JP5512750B2 - Content creation apparatus and program - Google Patents

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to a content creation device and a program.

  As a mechanism for presenting contents such as advertisements, events, and notifications to unspecified persons, a system that displays and reproduces digitized contents on a signage terminal such as a display device, a so-called digital signage system is known.

  By the way, in the digital signage system, display / playback of content on a signage terminal is performed according to a schedule in which content prepared in advance is specified or a user operation.

  However, in the prior art, the contents are usually prepared in advance by the headquarters or the store, and the maintenance often requires labor and cost.

  The content creation apparatus according to the embodiment includes a template registration unit, a material data registration unit, and a content creation unit. The template registration unit registers a screen template indicating a screen display design to be displayed on the display unit in the storage unit. The material data registration unit registers the material data of the content set in the template registration unit and the screen template in a storage unit. The content creation unit generates a content registration screen having a setting item corresponding to a target element that is a setting target of material data of the content in the screen template, and the content input to the setting item of the content registration screen Content data set for the screen template is created. Further, the material data registration unit registers imaging data uploaded to a WEB site established by a WEB server as material data of the content.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a signage system according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is an external front view of the signage terminal device. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the signage terminal apparatus. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the information distribution server. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the structure of data stored in the template database. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of data stored in the content database. FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the information distribution server. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the flow of content creation processing. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a screen transition example related to content creation. FIG. 10 is a front view showing an example of a content registration screen. FIG. 11 is a front view showing an example of a content registration screen during data setting.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a signage system 10 according to the embodiment. The following description demonstrates the case where the signage system 10 concerning embodiment is provided in the shopping mall.

  The signage system 10 according to the present embodiment is mainly configured by an information distribution server 11 that is a content creation device and a plurality of signage terminal devices 14. The signage system 10 includes a WEB server 15 and an imaging data server 16.

  The information distribution server 11 is connected to a signage terminal device 14 via a communication network 12 such as a local area network (LAN), and information contents such as product advertisement information and event information are sent to the signage terminal device 14. On the other hand, distribution or content is acquired by access from the signage terminal device 14.

  The signage terminal device 14 reproduces and displays the content data distributed or acquired from the information distribution server 11 via the communication network 12.

  The WEB server 15 opens a WEB site on the Internet 17. The WEB site uses incentives such as contest sweepstakes, and uploads image data (image data, moving image data, etc.) that is a photo or video of a dish taken by the digital camera 18 or the smartphone 19 on the condition that the copyright is abandoned. It is a site.

  More specifically, the user connects to the Internet 17 from the smartphone 19 or the like, and accesses the WEB site established by the WEB server 15. Next, the user registers imaging data (image data, moving image data, etc.) that is a dish photo or a moving image taken by the smartphone 19 or the like in the imaging data server 16 via the WEB server 15. As a method for uploading the imaging data to the imaging data server 16, there is a method using FTP (File Transfer Protocol).

  The imaging data server 16 accumulates imaging data (image data, moving image data, etc.) uploaded to a WEB site established by the WEB server 15 as material data. Further, the imaging data server 16 performs processing / setting processing for using the accumulated imaging data (image data, moving image data, etc.) in the signage terminal device 14 and distributes the processed data to the information distribution server 11. The processing / setting process for use in the signage terminal apparatus 14 is a process for deleting data that does not satisfy the output conditions in the signage terminal apparatus 14, for example.

  FIG. 2 is an external front view of the signage terminal device 14. As shown in FIG. 2, the signage terminal device 14 includes a display unit 21 configured as a liquid crystal display or a plasma display, a printer unit 22 that prints and issues various tickets, coupons, and the like, a display unit 21, and a printer unit 22. And a housing portion 24 that holds the.

