JP5509847B2 - Broadcast receiving terminal, user answer counting server, user answer counting system, and control method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a broadcast receiving terminal for performing user responses on broadcast contents such as TV and / or radio programs and CM (commercial), a user response totaling server for counting the user responses, a user response totaling system, and a control method. It is.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an investigation system that investigates reaction information of viewers to TV commercials (FIG. 1 of Patent Document 1). According to the survey system, the server company sends CM response survey content (question items) to the broadcasting station, and the broadcast station multiplexes the data broadcast of the CM response survey content and the main broadcast and broadcasts it for viewing. The person displays a CM reaction investigation screen on the home receiver and inputs an answer (FIG. 6 of Patent Document 1), and the answer is sent as CM reaction information to the server of the server company via the network. Aggregation processing is performed in the company (FIG. 4 of Patent Document 1).

JP 2001-357191 A

  In the CM research system of Patent Document 1, since a survey questionnaire is to be sent as a data broadcast from a broadcast station, when a survey company or sponsor wants to know the audience rating or evaluation about the CM, It is necessary to cooperate in data broadcasting of survey items and data broadcasting formatting processing of survey items. In addition, in a time zone where there is no vacancy in data broadcasting, it becomes impossible to broadcast survey items by data broadcasting, and viewing surveys for CMs in that time zone are difficult.

  An object of the present invention is to enable the user responses from each user to each broadcast content to be accurately counted without requiring the broadcasting station to cooperate in data broadcasting for conducting the survey, and to perform the server counting process. It is intended to provide a broadcast receiving terminal, a user answer totaling server, a user answer totaling system, and a control method that reduce the system efficiency and improve the efficiency of the entire system.

  According to the present invention, the broadcast receiving terminal has content broadcast time information, and in response to a user response received from a user, the broadcast content that is the basis of the user response is changed to a broadcast source of the broadcast content and the user. The content broadcast time information is specified based on the input time of the answer. Then, user answer information including the user answer and the broadcast content specified for the user answer is transmitted to the user answer counting server via the network.

The broadcast receiving terminal of the present invention is
Output means for reproducing and outputting the received broadcast content;
User answer accepting means for accepting user answers about the broadcast content;
Obtaining means for obtaining advertisement specifying information for specifying an advertisement included in the broadcast content and broadcast time information indicating a broadcast time of the advertisement via a network;
Based on the input time of the user answer, specifying means for specifying an advertisement from the advertisement specifying information and the broadcast time information;
And the user answers the ad is specified by the specifying means, and transmitting means for transmitting via the network the user reply information to the user and respond aggregation server comprising said advertisement specific information of the advertisement specified by the specifying means,
Is provided.

The broadcast receiving terminal control method of the present invention includes:
An output step of reproducing and outputting the received broadcast content;
A user answer accepting step for accepting a user answer for the broadcast content;
An acquisition step of acquiring advertisement specifying information for specifying an advertisement included in the broadcast content and broadcast time information indicating a broadcast time of the advertisement;
A specifying step of specifying an advertisement from the advertisement specifying information and the broadcast time information based on an input time of the user answer;
And the user answers the ad is specified by the specifying step, a transmission step of transmitting over the network the user reply information to the user and respond aggregation server including an advertisement the advertisement specifying information specified by the specifying step,
including.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to aggregate user responses for each broadcast content without requiring the broadcasting station to cooperate in data broadcasting for implementing user responses. Also, since the broadcast receiving terminal identifies broadcast content that is based on the user response with reference to the content broadcast time information of the own device, the user response totaling server can reduce the totaling processing.

It is a schematic block diagram of a broadcast wave distribution type broadcasting system. It is a block diagram of the broadcasting apparatus of a broadcast wave distribution type broadcasting system. It is a block diagram of the server of a broadcast wave delivery type broadcasting system. It is a block diagram of the receiving terminal of a broadcast wave distribution type broadcasting system. It is a ladder chart about processing between each element of a fixed question type broadcasting system. It is a flowchart of the reply information processing method in a receiving terminal. It is a figure which shows an example of the operation input part of a receiving terminal. It is a figure which shows the example of information which matched the user reply and the detection information at the time of the reception. It is a figure which shows the CM tag information based on the process in a receiving terminal. It is a figure which shows the specific example of the user reply information in a receiving terminal.

It is a flowchart of the answer total processing method in a server. It is a figure which shows the specific example of the user information in the user DB of a server. It is a figure which shows the specific example of the user reply information recorded on reply DB of a server. It is a figure which shows the specific example of the total result for every broadcast content in a server. It is a figure which shows the specific example of the total result which added user information to the total result of FIG. It is a ladder chart about processing between each element in a variable question type broadcasting system. It is a flowchart of the reply information processing method in a receiving terminal. It is a figure which shows an example of the information content in question DB of a server. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen displayed on the display apparatus of a receiving terminal based on the question information of FIG.

It is a figure which shows the example of the user reply information memorize | stored in the reply information storage part of a receiving terminal based on the user reply with respect to the reply screen of FIG. 19 in a receiving terminal. It is a flowchart of the reply total processing method in the server corresponding to the reply information processing method of FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a broadcast system of an IP distribution type broadcast system. It is a detailed block diagram of the broadcasting apparatus and server of an IP distribution type broadcasting system. It is a detailed block diagram of the receiving terminal of an IP distribution type broadcasting system. It is a ladder chart about processing between each element of a broadcasting system of a variable question type IP distribution type broadcasting system. It is a flowchart of the reception status notification method in a receiving terminal. It is a flowchart of a content delivery control method. It is a flowchart of the user reply confirmation method in which the user of a broadcast receiving terminal confirms a user reply before the transmission. It is a block diagram of a user answer total system. It is a flowchart of a broadcast receiving terminal control method.

[1 Broadcasting wave distribution type broadcasting system: broadcasting system 10]
1 to 21 relate to a broadcast system 10 of a broadcast wave distribution type. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a broadcasting system 10. In the broadcasting system 10, each receiving terminal 14 transmits a broadcast content (including a main broadcast program, a data broadcast program, and a main broadcast advertisement (CM)) from the Internet 11 to the broadcast station 12 by a broadcast wave. 17 is to be received.

  The broadcasting system 10 includes the Internet 11, a broadcasting station 12, a server 13, and a plurality of receiving terminals 14. In FIG. 1, only one broadcast station 12 and one server 13 are illustrated for simplification, but the broadcast system 10 may include one or more broadcast stations 12 and one or more servers 13. it can. The broadcast station 12 is typically a terrestrial television broadcast station, but may be an analog radio broadcast station such as an FM radio broadcast station. One server 13 may be provided for each broadcast target area (for example, a prefecture) defined by law, or one server 13 may be provided in common for a plurality of broadcast target areas. The server 13 may be dedicated to a specific broadcasting station 12 or may be common to a plurality of broadcasting stations 12.

  The broadcasting station 12 includes a broadcasting device 16. The broadcast device 16 sends out broadcast programs and data broadcasts in the storage device, EPG (Electronic Program Guide) information, and the like from the radio tower 17 by broadcast waves according to the broadcast schedule. The broadcast device 16 also provides the server 13 with a detailed timetable of programs such as broadcast wave programs, data broadcasts, EPG information, and advertisements to the server 13 through the dedicated line or the Internet 11. Note that “time table”, “program schedule”, and “broadcast schedule” are used synonymously and are all defined as subordinate concepts of “content broadcast time information”. Further, the “content broadcast time information” has a concept including “CM tag information” described later.

