JP2004153673A - Reproducing device, electronic program guide provision server, information provision server, storage server and information system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a reproducing device, etc. capable of providing a user with more detailed information while suppressing data quantity of an EPG (electronic program guide). <P>SOLUTION: A TV receiver 5 acquires information codes for acquiring video data, sound data, electronic program guide data and information related to programs from a broadcasting station 3, transmits an information code selected by the user to an information provision server 9 and acquires information according to the transmitted information code from the information provision server 9. Thus, the TV receiver 5 can provide various kinds of information according to desires of the user while suppressing the data quantity except the video data and sound data to be received from the broadcasting station 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a reproducing apparatus that reproduces a program and provides various information related to the program.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a program table called an EPG (Electronic Program Guide), which includes a broadcast channel, a broadcast date and time, and a summary of program contents, is displayed on a TV screen. There is known a function that allows a user to make a selection and a recording reservation. The EPG multiplexes data necessary for creating a program guide together with video data and audio data, transmits the multiplexed data from a broadcast station, receives data required for the program guide by a digital broadcast tuner or the like, and receives the received data. On the TV screen. As described above, the program table provided by the EPG is composed of one-way information provided from the broadcast station side (for example, refer to Patent Document 1), and data necessary for creating the program table is stored in video data or video data. In the method of multiplexing with audio data and transmitting from the broadcast station side, the amount of information provided is limited in view of communication capacity and the like.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent No. 2838892 (page 3)
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in recent years, since program viewers' preferences have diversified and program viewers have demanded more detailed program information, the program information provided by the conventional EPG has become insufficient. Was.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a reproducing apparatus or the like that can provide more detailed information to a user while suppressing the data amount of an EPG.
[0006]
Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention
The playback device according to claim 1, which has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem, is characterized in that the first receiving means has an information code for acquiring electronic program guide data and information related to the program, which constitute the electronic program guide. To receive. Then, the first transmitting means transmits the information code specified based on the operation received by the receiving means to the information providing server among the received information codes, and the second receiving means transmits the information code to the transmitted information code. The corresponding information is received from the information providing server, and the received information is output by the second output unit.
[0007]
As a server that provides information or the like constituting the electronic program guide to such a playback device, electronic program guide data and information codes constituting the electronic program guide are stored as described in claim 6. An electronic program guide providing server configured to transmit to the playback device is preferred.
[0008]
The information providing server for providing the information corresponding to the information code to the playback device, upon receiving the information code from the playback device as described in claim 7, transmits the information related to the program corresponding to the information code. An information providing server configured to transmit to the playback device is preferred.
[0009]
By combining the playback device, the electronic program guide providing server, and the information providing server, the playback device can provide various information according to a user's request while suppressing the amount of data received from the electronic program guide providing server. can do. The reason why the data amount can be reduced is that the information code can have a smaller data amount than the information related to the program itself (for example, text data representing the contents of the program).
[0010]
By the way, the reproducing apparatus may receive the video data and the audio data, and may reproduce the video data and the audio data at the same time as the receiving. However, as described in claim 2, the reproducing apparatus further includes the video data, the audio data, the electronic program guide data and A recording control means for recording the information code on the recording medium may be provided. Then, it is preferable that the data recorded on the recording medium be read and used.
[0011]
With this configuration, after the broadcast of the program, the user can view the program when he or she wants to view it, and can also acquire information related to the program, thereby improving the usability of the user.
The recording medium is preferably a replaceable medium. Specific examples of the medium include a DVD-R, a DVD-RAM, a video tape, a memory card, and a replaceable hard disk.
[0012]
With this configuration, it is possible to view a program and acquire information using an information code on a playback device different from the recorded playback device, thereby improving the usability of the user.