  A camera unit 25 is incorporated in the upper portion of the housing unit 24. The camera unit 25 is used for purposes such as photographing a person, performing image recognition, specifying the age group of the person, and controlling the type of information to be distributed. In addition, a speaker unit 26 that performs various sound outputs such as BGM and advertisement sound is built in the lower portion of the casing 24. Note that processing such as image recognition may be performed by an upstream server such as the information distribution server 11 without being performed by the signage terminal device 14.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the signage terminal device 14. As shown in FIG. 3, the signage terminal device 14 includes a display unit 21, a printer unit 22, a camera unit 25, a speaker unit 26, a controller 31 that controls the signage terminal device 14 as a whole, and various types of users. An operation unit 32 for performing operations, a network communication interface (IF) 33 for performing communication with the information distribution server 11 via the communication network 12, and an external storage device 35 for storing various data. I have.

  Here, the controller 31 temporarily stores an MPU (Micro Processing Unit) 36 that controls the entire controller 31, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 37 that stores a control program for operating the MPU 36, and various data. And a RAM (Random Access Memory) 38 for storage. Then, the controller 31 reproduces the content distributed from the information distribution server 11 via the communication network 12 by the MPU 36 executing the control program stored in the ROM 37, and displays the reproduced content on the display unit 21. To do. The operation unit 32 may be configured with various switches, buttons, or the like, or may be configured integrally with the display unit 21 as a touch panel.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the information distribution server 11. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the information distribution server 11 includes a controller 41 that controls the entire information distribution server 11, an operation unit 42 that includes a keyboard and a mouse for a user to perform various operations, and a communication network 12. A network communication interface (IF) 43 for communicating with the signage terminal device 14, an external storage device 44 for storing various data, and a display unit 45 configured as a liquid crystal display.

  Here, the controller 41 includes an MPU 46 that controls the entire controller 41, a ROM 47 that stores a control program for operating the MPU 46, and a RAM 48 that temporarily stores various data.

  The external storage device 44 stores a material database DB1, a template database DB2, and a content database DB3. The template database DB2 stores screen templates necessary for editing digital signage contents specialized in the contents of special treatment plans, which are events related to product sales promotion. The content database DB3 stores content data created by content creation processing described later.

  In the present embodiment, the material database DB1, the template database DB2, and the content database DB3 are stored in the external storage device 44 of the information distribution server 11. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the information distribution server 11 The material database DB1, the template database DB2, and the content database DB3 may be stored in a storage device (not shown) connected via the communication network 12.

  The material database DB1 stores material data of contents provided from various external devices. An example of the external device is the imaging data server 16. That is, the imaging data output from the imaging data server 16 is also accumulated in the material database DB1 and becomes the material data of the content.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of data stored in the template database DB2. As shown in FIG. 5, the template database DB2 stores template data records in which project IDs, project names, and template data are described in the order of record numbers. The plan ID is information for identifying the preferential plan specified by the corresponding plan name.

  That is, in the example shown in FIG. 5, the plan ID and plan name of the campaign plan and the screen template A are described in the record with the record number [1], and the plan ID and plan of the floor plan are recorded in the record with the record number [2]. The name and the screen template B are described, and the record ID [3] of the catalog project and the screen template C are described in the record of record number [3].

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of data stored in the content database DB3. As shown in FIG. 6, the content database DB3 stores a content ID as identification information for identifying the content, a content name of the content identified by the content ID, and content data identified by the content ID. Has been.

  By the way, creating content data to be displayed on the signage terminal device 14 by using the material data stored in the material database DB1 and the screen template stored in the template database DB2 is very difficult for a user without IT skills. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce such work.

  Next, in order to solve the problem as described above, a characteristic function of the information distribution server 11 which is the content creation apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the information distribution server 11. The controller 41 operates as the template registration unit 461, the material data registration unit 462, and the content creation unit 463 by operating the MPU 46 according to the control program stored in the ROM 47 as shown in FIG.

  The template registration unit 461 registers the screen template in the template database DB2. The screen template indicates a screen display design to be displayed on the display unit 21 of the signage terminal device 14, and material data stored in the material database DB1 is set based on the specification (design) of the screen template. Here, the specification is such that material data is correctly set in a predetermined area when content data is displayed on the display unit 21 of the signage terminal device 14. For example, when XAML (language specification for describing the user interface of application software) is used, the element name for setting the material data of content is a common element base name and index (for example, if the base name is Item, Item01, Item02, ...).