  The server 13 records registrations and responses regarding user preference surveys of programs / advertisements (subordinate concepts of broadcast content) and responses in a DB (database), or obtains the time table described above from the broadcast station 12. . Also, CM tag information (for example, 9 in the figure described later) associated with time information is generated from the time table for each advertiser, brand of advertisement, and type of advertisement. This table and tag information are encrypted and provided to the receiving terminal 14. The reason for encrypting the time table and tag information is that these information include not only information that is publicly disclosed as a program table, but also confidential content broadcast time information uniquely set by sponsors and research companies. Because there is. Further, the server 13 performs aggregation for each program / advertisement based on the answer from the user. The server 13 can also provide the question information for the user preference survey (example: generation of answer information in S71b in FIG. 16 described later).

  The receiving terminal 14 is typically assumed to be installed at home, but may be portable or in-vehicle. The receiving terminal 14 receives a program using broadcast waves from the broadcast station 12 via an antenna. The receiving terminal 14 receives the time table and tag information from the server 13 and records the information. The receiving terminal 14 sends registration information and answer information from the user to the server 13 via the Internet 11.

[1-1 Fixed Wave Type Broadcasting Wave Broadcasting System (First Example of Broadcasting System 10)]
2 to 15 relate to a fixed question type broadcasting system 10. Specifically, in the fixed question type broadcasting system 10, the question to the user who views the broadcast content is fixed regardless of the broadcast content, the broadcast station, the broadcast time, and the like. In this example, the question to the user is a question that asks about the liking for the broadcast content that the user is viewing. As will be described later, the user uses the answer key unit 106 of the operation input unit 54 in FIG. One answer is to be selected from the three choices regarding the likes of “like”, “dislike”, and “so-so”.

  FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the broadcasting device 16. The broadcasting device 16 is assumed to be for digital broadcasting. A main broadcast content DB 20, a broadcast schedule DB 21, a data broadcast content DB 22, a control unit 23, a server communication unit 24, a content stream creation unit 25, an EPG information creation unit 26, a data broadcast creation unit 27, and a MUX (multiplexer) 28 are provided. The content stream creation unit 25 reads the data of the main broadcast content (main broadcast program / advertisement) from the main broadcast content DB 20 according to the instruction from the control unit 23 in accordance with the broadcast schedule of the broadcast schedule DB 21, and streams the main broadcast content. Data is generated and sent to the MUX 28. For the live broadcast main broadcast content, the control unit 23 sends the stream data input to the input unit (not shown) of the broadcast device 16 to the MUX 28 as it is.

  The EPG information creation unit 26 creates EPG information with reference to the broadcast schedule in the broadcast schedule DB 21 and outputs the EPG information to the MUX 28. The data broadcast creation unit 27 reads the data broadcast data from the data broadcast content DB 22 according to the broadcast schedule of the broadcast schedule DB 21, and creates data broadcast content such as weather forecasts and information related to the program based on the data. And output to the MUX 28. The MUX 28 multiplexes the data stream, the EPG information, and the data broadcast content of the main broadcast content, and sends the multiplexed content to the radio tower 17, and the multiplexed content is transmitted from the radio tower 17 by a broadcast wave.

  The server communication unit 24 sends the schedule table of the broadcasting station 12 to the server 13. The schedule table may be the data itself of the broadcast schedule DB 21 or a more detailed table. The schedule table can include not only the own station but also the other station. The schedule table is normally generated before each broadcast content is broadcasted and transmitted to the server 13. Even if the broadcast content is broadcasted, the schedule table is input before the user response is input at the receiving terminal 14. If there is, a schedule table including the broadcast content can be generated after the broadcast content starts broadcasting and transmitted to the server 13.

  FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of the server 13. The server 13 includes a broadcast schedule DB 33, an answer DB 34, a question DB 35, a content generation unit 36, a survey result DB 37, a user DB 38, a reception unit 39, a transmission unit 40, a control unit 41, and an encryption unit 42. The control unit 41 controls the entire server 13. The broadcast schedule DB 33 stores detailed broadcast times such as the broadcast time of each CM and the corner in the program. These are called broadcast schedule data. Also, tag information associated with the time information is generated for each advertiser, advertisement brand, and advertisement type based on the CM broadcast time information, and recorded in the broadcast schedule DB 33. These are called CM tag information. The content broadcast time information includes both broadcast schedule data and CM tag information. The broadcast schedule can include not only the broadcast time of advertisements during and between programs, but also the details of the broadcast times of each corner and each advertisement in the program. The broadcast schedule data of each broadcast content is normally sent from the broadcast device 16 to the receiving terminal 14 before the broadcast content is broadcast, but may be sent during the broadcast content or after the broadcast. To do. The CM tag information is generated by the server 13 (S71 in FIG. 5 described later).

  The user DB 38 includes broadcast contents of the broadcast system 10 (the broadcast contents include not only main broadcast contents but also data broadcast contents. The main broadcast contents include not only programs but also advertisements. )), The attribute information (for example, sex, age, address, occupation, etc.) of the user who conducts the preference survey, the ID of the user, the ID of the receiving terminal 14 of the user, and the like are recorded. The encryption unit 42 encrypts broadcast schedule data and CM tag information in the broadcast schedule DB 33. The transmission unit 40 transmits information to a company or the like that reports a question to the user or a result of the answer DB 34. Also, the broadcast schedule data and CM tag information encrypted to the receiving terminal are transmitted to the receiving terminal 14 via the Internet 11. The receiving unit 39 receives broadcast schedule information from broadcast stations and answers from users.

  The answer DB 34 stores answer information including the answer contents, answer time, which question the answer is from the user, and the attribute information of the user who made the answer. The question DB 35 records information such as a question content to the user and a period for receiving the question. The survey result DB 37 stores the results obtained based on the question DB 35 and the answer DB 34. The content generation unit 36 generates the content of questions related to the user, content related to the program, and the like. The transmission unit 40 sends information to a user or the company reporting the result of the answer DB 34 to the Internet 11. The receiving unit 39 receives broadcast schedule information from the broadcasting device 16 and responses from users via the Internet 11.

  FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of the receiving terminal 14. The receiving terminal 14 includes a terminal main body 45, a display device 60, and an audio reproduction device 61. The terminal main body 45 includes an antenna 46, a tuner 47, a demodulation unit 48, a ROM 49, a RAM 50, a communication unit 51, an answer information storage unit 52, a clock unit 53, an operation input unit 54, a control unit 55, a video output unit 56, and an audio output unit. 57 and broadcast schedule DB58. The tuner 47 receives the radio wave of the broadcasting station 12 from the antenna 46. The demodulator 48 demodulates the received signal based on the received information from the tuner 47 and decodes each signal. A program and fixed data are recorded in the ROM 49, and the control unit 55 reads the data as appropriate. The RAM 50 is used by the control unit 55 to temporarily store data during arithmetic processing. The communication unit 51 exchanges question information and answer information with the server 13 via the Internet 11.

  As will be described later with reference to FIG. 7, the operation input unit 54 is of a remote control type, and is used to input various operations on the receiving terminal 14 from the user and user responses to viewing content. The operation input unit 54 may be a touch panel type or a voice input type in addition to the remote control type. The clock unit 53 counts the date and time when the answer from the user was made. Normally, the answer time matches the broadcast time of the broadcast content to be answered. The answer information storage unit 52 temporarily stores the answer from the user, the date and time, the question information from the server 13, and the like, and sends it to the communication unit 51 at an appropriate time.

  The video output unit 56 converts the display information sent from the control unit 55 into a display signal and displays it on the display device 60. The audio output unit converts the audio data from the control unit 55 into an audio signal and reproduces it with the audio reproduction device 61. The display device 60 is generally a display or a television. The sound reproducing device 61 is generally a speaker. Note that the display device 60 and the audio playback device 61 may be installed in the terminal main body 45.

