JP2003153218A - Program related contents providing method and system, set-top box, portal server, program related contents providing program, and storage medium having the program related contents providing program stored thereon - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a program related contents providing method that makes a network providing a broadcast program independent of a network for providing information related to the broadcast program and provides the information related to the broadcast program through a path different from that of the broadcast program. SOLUTION: The program related contents providing method and system acquires the broadcast program acquired from a first network providing the broadcast program and program related contents data related to the broadcast program from a second network providing the contents related to the broadcast program, acquires the program related contents from a DB on the basis of the program related contents data, decodes the broadcast program and the program related contents and provides the decoded program and contents.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a program-related content providing method and system, a set-top box, a portal server, a program-related content providing program, and a storage medium storing the program-related content providing program. PROGRAM RELATED CONTENT PROVIDING METHOD, SYSTEM, AND SET TOP FOR PROVIDING PROGRAM RELATED CONTENT IN CONNECTION WITH BROADCAST PROGRAM INCLUDING SET BOX WHICH CAN RECEIVE PROVIDED BROADCAST PROGRAM AND PORTAL SERVER COMMUNICABLE TO THE SET TOP BOX The present invention relates to a box, a portal server, a program-related content providing program, and a storage medium that stores the program-related content providing program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In providing a broadcast program, not only the broadcast program itself but also information relating to the program is multiplexed,
Systems for providing to users have been developed. In this system, the user can simultaneously obtain not only the broadcast program but also information related to the program, and the user can obtain a wide range of information.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional system, the amount of information to be multiplexed is limited because the band for providing the broadcast program is limited, and for example, a large capacity related to the broadcast program is required. It is not possible to provide such video contents.

Further, the information related to the program needs to be multiplexed with the broadcast program, and therefore depends on the broadcasting station.

Further, in the conventional system, since information is transmitted by the broadcast method, there is a problem that it is not possible to provide information that matches the user's tastes and attributes.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, in which a network for providing a broadcast program and a network for providing information related to the broadcast program are made independent, and the route is different from that of the broadcast program.
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a program related content providing method and system capable of providing information related to a broadcast program, a set top box, a portal server, a program related content providing program, and a storage medium storing the program related content providing program. And

[0007] A further object is to extract the user's preference by collecting the broadcast program viewing history of the user and provide the information of the program that matches the user's preference. A method and system for providing program-related content, a set-top box, a portal server, a program-related content providing program, and a storage medium storing the program-related content providing program.

[0008]

The present invention (Claim 1) includes:
In a program-related content providing method for providing a broadcast program provided by a broadcasting station and information related to the broadcast program, a first network for providing the broadcast program and a second network for providing content related to the broadcast program Content information relating to the broadcast program is provided via the second network.

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the principle of the present invention.

The present invention (claim 2) is a system having a set-top box for receiving a broadcast program provided by a broadcasting station and a portal server capable of communicating with the set-top box, wherein the set-top box is selected by a user. When the number of channels is received, a broadcast program corresponding to the number of channels is acquired from the broadcast station via the first network (step 1), the acquired broadcast program is decoded (step 2), and selected by the user. The viewing data is created from the selected number of channels and the time when the channel is selected (step 3), the viewing data is transmitted to the portal server via the second network (step 4), and the portal server receives the received viewing data. Using the broadcast program table and the program related content table obtained from the broadcasting station for the program related content data corresponding to Created (Step 5), and sends the set-top box via the second network (step 6),
The set top box stores the program-related content data received from the portal server (step 7),
Based on the content providing connection destination information included in the program-related content data, the program-related content database is searched for program-related content related to the broadcast program selected by the user (step 8), and the acquired program-related content is decoded. (Step 9) and the processing are performed in parallel to synthesize and display the broadcast program and the program-related content (Step 10).

According to the present invention (claim 3), in the portal server, based on the viewing data of the broadcast program and the user's preference table created from the broadcast program table, the program other than the program being watched by the user is displayed at the same time. The information about the program being broadcast that matches the user's taste is transmitted to the set-top box together with the program-related content data, and the set-top box receives the information about the program that matches the user's taste received from the portal server together with the program-related content data. Store.

