JP4516735B2 - Viewing information collection method, viewing information collection system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a viewing information collecting method and a viewing information collecting system for collecting viewing information for specifying a program or channel being viewed on a television receiver.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a TV audience rating survey is performed, viewing information that identifies a program or a channel being viewed on a television receiver in each household has been collected. Typical methods for collecting viewing information include a method of collecting viewing information by installing an audience rating measuring device in randomly selected households, and a method of collecting viewing information by conducting a questionnaire survey to users. there were.

  Recently, various techniques for collecting viewing information from each household have been proposed in addition to the above-described method. Among them, many techniques for collecting viewing information using a remote controller (hereinafter referred to as a remote controller) of a television receiver have been proposed.

  For example, in the system disclosed in Patent Document 1, in a home server installed in each household, an operation history indicating how and in which part of a program the remote control of the TV receiver is operated while watching TV is viewed. It is stored as history information, and the stored viewing history information is transmitted to a history server of an audience rating survey company via a network.

According to this system, it is possible to collect strict viewing history information from the operation history of the remote control, so it is possible to grasp information such as which part the viewer was interested in watching in the program There is an advantage that can be.
JP 2002-305760 A

  In the system disclosed in Patent Document 1, since the viewer can collect the information of the part that the viewer watched with interest in the program, the broadcast station side uses this information to It can be used for program production.

  Furthermore, if the above information can be used on the broadcast station side to enhance interactive services using bidirectional communication with each household as digital terrestrial broadcasting becomes available, better interactive It becomes possible to provide services.

  However, in the system disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is not possible to obtain additional information such as what kind of viewers were watching the program in the household. Therefore, on the broadcast station side, for example, when trying to provide an interactive service for a specific user layer, what kind of information the specific user layer actually has with only the information obtained by the above system I didn't know if I was watching the program and couldn't reflect it on the service.

  The purpose of the present invention is not only information on the program being viewed on the television receiver on the broadcast station side, but also additional information such as what viewers are viewing the program in the household. It is providing the viewing information collection method and viewing information collection system which can also be obtained.

In order to achieve the above object, a viewing information collecting method according to the present invention includes a plurality of operation means, a television receiver operable by the plurality of operation means, and a program or channel being viewed by the television receiver. In a viewing information collection method by a viewing information collection system having a viewing information collection server that collects viewing information to be identified, the operation means is configured to individually assign personal information of a user input in advance to the operation means and to perform the operation. A step of adding an operation means identification symbol stored in a storage means within the means and transmitting to the television receiver; and the television receiver is added to the personal information received from the operation means and the personal information. transmitting said viewing information collecting server and the operating unit identification symbols is via a network, the audience information collection server Inputting the personal information received from the television receiver, and registering in the database in association with said operation means identification symbol received the personal information at the same time, the operating means, when the television viewing of the television receiver Transmitting the operation information of the selected channel to the television receiver with the operation means identification symbol added thereto, and during the operation based on the operation information received from the operation means by the television receiver, the viewing information And detecting the status information of the television receiver including the operation means identification symbol added to the operation information and the status information at a predetermined timing via the network. Transmitting the state information received from the television receiver by the viewing information collection server, the state information It is characterized in that a step of registering in the database in association with said operation means identification symbol received at the same time. The viewing information collecting server further reads out the information registered in the database at a predetermined timing, and transmits the read information to a broadcasting station server installed in the broadcasting station via the network. It may be included.

  According to the present invention, the broadcast station side obtains information registered in the database in the viewing information collection server via a network or the like, thereby obtaining status information of the television receiver associated with the identification symbol of the operation means. Based on the user's personal information, it is possible to obtain information such as which user has watched the TV program of which channel.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the broadcast station side obtains information registered in the database in the viewing information collection server, thereby obtaining status information of the television receiver associated with the identification symbol of the operation means. Information about which user watched the TV program of which channel based on the user's personal information and the user's personal information, it is better to target the specific user layer by utilizing the obtained information Service can be provided.

