JPH04257156A - Program reserving method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make timer reservations in the automatic recording device of a VTR, etc., only by retrieving program information. CONSTITUTION:A user who reserves a program dials the telephone number(ID1) of a program information offer center 3 by using a telephone set 1 or 20 to call the center 3. The user inputs the conditional expression of a program to be recorded through the telephone set 1 or 20 according to the response message of the center 3. The center 3 outputs the voice of the response to the result of retrieval in a program information data base 9 based upon the inputted conditional expression to the telephone set 1 or 20. The user hears the retrieval result and inputs information required for reservation indication through the telephone set 1 or 20 when there is a corresponding program. The center 3 stores those conditions and timer control information 11 on the program to be reserved in a storage device 8, determines a reservation device to be actuated, and sends the telephone number (ID2) of the corresponding reservation device to a telephone network 2 and also transfers the timer control information 11 to the program reservation device 12. The device 12 sets the timer of the automatic recording device 19.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for searching program information using a telephone and reserving a program in an automatic recording device.

0002

[Prior Art] Conventionally, for example, when recording a program scheduled to be broadcast in the future that one wishes to broadcast, one has to check TV magazines or TV program databases in advance, or contact the broadcasting station to find out the broadcast date, time, etc. of the desired program. Get it and try it yourself again
I was making a timer reservation for TR. In addition, if the timer is outside the reservation range due to the long time, the reservation must be made by waiting until the available reservation date. Furthermore, if the desired program is not found as a result of the search, the search is repeated when new information is obtained. That is, when searching for programs using a database, the database must be searched again each time the database is updated.

0003

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the conventional technology, for example, it is difficult to check TV magazines etc.
Making timer reservations for TRs is time consuming and has drawbacks such as inputting incorrect information when making reservations. Furthermore, if the reservation is outside the reservation range, for example, with a VTR that allows reservations up to two weeks in advance, there is a drawback that you have to wait until the available reservation date two weeks in advance to make a timer reservation. Furthermore, in order to obtain a desired program, it is necessary to make repeated reservations, and there are also disadvantages in that it requires time and effort to search the database again each time the database is updated.

[0004] In order to solve the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks, the present invention has the following features:
To provide a program reservation method in which a timer reservation can be made in an automatic recording device such as a VTR by simply searching for program information, and a request can be made in advance to a third-party program information providing center to search for program information and make a timer reservation. The purpose is to

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention provides a program reservation method using a program information database consisting of broadcast program information and timer reservation control information connected to a telephone network, and program information matching input conditions. a program information providing center having means for searching for a program; a program reservation device connected to the telephone network and having means for reserving a program in an automatic recording device based on input timer reservation control information; and a push button (PB). ) A method of forming a program reservation system comprising a telephone having a signal input means or a voice input means, and recording a program provided from the program information provision center on an automatic recording device, the program information database being accessed from the telephone. If the desired program is found by searching for the desired program, the program information providing center transfers the corresponding timer reservation control information from the telephone to the specified program reservation device, makes a timer reservation in the automatic recording device, and if the desired program is not found. If
A predetermined search condition expression for a program to be recorded is registered in advance at the program information providing center, and when program information that matches the search condition expression is input to the program information providing center, the program information providing center selects the corresponding program reservation device. The program reservation method according to claim 1 is configured such that the program is activated and a timer reservation is made to the automatic recording device.

[0006] Furthermore, in claim 2, when starting the program reservation device, the start time of the reservation device can be specified from the telephone set to be searched, and when the program that the user wants to record is already known, the program reservation device can be started by specifying the start time of the reservation device from the telephone set to be searched. The program reservation method according to claim 1 is configured such that timer reservation information is inputted into the program and a timer reservation is made in the automatic recording device by specifying the starting time of the reservation device.

[0007]

[Operation] Since the present invention is configured as claimed in claims 1 and 2, it is possible to make a timer reservation for an automatic recording device such as a VTR by simply searching for program information using a telephone. Search program information and timer reservation in advance.
This allows users to make program reservations by requesting their program information provider center.

[0008]

Embodiment FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a telephone connected to a telephone line different from the telephone line to which the program reservation device 12 is connected, and 2 is a telephone network. 2
may be a public telephone network or a private telephone network.