The present invention (claim 4) provides a program-related content providing method in a system having a set-top box for receiving a broadcast program provided by a broadcasting station and a portal server capable of communicating with the set-top box,
Upon receiving the number of channels selected by the user, the set-top box acquires a broadcast program corresponding to the number of channels from the broadcasting station via the first network, decodes the acquired broadcast program, and Viewing data is created from the selected number of channels and the time when the channel is selected, the viewing data is transmitted to the portal server via the second network, and the program-related content data corresponding to the viewing data is received from the portal server. Store,
A process of searching a program-related content database for program-related content related to a broadcast program selected by the user based on the content providing connection destination information included in the program-related content data, and decoding the acquired program-related content; Is performed in parallel, and the broadcast program and the program-related content are combined and displayed.

According to the present invention (Claim 5), when the information about the program that matches the user's taste is received from the portal server, the information is stored together with the program-related content data.

The present invention (claim 6) provides a program-related content providing method in a system having a set-top box for receiving a broadcast program provided by a broadcasting station and a portal server capable of communicating with the set-top box,
On the portal server, from the set top box,
The viewing data created from the number of channels selected by the user and the time when the channel is selected is received, and the program-related content data corresponding to the viewing data is used by using the broadcast program table and the program-related content table obtained from the broadcasting station. Created and transmitted to the set top box via the second network.

The present invention (Claim 7) is broadcast at the same time other than the program viewed by the user based on the viewing data of the broadcast program and the user preference table created from the broadcast program table. , And transmits information about a program that suits the user's taste to the set top box together with program-related content data.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the principle of the present invention.

The present invention (claim 8) is a program-related content providing system for providing a broadcast program provided by a broadcast station and information related to the broadcast program, the set receiving a broadcast program provided by the broadcast station. Top box 100 and portal server 20 capable of communicating with the set top box
0 and the set-top box 100 is a broadcasting station 3
Tuner unit 103 for receiving the broadcast program provided by 00 through the radio wave broadcasting network 10, and the first decoder 1 for decoding the broadcast program acquired by the tuner unit 103.
04, time management means 106 for managing time, viewing data creation means 105 for creating viewing data of a broadcast program based on channel information selected by the user and time information managed by the time management means 106, According to the channel information selected by the user, the tuner means 103 is controlled, and the channel decoding means 102 for transferring the number of selected channels to the viewing data creating means 105 and the viewing data created by the viewing data creating means 105 are transmitted to the communication network 20.
Program-related content data acquisition means 111 for transmitting the program-related content data corresponding to the viewing data, and program-related content storage means 10 for storing the program-related content data.
8 and the communication network 2 based on program-related content data
The program-related content acquisition unit 112 for acquiring the program-related content from the program-related content database 400 that provides the program-related content corresponding to the content name related to the broadcast program via 0, and the second program-related content decoding unit 112 for decoding the program-related content. The portal server 20 includes a decoder 109, a broadcast program decoded by the first decoder 104, and a video structuring unit 110 that combines and displays the program-related contents decoded by the second decoder.
0 is a broadcast program table 201 in which a broadcast program name and a program providing time of the program corresponding to the broadcast program name are described, a program related content table 202 including a connection destination of a program related content database and a content providing time, Broadcast program table 2
01 and the program-related content table 202, program-related content data transmission means 21 for creating program-related content data based on the viewing data acquired from the set top box and transmitting it to the set top box.
Has 0.

The present invention (claim 9) is directed to the portal server 2
00, the user preference table created from the viewing data of the broadcast program and the broadcast program table, and based on the user preference table, the user preference other than the program being viewed by the user is broadcasted at the same time. The set top box 100 further includes means for transmitting information about the existing program to the set top box 100.
00 to store information about programs that match the user's taste.

The present invention (claim 10) is a set top for receiving a broadcast program provided by a broadcasting station in a program-related content providing system for providing a broadcasting program provided by the broadcasting station and information related to the broadcasting program. The box is a box that receives a broadcast program provided by a broadcast station, a first decoder that decodes the broadcast program acquired by the tuner, a time management unit that manages time, and a channel selected by the user. The tuner means is controlled by the viewing data creation means for creating viewing data of the broadcast program based on the information and the time information managed by the time management means, and the number of selected channels is viewed while controlling the tuner means by the channel information selected by the user. Communicates the viewing data created by the viewing data creation means with the channel decoding means for transferring to the data creation means Program related content data acquisition means for acquiring program related content data corresponding to the viewing data, program related content data storage means for storing program related content data, and program related content data. Based on the communication network, the program-related content acquisition means for acquiring the program-related content from the program-related content database that provides the program-related content corresponding to the content name related to the broadcast program, and the program-related content acquisition means The second to decode the program related contents
Decoder, a broadcast program decoded by the first decoder, and video composition means for synthesizing and displaying the program-related content decoded by the second decoder.

