JP5150350B2 - Program management system, program management server, program viewing terminal, program management program, and program viewing program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a program management system, a program management server, a program viewing terminal, a program management program, and a program viewing program, and in particular, a program management system, a program management server, a program viewing terminal with improved usability when selecting a program, The present invention relates to a program management program and a program viewing program.

  Conventionally, when a produced program is stored in a management server or the like, it is possible to search for a target program on the program viewing side by automatically adding metadata about the program based on the material, and further present the program There has been proposed a method of customizing the user according to the preference of each individual (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In addition, recently, in order to be able to handle the functions of program production, storage (publication), distribution, and presentation in an integrated manner, production of program materials and production contents (script) produced by program production terminals A method has been proposed in which the program itself can be customized at any stage by handling it independently from presentation to presentation (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
JP 2001-24610 A JP 2005-318254 A

  By the way, in a program production system such as TV4U (TV for You), a program script is described using a word processor type user interface, and an arbitrary program production engine is applied to the script to produce content such as a program. The program is released by uploading the program production engine, script data, and material data to a management server or the like.

  On the other hand, on the viewing side, the program production engine, script data, and material data uploaded to the management server are downloaded, and the viewing terminal plays the program using CG (Computer Graphics), voice synthesis, or the like.

  In addition, when searching for a program to be viewed, the viewer searches for the program to be viewed from a list of programs on the tree presented by software or the like on the terminal screen as shown in the related art. It was.

  However, in the above-described method, since the program list is configured separately from the program being played back, the viewer cannot search for the program he / she wants to watch while continuing to watch. Therefore, when selecting a program, it is necessary to select the program after the program being reproduced is stopped or stopped.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and provides a program management system, a program management server, a program viewing terminal, a program management program, and a program viewing program for improving usability when selecting a program. For the purpose.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention employs means for solving the problems having the following characteristics.

The invention described in claim 1 is a program comprising a program viewing terminal for viewing a program, and a program management server that is connected to the program viewing terminal via a communication network and manages information related to the program provided to the program viewing terminal. In the management system, the program management server includes summary program generation means for generating a summary program including summary information made up of RSS (RDF Site Summary) and video or images based on information about the program, and the summary program Program metadata generation means for generating program metadata corresponding to the summary program generated by the generation means, and list metadata for generating list metadata for introducing the summary program generated by the summary program generation means a data generating means, the program metadata relating to programs, the communication network Publishing means for publishing to the program viewing terminal connected thereto, receiving an acquisition request for the program published by the publishing means from the program viewing terminal, and the program metadata for the requested program, and Transmission / reception means for transmitting list metadata to the program viewing terminal , wherein the program viewing terminal refers to the program metadata published by the publishing means and refers to the program metadata for a program desired to be viewed. Reference means for acquiring data and the list metadata, program generation means for generating a program script of a summary program for the program to be viewed from the program metadata obtained by the reference means , the list metadata, Program list script for introducing the summary program from a preset program production engine for program list A program list generating means for generating a program, and a reproducing means for reproducing the program by integrating the program script and the program list script.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to select another channel or program while continuing the program by presenting the program list in the program itself. Thereby, the program which improved the usability at the time of program selection can be provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in a program management server that is connected to a program viewing terminal for viewing a program through a communication network and manages information related to a program to be provided to the program viewing terminal, based on the information related to the program, Summary program generation means for generating a summary program including summary information made up of RSS and video or images, and program metadata generation for generating program metadata corresponding to the summary program generated by the summary program generation means Means for generating list metadata for introducing a summary program generated by the summary program generation means, and the program metadata relating to the program are connected via the communication network. a public means to expose to the program viewing terminal that, published by the publishing section from the program viewing terminal That receives the acquisition request of a program, and having a transceiver means for transmitting the program metadata and the metadata for the list to the acquisition requested program to the program viewing terminal.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to select another channel or program while continuing the program by causing the viewer to present the program list to the program itself. Thereby, the program which improved the usability at the time of program selection can be provided. Also, by using RSS, related information such as channel and program summary information and material data can be easily managed, and by presenting the summary program, the channel and program desired by the viewer can be easily obtained. Can be obtained.