[0009] 3 provides program information, and a program reservation device 12
It is a program information provision center that controls the telephone line interface circuit 4, a calling/receiving circuit 5 that detects incoming calls from the telephone line and makes calls to the telephone line, and a voice system that recognizes the voice from the telephone and converts it into text. It is composed of a recognition and synthesis circuit 6, a CPU 7 that executes programs for controlling database searches and operations of the program information providing center 2, a storage device 8 that stores programs and various data, and a program information database 9. The program information database 9 includes program information 1
0, and timer control information 11 used for timer reservation of programs.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a program reservation device, which includes a telephone line interface circuit 13, an incoming call detection circuit 14 that detects incoming calls from the telephone line, and a signal receiving circuit 15 that receives PB signals.
, a CPU 16 that executes a program for controlling reservations, etc.;
It is composed of a storage device 17 that stores programs and various data, and an interface circuit 18. Reference numeral 19 indicates an automatic recording device such as a VTR or radio cassette player for which timer reservation is to be made, and reference numeral 20 indicates a telephone connected to the same telephone line as the program reservation device 12.

Next, referring to the flow shown in FIG.
The operation of the embodiment system shown in FIG. Also,
The control signal procedure from calling the program information providing center 3 from the telephone to making a timer reservation for the automatic recording device 19 by the program reservation device 12 is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 for reference.

[0012] 201 to 207 are the processing contents of each step of searching for a program and making a program reservation.

[0013] At 201, a person who wishes to reserve a program can use telephone 1.
Alternatively, using any of the telephones 20, dial the telephone number (ID1) of the program information providing center 3 to call the program information providing center 3.

At step 202, in accordance with the response message from the program information providing center 3, the person desiring to reserve a program inputs the conditional expression of the program he/she wishes to record from the telephone 1 or 20. For example, if the automatic recording device is a VTR, # on the dial corresponds to an AND condition, * corresponds to an OR condition, and a predetermined keyword number (for example, 1 is a movie, 2 is a news, 111 is a war movie, etc.) ).

[0015] The same effect can also be obtained by combining the voice input method and the PB input method. However, search conditions and search methods are outside the scope of the claims of this patent and are not particularly stipulated.

At step 203, the program information providing center 3 searches the program information database 9 based on the entered conditional expression.

At step 204, the program information providing center 3 outputs a voice response to the search result to the telephone 1 or the telephone 20.

[0018] At 205, the person desiring to reserve a program listens to the search results, and if there is a corresponding program, the program proceeds to 206. If there is no corresponding program, the process advances to step 213.

In step 213, the program reservation applicant decides whether or not to end the search, and if the search is to be continued, inputs a new conditional expression from the telephone 1 or the telephone 20 to the program information providing center 3. Therefore, the process returns to step 202. If the search is to be terminated, the process advances to step 214.

[0020] At 206, the person who wishes to reserve the program calls telephone number 1.
Alternatively, the user inputs information necessary for making a reservation instruction from the telephone 20. Here, the information necessary to make a reservation instruction is the program specification to be reserved (if there are multiple search results)
, phone number (ID2) to which the program reservation device is connected
, specifying how to start the program reservation device, etc. FIG. 6 shows an embodiment in which the startup method is specified using the PB.

Further, an embodiment of the timer control information 11 is shown in FIG.

The program information providing center 3 stores these conditions and the timer control information 11 of the program to be reserved in the storage device 8.

In step 207, the line between the telephone 1 or 20 and the program information providing center 3 is disconnected.

Steps 208 to 212 are processes for activating the program reservation device.

At 208, the program information providing center 3 determines the reservation device to be activated, sends the telephone number (ID2) of the corresponding reservation device to the telephone network 2, and activates the program reservation device 12.
and the program information providing center 3.

Note that this process is the same whether it is executed as an extension of 207 or at a certain period.

At step 209, the program information providing center 3 transfers the timer control information 11 to the program reservation device 12 after following the activation method specified at the time of the reservation instruction.

At step 210, the program reservation device 12 controls the automatic recording device 19 based on the timer control information 11, and sets a timer in the automatic recording device 19. Note that the above control method, the method of controlling the automatic recording device 19, etc. are outside the scope of the claims of this patent and are not particularly specified.