  The broadcast schedule DB 58 stores the received encrypted broadcast schedule data and CM tag information. Broadcast schedule data and CM tag information are received from the server 13. The receiving terminal 14 normally receives the broadcast schedule data and CM tag information of each program and each CM before the program or CM is broadcast, but it may be during or after the broadcast. The control unit 55 controls the tuner 47, the demodulation unit 48, the video output unit 56, the audio output unit 57, the broadcast schedule DB 58, and the like. The control unit 55 also executes the various processes described above in response to an instruction from the user input from the operation input unit 54. In addition, when there is a response input from the user by the operation input unit 54, the control unit 55 appropriately decrypts the encrypted broadcast schedule data and CM tag information in the broadcast schedule DB 58, and based on the date / time information. Control is performed so that the answer information from the user is stored in the answer information storage unit 52 in accordance with a classification such as a program or an advertisement.

Next, a first embodiment of the present system will be described using the ladder chart of FIG.
S70: The broadcasting station 12 provides the server 13 with the schedule information of the broadcast schedule scheduled to be broadcast or the content broadcast after the broadcast, and the server 13 stores the information in the broadcast schedule DB 33.
S71: The server 13 generates CM tag information associated with time information for each advertiser, advertisement brand, and advertisement type based on the broadcast schedule.

S72: Broadcast schedule data and CM tag information are encrypted and transmitted to each receiving terminal 14. The server 13 uses the IP address of each receiving terminal 14 for this transmission. Normally, the IP address of the server 13 is fixed, but the IP address of each receiving terminal 14 is variable. Therefore, each receiving terminal 14 notifies the server 13 of its own IP address as appropriate at the time of activation or the like. To do.

R73: The receiving terminal 14 receives the encrypted broadcast schedule data and CM tag information from the server 13 and stores them in the broadcast schedule DB 58.
R74: The receiving terminal 14 receives a broadcast program or CM from the broadcast station 12 by a broadcast wave.
R75: The receiving terminal 14 receives an input of a survey response regarding the broadcast program by an operation from the user. The RAM 50 stores the input of the answer together with time information and broadcast station information being received.

R76: The receiving terminal 14 collates the time information with the user's answer based on the broadcast schedule DB 58, analyzes the answer, and stores it in the answer information storage unit 52.
R77: The receiving terminal 14 transmits the reply information to the server 13 via the Internet 11. The answer information is performed at a predetermined timing. The reply information may be transmitted to the server 13 when it is generated, but it is desirable to transmit the reply information at midnight or the like in order to reduce the load on the network.

S78: The server 13 receives response information from a plurality of receiving terminals 14. In addition, the data transmission in R77 → S78 may be encrypted to maintain the confidentiality of the user response, in the same manner as the data transmission in S72 → R73 is encrypted and transmitted.
S79: The server 13 totals the received answer information. The tabulation is performed based on the answer information from the user. The user DB 38 also performs aggregation based on user attribute information.
S80: The totaled result is generated as survey information. The generated survey information is provided to the broadcasting station 12 and the advertiser.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the answer information processing method 90 specifically showing R73 to R77 in FIG. The answer information processing method 90 is executed in each receiving terminal 14.
R91: Information on the broadcasting station 12 currently receiving the broadcast content (eg, broadcast type and reception frequency) is detected from the control unit.
R92: It is determined whether or not there is an answer operation by an operation input from the user. As soon as the determination becomes positive, the process proceeds to R93.

  FIG. 7 is an example of the operation input unit 54 of the receiving terminal 14. The user performs an answer operation in R92 on the operation input unit 54. The operation input unit 54 includes a general operation key unit 105 and an answer key unit 106. The general operation key unit 105 is used for various operations of the receiving terminal 14 other than answer input. The answering operation by the user is performed by pressing one of the three buttons (heart mark, smile mark, x mark) in the answer key unit 106. In the example of FIG. 7, the user thinks that the program or advertisement being broadcast is “like” if he / she likes it, “smile mark” if he / she thinks “good”, or “dislike”. In this case, “x mark” is pressed respectively.

  The shape of the button is not limited to the above as long as the user can distinguish which button corresponds to his / her answer, and may be any shape. Accordingly, words such as “like” / “dislike” / “normal” can be written on the top surface or the periphery of the button. Further, instead of the evaluation of “like” / “dislike”, another evaluation axis button such as “interesting” or “useful” may be prepared and evaluated. Furthermore, you may make it prepare the button of a some evaluation axis | shaft (example: preference, interest, and usefulness).

Returning to FIG.
R93: The time when R92 is operated is detected.
R94: The information of the broadcast station 12, the content of the response, and the response time are stored in the response information storage unit 52. FIG. 8 shows an example of user response information generated by the processing of R94. “FM” of the broadcast type in FIG. 8 means analog FM radio broadcast, and the broadcast system 10 supports not only television broadcast but also totaling user responses for radio broadcast programs / advertisements.

  Each answer information has, as attributes, a broadcast type (for example, terrestrial digital and FM), a broadcast station name, a broadcast wave frequency, an input date and time of an answer, and input contents of the broadcast content on which the user answer is based. The input date and time of the answer is detected by the clock unit 53 (FIG. 4). The input content is input by the user operating the answer key unit 106 (FIG. 7) of the operation input unit 54, and is detected by the operation input unit 54 (FIG. 4).

  The broadcast type, broadcast wave frequency, and broadcast station name are detected by the tuner 47 (FIG. 4). When the broadcast wave is an analog broadcast wave, since the broadcast station name information is not included in the broadcast wave, the receiving terminal 14 has a DB (not shown) for associating the frequency with the broadcast station name. The broadcast station name can be detected with reference to FIG. At the national level, there may be a plurality of broadcasting stations for the same frequency. Therefore, the DB includes regional information and the address registered by the user with respect to the receiving terminal 14 is broadcasted. It is possible to search for a broadcast station that is a region and has a frequency that matches the current reception frequency of the receiving terminal 14, and to grasp the broadcast station name.

Returning to FIG.
R95: Information on the broadcast station 12, the program, and the CM are included in the broadcast schedule DB 58 in order to collate to which program or CM the current user input is the evaluation from the input broadcast station 12 information and the response time. It is determined whether or not. If the determination is positive, the process proceeds to R96, and if not, the process proceeds to R98.

R96: The evaluation is stored in association with the program or CM. If a program or CM is input more than a predetermined number of times within a predetermined period, it is determined that the program has been evaluated the most frequently, or all data is erased as an error. That is, the user may press the answer input key twice, three times, not once for the same broadcast content due to an operation mistake. Even when there are multiple maximum number of responses for the same broadcast content, it is unclear which of these responses will be the current user response. Data may be erased as an error without selecting any one of them.

  FIG. 9 exemplifies CM tag information based on R96 processing. The CM tag information is generated in S71 of FIG. 5, encrypted together with the broadcast schedule data in S72 to R73, and sent from the server 13 to the receiving terminal 14. CM tag information includes, for each broadcast of each CM, an advertisement ID, a broadcast type, a broadcast station name, an advertisement (CM) name, an advertiser, an advertisement brand, an advertisement type, a broadcast start time 1, a broadcast end time 1, The attributes of broadcast start time 2, broadcast end time 2, broadcast start time 3, broadcast end time 3,... Are associated with each other. That is, for advertisements, advertisements with the same contents are repeatedly broadcast, so an advertisement ID is assigned to advertisements with the same contents and each broadcast that is repeatedly broadcast within a predetermined period (eg, one day, one week). The broadcast start time and broadcast end time are identified with 1, 2, 3,. Broadcast type, broadcast station name (reception frequency), broadcast start time 1, 2, 3,... And broadcast end time 1, 2, 3,. Frequency), broadcast start times 1, 2, 3... And broadcast end times 1, 2, 3..., And the input time of the user response and the broadcast content that is the basis of the user response By referring to the broadcast schedule and CM tag information based on the reception frequency, it is possible to grasp the advertisement ID, the CM name of the CM, the advertiser, the advertisement brand, and the advertisement type that are the basis of the user response. CM tag information is used to analyze user responses in more detail (eg, by advertiser or by advertising brand).