The invention described in claim 3 is disclosed by the program management server in a program viewing terminal that is connected to a program management server that manages information related to a program through a communication network, acquires a program from the program management server, and views the program. The program metadata generated for the program to be viewed and the summary program are introduced by referring to the program metadata generated corresponding to the summary program including the RSS summary information and the video or image. Means for acquiring list metadata for the program, program generation means for generating a program script of a summary program for the program to be viewed from the program metadata obtained by the reference means , the list metadata, program list subscription to introduce the summary program from program production engine for the program list, which is set A program list generating means for generating a preparative, and having a reproducing means for reproducing the program by integrating the program script and the program list script.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to select another channel or program while continuing the program by presenting the program list in the program itself. Thereby, the program which improved the usability at the time of program selection can be provided. In addition, by using a program production engine for program list, a program list corresponding to a preset list format can be easily generated.

The invention described in claim 4 is a program management program for causing a computer to function as each means included in the program management server according to claim 2 .

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to select another channel or program while continuing the program by presenting the program list to the program itself on the viewer side. Thereby, the program which improved the usability at the time of program selection can be provided. Moreover, program management can be easily realized by installing an execution program in a computer.

The invention described in claim 5 is a program viewing program for causing a computer to function as each means included in the program viewing terminal according to claim 3 .

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to select another channel or program while continuing the program by presenting the program list in the program itself. Thereby, the program which improved the usability at the time of program selection can be provided. Moreover, program viewing can be easily realized by installing an execution program in a computer.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the program which improved the usability at the time of program selection can be provided.

<Outline of the present invention>
The present invention is a program for selecting a program (including a channel) on the viewer side using metadata obtained from RSS (RDF (Resource Description Framework) Site Summary) that distributes produced program information, for example. An introduction list is produced by a program viewing terminal, and a program that a viewer wants to view is searched from the produced program introduction program so that the program being reproduced can be continuously viewed.

  Even when program producers produce content, they can create content with a very simple operation by applying a template (program production engine) that has been prepared in advance for what kind of effects to add. It is possible to efficiently produce various contents that meet the needs of each viewer.

  Here, the program production engine is a CG character appearing in a program or an event such as “title display”, “zoom-in”, or “CG character operation” defined in advance for each operation in the program. By using this program production engine, program production can be realized efficiently. In the present invention, a program list can be efficiently produced by providing a dedicated program production engine to be applied to the program introduction list from among the program production engines.

<Embodiment>
Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a program management system, a program management server, a program viewing terminal, a program management program, and a program viewing program according to the present invention having the above-described features will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, TVML (TV program Marking Language) is used as an example of a script used for program production and viewing. Here, TVML is an object-based description language for producing a television program, which describes video and audio of a television program separately in script (production content) data and material data. If it describes, the software etc. which operate | move by PC (Personal Computer) etc. can read this, and can watch (present) as a television program immediately. It should be noted that the present invention can also be applied using an expression format other than TVML.

<Example configuration of program management system>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration example of a program management system according to the present invention. A program management system 10 shown in FIG. 1 is configured to include a program management server 11 and at least one program viewing terminal 12-1, 12-2, ..., 12-n. The program management server 11 and the program viewing terminal 12 are connected in a state where data can be transmitted and received via a communication network 13 such as the Internet.

  Here, the program viewing terminal 12 according to the present embodiment is broadly divided into a “production client” that produces its own program and uploads it to the program management server 11, and is stored and released by the program management server 11. There is a “viewing client” for downloading contents (program production engine, script data, material data, etc.), etc., and playing / viewing them. The program viewing terminal 12 may have both functions of “production client” and “viewing client”. In the following description, for the sake of convenience, the program viewing terminal 12-1 will be described as a “production client” and the program viewing terminal 12-2 will be described as a “viewing client”. In addition, it is assumed that one or a plurality of the above-described client terminals exist on the communication network 13.

  When the program production engine, script data, material data, and the like constituting a program produced by the program viewing terminal 12-1 as a production client are uploaded, the program management server 11 accumulates information on the various data. The information is disclosed to an external device such as the program viewing terminal 12 connected to the communication network 13.

  The program management server 11 also includes metadata including program content, meaning information, and program list from program production engines, script data, material data, and the like that constitute programs produced by the program viewing terminal 12. Metadata and program metadata are generated. Specifically, the program management server 11 generates each channel and summary information of each program as metadata in order to introduce the channel and the program. Here, the summary information includes, for example, at least one of a title, a subtitle, an outline, a program link destination, a program description, and a material used in the program. In the present invention, for example, RSS is used as the metadata to be created.