According to the present invention (claim 11), the program-related content data storage means has means for storing information relating to a program which is received from the portal server and matches the user's taste.

The present invention (claim 12) is a set top box for receiving a broadcast program provided by a broadcast station in a program related content providing system for providing a broadcast program provided by a broadcast station and information related to the broadcast program. Is a portal server capable of communicating with, and includes a broadcast program name in which a broadcast program name and a program provision time of a program corresponding to the broadcast program name are described, a connection destination of a program-related content database, and a content provision time. Referring to the program-related content table, the broadcast program table and the program-related content table,
It has a program-related content data transmitting means for creating program-related content data based on the viewing data acquired from the set-top box and transmitting it to the set-top box.

According to the present invention (Claim 13), the program-related content data transmitting means allows the user to view and listen based on the user preference table created from the viewing data of the broadcast program and the broadcast program table. It further has means for transmitting to the set-top box information about programs other than the selected programs, which are broadcast at the same time and which suit the user's taste.

According to the present invention (claim 14), a set top for receiving a broadcast program provided by a broadcasting station in a program related content providing system for providing a broadcasting program provided by a broadcasting station and information related to the broadcasting program. A program related content providing program executed by the box, a tuner process for controlling reception of a broadcast program provided by a broadcast station, a first decoding process for decoding a broadcast program acquired by the tuner process, and time management Based on the time management process to perform, the viewing information creation process of creating viewing data of the broadcast program based on the channel information selected by the user and the time information managed by the time management process, and the channel information selected by the user,
Controls the tuner process, transmits the number of selected channels to the viewing data creation process, and transmits the viewing data created in the viewing data creation process to the portal server via the communication network to handle the viewing data. Program related content data acquisition process for acquiring program related content data, program related content storing process for storing program related content data in storage means, and broadcast program via the communication network based on the program related content data. A program-related content acquisition process for acquiring program-related content from a program-related content database that provides program-related content corresponding to a related content name; a second decoding process for decoding the program-related content; and a first decoding process. De Has a broadcast program over de, a video configuration process to be displayed by combining program-related content that is decoded by the second decoding process.

[0024] The present invention (Claim 15) has a process of storing, in the program-related content storage process, information about a program that matches the user's taste received from the portal server in the storage means.

The present invention (claim 16) is a set-top box for receiving a broadcast program provided by a broadcast station in a program related content providing system for providing a broadcast program provided by a broadcast station and information related to the broadcast program. Is a program-related content providing program executed by a portal server that can communicate with, and describes the broadcast program name and the program provision time of the program corresponding to the broadcast program name based on the viewing data acquired from the set top box. The program related content data is created using the information of the broadcast related program table, the connection destination of the program related content database that stores the program related content, and the content provision time, and is transmitted to the set top box. Has a content data creation / transmission process.

According to the present invention (Claim 17), in the content creation / transmission process, the user views and listens to the broadcast program based on the viewing data of the broadcast program and the broadcast program table and the user preference table. It includes a process of transmitting to the set-top box information regarding programs other than the existing programs, which are broadcast at the same time and are in the user's taste.

The present invention (claim 18) is a set-top box for receiving a broadcast program provided by a broadcast station in a program related content providing system for providing a broadcast program provided by a broadcast station and information related to the broadcast program. Is a storage medium that stores a program-related content providing program to be executed by, and stores the program according to claims 14 and 15.

The present invention (Claim 19) is a set-top box for receiving a broadcast program provided by a broadcast station in a program-related content providing system for providing a broadcast program provided by a broadcast station and information related to the broadcast program. A storage medium storing a program-related content providing program executed by a portal server capable of communicating with, and stores the program according to claim 16 or 17.

As described above, according to the present invention, the information provider provides the broadcast program by making the network providing the broadcast program and the network providing the information related to the broadcast program independent from each other. It becomes possible to provide the program-related content to the user regardless of the text sentence or the large-capacity video content without paying attention to the band limitation of. Also, in the program related content table on the portal server,
It is possible to provide the program-related content to the user simply by registering the content providing connection destination, the content providing time, and the like.