  FIG. 10 shows a specific example of user response information generated by the process of R96. FIGS. 10A and 10B are examples of user response information for television programs and radio CMs, respectively. The user answer information is sent from the receiving terminal 14 to the server 13 via the Internet 11 immediately or at an appropriate time, and stored in the answer DB 34 of the server 13. According to FIG. 10, the user response information about a program has a broadcast type, a broadcast station name, a program name, and input contents as attributes. Moreover, the user response information about CM has advertisement ID, broadcast classification, CM name, and input content as attributes. The broadcast schedule and CM tag information are referred to based on the user response information shown in FIG. 8, and the program name or CM program name or advertisement ID or CM name that is the basis of the user response information is grasped. And the input date and time are replaced with the program name or CM in the user response information of FIG.

Returning to FIG.
R97: The reply information (FIG. 10) is transmitted to the server 13. Note that the response information may be transmitted to the server 13 at regular intervals (eg, once per hour or once a day).
R98: It is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the input time when the user performed an answer operation. If the determination is positive, the process proceeds to R98, and if not, the process returns to R95. The reason for returning to R95 is that there is a possibility that the broadcast schedule DB of the program or the like that is the object of the user's reply this time has not arrived at the receiving terminal 14 from the server 13. The broadcast schedule DB is basically transmitted before broadcasting, but can be transmitted only after the fact for the convenience of the broadcasting station 12, such as when there is a possibility of changing the CM time, such as live broadcasting of sports broadcasts. In some cases, it may be transmitted after the broadcast. Therefore, R97 is processing for matching when the broadcast schedule DB is transmitted after the fact.

R99: It is determined that there is no corresponding data, the data stored in the storage unit is discarded, and the process ends. As an example of no corresponding data, when the broadcast schedule itself is not transmitted in advance or after the fact due to the circumstances of the broadcast station 12, when there is no information about CM, when the program is input by mistake during the broadcast suspension period Etc.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of the answer total processing method 110 in the server 13. The answer total processing method 110 is a process performed in S79 of FIG.
S111: User response information is received from the receiving terminal 14.
S112: The user information in the user DB 38 (FIG. 3) is collated based on the user ID or receiving terminal ID extracted from the answer information. Specific examples of user information and answer information will be described later with reference to FIGS.
S113: As a result of the collation, it is determined whether or not the corresponding user information exists in the user DB 38. If it exists, the process proceeds to S115, and if it does not exist, the process proceeds to S114.

S114: User information is newly registered in the user DB 38. The user registration in the server 13 registers user information received from the receiving terminal 14. After S114, the process proceeds to S115. Also, the server 13 creates a user registration screen content created by the server 13 from the server 13 to the receiving terminal 14, displays the user registration screen at the receiving terminal 14, and allows the user to register user information. It is also possible to register the user information returned to 13 at the receiving terminal 14.

  FIG. 12 is a specific example of user information in the user DB 38. For each user, ID (receiving terminal ID), age group, and occupation attribute information are registered, and each user is associated with point information given to the answer. The points given to each user may be fixed points for one response regardless of the content, or it is an extra point for specific content and responses during the campaign period. Also good. In each table of FIG. 12, FIG. 14, and FIG. 15, “*” means a single digit.

Returning to FIG.
S115: The answer information is registered in the user DB 38. FIG. 13 is a specific example of user response information recorded in the response DB 34. The user response information in FIG. 13 is the same as the user response information in FIGS. 10A and 10B as the user response information generated at the receiving terminal 14 and before being transmitted to the server 13.

S116: The answer information from the user is registered in the answer DB 34 for each program / advertisement. In the first response information registration in the response DB 34 for each program / advertisement, since the program / advertisement is not registered, the response information is registered after the program / advertisement is registered. A specific example of the reply information registered in S116 will be described later with reference to the drawing.

S117: For the answer information from the user, refer to the user DB 38 (FIG. 12) to determine the user attributes such as the age group, sex and occupation of the user, classify the answer information for each user attribute, and reply Re-aggregate information. A specific example of the result of recounting the response information will be described later with reference to FIG.

S118: The result of the recounting is stored in the answer DB 34, and information indicating that the answer information recorded in association with the user in the user DB 38 is recorded as valid information is registered in the user DB 38. The valid information is used for a process of giving points or the like to the user of the response information recorded as valid information.
S119: Distribute contents such as the number of points of valid information, application conditions for various prizes using the points, winning information of the prizes, etc. to the user's receiving terminal 14 of the current answer information.

  FIG. 14 is a specific example of the total result for each broadcast content. 14A and 14B are for the case where the broadcast contents are a program and a CM, respectively. The counting result is created in S117 of the answer counting processing method 110 (FIG. 11). In FIG. 14, evaluations “like”, “dislike”, and “good” correspond to the heart mark, the x mark, and the smile mark of the operation input unit 54 (FIG. 7). The number of users who answered “dislike” and “so-so” is aggregated. Note that FIG. 14 is a summary of user responses for the program and CM of the main broadcast, but the broadcast system 10 can also collect “like” and the like for the content of the data broadcast by the user. .

  FIG. 15 is a specific example of a total result obtained by adding user information to the total result in FIG. FIGS. 15A and 15B show cases where the broadcast contents are a program and a CM, respectively. The tabulation results of FIG. 14 are simply tabulations of user responses of “like”, “dislike”, and “so-so”, whereas the tabulation results of FIG. 15 are “like”, “dislike”, and “ User response of “OK”. As described with reference to FIG. 12, in addition to the gender of each user, the age group and occupation are registered in the user information. Therefore, it is preferable for each attribute or a combination of a plurality of attributes. A sensitivity survey can be conducted.

[1-2 Variable Question Type Broadcasting Wave Distribution Type Broadcasting System: Second Example of Broadcasting System 10]
16 to 21 relate to the variable interrogation broadcasting system 10. Specifically, in the variable interrogation-type broadcasting system 10, the user's options as user responses to the broadcast content are changed according to parameters such as broadcast content, advertiser, response time, broadcast station, and region.

  FIG. 16 is a ladder chart for processing between elements in the variable interrogation broadcasting system 10. The same processes as those in the ladder chart of FIG. 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 5, description thereof is omitted, and only differences are described. In the ladder chart of FIG. 16, S71, S72, R73, R75 and R76 in the ladder chart of FIG. 5 are changed to S71b, S72b, R73b, R75b and R76b, respectively.

S71b: The server 13 generates CM tag information (FIG. 9 described above) associated with time information for each advertiser, advertisement brand, and advertisement type based on the broadcast schedule. In addition, question information (FIG. 18 described later) is generated according to the broadcast schedule. It should be noted that, for the question information may be to inquire whether I want to go in advance what kind of questions to the broadcasting station 12 and advertisers, may be allowed to select from a predetermined choices.
S72b: The broadcast schedule data, CM tag information, and question information are encrypted and transmitted to each receiving terminal 14. The question information is the content of the question contents to be performed at each broadcast station 12 at each time according to the program schedule. Specifically, information related to the question information of each broadcasting station 12 is read from the question DB 35 according to the current time information and transmitted to the receiving terminal 14.