  The material data registration unit 462 registers the material data of the content set in the screen template in the material database DB1. The material data registration unit 462 of this embodiment uploads image data (image data, moving image data, etc.) uploaded to a WEB site established by the WEB server 15 as image data and stored in the image data server 16 to content material data. Can be registered. In addition, the material data registration unit 462 converts the imaging data output from the imaging data server 16 into a data format that can be edited in the screen template stored in the template database DB2.

  The content creation unit 463 transmits material data of content to be displayed on the screen template (for example, image data or moving image uploaded to a WEB site established by the WEB server 15 through a content registration screen 104 (see FIG. 10) described later. Data etc.) and create content data.

  Specifically, as described above, the imaging data output from the imaging data server 16 (for example, image data or moving image data uploaded to the WEB site established by the WEB server 15) is also accumulated in the material database DB1. The material data stored in the material database DB1 is set for the specification (design) of the screen template (for example, screen template A shown in FIG. 5) selected by specifying the record number, and created as content data. The

  Next, content creation processing by the content creation unit 463 will be described in detail. Here, FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the flow of content creation processing by the content creation unit 463 of the information distribution server 11, and FIG.

  For example, when the XAML data is newly set as content, the content creation unit 463 first displays the scenario management screen 101 in FIG. The scenario management screen 101 is a screen for managing scenarios (playlists) such as content data to be displayed on the display unit 21 of the signage terminal device 14 and the display order thereof. When it is determined that the user has operated the button B1 for selecting XAML on the scenario management screen 101 by operating the operation unit 42, the content creation unit 463 transitions to the XAML content registration screen 102 in FIG. 9B. .

  Next, the content creation unit 463 displays the XAML content registration screen 102 of FIG. When it is determined that the user operates the operation unit 42 and operates the button B2 for selecting a new setting on the XAML content registration screen 102, the content creation unit 463 transitions to the template selection screen 103 in FIG. To do. A list of screen templates X1 to X4 registered in the template database DB2 is displayed on the template selection screen 103 in FIG. 9C.

  With the template selection screen 103 displayed, the content creation unit 463 waits for selection of one screen template on the template selection screen 103 as shown in FIG. 8 (step S1).

  When the content creation unit 463 determines that the user has operated the operation unit 42 to select one screen template on the template selection screen 103 and operated the OK button B3, the content creation unit 463 determines that the screen template has been selected (step S40). (Yes in S1), the screen shifts to the content registration screen 104 shown in FIG. 10 (step S2).

  The content registration screen 104 shown in FIG. 10 displays setting items from the target element name of the screen template using XAML. At this time, the setting item content is changed depending on what the element name means. In the case of the content registration screen 104 shown in FIG. 10, the setting item content changes depending on whether the image (still image, moving image) is the target element or the text is the target element. In the setting item 1041 in which an image (still image, moving image) is a target element, a file path to a desired image file (content material data) X in the material database DB1 can be selected by operating the reference button B5. Yes.

  In the setting item 1042 in which text is the target element, a character string (content material data) to be displayed is input as it is. Specifically, the setting item 1042 includes “information content 1” to “information content 5”, which are input areas for information content Z, and “information name 1”, which is an input area for information name Y indicating the type of information content. To “information name 5”. The information content Z and the information name Y form a template pair. In consideration of the influence on the design, the information name Y and the information content Z of the text setting item 1042 are registered in advance as the number of characters as a screen template, and the content is set as input verification or restriction.

  The content registration screen 104 is provided with a preview screen 1043. When data is set in the setting items 1041 and 1042 of the content registration screen 104 and the preview button B6 is operated, the content is reflected in the preview screen 1043 provided in the content registration screen 104, and what kind of display is displayed. Can be confirmed.