  Further, the program management server 11 generates video or image information as a summary program such as a digest movie or thumbnail image of the program to be introduced. Here, the generated summary program may be converted into a movie of the entire program. For example, data such as a preset time from the start of the program, the position and content of a predetermined scene, and summary information of the program are extracted. May be. The summary program is managed as material data.

  Also, the program management server 11 browses public information from the program viewing terminal 12-2 as a viewing client via the communication network 13, and further, based on a program download request, the target program production engine, script data, Various data such as material data is output to the program viewing terminal 12-2.

  When the program viewing terminal 12 operates as a production client, the program viewing terminal 12 produces a program according to an instruction from a user (program producer) and uploads information related to the produced program to the program management server 12. When the program viewing terminal 12 operates as a viewing client, the program viewing terminal 12 selects a program to be viewed from the program information published by the program management server 11 and downloads the selected program.

  Further, the program viewing terminal 12 performs TVML conversion for the program list and TVML conversion for the program based on the program production engine for the program list set in advance from the downloaded metadata, and integrates the TVML converted script. To play TVML.

  With such a system configuration, a program introduction list that is being played back is created on the viewing terminal, the program that the viewer wants to watch is searched from the program introduction programs that are produced, and the program that is currently playing is continued. Can watch. Next, specific functional configuration examples of the program management server 11 and the program viewing terminal 12 will be described with reference to the drawings.

<Program Management Server 11: Functional Configuration Example>
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the content providing server according to the present invention. The program management server 11 shown in FIG. 2 includes an input unit 21, an output unit 22, a storage unit 23, a summary program generation unit 24, a list metadata generation unit 25, a program metadata generation unit 26, The program management unit 27, the disclosure unit 28, the transmission / reception unit 29, and the control unit 30 are configured.

  The input unit 21 receives input of various processes such as an instruction to generate a summary program or list or program metadata from the user, an instruction to release the generated metadata, and deletion of accumulated content data. The input means 21 is composed of a pointing device such as a keyboard and a mouse, for example.

  Further, the output means 22 displays the contents of the instruction input by the input means 21 and the contents of the summary program and metadata generated based on the instruction contents. The output unit 22 includes a display, a speaker, and the like, and can output images, videos, sounds, and the like.

  The storage unit 23 includes a program production engine 31 received by the transmission / reception unit 29 transmitted from the program viewing terminal 12-1 or the like, script data 32 created by an XML (extensible Markup Language) format file, etc., and images constituting the program Material data 33 composed of data, video data, text data and the like is stored. The storage unit 23 stores list metadata 34 for providing a channel or program at the program viewing terminal 12-2, program metadata 35, and RSS 36 that is summary information of each program.

  Note that in the RSS 36 that stores summary programs, program information, and the like, channel IDs and program IDs for programs generated by the program management means 27 described later are also stored in association with each program. In addition, the list metadata 34 and the program metadata 35 include file identification information related to the generated moving image and still image file. The file identification information includes, for example, the above-described program channel ID, program ID, and the like. Further, by using the RSS 36, related information such as summary information and material data of channels and programs can be easily managed, and channels and programs desired by the user can be easily acquired.

  The summary program generating means 24 generates various data for the summary program using the program production engine 31, the script data 32, and the material data 33. That is, the summary program generating means 24 is preliminarily based on, for example, the program production engine 31, the script data 32, and the material data 33 uploaded from the program viewing terminal 12-1 via the communication network 13 and stored in the storage means 23. A program file (for example, a digest movie or a thumbnail image) having a predetermined file format that has been set is generated.

  The generated summary program may be a video of a highlight portion of a preset program, and is extracted at the first or last several seconds of the preset program or at a predetermined time interval. It can also be set to repeat playback for several seconds. Note that various data of the summary program generated by the summary program generating means 24 is stored as, for example, material data 33.

  The list metadata generation unit 25 generates channel or program introduction list metadata based on the contents of the summary program encoded by the summary program generation unit 24 in a predetermined format. In other words, in the present invention, a program list for introducing a channel and a program is not presented separately from the program, but the program is continued by generating metadata and integrating it into the program being played on the viewer side. It is possible to select a program list while doing so. The list metadata generation unit 25 stores the generated list metadata 34 in the storage unit 23.