R73b: Receives encrypted broadcast schedule data, CM tag information, and answer classification (the answer classification corresponds to the question information).
R75b: The receiving terminal 14 displays the content of the question content received in R73b in response to the user request based on the current time and the selected broadcast station (example: FIG. 19 described later). After the display, an input of a survey response regarding the broadcast program is accepted by an operation from the user. The receiving terminal 14 stores the answer input together with the time information and the receiving broadcast station information (in FIG. 8 described above, the numerical value of the input content of the key input by the user among the assignment keys shown in FIG. 18 described later). Replaced by name).
R76b: The receiving terminal 14 identifies the broadcast content to be answered from the time information and the reception frequency based on the broadcast schedule DB 58, performs an answer analysis that associates the identified broadcast content with the question information and the user answer, and obtains an analysis result (described later). 20) is stored in the answer information storage unit 52.

  FIG. 17 is a flowchart of the answer information processing method 130 in the receiving terminal 14. The answer information processing method 130 is a process performed in S75b of FIG. In the answer information processing method 130, the same steps as those of the answer information processing method 90 of FIG. 6 are given the same numbers as the numbers given to the steps of the answer information processing method 90. The point is described. In the answer information processing method 130, R131 and R132 are added between R91 and R92 of the answer information processing method 90.

R131: It is determined whether or not there is a response screen request for the program from the user, and the process proceeds to R132 as soon as the determination becomes positive.
R132: An answer screen (FIG. 19 to be described later) associated with the current broadcasting station / time is generated based on the transmitted content of the answer classification (question information or survey item) received from the server 13 in R73b (FIG. 16). ,indicate.

  FIG. 18 shows an example of information content in the question DB 35. The information content is different between the case where the broadcast content is a program (FIG. 18 (a)) and the case where the broadcast content is a CM (FIG. 18 (b)). 18A, for each question information (corresponding to each row in FIG. 18), together with the broadcast type, broadcast station name, broadcast program, broadcast start time and broadcast end time of the broadcast schedule information, In b), for each question information, together with the broadcast type and CM name of the CM tag information (FIG. 9), the color keys and numeric keys of the general operation key section 91 of the operation input section 54 (FIG. 7) and the assignment to them. The contents of the answer options are registered as an assigned key and key information, respectively.

  FIG. 19 shows an example of a screen displayed on the display device 60 of the receiving terminal 14 based on the question information of FIG. This screen is displayed when R75b (FIG. 16) is executed. In the lower part of the screen of the display device 60, information indicating which answer option is assigned to which numerical key in the general operation key part 91 of the operation input part 54 (FIG. 7) is displayed. . Broadcast content such as programs and CMs to be answered may be displayed on the screen body of the display device 60, and a question screen for broadcast content based on the user's answer is displayed only during the user's answer period. It may be displayed temporarily or only for a predetermined time. For example, a question item “What do you think about the program? Please select from the following options” is displayed on the question screen.

  FIG. 20 is an example of user answer information stored in the answer information storage unit 52 (FIG. 4) of the receiving terminal 14 based on the user answer to the answer screen of FIG. FIGS. 20A and 20B show user response information for the program and CM, respectively. The receiving terminal 14 identifies which broadcast content (including not only programs but also CMs) the current user response is for, as described above with reference to FIG. The answer is specified from the question information (association information between the operation key and the user answer). The user response information including the broadcast content and the input content thus identified is the user response information in FIG.

  In the variable question type user answer broadcasting system 10, since it is possible to assign the answer option to the question to the key of the operation input unit 54 from the server 13, the answer option to the question regarding various programs Can be set freely.

  FIG. 21 is a flowchart of the answer counting processing method 140. The answer total processing method 140 is a process executed in S79 of FIG. In the response totalization processing method 140, the same steps as the steps of the response totalization processing method 110 in FIG. The point is described. In the response aggregation processing method 140, S141 is added between S116 and S117 of the response aggregation processing method 110.

S141: With reference to question DB35 (FIG. 3), it is collated which question the user's input content (answer information) is for.

[2 IP distribution type broadcasting system: broadcasting system 160]
22 to 24 relate to a variable inquiry type IP distribution type broadcasting system 160. In the broadcast system 160, each receiving terminal 163 receives the broadcast content from the broadcast station 12 via the Internet 11 in principle while enabling the broadcast content from both the broadcast wave and the Internet 11 to be received. IP (Internet Protocol) is used for broadcasting broadcast content via the Internet 11. If the broadcast station selected by the user at the receiving terminal 163 does not perform the corresponding IP type broadcast (defined as a broadcast format for broadcasting broadcast content via the network using IP), Since it is difficult for the receiving terminal 163 to receive broadcast content by IP-type broadcasting, the receiving terminal 163 outputs the broadcast content received by the broadcast wave from the selected broadcast station.

  FIG. 22 is a schematic configuration diagram of the broadcast system 160. In the broadcast system 160, elements that are the same as the elements of the broadcast system 10 are denoted by the same reference numerals as the corresponding elements of the broadcast system 10, description thereof is omitted, and differences will be described.

  The broadcast station 12 broadcasts broadcast content from the radio tower 17 by broadcast waves, and sends broadcast content data to the server 162 via a dedicated line or the Internet 11. The server 162 can also be dedicated to the broadcasting station 12 itself. Each receiving terminal 163 can receive and output broadcast content from the server 162 via the Internet 11 only when the broadcast wave of the broadcast station 12 exists in the broadcast target area defined by law. It has become. The permission and prohibition of the output of the broadcast content from each receiving terminal 163 via the Internet 11 may be controlled by the receiving terminal 163 by determining whether to permit or prohibit the output of the broadcast content received from the server 162. Then, when the server 162 transmits the broadcast content to the receiving terminal 163, it may be determined whether or not to transmit the broadcast content.

  FIG. 23 is a detailed configuration diagram of the broadcasting device 161 and the server 162 of FIG. In the broadcasting device 161 and the server 162, the same elements as those of the broadcasting device 16 (FIG. 2) and the server 13 (FIG. 3) of the broadcasting system 10 are denoted by reference numerals attached to the elements of the broadcasting device 16 and the server 13. Thus, the description is omitted and the differences are described.

  In the broadcast device 161, broadcast material 165 is added to the broadcast device 16. In the server 162, a broadcast device communication unit 169, a content DB 170 and a transmission permission / inhibition determination unit 171 are added to the server 13. The broadcast material 165 is basically the same as the data corresponding to the broadcast signal from the MUX 28 to the radio tower 17, but the data broadcast may be omitted from the corresponding data, or non-multiplexed It is good also as digitized data. In addition to the function of the broadcasting device 16 of the broadcasting system 10, the broadcasting device 161 has a function of transmitting the broadcast material 165 from the server communication unit 24 to the server 162 via the dedicated line or the Internet 11.

  The server 162 receives broadcast content from the broadcast device 161 via the dedicated line or the Internet 11 at the broadcast device communication unit 169 and records it in the content DB 170. The content generation unit 36 generates question content. In the content DB 170, content related to the broadcast and the content generated by the content generation unit 36 are recorded together with the broadcast content received from the broadcast device 161. The broadcast content received from the broadcast device 161 may be distributed to the reception terminal 163 as it is without being stored in the content DB 170.

