JPH1056600A - Program information retrieval device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify a procedure for utilization by eliminating labor and time for narrowing the retrieved result with plural retrieval conditions by retrieving the program information data base of television broadcasting on the clear retrieval conditions and extracting the retrieved results while ordering them on negotiable retrieval conditions. SOLUTION: When a retrieving means 4 starts retrieval, a user retrieves a data base 7 while using clear retrieval conditions 5 of character strings, for example, designated clearly by operating a remote controller 2. Next, the retrieved results are ranked while using negotiable retrieval conditions 6 as audience history by program genres, for example. Finally, the high-order ranked item is displayed through an interface 3 onto a display 1. Thus, the desired program can be retrieved while using the program information data base without investigating all the program information. The retrieval condition to be clearly designated by the user is only one and the retrieved result can be narrowed while automatically using the negotiable retrieval conditions together.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for retrieving a database in which television program information is recorded.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional method for searching for a desired television program is to refer to a program column of a newspaper, to a magazine in which program information is published, or to use a method described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 3-284077. A method has been adopted in which a program information database is searched using a channel or a field as a key.

[0003]

As described above, when searching for a desired program using newspapers and magazines, there is a problem that the user must comprehensively check all information.

When searching a database,
In a television broadcast program search device that requires a plurality of search conditions for the purpose of narrowing search results but cannot limit users, it is necessary to expand the range of users by eliminating the trouble of inputting search conditions. There was a problem that did not become.

Although character string information (such as program performer names) is effective as a search condition for searching for a desired television program, there is no effective method for inputting a character string as a search condition.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to explain the above-mentioned problem, the present invention searches a program information database of a television broadcast by an explicit search condition, and ranks and extracts the search results by an implicit search condition. It is characterized by having means for performing.

According to the present invention, a desired program can be searched using the program information database without comprehensively examining the program information, and the user explicitly specifies only one search condition. By automatically using implicit search conditions, search results can be narrowed down.

Further, there is provided means for designating character string data, which is a search condition effective for a user to search for a desired program, using a remote control means (hereinafter, referred to as a remote control) as the explicit search condition. Provided is a program information search device provided with the program information search device.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The program information search device according to the first aspect of the present invention includes means for searching a program information database of a television broadcast, and ranking and extracting search results. The user can obtain search results ranked by the implicit search condition simply by explicitly specifying one search condition, and can automatically narrow down desired programs. .

Next, a program information search apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention provides a program information database for television broadcasting, an explicit search condition used for database search, and an implicit search for ranking search results. Means for searching for program information matching the explicit search condition from the program information database, and ranking and extracting search results based on the implicit search condition. That is, the user can obtain search results ranked according to the implicit search conditions simply by explicitly designating one search condition, and can automatically narrow down a desired program.

Next, a program information search device according to a third aspect of the present invention is the program information search device according to the first aspect, wherein a viewing history of a television broadcast is used as the implicit search condition. This makes it possible to generate an implicit search condition without the need for explicit designation by the user.

Next, a program information search device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the program information search device according to the first aspect, wherein a character string specified by a user is used as the explicit search condition. As a condition for searching the database, a character string that strongly restricts the program content, such as a performer name or a sports competition name, can be used.

Next, a character string specifying device of a program information search device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention has a display for displaying character information and a cursor, and a remote controller for inputting cursor control information. Means for displaying information and a cursor on the display, moving the cursor in accordance with remote control input information, and specifying the designated character string according to claim 4 based on the cursor position and the remote control input information. Even if there is no means for directly inputting a character string, a character string can be designated from character information stored in advance based on screen display and remote control input.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. (Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a program information search device according to the first and second aspects of the present invention.

The program information search apparatus according to the present invention has a display 1 for displaying search results to the user, a remote controller 2 for the user to input a search request, etc., and an input / output with the user via the display 1 and the remote controller 2. , A search means 4 for performing a database search, an explicit search condition 5 for a user to explicitly specify at the time of search, an explicit search condition input means 50 for inputting an explicit search condition, a user to specify at the time of search Implicit search conditions 6 that are implicitly applied, an implicit search condition storage unit 51 that stores the implicit search conditions, and a database 7 that stores program information.
Is stored in the storage means. Database 7
Are those received and stored on terrestrial or satellite broadcasts (eg, electronic program guides)
Alternatively, the information input through the telephone line may be stored. Further, the program may be stored in a package such as a disk or a CD-ROM.

