In the network card 1E, viewer attribute information can be set in advance. The viewer attribute information includes date of birth, gender, zip code, favorite genre, family structure, connected device information, and the like. Yes, it may be other information about viewers or network related information.

  The distribution device 4 stores and distributes various program contents including BML multiplexed contents. The metadata server 5 includes a database capable of storing and retrieving program metadata relating to various program contents distributed from the distribution device 4. The BML server 3 receives and interprets information of the digital broadcast terminal 1 transmitted together with the BML file request transmitted from the digital broadcast terminal 1 when receiving a BML file request by HTTP or the like, and the digital broadcast terminal A function for searching various information from the metadata server 5 based on the information of 1, and a BML file generation function for dynamically generating a BML file based on the acquired program metadata.

  In the above system configuration, the distribution device 4 distributes BML multiplexed content linked to the BML file provided by the BML server 3. The digital broadcast terminal 1 that has received the BML multiplexed content processes the BML multiplexed content received by the BML browser 1C installed in the digital broadcast terminal, and combines the video and the BML file from the video / audio output unit 1B to the monitor television. Output to 2. At this time, the BML file is linked to another BML file provided by the BML server 3, and the BML file provided by the BML server is accessed by the operation of the viewer or automatically, and the video and the BML server are accessed. The provided BML file is also displayed on the monitor television 2.

  In addition, when the digital broadcast terminal 1 makes a BML file request to the BML server 3 using the link information in the BML file included in the BML multiplexed content, the digital broadcast terminal 1 also transmits the digital broadcast terminal information. As shown in FIG. 2, the digital broadcasting terminal information includes pre-registered viewer attribute information (age, gender, residence, preference genre, family composition, etc.) and other information (display device information). Connection network related information).

  In the BML server 3, based on the digital broadcasting terminal information sent together with the BML file request, the BML server 3 makes a search request for program metadata to the metadata server 5 as necessary, and the program acquired from the metadata server. A BML file is dynamically generated using metadata and digital broadcasting terminal information.

  Information may be acquired from a recommendation server that searches for recommended programs based on the digital broadcasting terminal information. Further, based on the digital broadcasting terminal information, related product information or the like may be acquired from an electronic flyer server that searches for electronic flyer information.

  FIG. 3 shows an overview of the dynamic generation process of the BML file. The BML server 3 includes a terminal information reception / interpretation unit 3A, an information generation / information search processing unit 3B, and a BML file generation unit 3C. The metadata server 5 includes a program information database 5A and an information search / transmission processing unit 5B.

  When receiving a BML file request from the digital broadcast terminal 1, the terminal information reception / interpretation unit 3A has a function of receiving and interpreting the digital broadcast terminal information transmitted together.

  The information generation / information search processing unit 3B has a function of requesting the metadata server 5 for information necessary for dynamically generating a BML file based on the BML template. In this embodiment, the information search / transmission processing unit 5B of the metadata server 5 installed outside searches for program metadata from the program information database 5A, for example, searches for the metadata of the most recently released program at the time of access. For example, the search result is passed to the BML file generation unit 3C, and a BML file for displaying a new arrival program is generated.

  The BML file generation unit 3C embeds the program metadata and digital broadcast terminal information acquired from the metadata server 5 in the necessary part of the BML template that is the basis of the BML file.

  Conventionally, control information such as a script described in a BML file becomes complicated, and the description amount of the BML file is generally large, and the BML specification itself is not widespread compared to HTML. The number of developers who can be described is limited, and the development cost is high. In this regard, according to the above-described BML file generation method by the BML file generation unit 3C, control information such as a script described in the BML template is processed in the BML server, and as a result, a BML file is generated. Conventionally, most of the control information such as scripts described in the BML file is supplemented with the control information such as scripts described in the BML template, and it becomes possible to generate a BML file with reduced control information such as scripts. , The size of the BML file to be transmitted can be reduced, and the service to viewers can be improved, such as improved response. Here, the BML template is realized by JSP (Java (registered trademark) Sever Pages) or the like, thereby dynamically generating a BML file using widely-used HTML and JSP technologies, thereby reducing development costs. It becomes possible.