  The transmission permission / inhibition determining unit 171 determines whether or not content can be transmitted to the receiving terminal 163 based on the user information. Specifically, it is determined whether or not the receiving terminal 163 exists in the area where the broadcast is being made, and if the determination is positive, the content can be received. Whether or not it is an area where the broadcast is made can be determined from the reception status of the broadcast at the receiving terminal 163. When the reception situation is bad, the position of the receiving terminal 163 may be grasped from another means such as the IP address of the receiving terminal 163 or GPS (Global Positioning System). Since the IP address is given by an ISP (Internet service provider) according to the area where the receiving terminal 163 exists, the area where the receiving terminal 163 exists can be determined from the IP address. The reception status is registered in the user DB 38 in the reception status of the broadcast station at the reception terminal 163 when the first distribution request is received from the reception terminal 163 for the broadcast content of each broadcast station. When broadcasting content related to a station is distributed, it may be omitted to detect the reception status or to determine whether or not to distribute based on the reception status.

  FIG. 24 is a detailed block diagram of the receiving terminal 163 in FIG. In the receiving terminal 163, the same elements as those of the receiving terminal 14 (FIG. 4) of the broadcasting system 10 are denoted by the reference numerals given to the elements of the receiving terminal 14, description thereof is omitted, and differences are described. A reception status storage unit 174 is added to the reception terminal 163 with respect to the reception terminal 14. The receiving terminal 163 receives the broadcast wave broadcast content in the tuner 47, measures the reception status (received electric field strength and bit error rate), stores the received status in the reception status storage unit 174, and transmits from the communication unit 51 to the Internet 11. To the server 162. The communication unit 51 also sends answer information to the server 162 via the Internet 11. Depending on the broadcast station 12, there may be cases where only the broadcast wave broadcast is performed and the IP network broadcast is not performed. When the user of the receiving terminal 163 selects the broadcast station 12 that is not performing the IP network broadcast, The receiving terminal 163 outputs the broadcast content output from the tuner 47 from the display device 60 and the audio playback device 61.

[2-1 Variable Query Type IP Distribution Broadcast System: First Example of Broadcast System 160]
FIGS. 25 to 27 relate to a variable interrogation broadcasting system 160. Note that the fixed interrogation formula and the variable interrogation formula have been described as the first and second embodiments for the broadcast wave distribution type broadcasting system, respectively. 2 and the first embodiment will be described. In the variable interrogation broadcasting system 160, as with the variable interrogation broadcasting system 10, the options as user responses to the broadcast content by the user are changed depending on parameters such as broadcast content, advertiser, response time, broadcast station, and region. The

  FIG. 25 is a ladder chart regarding processing between the elements of the broadcasting system 160. In FIG. 25, the same steps as those in FIG. 16 are denoted by the same step numbers as those in FIG. 16, description thereof will be omitted, and only differences will be described. In the ladder chart of FIG. 25, R181, S182, R183, S184, S185, and R186 are added to the ladder chart of FIG. R181, S182, R183 and S184 are arranged in front of S72b and R73b, and S185 and R186 are arranged behind S72b and R73b and in front of S75b.

  In S70, as in S70 of FIG. 16, the server 162 receives the user response from the receiving terminal 163. However, since the server 162 knows the distribution time of the program distributed to the receiving terminal 163 with respect to the server 13 (FIG. 1), the broadcast schedule is not received from the broadcast station 12 in S70. Alternatively, it may be created by itself and distributed to the receiving terminal 163. Further, the server 162 is content that is independently distributed by the server 162 separately from the broadcast wave content from the broadcast station 12, and it is also possible to distribute content that is mainly broadcast from the broadcast station 12 to the receiving terminal 163. Yes, in the case of such content distribution, the broadcast schedule is created by itself and transmitted to the receiving terminal 163.

  In R181, the receiving terminal 163 receives broadcast content from the broadcast station 12 by broadcast waves. The broadcast content received by the receiving terminal 163 by the broadcast wave is not used for content output at the receiving terminal 163, but is simply received only for reception status detection in R183 described later.

  In S <b> 182, the server 162 receives a broadcast program from the broadcast station 12 by IP distribution via the Internet 11. In R183, the receiving terminal 163 detects the reception status of the broadcast wave selected in R181, and transmits the reception status to the server 162 via the Internet 11. In S <b> 184, the server 162 determines whether or not the content limited to the area of the server 162 can be transmitted to the receiving terminal 163 in addition to the broadcast program according to the reception status transmitted from the receiving terminal 163. In S185, the broadcast program / content is transmitted to the receiving terminal 163 determined to be distributed on the server 162 side. The content includes content produced by the server 162 separately from the broadcast program with the broadcast station 12 of the broadcast program as the main broadcaster. A specific determination method in S184 will be described in S202 of FIG. In R186, the receiving terminal 163 receives the broadcast program / content distributed by the server 162 in S185.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart of the reception status notification method 190 in the reception terminal 163. The reception status notification method 190 executes the process of R183 in FIG.
R191: Whether or not the user has received a reception request for the broadcast content from the broadcast station 12 via the server 162 or the broadcast content uniquely created by the server 162 while the broadcast station 12 is the main broadcaster. As soon as the determination becomes positive, the process proceeds to R192.
R192: It is determined whether or not a broadcast wave from the broadcasting station 12 of the broadcast subject of the broadcast content subject to reception request of R191 is being received. If the determination is positive, the process proceeds to R194. If not, R193 is determined. Proceed to
R193: Tune to the broadcast wave of R192.

R194: The reception status of the broadcast station 12 is detected. Specifically, the reception status is determined by the reception terminal 163 from the received electric field strength and BER (bit error rate) for the broadcast wave being tuned. When the received electric field strength is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value or when the BER is less than the predetermined threshold value, the reception status is determined to be good. Usually, if the receiving terminal 163 is within the broadcasting target area of the broadcasting station 12 that is sending the broadcast wave being tuned, the receiving situation is good, and if it is outside the broadcasting target area, the receiving situation is It is bad. In particular, when the receiving terminal 163 is a portable type or a vehicle-mounted type, even if the receiving terminal 163 exists in the broadcast target area, the reception situation temporarily becomes poor in an underground shopping center, a tunnel, a building shadow, or the like. Sometimes.
R195: Information of the detected reception status is notified to the server 162 via the Internet 11.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart of the content distribution control method 200. The content distribution control method 200 executes the processes of S184 and S185 in FIG.
S201: Receive status information and a receiving terminal ID are received from the receiving terminal 163.

S202: Whether the reception status corresponds to the capability of transmitting content such as a broadcast program (including CM and data broadcast content in addition to the broadcast program) (whether the reception status is within the transmission permission range or transmission prohibited) Determine if it is within range. That is, whether or not the receiving terminal 163 is recognized to exist in the broadcasting target area of the broadcasting station 12 that mainly broadcasts the content based on the reception status of the content such as a broadcast program by the broadcast wave at the receiving terminal 163. Determine. If the determination is positive, the process proceeds to S203, and if not, the process proceeds to S204. Generally, if the reception status at the receiving terminal 163 is good, the determination in S202 is positive, and if it is poor, the determination in S202 is negative.

S203: Distribute the content requested by the receiving terminal 163 to the receiving terminal 163 via the Internet 11.
S204: The receiving terminal ID is collated with the user information in the user DB 38 (FIG. 23). Even if the reception status is bad, there is a case where content transmission may be permitted to the receiving terminal 163 of the receiving terminal ID, and in order to determine whether this is the case, from the user information registered by the user The location of the receiving terminal 163 with the receiving terminal ID is checked. Specific examples of user information for specifying the location of the receiving terminal 163 include: (a) the IP address of the receiving terminal 163, (b) the address registered by the user, the zip code, or the like when the receiving terminal 163 is stationary. When the telephone number with an area code is recognized as authentic, the address, the postal code, the telephone number with an area code, and (c) GPS (GPS: Global Positioning System) information about the current location of the receiving terminal 163. (A) and (c) can also be used when the receiving terminal 163 is a portable type or a vehicle-mounted type.