  On the other hand, on the user side, when using a new service provided by a broadcasting station, if the personal information registered in the database in the viewing information collection server is used, the personal information is registered at the time of joining the service. This makes it possible to easily participate in services provided by broadcasting stations.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Referring to FIG. 1, a viewing information collecting system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a remote controller (hereinafter referred to as a remote controller) 10 ₁ to 10 _n , a television receiver 20, a viewing information collecting server 30, a broadcasting station. 40 and a network 50 such as the Internet. In FIG. 1, only one television receiver 20 and one broadcast station 40 are shown, but the number of television receivers 20 and broadcast stations 40 is limited to a specific number as long as the number is one or more. It is not a thing.

The remote controllers 10 ₁ to 10 _n are operation means for transmitting information input by the users 11 ₁ to 1 _n to the television receiver 20 as input signals. In addition to the remote controller dedicated to the television receiver 20, a mobile phone, PHS (Personal Handyphone System), PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), etc.

As shown in FIG. 2, the remote controllers 10 ₁ to 10 _n include an input unit 11, a storage unit 12, and an input signal transmission unit 13.

Various information is input to the input unit 11 by the users 1 ₁ to 1 _n . This information, for example, and personal information that the user 1 ₁ to 1 _n are input in advance to start the use of the system, when the user 1 ₁ to 1 _n starts television viewing on the television receiver 20 Operation information indicating operation details such as a channel and volume to be input is included.

The storage unit 12 stores identification symbols such as IDs individually assigned to the remote controllers 10 ₁ to 10 _n .

The input signal transmission unit 13 is obtained by adding the identification symbol stored in the storage unit 12 to the personal information of the users 1 ₁ to 1 _n or the operation information of the television receiver 20 input to the input unit 11. An input signal is transmitted to the television receiver 20 by infrared communication or the like.

The remote controllers 10 ₁ to 10 _n may be configured as follows in order to prevent unauthorized use by another user. For example, the password set in advance by the authorized user is stored in the storage unit 12, and the validity of the password input when using the remote controllers 10 ₁ to 10 _n is authenticated by an authentication unit (not shown). Only when the authentication is obtained, the remote controllers 10 ₁ to 10 _n can be used.

  The television receiver 20 receives a television broadcast wave provided by the broadcasting station 40, and outputs a television program of a desired channel selected by the user as an image and sound. In addition, it is realized by a personal computer or the like having a television reception function. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the broadcasting form broadcasted by the broadcasting station 40 is digital broadcasting, but analog broadcasting may also be used.

  With reference to FIG. 3, the television receiver 20 includes an input signal receiving unit 21, a broadcast wave receiving antenna 22, a tuner 23, an image output unit 24, an audio output unit 25, an image audio processing unit 26, A state information detection unit 27 and a communication unit 28 are included.

Input signal receiving unit 21 from the remote controller 10 ₁ to 10 _n, the operation information of the personal information or television receiver 20 of the user ₁ 1 to 1 _n the identification symbol of the remote controller 10 ₁ to 10 _n are added, the input signal As received.

  The tuner 23 selects a channel desired by the user from television broadcast waves received from the broadcast station 40 via the broadcast wave receiving antenna 22 based on the operation information received by the input signal receiving unit 21.

  The audio / video processing unit 26 performs a process of converting the program data of the channel selected by the tuner 23 into an image signal and an audio signal that can be output by the image output unit 24 and the audio output unit 25. For example, when terrestrial digital broadcasting is provided by the broadcasting station 40, the audio / video processing unit 26 decodes the compressed program data selected by the tuner 23, thereby converting digital image signals and audio signals. Generate.

  The status information detection unit 27 is the operation information received by the input signal reception unit 21, the channel selected by the tuner 23, the processing content in the image / audio processing unit 26, and the outputs of the image output unit 24 and the audio output unit 25. Based on the signal or the like, the current state information of the television receiver 20 is detected. This state information includes at least viewing information for specifying a program or channel currently being viewed on the television receiver 20. Other status information includes the ON / OFF state of a power source (not shown) (where the outlet is not disconnected), and whether or not the multi-channel function is used when the television receiver 20 has a multi-channel function. Information and the like.

When the input signal receiving unit 21 receives the personal information of the users 1 ₁ to 1 _n , the communication unit 28 receives the personal information of the users 1 ₁ to 1 _{n and} the remote control 10 ₁ to 10 added to the personal information. _{The n} identification symbol is transmitted to the viewing information collecting server 30 via the network 50. In addition, when the input signal receiving unit 21 receives the operation information of the television receiver 20, the communication unit 28 receives the state information of the television receiver 20 operating based on the operation information from the state information detection unit 27. The acquired state information of the television receiver 20 and the identification symbols of the remote controllers 10 ₁ to 10 _n added to the operation information are transmitted to the viewing information collecting server 30 via the network 50.