  FIG. 11 is a front view showing an example of the content registration screen 104 during data setting. According to the example shown in FIG. 11, imaging data (apple.jpg) uploaded to the WEB site is selected as a desired image file (content material data) X of the material database DB1. Further, according to the example shown in FIG. 11, the character string “sale information” is input as “information name 1” as the information name Y, and the character string “today's information” is stored as the information content Z in “information content 1”. It is a "sale product." As shown in FIG. 11, when data is set in the setting items of the content registration screen 104, the contents (image file X, information name Y, and information name) are displayed on the preview screen 1043 provided in the content registration screen 104 by operating the preview button B6. Information content Z) is reflected. Setting items that are not input are not displayed.

  The content creation unit 463 determines that the data setting has been confirmed when the user operates the operation unit 42 to set data in the setting items of the content registration screen 104 and operates the confirm button B4 (Yes in step S3). Then, content data in which data to be displayed is set for the screen template is created (step S4) and registered in the content database DB3 (step S5).

  The signage terminal device 14, which is a digital signage reproduction device, acquires the content data generated as described above from the information distribution server 11 or receives distribution from the information distribution server 11. When the signage terminal device 14 receives the content data (ie, the screen template set for the content and the material data based on the set path), the signage terminal device 14 changes the screen template relative to the display area of the display unit 21. After that, the content material data set for the screen template is set as the target element name, and is displayed on the display unit 21 as the content. If there is no data setting for the target element, it is set to non-display and hidden.

  As described above, according to the information distribution server 11 which is the digital signage management apparatus of the present embodiment, the content to insert the imaging data (image data, moving image data, etc.) uploaded to the WEB site established by the WEB server into the screen template. By registering as material data, it is possible to reduce the labor and cost of content data creation work.

  In the present embodiment, the information distribution server 11 that is a content creation device is applied to the signage system 10, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in a business system such as an order system including an order terminal that displays a list of orderable menus with images, the menu image to be displayed on the order terminal is processed and set by the information distribution server 11 and distributed. Also good.

  The program executed in the information distribution server 11 of the present embodiment is an installable or executable file, and is a computer such as a CD-ROM, flexible disk (FD), CD-R, DVD (Digital Versatile Disk). Recorded on a readable recording medium.

  Further, the program executed by the information distribution server 11 of the present embodiment may be stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and provided by being downloaded via the network. Further, the program executed by the information distribution server 11 of this embodiment may be configured to be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.

  Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described, this embodiment is presented as an example and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The novel embodiment can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. This embodiment and its modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

11 Content Creation Device 104 Content Registration Screen 461 Template Registration Unit 462 Material Data Registration Unit 463 Content Creation Unit

JP 2010-079770 A

Claims (4)

A template registration unit for registering a plurality of screen templates indicating a screen display design to be displayed on the display unit in the storage unit;
Material that is registered in the storage unit as one of the content material data set in the screen template by converting the imaging data uploaded to the WEB site established by the WEB server into a data format that can be edited in the screen template A data registration unit;
Generating a content registration screen having a setting item corresponding to a target element for setting the material data of the content in the screen template, and inputting the material data of the content input to the setting item of the content registration screen to the screen A content creation unit for creating content data set for the template;
Content creation and wherein the Bei Elko a. The content creation unit generates the content registration screen having the setting item that enables selection of a file path leading to material data of the desired content when the imaging data is a target element.
The content creating apparatus according to claim 1 . Computer
A template registration unit for registering a plurality of screen templates indicating a screen display design to be displayed on the display unit in the storage unit;
Material that is registered in the storage unit as one of the content material data set in the screen template by converting the imaging data uploaded to the WEB site established by the WEB server into a data format that can be edited in the screen template A data registration unit;
Generating a content registration screen having a setting item corresponding to a target element for setting the material data of the content in the screen template, and inputting the material data of the content input to the setting item of the content registration screen to the screen A content creation unit for creating content data set for the template;
Program characterized a function of Serco as. The content creation unit generates the content registration screen having the setting item that enables selection of a file path leading to material data of the desired content when the imaging data is a target element.
The program according to claim 3 .

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