  The program metadata generation means 26 generates program metadata using the program production engine 31, script data 32, and material data 33. Note that. For the same content, the program metadata generation means 26 is a moving image file, audio file (wav, mp3, rm, etc.), text file (txt, doc, etc.), image file (bmp, pct, jpg, gif, png, etc.). ), Metadata corresponding to a plurality of files (for example, high image quality, standard image quality, low image quality, etc.) having at least one file format and different data capacity, image size, bit rate conditions, and the like is generated. Therefore, the content of the metadata is appropriately selected as necessary from the title, file format, bit rate, image size, various information regarding the program content, and the like. As a result, it is possible to provide an optimal content file corresponding to the processing performance, application functions, etc. of the program viewing terminal 12-2 on the viewer's side to be downloaded, the degree of congestion of the communication line, and the like.

  The program metadata 34 generated by the program metadata generation means 26 may be stored in the storage means, and is disclosed on the Web in the HTML (HyperText Markup Language) format or the like by the publishing means 28 for communication. It is possible to easily browse using a browser function or the like provided in an external terminal connected to the network 13.

  Therefore, the program viewing terminal 12 can quickly and surely understand the content format optimal for the terminal with reference to the metadata generated by the program metadata generation means 26. Further, it is possible to reliably request content corresponding to the metadata.

  The program management means 27 manages various types of information (program production engine 31, script data 32, material data 33, list metadata 34, program metadata 35, RSS 36, etc.) related to the program (content). Specifically, the program management means 27 performs management such as new addition, editing, and deletion of programs, for example.

  Further, the program management means 27 determines, for example, which of the existing channels each program belongs to, or a newly established channel, and sets the channel of the program, and the channel Management information obtained by assigning IDs to programs and programs is stored in the RSS 36 or the like.

  The disclosure unit 28 generates a predetermined file in a file format such as HTML from the metadata generated by the program metadata generation unit 26. The publication means 28 makes the generated file viewable from an external terminal or the like on the Web, and publishes the contents such as metadata. The file format disclosed in the present invention is not limited to HTML, but may be another file format. The contents of the metadata to be disclosed include, for example, each item from the title, file format (including the compressed format), file capacity, summary information of the program contents, date and time information such as the creation date and release date of the metadata, etc. Is selected and published as necessary.

  Here, the viewing client 12-2 requires an application (such as a web browser) for viewing the HTML file described above, but a web browser can generally be easily acquired, It is installed at the time of purchase in a commercially available PC or the like. Therefore, the viewing client 12-2 can easily browse the metadata published by the program management server 11 using an existing Web browser.

  The transmission / reception means 29 receives the program production engine 31, script data 32, and material data 33 uploaded from the program viewing terminal 12-1 connected to the communication network 13. Further, the transmission / reception means 29 receives a program content acquisition request corresponding to the metadata published by the publication means 28 from the program viewing terminal 12-2 connected to the communication network 13. The transmission / reception means 29 transmits the content, metadata, etc. corresponding to the content acquisition request to the program viewing terminal 12-2 that has made the acquisition request.

  The control means 30 controls the entire components of the program management server 11. Specifically, the control unit 30 performs various controls such as summary program generation, list metadata generation, program metadata generation, program management, release, and storage based on a user instruction from the input unit 21. Do.

<Program Viewing Terminal 12: Functional Configuration Example>
Next, a functional configuration example of the program viewing terminal 12 will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the program viewing terminal. FIG. 3 shows a functional configuration of a viewing client (program viewing terminal 12-2) mainly having a program viewing function.

  The program viewing terminal 12 shown in FIG. 3 includes an input unit 41, an output unit 42, a storage unit 43, a program generation unit 44, a program list generation unit 45, a reproduction unit 46, a reference unit 47, and a transmission / reception unit. 48 and a control means 49.

  The input means 41 accesses the address destination of the address information in which the program generation instruction from the user and the metadata published to the program management server 11 are displayed, and transmits a request for downloading (acquiring) the desired content. The input of various processes for playing back / viewing the downloaded content is accepted. The input means 41 is composed of a pointing device such as a keyboard and a mouse, for example.