  The viewing information collection server 30 is a server operated by the provider of this system, and provides the information collected from the television receiver 20 to the broadcast station 40.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the viewing information collection server 30 includes a communication unit 31, an information management unit 32, a database (DB) 33, and an information creation unit 34.

The communication unit 31 receives the personal information of the users 1 ₁ to 1 _n or the status information of the television receiver 20 to which the identification symbols of the remote controllers 10 ₁ to 10 _n are added from the television receiver 20 via the network 50. .

The information management unit 32 receives the personal information of the users 1 ₁ to 1 _n or the status information of the television receiver 20 received by the communication unit 31 and the identification symbols of the remote controllers 10 ₁ to 10 _n received simultaneously with the information. In association with this, it is registered in the database 33 and managed. Note that the information management unit 32 can also read information registered in the database 33 at a predetermined timing and transmit the information from the communication unit 31 to the broadcast station server 42 in the broadcast station 40 via the network 50.

Information information creation unit 34, which based on the user 1 ₁ to 1 _n personal information or status information of the television receiver 20 that is received by the communication unit 31 creates various kinds of information broadcast station 40 desires to prepare Are registered in the database 33 under the management of the information management unit 32. For example, the information creating unit 34 uses the fact that the personal information of the users 1 ₁ to 1 _n and the status information of the television receiver 20 are associated by the identification symbols of the remote controllers 10 ₁ to 10 _n , and which user 1 ₁ it is possible to create such information as possible to confirm whether the ~1 _n has viewed any program. In addition, the information creation unit 34 may create audience rating information based on the number of television receivers 20 subscribing to this system and the viewing information included in the status information of each television receiver 20. it can.

  The broadcast station 40 provides a television broadcast via a broadcast wave transmission antenna 41. The broadcasting station 40 has a broadcasting station server 42 that can be connected to the network 50. For example, the broadcast station server 42 receives information registered in the database 33 in the viewing information collection server 30 via the network 50.

Hereinafter, the viewing information collection method by the viewing information collection system shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Here, it will be described as an example case of television viewing on the television receiver 20 by using the user 1 ₁ the remote control 10 _1.

First, before the user 1 ₁ starts the TV viewing on the television receiver 20, a description will be given of a process performed beforehand.

First, the user 1 ₁ inputs personal information of the user 1 ₁ such as sex, age, and mail address in the input unit 11 of the remote controller 10 ₁ in advance. Then, the input signal transmission unit 13 of the remote controller 10 _1, the personal information of the user 1 _1, an input signal by adding a stored remote control 10 _first identification symbol storage unit 12, is transmitted to the television receiver 20 (step 501).

Subsequently, in the television receiver 20, the communication unit 28 transmits the personal information of the user 11 ₁ received by the input signal receiving unit 21 and the identification symbol of the remote controller 10 ₁ added to the personal information to the network. 50 to the viewing information collecting server 30 (step 502).

Subsequently, in the viewing information collecting server 30. In the information management unit 32, the personal information of the user 1 ₁ received by the communication unit 31, in association with the remote controller 10 _first identification symbol received with said individual information, Registration in the database 33 (step 503).

Thus, the user 1 ₁ processing has been completed should be performed before the start of television viewing. Note that the above-described processing needs to be performed only once and does not need to be performed every time television viewing is started.

Next, a description will be given of a process user 1 ₁ can be performed when starting the TV viewing on the television receiver 20.

First, the user 1 ₁ inputs operation information indicating the operation content such as the channel and volume of the television receiver 20 to the input unit 11 of the remote controller 10 ₁ . Then, the input signal transmission unit 13 of the remote controller 10 _1, the operation information of the television receiver 20, an input signal by adding a stored remote control 10 _first identification symbol storage unit 12, is transmitted to the television receiver 20 ( Step 504).

  Subsequently, in the television receiver 20, a channel desired by the user is selected by the tuner 23 based on the operation information received by the input signal receiving unit 21, and the tuner 23 operates the video / audio processing unit 26. The program data of the selected channel is converted into a predetermined image signal and audio signal, and the image output unit 24 and the audio output unit 25 output the image signal and audio signal converted by the image / audio processing unit 26. (Step 505).