  Next, FIGS. 4 and 5 show an example of a flowchart of each process. FIG. 4 shows processing of the digital broadcast terminal 1. The digital broadcast terminal 1 views the BML multiplexed content distributed from the distribution device 4 (S1), and when the data button of the digital broadcast terminal 1 is pushed down in this state (S2), the BML browser 1C is activated and the BML When the BML data portion of the multiplexed content is displayed (S3), the digital broadcasting terminal information is acquired from the information storage device 1D (S4), and in this state, when the link button on the BML data is depressed (S5), A BML file request is made to the BML server 3 by the URL of the BML file together with the broadcast terminal information (S6).

  As in this example, it is possible to access the BML file on the BML server by the operation of the viewer's digital broadcasting terminal 1. A BML file on the BML server can be automatically accessed instead of a viewer's digital broadcast terminal operation. At that time, the digital broadcasting terminal information may be sent together by GET delivery by HTTP. By transmitting the digital broadcast terminal information to the terminal information reception / interpretation unit 3A and the information generation / information search processing unit 3B on the BML server, a BML file corresponding to the digital broadcast terminal information is dynamically generated, and the digital broadcast The BML file can be transmitted to the terminal 1.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of processing after the BML server 3 receives a BML file request from the digital broadcasting terminal 1. When receiving the BML file request (S11), the BML server 3 acquires the BML template stored in the information generation / information search processing unit 3B in advance (S12), interprets the program part on the BML template, and While using the digital broadcast terminal information received together with the BML file request, the metadata server 5 is requested to search for program metadata (S14). When the program metadata search result searched using the digital broadcast terminal information is received (S14), it is embedded in the BML template, a BML file is generated (S15), and the generated BML file is stored in the digital broadcast terminal 1. (S16). As a result, the BML file is displayed on the BML browser 1C installed in the digital broadcasting terminal 1.

  The information generation / information search processing unit 3B on the BML server may use a Java servlet, CGI, or other server side programming technology. The BML template may be realized by JSP (Java Server Pages).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6, an information generation / information search processing unit 3B and a generation information control unit including a BML template selection unit 3D that selects a BML template according to the digital broadcast terminal information received by the BML server 3 are provided. The BML file generation unit 3 </ b> C may be combined to generate a BML file by selecting a BML template according to program metadata searched and acquired by the BML server and received digital broadcast terminal information. According to this method, the number of places where a program such as a script is written in the BML template is reduced, and the person in charge of screen design can concentrate on developing the BML template. Further, since the generation information control unit takes charge of control functions such as information retrieval and screen transition, the programmer can concentrate on the development of the generation information control unit.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of a flowchart of BML file dynamic generation processing by the information generation control unit. When the processing part different from FIG. 5 receives the BML file request together with the digital broadcasting terminal information (S11), the generation information control unit selects the BML template to be used according to the digital broadcasting terminal information (S12A). .

  FIG. 8 shows a system configuration diagram related to claims 2 and 4 of the present invention, and the dynamic creation of a BML file based on this will be described. Claims 2 and 4 of the present invention include a recommendation server 6 for providing means for calculating recommended evaluation values of programs and searching for programs in order of recommended evaluation values in addition to claims 1 and 3.

  In addition to the means of the first and third aspects, the digital broadcasting terminal 1 includes a means for temporarily storing a history of operation of the digital broadcasting terminal by the viewer, the digital broadcasting terminal operation history information, and the digital broadcasting terminal information as a set. Means for transmitting to the recommendation server 6. As shown in FIG. 2, the operation history information stored in the digital broadcast terminal 1 includes a program ID, an operation type, an operation time, and the like, and may be information related to other digital broadcast terminal operations.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the recommendation server 6 includes program metadata, a recommended evaluation value that can be set for each preference group and for each program classified using the digital broadcast terminal operation history information and the digital broadcast terminal information, Are managed by a database (DB) 6A. 6B is a network card.