Further, it becomes possible to store the user's preference for the broadcast program in the portal server and provide it to the set top box.

[0031]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment] In the following description, a radio broadcast network is used as a method for acquiring a broadcast program, but a CATV (cable television) network or the like may be used.

FIG. 3 shows a system configuration according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

The system shown in the figure comprises a set top box 100, a portal server 200, a broadcasting station 300, a program-related content DB 400, a radio wave broadcasting network 10, and a communication network 20.

The set top box 100 has a remote control interface (hereinafter, I / F) 101 for interfacing with a remote control 120, a tuner section 103 for receiving a broadcast program provided by a broadcast station, and a broadcast program acquired by the tuner section 103. Decoder 10 for decoding
4. Viewing data creation unit 105 that creates viewing data based on channel information selected by the user, tuner unit 103 is controlled by the channel selected by the user, and the number of selected channels is passed to viewing data creation unit 105 The channel decoding unit 102, the time management unit 106 that manages time, the network I / F 107, the program-related content data storage unit 108 that stores content data related to programs, and the program-related content that is acquired via the communication network 20 are decoded. Decoder 109 and monitor 1
The video composing unit 110 is connected to the video broadcasting unit 21 and displays a broadcast program and program-related contents by combining them.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of the operation in the first embodiment of the present invention.

Step 101) The user operates the remote controller 12
Use 0 to select the broadcast channel.

Step 102) The number of selected channels (for example, 8 channels) is passed to the channel decoding unit 102 via the remote control I / F 101.

As a result, the following processing (A and B)
Are done in parallel.

(A) Step 103) First, in one process, the channel decoding unit 102 determines the frequency corresponding to the selected channel, and the tuner unit 103 is tuned.

Step 104) The tuner section 103
The program of the selected channel is acquired from the broadcasting station 300 and passed to the decoder 104.

Step 105) In the decoder 104,
Decode the broadcast program passed from the tuner unit 103,
It is passed to the image forming unit 110.

(B) Step 106) In the other process, the number of selected channels is passed to the viewing data creating section 105 as it is. Then, in the viewing data creation unit 105, from the number of selected channels and the current time information (the time when the program is selected) managed by the time management unit 106, FIG.
Viewing data is created as shown in.

Step 107) The created viewing data and the IP address of the portal server 200 are added, and based on the IP address, the network I / F 1
07, it is transmitted to the portal server 200 via the communication network 20.

Step 108) Portal server 200
Then, the above viewing data is received, corresponding program-related content data is created, and is transmitted to the set top box 100 via the communication network 20. Here, the program-related content data is created, for example, as shown below. Creation of program-related content data will be sequentially described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 7A shows a broadcast program table 201,
The figure (B) is the program-related content table 202, the figure (C) is the program-related content data, and the figure (D) is the program-related continuous content data created at time T2.

First, the program selected by the user is searched from the broadcast program table 201 obtained from the broadcasting station 300 and the viewing data (FIG. 6 (A)). Next, the program-related content table 202 is searched for a program-related content name related to the program, a connection destination of a content database (hereinafter, referred to as DB) that provides this content, and a content providing time (FIG. 6 ( B)). Finally, these pieces of information are created as program-related content data (FIG. 6 (C)). Here, there may be a plurality of program-related content data.

Step 109) The received program-related content data is transmitted via the network I / F 107.
It is stored in the program-related content data storage unit 108.

Step 110) Obtain program related content related to the broadcast program selected by the user by accessing the program related content DB 400 based on the content providing connection destination information in the program related content data. To do.

Step 111) Program-related content D
B400 transmits the program-related content to the set top box 100 via the communication network 20.

Step 112) The received program-related content is passed to the decoder 109 via the network I / F 107 and decoded.

Step 113) The program-related contents decoded above are passed to the video composition unit 11.

Step 114) Above, the video composition unit 11
The broadcast program passed to 0 and the program-related content are combined and displayed on the monitor 121 as shown in FIG.

Step 115) Further, here, the remote controller 120 can be operated to control the image forming unit 110 via the remote controller I / F 101. For example, it is possible to display the two screens on the monitor 121, or display one of the contents in a full screen.