S205: Based on the collation in S204, whether or not the receiving terminal 163 exists in the broadcast target area of the broadcasting station 12 of the broadcast subject of the content that is the reception request target, that is, the receiving terminal 163 is permitted to transmit the content. It is determined whether it is a receiving terminal. If the determination is positive, the process proceeds to S203, and if not, the process proceeds to S206.
S206: Information indicating that the content cannot be transmitted is transmitted to the receiving terminal 163 that is the reception request source.

S207: The contents indicating the method of registering the area information are transmitted to the receiving terminal 163 that is the reception request source. The area information registration is to allow the user of the receiving terminal 163 to register information about the deferred location of the receiving terminal 163 (for example, a zip code, an address, or a telephone area code).
S208: For the receiving terminal 163 that has transmitted the content for registering area information in S207, it is determined whether or not the area information registered by the user has been received from the receiving terminal 163, and as soon as the determination becomes positive, S209 Proceed to
S209: The area information received in S208 is registered in the user DB 38 (FIG. 23) as user information in association with the user ID or the receiving terminal ID.

[2-2 Fixed Question Type IP Distribution Broadcast System: Second Example of Broadcast System 160]
In the fixed question type broadcasting system 160, as in the fixed question type broadcasting system 10, the question to the user who views the broadcast content is fixed regardless of the broadcast content, the broadcast station, the broadcast time, and the like. As is obvious from the comparison between the fixed interrogation broadcasting system 10 shown in FIGS. 2 to 15 and the variable interrogation broadcasting system 10 shown in FIGS. 16 to 21, the fixed interrogation broadcasting system 160 uses variable interrogation broadcasting. From the system 160, the process of generating variable question information, causing the user of the receiving terminal 163 to answer according to the variable question information, and analyzing the user answer according to the variable question information is omitted. Specifically, S71b, S72b, R73b, R75b, and R76b in FIG. 25 are respectively replaced with S71, S72, R73, R75, and R76 in FIG.

[3 User response confirmation type broadcast receiving terminal]
FIG. 28 is a flowchart of a user response confirmation method 220 in which the user of the broadcast receiving terminal confirms the user response before transmission. The user answer confirmation method 220 can be applied to both the receiving terminal 14 of the broadcasting system 10 and the receiving terminal 163 of the broadcasting system 160. The user response can be automatically transmitted without inquiring whether the user can send it. However, in the user response confirmation method 22, the user response is transmitted after receiving a transmission permission from the user. Yes.

R221: The browsing request of the reply information as a user reply is received from the user.
R222: Accept selection of which user's answer information to browse. When there is one registered user, it may be determined that the user has been selected. Here, it is assumed that the family shares one broadcast receiving terminal. Therefore, there are a plurality of users for one broadcast receiving terminal, and user answers can be transmitted to the user answer counting server for each user from the same broadcast receiving terminal. The case where there are a plurality of registered users means, for example, a case where a plurality of users of the same family share a broadcast receiving terminal and register as a user in the user answer counting server. In order to keep each user's answer secret among family members, when the user is selected, the user's PSW is input, and only when the user can be authenticated, the process proceeds to the next R223. The user answer confirmation method 220 may be immediately terminated.

R223: Display the answer information of the user.
R224: Queries whether to delete the answer information from the list of answer information. If it is to be deleted, the process proceeds to R225. Otherwise, the process proceeds to R226.
R225: Delete the answer information. When a plurality of pieces of answer information are stored for the user, all of the answer information may be deleted, or the answer information selected after the user selects the answer information to be deleted. You can only delete it. When all the answer information of the user is deleted, the user answer confirmation method 220 is terminated. When there is answer information remaining without being deleted, instead of ending the user answer confirmation method 220, You can also proceed to R2266.
R226: Queries the user whether or not to send reply information. If the user selects “send”, the process proceeds to R227, and if “send” is selected, the process returns to R224. Instead of returning to R224, the user answer confirmation method 220 may be temporarily terminated. R227 may be executed immediately when the determination of R226 becomes positive, or may be executed after a predetermined time zone, date and time, or after a predetermined time.
R227: The reply information is transmitted to the server 13 or 162.

[4 Use of CM tag information]
The receiving terminal 14 of the broadcasting system 10 or the receiving terminal 163 of the broadcasting system 160 uses the CM tag information (FIG. 9) to create more detailed user answer information, and the user answer information is stored in the server 13 or 162. By transmitting to the server, it is possible to improve the details and / or improve the efficiency of the total of user responses in the server 13 or 162. That is, in the CM tag information, information such as an advertiser, an advertisement brand, and an advertisement type is included in each CM by referring to it, and this is used. Specific usage methods are, for example, the following (a) and (b). In addition, using the advertisement ID of the CM tag information (FIG. 9), the receiving terminal 14 transmits the advertisement ID that the user has answered to the server 13 or 162 in association with the user response, and the server 13 or 162 transmits the advertisement. It is also possible to count user responses by ID.

(A) The receiving terminal 14 or 163 includes, in the user response information about the CM, information such as the advertiser, the brand of the advertisement, and the type of advertisement in addition to the CM specified for the user answer. Or to 162. The server 13 or 162 aggregates user responses by advertiser, advertisement brand or advertisement, or a combination thereof using the user response information.

(B) The receiving terminal 14 or 163 classifies each user response to the CM by an advertiser, an advertising brand or an advertisement, or a combination thereof. In this case, one user answer may belong to a plurality of categories. For example, in the CM tag information of FIG. 9, the CM name “Eco #” belongs to the category “Japanese automobile” as the advertiser, and also belongs to the category “automobile” as the type of advertisement. In this way, user response information classified in advance at the receiving terminal 14 or 163 is transmitted to the server 13 or 162. The server 13 or 162 totals the CM user responses classified in advance, and obtains a total result for each classification.

[5 Summary: User answer counting system 250]
FIG. 29 is a configuration diagram of the user answer counting system 250. Specific examples of the user response totaling system 250 are the broadcasting systems 10 and 160. The user answer totaling system 250 includes a broadcast station 251, a broadcast receiving terminal 252 that receives broadcast contents mainly composed of the broadcast station 251, and a user answer totaling server 253. The broadcast receiving terminal 252 and the user answer totaling server 253 transmit and receive data via the network 254. The broadcasting station 251 and the user answer totaling server 253 transmit and receive data via a dedicated line or the network 254.

  The broadcast content whose broadcast is mainly broadcast station 251 includes, for example, (a) broadcast content broadcasted by broadcast station 251 using broadcast waves, (b) a server such as user answer totaling server 253, and the like. The broadcast content broadcast by the broadcast station 251 is the same broadcast content that is broadcast using the IP network 254, and (c) the server such as the user response totaling server 253 The broadcast content is different from the broadcast content and is used for the purpose of including the broadcast content being broadcast using the IP network 254. The broadcast content is a main broadcast program or advertisement, or a data broadcast program or advertisement.

  The broadcast receiving terminal 252 includes broadcast content output means 261, user answer acceptance means 262, content broadcast time information acquisition means 263, broadcast content identification means 264, and transmission means 265. Broadcast content output means 261 outputs the received broadcast content. The user answer accepting unit 262 accepts a user answer regarding the broadcast content. The content broadcast time information acquisition unit 263 acquires content broadcast time information related to program time information and advertisement time information of the broadcast content. The broadcast content specifying means 264 specifies the broadcast content by referring to the content broadcast time information based on the broadcast source of the broadcast content that is the basis of the user response and the input time of the user response. The transmission unit 265 transmits user response information including the user response and the broadcast content specified for the user response to the user response totaling server 253 via the network 254.