Further, as described in claim 4, a storage means for storing a user identification code for identifying a user of the playback apparatus, and the user identification code stored in the storage means is transmitted to the storage server. It is preferable to include a second transmission unit. Note that a communication medium that can transmit data at low cost, such as the Internet, is suitable as a communication medium used to implement the second transmission unit. However, in consideration of privacy, it is desirable that the second transmitting means transmits the user identification code using some encryption function such as SSL.
[0013]
Further, as a server for receiving the user identification code transmitted by such a reproducing apparatus, a communication means for performing communication with the reproducing apparatus according to claim 4 and a communication means for communicating with the reproducing apparatus according to claim 4 The storage server may include a storage unit that stores the user identification code acquired from the playback device.
[0014]
In this case, the storage server can manage information about users, and can use the information to realize various services that require user management, such as a pay-per-view service. The information transmitted from the reproducing apparatus to the storage server may be only the user identification code. However, as described in claim 5, the information relating to the history of the reproduced program and the first transmitting means may be used. Storage means for storing history information comprising at least one of information on the history of the information code transmitted by using the second transmission means, the second transmission means transmitting the history information stored in the storage means together with the user identification code to the storage server It is good to be.
[0015]
In addition, the storage server that receives the user identification code and the history information transmitted from such a playback device includes a communication unit that communicates with the playback device according to claim 5, as described in claim 9. The communication means may store the history information received from the playback device in addition to the user identification code acquired from the playback device by the communication means. Here, the history information received by the communication means from the playback device is defined as the history information of the program transmitted by the second transmission means of the playback device according to claim 5 and reproduced and output by the first output means. It refers to information about the history and information about the history of the information code transmitted using the first transmission unit.
[0016]
In this case, the storage server can analyze the viewing behavior of the user and the data of the information obtained by the user. Acquisition tendency can be grasped, and one-to-one marketing such as distribution of optimal targeting advertisement becomes possible. In addition, the audience rating and the information acquisition rate can be grasped.
[0017]
By the way, as described in claim 10, the reproducing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, the electronic program guide providing server according to claim 6, and the information providing server according to claim 7. May be combined to configure an information system. Specifically, for example, a system in which a BS digital broadcast station transmits an information code together with EPG data, and a BS digital television receiver that receives them transmits an information code to a WWW server via the Internet to acquire information. Can be considered. In this case, the BS digital broadcasting station corresponds to an electronic program guide providing server, the BS digital television receiver corresponds to a playback device, and the WWW server corresponds to an information providing server.
[0018]
Also, as described in claim 11, the playback device according to claim 4, the electronic program providing server according to claim 6, the information providing server according to claim 7, and the information providing server according to claim 8 The information system may be configured by combining with a storage server. Specifically, for example, it is conceivable to realize the above-described example by further adding a database server functioning as a storage server. If it is a database server, usually, it is possible to search for data accumulated from various aspects and aggregate and analyze the data with various granularities, so that it is possible to grasp the program viewing tendency and the information acquisition tendency from many aspects. .
[0019]
According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the playback apparatus according to the fifth aspect, the electronic program providing server according to the sixth aspect, the information providing server according to the seventh aspect, and the information providing server according to the ninth aspect. The information system may be configured by combining with a storage server.
[0020]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the following examples at all, and it goes without saying that various embodiments can be adopted as long as they belong to the technical scope of the present invention.
[0021]
[First embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the information system according to the first embodiment. The information system of this embodiment includes a broadcasting station 3, a TV receiver 5, the Internet 7, an information providing server 9, and a user management server 11.
[0022]
The broadcasting station 3 transmits to the TV receiver 5 an information code for acquiring video data, audio data, electronic program guide data, and information related to the program. This transmission may use any of a satellite broadcast system, a CATV system, and a system using terrestrial waves. As described above, the broadcasting station 3 performs the function of the electronic program guide providing server described in the claims, in addition to the function of transmitting video data and audio data.