Step 116) When the information on the acquired program-related content ends, the following processing is performed. The time management unit 106 monitors the content providing time in the program-related content data stored in the program-related content data storage unit 108, and when the information on the program-related content ends (FIG. 6C). Then, at time T2), the portal server 200 is accessed to acquire the program-related content data (FIG. 6D) related to the next program (the program “BBB” in FIG. 6A), and the program-related content data is acquired. It is stored in the content data storage unit 108. That is, even if the user does not switch the channel and the information provision of the acquired program-related content is completed, the program-related content related to the next program can be automatically acquired. As described above, as the method of acquiring the program-related content data, the method of inquiring and acquiring the portal server 200 at the timing when the user switches the channel or at the timing when the program idea content ends is described. The box 100 acquires the broadcast program table 201 and the program-related content table 202 for one day from the portal server 200, stores them locally (in the set-top box 100), and stores the program-related content data locally. You may take the method of creating.

By adopting the above-mentioned form, for example, detailed information related to a broadcast program can be displayed (or superposed) in conjunction with the broadcast program.

Further, since the broadcasting station 300 creates the program-related content DB 400, the radio broadcast network 10 can provide the user with information that could not be sent due to the band limitation in association with the broadcast program.

For example, in a baseball relay, the radio wave broadcasting network 1
From 0, it is possible to realize a multi-angle video service or the like in which the main screen is provided, and the communication network 20 provides the video from the first base side or the third base side stand.

In addition, if the content provider or general user
By creating the program-related content DB 400, the program-related information can be provided to the user without depending on the broadcasting station 300. For example, when a song is playing in a certain broadcast program, if the user's attribute is registered in the portal server 200 in advance, a store where the song can be purchased near home can be displayed as the program-related information. .

[Second Embodiment] FIG. 8 shows a system configuration according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the configuration shown in the figure, the same components as those in FIG. 3 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. The configuration shown in FIG. 8 differs from the configuration in FIG. 3 in that a user preference table 203 is added to the portal server 200.

In the above-described first embodiment, the portal server 200 receives the viewing data from the set top box 100 every time the user selects a channel, so that the user knows which channel the user is viewing. can do. That is, by accumulating such information, it is possible to know the user's preference for the broadcast program. In the present embodiment, it is possible to recommend a program that matches the user's taste. To that end, the user preference table 203 is provided in the portal server 200.

Further, the program-related contents in the present embodiment include two related to the program selected by the user and one related to the user's taste.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart of the operation in the second embodiment of the present invention.

In the following, description of the processing from step 101 to step 107 in the flowchart of FIG. 4 in the above-mentioned first embodiment will be omitted. Further, the processing from step 206 to step 210 described below is the same as step 109 to step 113 in FIG.

Step 201) Portal server 200
Then, the program selected by the user is searched based on the viewing data created by the user selecting a channel and the broadcast program table 201 shown in FIG. 10, for example.

Step 202) Related key to the searched program (for example, program genre, performers, etc.)
Is registered in the user preference table 203 as shown in FIG. 11, and points are added.

Step 203) Based on the user preference table 23, the points of the selected program and other channel programs broadcast at the same time are calculated. Figure 1
2 shows.

Step 204) Similar to FIG. 6, program related content data of another channel program having a higher point than the program selected by the user is created.

Step 205) With the content data relating to the program selected by the user, which is created as shown in the above-mentioned first embodiment, the above-mentioned content data relating to the program which is broadcast at the same time and matches the user's taste. At the same time, the program-related content data (the content data regarding the program selected by the user and the content data regarding the program matching the user's preference) regarding the program that is broadcast at the same time and matches the user's preference is stored in the set top box 100. Send.

Step 206) The set top box 100 stores the received program-related content data in the program-related content data storage section 108 via the network I / F 107.

Step 207) Next, based on the program-related content provision connection information, the program-related content DB 400 is accessed through the communication network 20 to request the program-related content.

Step 208) Program-related content D
The B 400 transmits the program-related content to the set top box 100 via the communication network 20.

Step 209) The received program-related content is passed to the decoder 109 via the network I / F 107 and decoded.

Step 210) The program-related content decoded above is passed to the video composition unit 110.

Step 211) The video composing section 110 synthesizes the broadcast program selected by the user and the content related to the program together with the above-mentioned content related to the program which is broadcast at the same time and matches the user's taste, Display on the monitor 121.