  Specific examples of the broadcast content output means 261 are a display device 60 and an audio reproduction device 61 (FIGS. 4 and 24). The broadcast content includes not only television but also radio broadcast content. In the case of radio broadcast content, the user only listens to the broadcast content. The content broadcast time information includes not only information about the broadcast start date and time and broadcast end date and time of each program and each CM, but also more detailed information about each program and a predetermined part in each CM (for example, Information about the broadcast start date and time and the broadcast end date and time for a corner may be included. The user answer is, for example, an answer regarding user evaluation of preference, interest, and utility for broadcast content viewed by the user.

  Preferably, the broadcast receiving terminal 252 further includes an inquiry unit 267. Prior to the transmission of the user response information to the user response totaling server 253 by the transmission unit 265, the inquiry unit 267 displays the user response information and inquires the user whether transmission is possible. The transmission means 265 transmits only the user answer information permitted to be transmitted by the user. The function of the inquiry means 267 corresponds to the processing of R221 to R226 of the user answer confirmation method 220 of FIG.

  Typically, the content broadcast time information acquired by the content broadcast time information acquisition unit 263 is received from the user answer totaling server 253 (example: R73 in FIG. 5 and R73b in FIGS. 16 and 25). .

  Typically, the broadcast receiving terminal 252 further includes receiving means 269. The receiving unit 269 receives the survey item information from the user answer totaling server 253 via the network 254 prior to the user inputting the answer. On the other hand, the user answer accepting means 262 accepts the user answer after presenting the received survey item information to the user. Specific examples are the receiving terminals 14 and 163 in the above-mentioned [1-2 variable interrogation broadcasting system 10] and [2-1 variable interrogation broadcasting system 160]. The display as the presentation of the survey item information to the user does not replace the entire screen from the broadcast content screen to the answer input screen, but as shown in FIG. 19, while displaying the broadcast screen, that is, the broadcast content, If it is smaller, the user can operate the correct answer key while watching the broadcast content, which is convenient.

  The survey items of the survey item information include, for example, the broadcast content itself to be surveyed, the genre of the broadcast content (program or CM) to be surveyed (eg, drama, sports, music, sports, etc.), and the broadcast time of the broadcast content to be surveyed The broadcast content of the survey target broadcast content and / or the broadcast area of the survey target broadcast content are associated with each other. The case where the survey item information is associated with the broadcast content itself to be surveyed is specifically the case where the survey item is set for each broadcast content.

  Typically, each survey item has a plurality of options, and a user answer is selected by the user of the broadcast receiving terminal 252 from a plurality of options for one survey item. There is typically only one option selected, but there may be multiple selections. Specific examples of the options are “like”, “so-good”, and “dislike” assigned to the heart mark, smile mark, and x mark keys of the answer key unit 106 of the operation input unit 54 in FIG. is there.

  Preferably, the survey item information includes information on which operation key of the broadcast receiving terminal 252 is assigned to each option. Specific examples of this are “like” and “dislike” assigned to the red and blue color keys in FIG. 18, and “interesting” and “bottom” assigned to the numeric keys “1” and “2”. . The survey items are, for example, (a) likability for the broadcast content itself, (b) in the case of an advertisement, likability for a product in the advertisement, (c) likability for a sponsor in the case of an advertisement, (D) Favorability of the actor, and (e) desired broadcast time. In this way, user operation keys can be assigned smoothly according to survey item options.

  Typically, the broadcast receiving terminal 252 includes a receiving unit 269. The receiving unit 269 receives the broadcast content from the broadcast wave from the broadcast tower or the user answer totaling server 253 via the network 254 (typically using IP). When receiving the broadcast content from the user response totaling server 253 via the IP network 254, the transmission means 265 transmits information indicating that the own device is present in the broadcast target area of the broadcast content. It is transmitted to the user answer totaling server 253 together with the broadcast content transmission request.

  The user answer totaling server 253 includes content broadcast time information distribution means 275, receiving means 276, and user answer totaling means 277. The content broadcast time information distribution unit 275 distributes the content broadcast time information to the broadcast receiving terminal 252 via the network 254. The receiving unit 276 receives user response information about broadcast content via the network 254. The user response totaling means 277 extracts user responses and broadcast contents that are the basis of the user responses from the received user response information, and totals user responses from a plurality of users for each broadcast content.

  FIG. 30 is a flowchart of the broadcast receiving terminal control method 290. The broadcast receiving terminal control method 290 is applied to the broadcast receiving terminal 252. S293 can also be executed before S291 or with s292 of S291.

In S291, the received broadcast content is output. In S292, a user response regarding the broadcast content is received. In S293, the content broadcast time information related to the program time information and the advertisement time information of the broadcast content is acquired. In S294, the broadcast content is identified by referring to the content broadcast time information based on the broadcast source of the broadcast content that is the basis of the user response and the input time of the user response. In S295, user answer information including the user answer and the broadcast content specified for the user answer is transmitted to the user answer totaling server 253 via the network 254.

  The processes of S291 to S295 correspond to the functions of the broadcast content output means 261 to the transmission means 265 of the broadcast receiving terminal 252 (FIG. 29), respectively. Therefore, the specific mode described regarding the functions of the broadcast content output unit 261 to the transmission unit 265 can be applied as a specific mode for the processing of S291 to S295. In the broadcast receiving terminal control method 290, a step of executing processing corresponding to the functions of the inquiry unit 267 and the receiving unit 269 of the broadcast receiving terminal 252 can be added as appropriate. The step corresponding to the inquiry means 267 is inserted between S294 and S295. The step corresponding to the receiving means 269 is performed prior to the execution of S292. The specific modes described regarding the functions of the inquiry unit 267 and the reception unit 269 can be applied as specific modes of processing corresponding to the inquiry unit 267 and the reception unit 269.

  Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications (including addition and deletion) are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention.

  This specification discloses various ranges and levels of the invention. In addition to various devices and methods of various technical scopes and specific levels described in the present specification, the present invention has operations and effects independent of each device and each method within the scope of expansion or generalization. Extracting one or more elements, changing one or more elements within the scope of expansion or generalization, and combining one or more elements between devices and methods Includes replacements.

250: user answer counting system, 251: broadcast station, 252: broadcast receiving terminal, 253: user answer counting server, 254: network, 261: broadcast content output means, 262: user answer accepting means, 263: content broadcast time information acquisition Means 264: broadcast content specifying means 265: transmission means 267: inquiry means 269: reception means 275: content broadcast time information distribution means 276: reception means 277: user answer counting means 290: broadcast reception terminal Control method.

Claims (2)

Output means for reproducing and outputting the received broadcast content;
User answer accepting means for accepting user answers about the broadcast content;
Obtaining means for obtaining advertisement specifying information for specifying an advertisement included in the broadcast content and broadcast time information indicating a broadcast time of the advertisement via a network;
Based on the input time of the user answer, specifying means for specifying an advertisement from the advertisement specifying information and the broadcast time information;
And the user answers the ad is specified by the specifying means, and transmitting means for transmitting via the network the user reply information to the user and respond aggregation server comprising said advertisement specific information of the advertisement specified by the specifying means,
A broadcast receiving terminal comprising: An output step of reproducing and outputting the received broadcast content;
A user answer accepting step for accepting a user answer for the broadcast content;
An acquisition step of acquiring advertisement specifying information for specifying an advertisement included in the broadcast content and broadcast time information indicating a broadcast time of the advertisement;
A specifying step of specifying an advertisement from the advertisement specifying information and the broadcast time information based on an input time of the user answer;
And the user answers the ad is specified by the specifying step, a transmission step of transmitting over the network the user reply information to the user and respond aggregation server including an advertisement the advertisement specifying information specified by the specifying step,
The broadcast receiving terminal control method characterized by including.

Images