  The output unit 42 displays the instruction content input by the input unit 41, the metadata acquired based on the instruction content, the reproduced program, and the like. The output means 42 includes a display, a speaker, and the like, and can output images, videos, sounds, and the like.

  Further, the storage means 43 is acquired from the program production engine 51 for generating the program, the script data 52, the material data 53 such as video, audio, music, text data, and image data as the program material, and the program management server 11. The RSS 54, the list metadata 55, the program metadata 56, a list program generation engine 57 for generating a preset list program, and the like are stored.

  The program generation means 44 generates a program from the program metadata 56 corresponding to the program desired to be viewed downloaded from the program management server 11, the program production engine 51, the script data 52, and the material data 53. Specifically, the program generation unit 44 generates a TVML script of the program by TVML conversion of the program metadata 56 of the program to be viewed, for example, based on the program production engine 51, the script data 52, and the material data 53.

  The program list generation means 45 uses the summary program (digest movie, thumbnail image, etc.) included in the list program generation engine 57 and the material data 53 corresponding to the contents of the list metadata 55 to show the channels and programs to the viewer. A program list for introduction is generated. Specifically, the program list generation means 44 generates a TVML script of the program list by TVML conversion of the list metadata 55 by the list program generation engine 57. The list program generation engine 57 uses summary program information such as digest movies and thumbnail images to display information about each channel and each program in the program in order, and displays the summary program sequentially or horizontally or vertically. Various tools dedicated to program introduction for scrolling to CG characters and explaining channels and programs to CG characters are registered. By using this list program generation engine 57, a program list (introduction program) corresponding to a preset list format can be easily generated.

  The reproduction unit 46 integrates the TVML script of the program obtained by the program generation unit 44 and the TVML script of the program list obtained by the program list generation unit 45, and reproduces the program of the integrated TVML script. For example, the output unit 42, etc. To output images and sounds. Specifically, for example, the reproduction means 46 designates tag information, identification information, etc. for integrating the TVML script of the program and the TVML script of the program list in advance, for example, a predetermined tag in the TVML script of the program And a process of inserting a corresponding part included in the TVML script of the program list into a part having a value (character or the like).

  Therefore, in the present invention, since the program list can be included in the program reproduced by the reproducing means, it is possible to continuously select the channel or program to be viewed from the program introduction while viewing the program. . In addition, since a program list is not obtained and presented via the Web or the like, any device having a function capable of reproducing a program can efficiently view a list of channels and programs. For example, a function such as an Internet browser can be provided. Even if it is not used, it is possible to easily select a channel or program that the user wants to view. Furthermore, even an apparatus without a function such as an Internet browser can be handled. Therefore, it is possible to provide a program with improved usability when the viewer selects a program.

  The reference means 47 browses a program published on the program management server 11 by the communication network 13 based on address information such as a predetermined IP address or URL (Uniform Resource Locator) provided from the program management server 11 or the like. I do. Here, the reference means 47 has a Web browser function capable of browsing the above-described HTML or the like. Here, the program viewing terminal 12 can also reproduce and view the program using the Web browser function of the reference unit 47, and in this case, the program viewing terminal 12 may not have the function of the reproduction unit 46.

  When there is a desired program in the metadata browsed by the reference unit 47, the transmission / reception unit 48 transmits the content acquisition request generated by the control unit 49 to the program management server 11 according to an instruction from the input unit 41. Further, the transmission / reception means 48 receives various data related to the program transmitted from the program management server 11. The transmission / reception means 48 acquires the program production engine 51, script data 52, and material data 53 from the program management server 11.

  The control means 49 controls the entire configuration of the program viewing terminal 12. Specifically, the control unit 49 refers to the metadata by the reference unit 47 based on a user instruction from the input unit 41, or the content request information based on the content instructed by the input unit 41 from the referenced metadata. Is generated and transmitted to the transmission / reception means 48, and the program obtained from the program management server 11 is controlled to be reproduced by the output means 42. Thereby, the program viewing terminal 12-2 can perform registration, reproduction, and viewing of the program to the program management server 11.

  The program viewing terminal 12-2 described above has a function for viewing and playing back a program. However, the program viewing terminal 12-1 as a production client generates a program and sends it to the program management server 11. Has a function to upload.