  The recommendation server 6 receives the digital broadcast terminal operation history information and the digital broadcast terminal information from the digital broadcast terminal 1, and statistically processes the number of operations of the digital broadcast terminal for each preference group determined by the digital broadcast terminal information. The recommended evaluation value is calculated and registered in the database 6A.

  When the recommendation server 6 receives the recommended program search request from the BML server 3, the recommendation server 6 also receives the digital broadcasting terminal information and uses the recommended evaluation value as a reference for a program recommended for the viewer using the terminal. Search and return.

  When the BML server 3 receives a BML file request by HTTP or the like, the BML server 3 receives a digital broadcast terminal information transmitted together with the BML file request transmitted from the digital broadcast terminal 1, and based on the digital broadcast terminal information. The recommendation server 6 having a database includes a function for searching for recommendation information, and a BML generation function for dynamically generating a BML file based on the acquired recommendation information.

  In the present invention, a part or all of the processing functions of the system shown in FIG. 1 and the like are configured as a computer-executable program, and the program can be read by a computer-readable recording medium such as a flexible disk, an MO, It can be recorded on a ROM, memory card, CD, DVD, removable disk, etc., stored, provided, or distributed via a communication network such as the Internet. is there.

1 is a system configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. The block diagram of the digital broadcasting terminal in FIG. Explanatory drawing of the dynamic production | generation of the BML file in embodiment. 6 is a flowchart of BML file request processing according to the embodiment. The flowchart of the dynamic generation process of the BML file in an embodiment. Explanatory drawing (with an information generation control part) of the dynamic generation of the BML file in an embodiment. 6 is a flowchart of BML file request processing in the embodiment (with an information generation control unit). The system block diagram which shows other embodiment of this invention. The block diagram of the digital broadcasting terminal in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

A viewer side B center side 1 digital broadcasting terminal 2 monitor TV 3 BML server 4 distribution device 5 metadata server 6 recommendation server 1C BML browser 1D information storage device 3A terminal information reception / interpretation unit 3B information generation / information search processing unit 3C BML file generation unit 3D BML template selection unit 5A Program information database 5B Information search transmission processing unit 6A database

Claims (1)

A digital broadcasting terminal installed on the viewer side and having means for connecting to the center side via an IP network or the like, and means for performing bidirectional communication of digital broadcasting with the center side;
A BML server installed on the center side and having means for storing BML files and distributing them to the digital broadcasting terminal;
A distribution device installed on the center side and having means for accumulating a plurality of program contents including BML multiplexed contents composed of BML data multiplexed with video and distributing the contents to the digital broadcasting terminal;
A viewer installed on the center side based on means for accumulating additional information (program metadata) such as titles, performers, and outlines related to program content distributed from the distribution device and operation history information collected from the viewer A recommendation server having means for calculating a recommended evaluation value of a program for and a means for searching in order of the recommended evaluation value when searching for the program metadata;
A BML content providing system comprising:
First means for storing viewer information such as viewer age and sex, preference genre, family structure, residence, or device information connected to the digital broadcasting terminal;
A second means for sending digital broadcasting terminal operation history information as a set to the recommendation server together with the viewer information and the device information;
Third means for calculating a program recommended evaluation value by aggregating digital broadcast terminal operation history information for each group classified by the viewer information and the device information;
A fourth means for receiving at the digital broadcasting terminal the BML multiplexed content linked to the BML file stored in the BML server;
A fifth means for transmitting together with the digital broadcast terminal information stored in the first means when a BML file request is made to the BML server by a viewer operation or automatically in the digital broadcast terminal;
When receiving a BML file request from the digital broadcasting terminal, sixth means for receiving digital broadcasting terminal information transmitted together with the request;
Using the received digital broadcasting terminal information, from the recommendation server, if necessary, a seventh means for searching and obtaining recommended program metadata suitable for the viewer;
An eighth means for dynamically generating a BML file using the digital broadcast terminal information received from the digital broadcast terminal and the program metadata acquired from the metadata server;
A ninth means for transmitting the dynamically generated BML file to the digital broadcasting terminal;
A BML content providing system comprising:

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