FIG. 2 shows a character string designating device according to claim 5 of the present invention as means for designating an explicit search condition of the program information search device according to claims 3 and 4 of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure at the time of applying.

A device in which the character string specifying device of the present invention is applied as an explicit search condition specifying means of the program information searching device of the present invention receives a character string specifying means 8 for specifying a character string, such as a cursor movement request from a user. Remote control receiver 9 for controlling, cursor control means 1 for controlling display and movement of a cursor
0, character information display means 11 for displaying character information as candidates for a designated character string on a display, character information extracting means 12 for extracting character information from a program information database, and character string storage means 13 for storing a selected character string , Character information,
Cursor, display for displaying search results, character information storage means for storing character information extracted from the program information database, search result storage means for storing database search results, database for storing program information, database Ranking extraction means 18 for ranking search results, implicit search condition storage means 19 for storing implicit search conditions for ranking, and viewing history recording means 2 for recording a user's viewing history as an implicit search condition.
0, database search means 21 for searching for program information in a database, explicit search condition storage means 22 for storing explicit search conditions used for database search, explicit search condition designation for selecting and registering explicit search conditions in 23 Means 2
3.

Referring to FIG. 3, the processing procedure of the program information search according to the present invention will be described. When the search means 4 of FIG. 1 starts a search, first, the user operates the remote controller 2 of FIG. 1 to explicitly specify, for example, using the explicit search condition 5 of FIG. 1 which is a character string. The first database 7 is searched (S25). Next, for example, the search results are ranked using the implicit search condition 6 of FIG. 1 which is the viewing history for each program genre (S2).
6). Finally, the ranked upper items are displayed on the display 1 of FIG. 1 through the interface 3 of FIG. 1 (S27), and the process ends. Here, a case where a character string is used for the explicit search condition given as an example will be described with reference to a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of the character string specifying device in FIG.

As a method of specifying a character string, first, the character information extracting means 12 extracts character information from the database 17 and stores it in the character information storage means 15. Next, the character information stored in the character information storage means 15 is displayed on the character string display means 1.
1 is displayed on the display, and at the same time, the cursor control means 1
0 indicates the cursor. The above operation is controlled by the character string designating means 8. Initially, the cursor is displayed at a default position, but moves to a position desired by the user in response to cursor control information from the remote control receiver 9.

When the user designates a character string using the cursor, the character string is stored in the character string storage means 13. The stored character string is written into the explicit search condition storage means 22 by the explicit search condition specification means 23, and the character string specification ends. Next, an example in which the viewing history by program genre is used as the implicit search condition will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the database search means 21 searches the database 17 using the explicit search conditions stored in the explicit search condition storage means 22. The search result is stored in the search result storage unit 16. On the other hand, the viewing history recording means 20 constantly monitors the viewing history of the user, and stores it in the implicit search condition storage means 19. The viewing history means 20 stores, for example, a program viewed by the viewer among the received television broadcast programs, performs a statistical process based on the information of the viewing history, and selects the program We are looking at viewers' taste preferences, such as watching. Such a preference tendency is stored as an implicit search condition.

The implicit search condition is read by the ranking extraction means 18 and used to rank the search results stored in the search result storage means 16. The search results ranked as described above are displayed on the display by the ranking extraction means 18.

Referring to FIG. 4, a description will be given of the processing procedure for ranking in S26. When the ranking is started, first, a numerical value is assigned to each item based on an implicit search condition that is, for example, a viewing history for each program genre (S30). At this time,
For example, the viewing history of the genre "movie"
It is expressed as a value obtained by dividing the number of program viewing times by the total number of viewing programs. Next, all items are sorted by the numerical value assigned to each item (S
31), end. The implicit search condition may be composed of a plurality of conditions, for example, using the sum of the viewing history for each program genre and the viewing history for each time period as the implicit search condition. Also, after sorting by implicit search criteria,
The program titles can be sorted in the ABC order, or the ABC order itself can be used as an implicit search condition.