  Here, the program management server 11 and the program viewing terminal 12 described above can perform program management and program viewing according to the present invention with the dedicated device configuration described above, but execution for causing the computer to execute the processing in each configuration. Program management processing and program viewing processing can be realized by generating a program and installing the program in, for example, a general-purpose personal computer or server.

<Hardware configuration>
Here, an example of a hardware configuration of an executable computer in the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration capable of realizing the program management process and the program viewing process according to the present invention. The hardware configuration shown below is applied to both the program management server 11 and the program viewing terminal 12 described above.

  4 includes an input device 61, an output device 62, a drive device 63, an auxiliary storage device 64, a memory device 65, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 66 that performs various controls, and a network connection device. 67, which are connected to each other by a system bus B.

  The input device 61 has a pointing device such as a keyboard and a mouse operated by the user, and inputs various operation signals such as execution of a program from the user. The output device 62 has a display for displaying various windows and data necessary for operating the computer main body for performing processing according to the present invention, and displays the program execution progress, results, and the like by the control program of the CPU 66. can do.

  Here, in the present invention, the execution program installed in the computer main body is provided by the recording medium 68 such as a CD-ROM. The recording medium 68 on which the program is recorded can be set in the drive device 63, and the execution program included in the recording medium 68 is installed from the recording medium 68 to the auxiliary storage device 64 via the drive device 63.

  The auxiliary storage device 64 is a storage means such as a hard disk, and can store an execution program according to the present invention, a control program provided in a computer, various data, etc., and can input / output as necessary.

  The memory device 65 stores an execution program read from the auxiliary storage device 64 by the CPU 66. The memory device 65 includes a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like.

  The CPU 66 controls processing of the entire computer, such as various operations and input / output of data with each hardware component, based on a control program such as an OS (Operating System) and an execution program stored in the memory device 65. Each processing can be realized. Various information necessary during the execution of the program can be acquired from the auxiliary storage device 64 and can also be stored.

  The network connection device 67 obtains an execution program from another terminal connected to the communication network by connecting to a communication network or the like, or an execution result obtained by executing the program or an execution in the present invention The program itself can be provided to other terminals.

  With the hardware configuration as described above, it is possible to realize program management processing and program viewing processing efficiently at low cost without requiring a special device configuration. Also, by installing the program, the above-described program management process and program viewing process can be easily realized.

<Processing procedure: sequence flowchart>
Next, the program management process and the program viewing process in the present invention will be described using a sequence flowchart. In the following description, a series of processing procedures using the program management server 11 and two different program viewing terminals 12 (production client 12-1 and viewing client 12-2) will be described. The program viewing terminal 12 may have the functions of both the production client 12-1 and the viewing client 12-2.

  FIG. 5 is a sequence flowchart illustrating an example of a program management process procedure and a program viewing process procedure. First, the program viewing terminal 12-1 generates a program from the program production engine and material data stored in advance (S01), and manages the program production engine, script data, and material data that are the basis of the generated program. Upload (transmit) to the server 11 (S02).

  The program management server 11 generates a program based on the program production engine, material data, and script obtained from the program viewing terminal 12-1, and generates a preset summary program or the like from the program (S03). In the process of S03, the above-described RSS may be generated. Further, the program management server 11 generates list metadata for introducing a program and program metadata (S04, S05).

  Next, in the processes from S03 to S05, the obtained data is accumulated (S06), and the accumulated data is disclosed on the Web or the like (S07). Here, the viewing client 12-2 refers to the information published by the program management server 11 (S08), and browses the published content (S09). At this time, the publicly available program itself can be downloaded and viewed.

  In addition, the viewing client 12-2 makes a download request for a program desired to be viewed and various metadata corresponding to the program based on the browsed public contents (S10). At this time, as a download request, a program production engine that has not yet been acquired, script data, material data (including a summary program), RSS, metadata for lists, metadata for programs, and the like are requested.

  The program management server 11 searches and extracts various information (program production engine, script data, material data, etc.) related to the program in the corresponding file format based on the download request transmitted from the viewing client 12-2 (S11). The downloaded program, address information, and the like are downloaded (transmitted) to the viewing client 12-2 that requested the acquisition (S12).