[0023]
FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of the electronic program guide data and the information code. The electronic program guide data 31 shown in FIG. 2A includes a channel 31a, a broadcasting station 31b, a date and time 31c, a genre 31d, a title 31e, and a content 31f. As an example of actual data, in FIG. 2A, "3ch" is used as the channel 31a, "XX broadcast station" is used as the broadcast station 31b, "2002/12/31 19:00 to 21:00" is used as the date and time 31c, and the genre 31d is used. "Music", the title 31e is "2002 best hit", and the content 31f is "Count down 50 songs hit in 2002!".
[0024]
On the other hand, the information code 33 shown in FIG. 2B includes a performer 33a, a performer ID 33b, a song title 33c, a song title ID 33d, a product 33e, a product ID 33f, a sponsor 33g, and a sponsor ID 33h. In FIG. 2B, as an example of the data, in FIG. 2B, “○ xxx” is used as the performer 33a, “1234” is used as the performer ID 33b, the title 33c, the title ID 33d, the product 33e, and the product ID 33f are blank. Δ5678 ”is shown as“ Δ Corporation ”and the sponsor ID 33h.
[0025]
Returning to FIG. 1, the TV receiver 5 is configured to be able to receive video data, audio data, and electronic program guide data transmitted from the broadcast station 3, and the user operates a remote control switch (not shown). Thus, selection of a program, display of an electronic program guide, and the like are performed. The TV receiver 5 is connected to the Internet 7 and can communicate with the information providing server 9 and the user management server 11 via the Internet 7. The TV receiver 5 stores an identification code (corresponding to a user identification code described in the claims). Although only one TV receiver 5 is shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of TV receivers may be present. However, when there are a plurality of TV receivers, each TV receiver 5 stores a different identification code. Note that the TV receiver 5 corresponds to a playback device described in the claims.
[0026]
The information providing server 9 is connected to the Internet 7 and can provide, in response to a request from the TV receiver 5, a talent, a product, a theme song, a providing / sponsoring company, and other information.
The user management server 11 is connected to the Internet 7 and can receive and store the identification code transmitted from the TV receiver 5. This user management server 11 corresponds to a storage server in the claims.
[0027]
Next, an electronic program guide displayed on the TV receiver 5 will be described with reference to an image diagram shown in FIG. The electronic program guide example 21 shown in FIG. 3A has a matrix format in which the horizontal axis represents channels and the vertical axis represents time. The electronic program guide example 21 includes nine cells A to I. In each cell, information on a program like the cell example 33 shown in FIG. 3B is displayed. The cell example 33 shows a case where the data of the electronic program guide data 31 and the information code 33 described with reference to FIG. 2 are used. Specifically, the genre “music”, the title “2002 best hit”, the content “count down 50 songs that hit in 2002!”, Performers “○○○○”, sponsor “ス ポ ン サ ー Corporation” Is displayed. However, performers and sponsors are underlined and distinguished from others, and when the user selects them using the remote controller, the information acquisition process described later is activated and more detailed information is displayed. Is done.
[0028]
Next, information acquisition processing executed by the TV receiver 5 will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. As described above, this processing is started by selecting an underlined keyword in the electronic program guide.
First, an ID paired with the selected keyword is stored in the TV receiver 5. If there are already stored IDs, they are newly stored in addition to them (S100). Subsequently, an ID paired with the selected keyword is transmitted to the information providing server 9 (S110), and the process waits until information corresponding to the ID transmitted from the information providing server 9 is obtained (S120). When the information is acquired, the acquired information is displayed on the screen (S130), and the process ends.
[0029]
FIG. 5 shows an example of the screen display. The screen display example 25 is a screen display example obtained when the performer ID is transmitted to the information providing server 9. Information about the performers (name, date of birth, constellation, blood type, hometown).
Next, information transmission processing executed by the information providing server 9 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. This process is started when the above-mentioned ID transmitted from the TV receiver 5 is received. When activated, a search is first made from a database holding information corresponding to the received ID (S200). Note that the ID may be further transmitted and searched from a server other than the information providing server 9. With this configuration, more information can be provided. When the information search is completed, the searched information is transmitted to the TV receiver 5 that has transmitted the ID (S210). When the transmission is completed, the process ends.