  Further, in the television receiver 20, the state information detection unit 27 detects state information of the television receiver 20 including at least viewing information that identifies a currently viewed program or channel (step 506).

Subsequently, in the television receiver 20, the communication unit 28 is added to the state information of the television receiver 20 detected by the state information detection unit 27 and the operation information received by the input signal reception unit 21. an identification symbol for the remote controller 10 ₁ are, at a predetermined timing, and transmits the viewing information collecting server 30 through the network 50 (step 507).

As the timing to transmit the status information of the television receiver 20 to the viewing information collecting server 30 from the television receiver 20 based on the operation information depression of predetermined switch in the user 1 ₁ input 11 of the remote controller 10 ₁ detects The predetermined timing, the timing of a predetermined period, etc. can be considered.

Subsequently, in the viewing information collecting server 30. In the information management unit 32, the status information of the television receiver 20 that is received by the communication unit 31, in association with the remote controller 10 _first identification symbols received along with the state information Then, it is registered in the database 33 (step 508).

  Thereafter, in the viewing information collection server 30, the information management unit 32 transmits the information registered in the database 33 from the communication unit 31 to the broadcast station server 42 via the network 50 at a predetermined timing (step 509). ).

As the timing of transmitting the information in the database 33 to the broadcast station server 42 from the viewing information collecting server 30, the television receiver that the user 1 ₁ presses a predetermined switch in the input unit 11 of the remote controller 10 ₁ is detected The timing notified from 20, the timing of receiving a transmission request from the broadcasting station server 42, the timing of a predetermined period, etc. can be considered.

Moreover, viewing information collecting server 30, the information generating unit 34, is also possible to transmit the information newly created based on the user 1 ₁ of personal information or the state information of the television receiver 20 that is received by the communication unit 31 good. Note that the newly created information, as described above, information such which user 1 ₁ has watched which program is information of viewership. Alternatively, the viewing information collecting server 30 does not process the personal information of the user 11 ₁ received by the communication unit 31 or the status information of the television receiver 20 and broadcasts it as it is with the identification symbol of the remote controller 10 ₁ added. It may be transmitted to the station server 42. In this case, creation of audience rating information or the like performed by the information creation unit 34 is performed on the broadcast station 40 side.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the viewing information collection server 30 registers the personal information of the users 1 ₁ to 1 _n in advance in the database 33 in association with the identification symbols of the remote controls 10 ₁ to 10 _n and receives the television reception. The state information including the viewing information of the machine 20 is registered in the database 33 in association with the identification symbols of the remote controllers 10 ₁ to 10 _n .

Therefore, on the broadcast station 40 side, which user is associated with which channel on the basis of the status information of the television receiver 20 and the personal information of the users 1 ₁ to 1 _{n that} are related by the identification symbols of the remote controllers 10 ₁ to 10 _n . Since it is possible to obtain information such as whether or not a television program has been viewed, it is possible to provide a better service for a specific user group by utilizing the obtained information.

On the other hand, on the users 1 ₁ to 1 _n side, when using the service provided from the broadcasting station 40 newly, if the personal information registered in the database 33 in the viewing information collection server 30 is used, the service to the service is provided. Since procedures such as registration of personal information at the time of enrollment can be omitted, it is possible to easily participate in services provided by the broadcasting station 40.

Thus, the broadcasting station 40, as interactive services associated with digital broadcasting of terrestrial, it is possible to provide a more meaningful service to the user 1 ₁ to 1 _n.

  Note that the system provider operating the viewing information collection server 30 obtains profits by obtaining a system usage fee from the broadcast station 40 in return for providing the broadcast station 40 with information collected from the television receiver 20. It is thought that you can.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the viewing-and-listening information collection system by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the example of 1 structure of the remote control shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the television receiver illustrated in FIG. 1. It is a block diagram which shows the example of 1 structure of the information collection server shown in FIG. It is a flowchart explaining the viewing-and-listening information collection method by the viewing-and-listening information collection system shown in Drawing 1-Drawing 4.