An example thereof is shown in FIG.

In the above, an example has been shown in which the program that suits the taste of the user is determined by the portal server 200 each time and the information related to that program is acquired. For example, in a broadcast program of one day, All programs that match the user's taste are detected, the results are stored in advance in the set-top box 100, and under the supervision of the time management unit 106, the information related to the program that suits the user's taste is also monitored 121 at each timing. It is also possible to display on.

Further, the operation of the set-top box 100 and the operation of the portal server 200 shown in FIGS. 4 and 9 in the above-described embodiment is constructed as a program and installed in a computer used as the set-top box and the portal server. Or, it can be distributed via a network.

Further, the constructed program is stored in a hard disk device connected to a computer used as a set-top box and a portal server, or a portable storage medium such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk to store the present invention. The present invention can be easily realized by installing the program at the time of implementation.

[0081]

As described above, according to the present invention, the information provider provides the broadcast program by making the network providing the broadcast program independent from the network providing the information related to the broadcast program. It is possible to provide the program-related content to the user, whether it is a text sentence or a large-capacity video content, without having to worry about the band limitation of the network.

Further, since the program-related contents can be provided to the user only by registering the content-providing connection destination, the content-providing time, etc. in the program-related content table in the portal server, the content can be provided without depending on the broadcasting station. Businesses and general users can also create program-related content.

Since the portal server can store the user's preference for the broadcast program,
Even if the program is not selected by the user, it can be notified if there is a program that suits the user's taste.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the principle of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a principle configuration diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a system configuration diagram according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an operation according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is viewing data according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a method of creating program-related content data according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a display example of a monitor according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a system configuration diagram according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of operations according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a broadcast program guide according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a user preference table according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a program point calculated based on a user preference table according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a display example of a monitor according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Radio Broadcast Network 20 Communication Network 100 Set Top Box 101 Remote Control Interface 102 Channel Decoding Unit, Channel Decoding Unit 103 Tuner Unit, Tuner Unit 104 First Decoder, Decoder 105 Viewing Data Creating Unit, Viewing Data Creating Unit 106 Time Management Unit, Time management unit 107 Network interface 108 Program-related content data storage unit, program-related content data storage unit 109 Second decoder, decoder 110 Video configuration unit, video configuration unit 111 Program-related content data acquisition unit 112 Program-related content acquisition unit 121 Monitor 120 Remote control 200 Portal server 201 Broadcast program table 202 Program related content table 203 User preference table 300 Broadcast station 400 Program related content DB

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Tomoki Watanabe             2-3-1, Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo             Inside Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Shinya Uegaki             2-3-1, Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo             Inside Telegraph and Telephone Corporation F-term (reference) 5C025 CA09 CB10 DA05                 5C063 AB05 DA03 EB33                 5C064 BA07 BC20 BD02 BD07

Claims (19)