  The viewing client 12-2 generates a TVML script for the program from the program metadata based on the program production engine obtained from the program management server 11, script data, material data, and the like (S13). Further, the viewing client 12-2 generates a TVML script for the program list using the summary program, RSS, list metadata, a list program production engine stored in advance, and the like (S14). Further, the TVML script generated by the process of S13 and the TVML script generated by the process of S14 are integrated to reproduce the program (S15).

  Program listing for program introduction can be included in the program by the program management processing procedure and program viewing processing described above, so select the channel or program you want to watch from the program introduction while watching the program. can do. Therefore, it is possible to provide a program with improved usability when the viewer selects a program.

<Example metadata for list>
Here, an example of list metadata generated by the program management server 11 in the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of list metadata in the present embodiment. For convenience, row numbers are assigned to the left side of FIG. The list metadata shown in FIG. 6 is described in the XML format as an example, but is not particularly limited in the present invention.

  In FIG. 6, lines (02) to (11) and lines (13) to (23) describe program lists of different programs (program 00002,00030) included in the same channel (channel 00007). In reality, one or more programs are described for each of one or more channels.

  Each program list includes, for example, a program title (<title>), a subtitle (<subtitle>), a linked program (<link>), a program description information (<dc) such as an operation in a CG character or the like or a dialogue. : Description>), creator (<creator>), creation date and time (<dc: date>), and the like.

  Here, for example, as shown in the (06) to (08) lines in FIG. 6, the contents of the text data (sentence) in <dc: description> ”are analyzed, and“ ketsutsu00.jpg ”, It is possible to introduce a program from its contents by disassembling “facing forward” etc., and by selecting one of the channels or programs, the link destination channel or program described in the <link> tag can be selected. Moved. In this way, by integrating the program list with the contents (scripts) of a normal program, it is possible to display the program list and select a channel or program while the program is being played back while continuing the program.

<Screen example>
Next, screen examples in the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining an example of a content screen in the present embodiment.

  In FIG. 7A, a channel introduction program is presented on the display screen 70, and a speech by the CG character 71 is output by voice or the like. At this time, channels 72-1 to 72-3 included in the program (channel) list are displayed in the displayed program. The channel 72 is not limited to three, and one or more can be displayed. For example, a scroll 73 is displayed on the display screen 70, and the viewer selects this portion with a pointing device such as a mouse. Channels 72-1 to 72-3 can be moved to the left and right to display other channels at the top. The scroll 73 may be horizontal, vertical, diagonal, or the like. The content displayed on the channel 72 may be, for example, the above-described digest movie or thumbnail image, or may be character data or audio.

  Here, when the viewer selects a predetermined program (channel) to be viewed from the program list shown in FIG. 7A, the screen transitions to the screen of FIG. 7B. In FIG. 7B, the program introduction screen included in the selected channel is displayed on the display screen 70. For example, the contents of the program are introduced by the CG character 71 while the programs 74-1 to 74-1 included in the program list are introduced. 74-4 is output as an image, video, audio, or the like.

  At this time, by displaying the scroll 73 on the display screen 70 and scrolling left and right by the viewer's selection, it is possible to move the programs included in the program list and display a plurality of programs sequentially at the top.

  Here, when the viewer selects a predetermined program to be viewed from the program list shown in FIG. 7B, the screen transitions to the screen in FIG. In FIG. 7C, the selected program is displayed on the display screen 70, and the program can actually be viewed. Here, FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a transition from the selection and viewing of the program to the selection of the program in the present embodiment. Transition between the program list and the program is performed, for example, as shown in FIGS.

  Specifically, in FIG. 8A, for example, a program introduction is performed using a digest movie, in FIG. 8B, the digest movie is closed and transitioned to a program, and in FIG. 8C, program playback starts. Is done. Further, the program progresses in FIG. 8 (d), the program ends in FIG. 8 (e), zooms back to the program list screen again in FIG. 8 (f), and returns to the original program introduction program.

  Thus, according to the present invention, a program list can be presented during a program, and a channel and a program can be selected while continuing the program without interrupting the program. Therefore, it is possible to provide a program with improved usability when selecting a program.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a program with improved usability when selecting a program. Specifically, by presenting the program list in the program itself, other channels and programs can be selected while continuing the program. On the program management server side, RSS, program metadata, and list metadata are generated from program content and the like, and information relating to the produced program is stored independently. Thereby, the program viewing terminal can efficiently acquire only necessary RSS and information related to the program, and can produce and view the program. The program management server can also extract and distribute efficiently only the information necessary for a data download request from a program viewing terminal or the like.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, but the present invention is not limited to such specific embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims. Can be changed.