Explanation of symbols

10 ₁ to 10 _n remote controller (remote control)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Input part 12 Memory | storage part 13 Input signal transmission part 20 Television receiver 21 Input signal reception part 22 Broadcast wave receiving antenna 23 Tuner 24 Image output part 25 Audio | voice output part 26 Image | video audio | voice process part 27 State information detection part 28 Communication part 30 Viewing Information collection server 31 Communication unit 32 Information management unit 33 Database (DB)
34 Information Creation Section 40 Broadcast Station 41 Broadcast Wave Transmitting Antenna 42 Broadcast Station Server 50 Network

Claims (8)

A plurality of operation means, a television receiver operable by the plurality of operation means, viewing information for specifying a program or channel being viewed on the television receiver , power ON / OFF state and multi-channel function In a viewing information collection method by a viewing information collection system having a viewing information collection server that collects state information including at least one of use / non-use of
The operation means transmits the personal information of the user inputted in advance to the television receiver with an operation means identification symbol assigned to the operation means and stored in the storage means in the operation means. Steps,
The television receiver transmitting the personal information received from the operating means and the operating means identification symbol added to the personal information to the viewing information collecting server via a network;
The viewing information collection server registers the personal information received from the television receiver in a database in association with the operating means identification symbol received simultaneously with the personal information;
The operation means transmits the operation information of the television receiver including the selection of the channel input at the time of watching the television of the television receiver to the television receiver with the operation means identification symbol added thereto. ,
When the television receiver operates based on the operation information received from the operation means, it detects status information of the television receiver including the viewing information, and further identifies the operation means added to the operation information. Transmitting the symbol and the state information to the viewing information collection server via the network at a predetermined timing;
The viewing information collection method comprising: the viewing information collection server registering the state information received from the television receiver in the database in association with the operation means identification symbol received simultaneously with the state information.   The timing at which the television receiver transmits the operation means identification symbol and the state information to the viewing information collection server is a timing at which pressing of a predetermined switch in the operation means is detected based on the operation information. Item 6. The viewing information collecting method according to Item 1.   The viewing information collection server further includes a step of reading information registered in the database at a predetermined timing, and transmitting the read information to a broadcast station server installed in a broadcast station via the network. The viewing information collecting method according to claim 1 or 2.   The timing at which the viewing information collection server reads the information registered in the database and transmits it to the broadcast station server is notified from the television receiver that pressing of a predetermined switch in the operation means is detected. The viewing information collecting method according to claim 3, which is timing. A plurality of operation means, a television receiver operable by the plurality of operation means, viewing information for specifying a program or channel being viewed on the television receiver , power ON / OFF state and multi-channel function A viewing information collection system having a viewing information collection server that collects state information including at least one of whether or not the device is used ,
The operation means includes
The personal information of the user input in advance is transmitted to the television receiver with the operation means identification symbol assigned to the operation means individually and stored in the storage means in the operation means. Means for transmitting the operation information of the television receiver including the selection of the channel input at the time of watching the television to the television receiver with the operation means identification symbol added thereto,
The television receiver
State information detecting means for detecting state information of the television receiver including the viewing information during an operation based on the operation information received from the operation means;
When the personal information is received from the operating means, the personal information and the operating means identification symbol added to the personal information are transmitted to the viewing information collecting server via a network, and the operating means transmits the personal information. When the operation information is received, the operation means identification symbol added to the operation information and the state information detected by the state information detection means are viewed via the network at a predetermined timing. A communication means for transmitting to the information collection server,
The viewing information collection server includes:
Viewing information collection comprising information management means for registering and managing the personal information or the status information received from the television receiver in a database in association with the operating information identification symbol received simultaneously with the personal information or the status information system.   The communication means in the television receiver transmits the operation means identification symbol and the state information to the viewing information collection server at a timing when a pressing of a predetermined switch in the operation means is detected based on the operation information. The viewing information collecting system according to claim 5. A broadcasting station server installed in the broadcasting station;
The information management means in the viewing information collection server reads information registered in the database at a predetermined timing, and transmits the read information to the broadcast station server via the network. 6. The viewing information collecting system according to 6.   The information management means in the viewing information collection server reads information registered in the database at a timing notified from the television receiver that pressing of a predetermined switch in the operation means is detected, The viewing information collecting system according to claim 7, wherein the viewing information collecting system is transmitted to a broadcast station server.

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