[0030]
Next, a user information transmission process executed by the TV receiver 5 will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG. This processing is periodically executed by the TV receiver 5. It may be executed at power-on or immediately before power-off. When this processing is started, first, the stored ID is read (S300). Subsequently, the user identification code and the stored ID are transmitted to the user management server 11 (S310). When the transmission is completed, all the stored IDs are deleted (S320), and the process ends.
[0031]
Next, the user information receiving process executed by the user management server 11 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. This process is started and executed when the identification code and the ID are received from the TV receiver 5. When executed, the received identification code and ID are stored in the database (S400), and the process ends.
[0032]
As described above, according to the information system of the present embodiment, the TV receiver 5 controls various amounts of data other than video data and audio data received from the broadcast station 3 according to the user's request while suppressing the amount of data other than the data. Information can be provided. The reason why the data amount can be reduced is that the information code 33 can reduce the data amount as compared with the information (for example, text data) related to the program itself.
[0033]
In addition, the user management server 11 can manage information about users, and can use the information to realize various services that require user management, such as a pay-per-view service. In addition, the user management server 11 can analyze the viewing behavior of the user and the data of the information obtained by the user, and by using the results of the analysis, the tendency of the user to view the program or to obtain the information is reduced. One-to-one marketing, such as distribution of optimal targeted advertisements, can be grasped. In addition, the audience rating and the information acquisition rate can be grasped.
[0034]
Next, a second embodiment will be described.
[Second embodiment]
Since the information system of the second embodiment has a configuration similar to that of the information system of the first embodiment, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment, and description thereof will be omitted. Hereinafter, the differences will be mainly described.
[0035]
The information system of the second embodiment includes a broadcasting station 17, a PC 13, an EPG server 15, an information providing server 9, and a user management server 11, as shown in the block diagram of FIG.
The broadcasting station 17 transmits video data and audio data to the PC 13 unlike the broadcasting station 3 of the first embodiment (see FIG. 1). For transmission, any of a satellite broadcast system, a CATV system, and a system using terrestrial waves may be used. Although different from the block diagram shown in FIG. 9, video data and audio data may be transmitted via the Internet 7.
[0036]
The PC 13 is a PC having a function of receiving and reproducing a television broadcast. The PC 13 corresponds to a playback device described in the claims. All the functions of the TV receiver 5 described in the first embodiment are provided. Also, the PC 13 has a DVD-R disc writing function, and converts the electronic program guide data 31 received from the EPG server 15 and the information code 33 for acquiring information related to the program, together with the video data and the audio data, into the DVD-R. It can be stored on an R disk. It is also possible to reproduce video data and audio data read from a DVD-R disc. Also, the ID included in the information code 33 read from the DVD-R disc can be transmitted to the information providing server 9 and the corresponding information can be received from the information providing server 9. Although only one PC 13 is illustrated in FIG. 9, a plurality of PCs 13 may be present.
[0037]
The EPG server 15 transmits the electronic program guide data 31 and the information code 33 for acquiring the information related to the program to the PC 13 at the request of the PC 13. The EPG server 15 corresponds to an electronic program guide providing server in the claims.
Although the functions of the information providing server 9 and the user management server 11 are the same as those described in the first embodiment, the communication target in the first embodiment is the TV receiver 5 (see FIG. 1). In the embodiment, the communication target is the PC 13.
[0038]
According to the information system of the present embodiment, in addition to the effects described in the first embodiment, the video data, the audio data, the electronic program guide data 31, and the information code 33 can be stored in the DVD-R. After the broadcast of the program, the user can view the program when the user does not want to. Further, since information related to the program can also be obtained, the usability of the user is improved. Then, even if the PC is different from the PC 13 that has performed the recording, the same operation as the PC 13 that has performed the recording by reading the data from the DVD-R can be performed, and the usability of the user is improved.