It is a figure which shows the example of a schematic structure of the program management system in this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a function structure of the content provision server in this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a function structure of a program viewing terminal. It is a figure which shows an example of the hardware constitutions which can implement | achieve the program management process and program viewing process in this invention. It is a sequence flowchart which shows an example of a program management process sequence and a program viewing process sequence. It is a figure which shows an example of the metadata for list | wrist in this embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of the content screen in this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the transition which switches from selection and viewing of a program in this embodiment to selection of a program.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Program management system 11 Program management server 12 Program viewing terminal 13 Communication network 21, 41 Input means 22, 42 Output means 23, 43 Accumulation means 24 Summary program generation means 25 List metadata generation means 26 Program metadata generation means 27 Program management means 28 Disclosure means 29, 48 Transmission / reception means 30, 49 Control means 31, 51 Program production engine 32, 52 Script data 33, 53 Material data 34, 55 List metadata 35, 56 Program metadata 36, 54 RSS
44 Program generation means 45 Program list generation means 46 Playback means 47 Reference means 57 List program generation engine 61 Input device 62 Output device 63 Drive device 64 Auxiliary storage device 65 Memory device 66 CPU
67 Network connection device 68 Recording medium 70 Display screen 71 CG character 72 Channel 73 Scroll 74 Program

Claims (5)

In a program management system comprising a program viewing terminal for viewing a program, and a program management server that is connected to the program viewing terminal by a communication network and manages information related to the program to be provided to the program viewing terminal,
The program management server generates summary program including summary information including RSS (RDF Site Summary) and video or image based on information on the program, and generated by the summary program generation unit. Program metadata generating means for generating program metadata corresponding to the summarized program, list metadata generating means for generating list metadata introducing the summary program generated by the summary program generating means, and Publishing means for publishing the program metadata related to the program to the program viewing terminal connected via the communication network, and receiving an acquisition request for the program published by the publishing means from the program viewing terminal. The program metadata and the list metadata for the program requested to be acquired are And a transmitting and receiving means for transmitting the viewing terminal,
The program viewing terminal, a reference means for the reference to the program meta data published by publishing section, acquires the program metadata and the metadata for the list for the program to be viewed, obtained by the reference means Program generating means for generating a program script of a summary program for the program to be viewed from the program metadata, and introducing the summary program from the list metadata and a preset program list program production engine A program management system, comprising: a program list generating means for generating a program list script; and a reproducing means for reproducing the program by integrating the program script and the program list script. In a program management server that is connected to a program viewing terminal for viewing a program through a communication network and manages information related to a program provided to the program viewing terminal,
Summary program generating means for generating a summary program including summary information consisting of RSS and a video or an image based on information related to the program;
Program metadata generation means for generating program metadata corresponding to the summary program generated by the summary program generation means;
List metadata generating means for generating list metadata for introducing a summary program generated by the summary program generating means;
Publishing means for publishing the program metadata related to the program to the program viewing terminal connected via the communication network ;
A transmission / reception means for receiving an acquisition request for a program published by the publication means from the program viewing terminal, and transmitting the program metadata and the list metadata for the requested program to the program viewing terminal ; A program management server comprising: In a program viewing terminal that is connected to a program management server that manages information related to a program through a communication network, acquires a program from the program management server, and views it.
The program metadata for the program that the user wants to view by referring to the program metadata generated corresponding to the summary program including the summary information made of RSS published by the program management server and the video or image, and , A reference means for acquiring list metadata for introducing the summary program;
Program generation means for generating a program script of a summary program for the program to be viewed from the program metadata obtained by the reference means ;
Program list generation means for generating a program list script for introducing the summary program from the list metadata and a program production engine for program list set in advance;
A program viewing terminal, comprising: a reproducing means for reproducing the program by integrating the program script and the program list script. The program management program for functioning a computer as each means which the program management server of Claim 2 has . The program viewing program for functioning a computer as each means which the program viewing terminal of Claim 3 has .