[Claims] 1. A program-related content providing method for providing a broadcast program provided by a broadcast station and information related to the broadcast program, comprising: a first network providing the broadcast program; and a content related to the broadcast program. A program-related content providing method, characterized in that the second network to be provided is made independent, and content information related to the broadcast program is provided via the second network. 2. A system having a set-top box for receiving the broadcast program provided by a broadcasting station and a portal server capable of communicating with the set-top box, wherein the set-top box receives the number of channels selected by a user. Then, a broadcast program corresponding to the number of channels is acquired from the broadcast station via the first network, the acquired broadcast program is decoded, and the number of channels and the channel selected by the user are selected. Creating viewing data from the time, transmitting the viewing data to the portal server via the second network, and the portal server sends program-related content data corresponding to the received viewing data from the broadcasting station. Created using the acquired broadcast program table and program related content table,
It transmits to the set top box via the second network, the set top box stores the program related content data received from the portal server, and content providing connection destination information included in the program related content data On the basis of the above, the program related content related to the broadcast program selected by the user is searched in parallel from the program related content database, and the process of decoding the acquired program related content is performed in parallel, and the broadcast program and the The program-related content providing method according to claim 1, wherein the program-related contents are combined and displayed. 3. The portal server, based on viewing data of the broadcast program and a user's preference table created from the broadcast program table, broadcasts at the same time other than the program viewed by the user. Information related to a program that matches the user preference is transmitted to the set top box together with the program related content data, and in the set top box, information related to the program that matches the user preference received from the portal server is related to the program The program related content providing method according to claim 2, wherein the program related content is stored together with the content data. 4. A program-related content providing method in a system having a set-top box for receiving the broadcast program provided by a broadcasting station and a portal server capable of communicating with the set-top box, wherein the set-top box is set by a user. When the selected number of channels is received, a broadcast program corresponding to the selected number of channels is acquired from the broadcast station via the first network, and the acquired broadcast program is decoded, and the process selected by the user. Viewing data is created from the number of channels and the time when the channel is selected, the viewing data is transmitted to the portal server via the second network, and program-related content data corresponding to the viewing data is sent from the portal server. Received, stored, and stored in the program-related content data. In parallel with the content-provided connection destination information, the program-related content related to the broadcast program selected by the user is searched from the program-related content database and the acquired program-related content is decoded, A program-related content providing method, characterized by combining and displaying the broadcast program and the program-related content. 5. The program-related content providing method according to claim 4, wherein when the information about the program that matches the user's taste is received from the portal server, the information is stored together with the program-related content data. 6. A program-related content providing method in a system having a set-top box for receiving the broadcast program provided by a broadcasting station and a portal server capable of communicating with the set-top box, wherein the portal server includes the set-top. From the box, the viewing data created from the number of channels selected by the user and the time when the channel is selected is received, and the program-related content data corresponding to the viewing data is obtained from the broadcasting station. A method for providing program-related content, which is created using a content table and transmitted to the set-top box via the second network. 7. A user preference, which is broadcast at the same time, other than the program being viewed by the user, based on the user's preference table created from the viewing data of the broadcast program and the broadcast program guide. 7. The program-related content providing method according to claim 6, wherein the information about the existing program is transmitted to the set top box together with the program-related content data. 8. A program-related content providing system for providing a broadcast program provided by a broadcast station and information related to the broadcast program, comprising: a set-top box for receiving the broadcast program provided by the broadcast station; The set top box includes a top box and a portal server capable of communication, the set top box includes a tuner unit that receives a broadcast program provided by the broadcast station via a radio wave broadcasting network, and the broadcast unit acquired by the tuner unit. A first decoder that decodes a program, a time management unit that manages time, a viewing information that creates viewing data of a broadcast program based on channel information selected by a user and time information managed by the time management unit. The tuner means is controlled by the data creation means and the channel information selected by the user, and the selection channel is selected. Channel decoding means for transferring the number of channels to the viewing data creating means, and transmitting the viewing data created by the viewing data creating means to the portal server via a communication network, and program-related contents corresponding to the viewing data. A program-related content data acquisition unit that acquires data, a program-related content storage unit that stores the program-related content data, and a content name related to a broadcast program via the communication network based on the related content data Program-related content providing means for acquiring program-related content from a program-related content database, a second decoder for decoding the program-related content, and a broadcast program decoded by the first decoder. , The number decoded by the second decoder Video composition means for synthesizing and displaying group-related contents, and the portal server, a broadcast program table in which a broadcast program name and a program providing time of a program corresponding to the broadcast program name are described, and the program A program related content table including a connection destination of the related content database and a content providing time, and a program related content data based on the viewing data acquired from the set top box with reference to the broadcast program table and the program related content table A program-related content providing system, comprising: a program-related content data transmission unit that creates a program and transmits it to the set top box. 9. The portal server, based on viewing data of the broadcast program, a user preference table created from the broadcast program guide, and the user preference table,