Note that when the automatic recording device 19 is in operation, the processing from 208 is repeated after a certain period of time, but that processing is omitted.

At 211, after the program reservation is completed, the line between the program information providing center 3 and the telephone 1 or 20 is disconnected, and the process ends at 212.

[0031] 214 to 218 are the processing contents of each step when requesting search agency.

[0032] At 214, the person desiring to reserve a program decides whether or not to request the program information providing center 3 to act as a search agent, and if so, proceeds to the process of 215, and if not, proceeds to the process of 217. Proceed and end at 217.

[0033] At 215, the person wishing to reserve a program can call telephone number 1.
Or, from the telephone 20, program search conditions for search agency, notification method when a corresponding program is found (telephone number to which the program reservation device is connected (ID2), designation of how to start the program reservation device, if more than one is applicable) (reservation priority order when a program is found, period for requesting substitution, etc.) are input into the program information providing center 3.

At 216, the line between the telephone 1 or 20 and the program information providing center 3 is disconnected, and at 217 the process ends.

[0035] If the program to be recorded is already known, the person wishing to reserve the program can use the program reservation device to call 201, 21
8,219,207, the program information providing center 3 is requested to reserve a known program.

[0036] At 201, a person who wishes to reserve a program can use telephone 1.
Alternatively, the user dials the telephone number (ID1) of the program information providing center 3 using any of the telephones 20 to call the program information providing center 3.

[0037] At 218, the person desiring to reserve a program calls telephone number 1.
Alternatively, information on a program to be recorded is input from the telephone 20 in the same format as the timer control information 11.

In step 219, the telephone 1 or the telephone 20 further includes information necessary to issue a reservation instruction to the program reservation device 12 (telephone number to which the program reservation device is connected (ID2), specification of how to start the program reservation device). , etc.).

In step 217, the line between the telephone 1 or 20 and the program information providing center 3 is disconnected, and the process ends.

[0040]

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention as set forth in claims 1 and 2, a person who wishes to reserve a program can search for the program he/she desires at the program information providing center and have the automatic recording device such as a VTR or radio cassette player for the corresponding program. You can request a timer reservation for
Not only can the effort of researching program information and making reservations for programs be saved, but since there is no need for human intervention when making timer reservations, it is possible to completely eliminate input errors. In addition, even if there is no corresponding program, you can request a search in advance.
This has the effect of saving time and effort in searching for programs.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operating procedure of the reservation method according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the procedure of a reservation method.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the procedure of an automatic recording method.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of timer control information.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment in which a startup method is specified using a PB.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Telephone 2 Telephone network 3 Program information providing center 4 Telephone line interface circuit 5 Call originating/receiving circuit 6 Voice recognition synthesis circuit 7 CPU 8 Memory circuit 9 Program information database 10 Program information 11 Timer control information 12 Program reservation device 13 Telephone line interface circuit 14
Incoming call detection circuit 15 Signal receiving circuit 16 CPU 17 Storage device 18 Interface circuit 19 Automatic recording device 20 Telephones 201 to 217 Contents of each step 101
Phone number 102 Phone number

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A program information providing center having a program information database connected to a telephone network and comprising broadcast program information and timer reservation control information, and means for searching program information matching input conditions; A program reservation device connected to the telephone network and having means for reserving a program in an automatic recording device based on input timer reservation control information, and a telephone having push button (PB) signal input means or voice input means. Create a program reservation system with
A method for pre-recording a program provided from the program information providing center in an automatic recording device, in which when a program information database is searched from a telephone and a desired program is found, corresponding timer reservation control information is provided as program information. The center transfers the program from the telephone to the specified program reservation device, makes a timer reservation on the automatic recording device, and if the desired program is not found, the predetermined search condition expression for the program to be recorded is registered in advance at the program information providing center. , a program reservation characterized in that when program information matching a search condition expression is input to a program information providing center, the program information providing center activates a corresponding program reservation device and makes a timer reservation in an automatic recording device. Method. [Claim 2] To start the program reservation device, the start time of the reservation device can be specified from the telephone to be searched, and if the program that the user wants to record is known, timer reservation information can be entered instead of the search condition. 2. The method of reserving a program according to claim 1, further comprising the step of making a timer reservation in an automatic recording device by inputting an input and specifying a start time of the reservation device.