[0039]
Hereinafter, another embodiment will be described.
In the first and second embodiments, the information providing server 9 and the user management server 11 are realized by different servers, but may be realized by one server. In the second embodiment, the information providing server 9, the user management server 11, and the EPG server are realized by different servers, but may be realized by one server. Even in such a case, the same effect can be obtained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an information system according to a first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of electronic program guide data and information codes.
FIG. 3 is an image diagram of an electronic program guide.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an information acquisition process.
FIG. 5 is a screen display example of acquired information.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an information transmission process.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a user information transmission process.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a user information receiving process.
FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an information system according to a second embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
3 Broadcasting station, 5 TV receiver, 7 Internet, 9 Information providing server, 11 User management server, 13 PC, 15 EPG server, 17 Broadcasting station.

Claims (12)

A playback device that receives video data and audio data constituting a program and plays back the content by a playback unit,
First receiving means for receiving electronic program guide data constituting the electronic program guide and an information code for obtaining information related to the program;
First output means for outputting an electronic program guide based on the electronic program guide data received by the first receiving means;
Reception means for receiving various operations of the user;
A first transmitting unit that transmits, to the information providing server, the information code specified based on the operation received by the receiving unit, among the information codes received by the first receiving unit;
Second receiving means for receiving information corresponding to the information code transmitted by the transmitting means from the information providing server,
Second output means for outputting the information received by the second receiving means,
A playback device comprising: The playback device according to claim 1,
Further, the video data, the audio data, the electronic program guide data and the information code further comprises a recording and reading means for reading and recording on a recording medium,
The reproducing means reproduces the video data and the audio data read by the reading means,
The first output means outputs an electronic program guide based on the electronic program guide data read by the reading means,
The first transmitting unit transmits the information code specified based on the operation received by the receiving unit to the information providing server among the information codes read by the reading unit. apparatus. The playback device according to claim 2,
The playback device according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium is an exchangeable medium. The playback device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A storage unit for storing a user identification code for identifying a user of the playback device;
A second transmission unit for transmitting the user identification code stored in the storage unit to a storage server. The playback device according to claim 4,
Further, history storage means for storing history information consisting of at least one of information on the history of the reproduced program and information on the history of the information code transmitted using the first transmission means,
The reproducing apparatus, wherein the second transmitting unit transmits the history information stored in the history storage unit to the storage server together with the user identification code. Communication means for communicating with the playback device according to any one of claims 1 to 5;
Storage means for storing electronic program guide data constituting the electronic program guide, and an information code for the playback device to obtain information related to the program,
With
The electronic program guide providing server, wherein the communication unit reads the electronic program guide data and the information code from the storage unit and transmits the data to the playback device. Communication means for communicating with the playback device according to any one of claims 1 to 5;
Storage means for storing information related to the program in association with the information code;
With
The information providing server according to claim 1, wherein said communication means, upon receiving said information code from said reproducing apparatus, reads out said information corresponding to said information code from said storage means and transmits said information to said reproducing apparatus. Communication means for communicating with the playback device according to claim 4;
Storage means for the communication means to store a user identification code obtained from the playback device,
A storage server comprising: Communication means for communicating with the playback device according to claim 5,
A storage server, wherein the communication means stores the history information received from the playback device in addition to the user identification code acquired from the playback device. An information system comprising a combination of the playback device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, the electronic program guide providing server according to claim 6, and the information providing server according to claim 7. An information system comprising a combination of the playback device according to claim 4, the electronic program guide providing server according to claim 6, the information providing server according to claim 7, and the storage server according to claim 8. An information system comprising a combination of the playback device according to claim 5, the electronic program guide providing server according to claim 6, the information providing server according to claim 7, and the storage server according to claim 9.

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