The set top box further comprises means for transmitting to the set top box information relating to programs that match the user's taste and are broadcast at the same time, other than the programs being viewed by the user, and the set top box is the portal server. 9. The program-related content providing system according to claim 8, further comprising means for storing information about a program that matches the user's taste received from the program. 10. A set-top box for receiving a broadcast program provided by the broadcast station in a program-related content providing system for providing a broadcast program provided by the broadcast station and information related to the broadcast program, comprising: Tuner means for receiving a broadcast program provided by the station, first decoder for decoding the broadcast program acquired by the tuner means, time management means for managing time, channel information selected by the user and the time A viewing data creating means for creating viewing data of a broadcast program based on time information managed by the managing means, and the tuner means is controlled by the channel information selected by the user, and the number of selected channels is set to the viewing data. Channel decoding means for transferring to the creating means, and the viewing data created by the viewing data creating means. Program-related content data acquisition means for transmitting listening data to the portal server via a communication network to acquire program-related content data corresponding to the viewing data, and program-related content data storage means for storing the program-related content data And program-related content acquisition means for acquiring program-related content from a program-related content database that provides program-related content corresponding to a content name related to a broadcast program via the communication network based on the program-related content data. A second decoder for decoding the program-related content acquired by the program-related content acquisition means, a broadcast program decoded by the first decoder, and a program-related content decoded by the second decoder. Image display means for displaying A set-top box featuring and. 11. The program-related content data storage means has means for storing information about a program that matches the user preference and is received from the portal server.
Set top box as described. 12. A portal capable of communicating with a set-top box that receives a broadcast program provided by the broadcast station, in a program-related content providing system that provides a broadcast program provided by the broadcast station and information related to the broadcast program. A server, which is a broadcast program table in which a broadcast program name and a program providing time of a program corresponding to the broadcast program name are described, and a program related content table including a connection destination of the program related content database and a content providing time. A program-related content data transmission unit that refers to the broadcast program table and the program-related content table to create program-related content data based on the viewing data acquired from the set-top box and transmit it to the set-top box A portal server comprising: 13. The program-related content data transmitting means, based on viewing data of the broadcast program, a user preference table created from the broadcast program guide, and the user preference table,
13. The portal server according to claim 12, further comprising means for transmitting, to the set top box, information related to a user's favorite program, which is broadcast at the same time, other than the program being viewed by the user. 14. A program-related content executed by a set-top box that receives a broadcast program provided by the broadcasting station in a program-related content providing system that provides a broadcasting program provided by the broadcasting station and information related to the broadcasting program. A provided program, which is a tuner process for controlling reception of a broadcast program provided by the broadcast station, a first decoding process for decoding the broadcast program acquired by the tuner process, and a time management process for managing time A viewing data creation process for creating viewing data of a broadcast program based on channel information selected by the user and time information managed in the time management process, and the tuner process by the channel information selected by the user. Control and check the number of selected channels A channel decoding process for transferring to the data creation process, and a program for transmitting the viewing data created in the viewing data creation process to the portal server via a communication network to obtain program-related content data corresponding to the viewing data Related content data acquisition process, program related content storage process for storing the program related content data in a storage means, and a program corresponding to a content name related to a broadcast program via the communication network based on the related content data A program-related content acquisition process for acquiring program-related content from a program-related content database that provides related content, a second decoding process for decoding the program-related content, and a broadcast program decoded by the first decoding process. , The above A program-related content providing program, comprising: a video composition process for synthesizing and displaying the program-related contents decoded by the second decoding process. 15. The program-related content providing program according to claim 14, wherein the program-related content storage process includes a process of storing, in the storage means, information about a program that matches the user preference and is received from the portal server. 16. A portal capable of communicating with a set-top box that receives a broadcast program provided by the broadcast station, in a program-related content providing system that provides a broadcast program provided by a broadcast station and information related to the broadcast program. A program related content providing program executed by a server, in which a broadcast program name and a program providing time of a program corresponding to the broadcast program name are described based on the viewing data acquired from the set top box. Creation of program-related content data using the table, the connection destination of the program-related content database storing the program-related content, and the information of the program-related content table including the time when the content is provided, and transmission of the content data to the set-top box .Program-related content characterized by having a transmission process Tsu providing program. 17. The content data creation / transmission process, based on viewing data of the broadcast program, a user preference table created from the broadcast program guide, and the user preference table,
The program-related content providing program according to claim 16, further comprising a process of transmitting to the set-top box information related to a program that suits the user's taste and is broadcast at the same time other than the program viewed by the user. 18. In a program-related content providing system for providing a broadcast program provided by a broadcast station and information related to the broadcast program, a program-related content executed by a set-top box receiving the broadcast program provided by the broadcast station. A storage medium storing a program to be provided, wherein the program according to any one of claims 14 and 15 is stored. 19. In a program-related content providing system that provides a broadcast program provided by a broadcast station and information related to the broadcast program, a portal capable of communicating with a set-top box that receives the broadcast program provided by the broadcast station. A storage medium storing a program-related content providing program executed by a server, wherein the program according to claim 16 or 17 is stored.