Referring to FIG. 5, a description will be given of a character string specifying procedure of the character string selecting apparatus according to the fifth aspect of the present invention. When designation of a character string is started, first, a cursor is displayed on a display on which character information is displayed (S34). Next, in S35 and S37, the input by the remote controller is determined. If the input is, for example, cursor movement using the up / down / left / right keys of the remote controller (S35), the cursor is moved in the designated direction (S36). If the input is a channel number key (S37), a character string corresponding to the input number from the current position of the cursor is registered as a user-specified character string (S3).
8), end. In the above procedure, the beginning of the character string at the cursor position, the character string length by the number of channel numbers,
Although each is determined, it is also possible to specify the beginning and end of the character string using the cursor position. Also, the character string length can be a fixed value, and only the head of the character string, only the end, or only the central character can be specified. Also, it is possible to specify one character at a time for the required number of characters.

FIG. 6 shows an example of each program information data constituting the program information database. The date is the broadcast date of the program,
For example, it is composed of year / month / day, the start time and the end time are the start time and the end time of the program, respectively, and are composed of hour / minute. "," Sports ", and other program genres, each of which is composed of separable internal codes, and the program name, performer, and content are the program title, performer list, and program description, respectively. The price is the price of the program and is composed of numerical data. At this time, the program name, performers,
The content can be applied as character information in the character string specifying device according to claim 5 of the present invention.

Next, an embodiment of the operation procedure of the program information search apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to display screen examples shown in FIGS.

FIG. 7 is an example of a display screen when "genre" is used as an explicit search condition. Normally, a television screen is displayed (FIG. 7A). When the search key on the remote control is pressed, the screen shifts to a screen (FIG. 7B) for selecting an explicit search condition (search key). Here, a selection box (bold frame in the figure) is moved to an item to be used as a search condition from among genres, character strings, prices, and time zones using the up and down keys of the remote control. Here, it moves to a genre. At this time, if the selection key on the remote control is pressed,
The screen shifts to a genre selection screen (FIG. 7 (c)). On this screen, the content (genre) of the search condition is selected using the up / down / left / right keys and the selection key of the remote control, similarly to the selection of the search condition.
To determine. When the content of the search condition is determined, the search result is displayed (FIG. 7D).

FIG. 8 shows a case where "character string" is used as an explicit search condition.
6 is an example of a display screen in the case of using. Normally, a television screen is displayed (FIG. 8A). When the search key on the remote control is pressed, the screen shifts to a screen for selecting an explicit search condition (FIG. 8B). Here, the selection box is moved to an item to be used as a search condition from among genres, character strings, prices, and time zones using the up and down keys of the remote control. Here, it moves to a character string. At this time, when the selection key of the remote controller is pressed, the screen is changed to a character string selection screen (FIG. 8).
Move to (c)). On this screen, the content (character string) of the search condition is determined using the up / down key and the selection key of the remote controller in the same manner as the selection of the search condition. When the content of the search condition is determined, the search result is displayed (FIG. 8D).

FIG. 9 is an example of a display screen when "price" is used as an explicit search condition. Normally, a television screen is displayed (FIG. 9A). When the search key on the remote control is pressed, the screen shifts to a screen for selecting an explicit search condition (FIG. 9B). Here, the selection box is moved to an item to be used as a search condition from among genres, character strings, prices, and time zones using the up and down keys of the remote control. Here we go to the price. At this time, when the selection key of the remote control is pressed, the screen is changed to a price range input screen (FIG. 9C).
Move to On this screen, the price range is set using the left and right keys and the channel number key of the remote controller. After setting the price range, the selection box is moved to the “search start” position in the figure and selected, and the search result is displayed (FIG. 9D).

FIG. 10 is an example of a display screen when "time zone" is used as an explicit search condition. Normally, a television screen is displayed (FIG. 10A). When the search key on the remote control is pressed, the screen shifts to a screen for selecting an explicit search condition (FIG. 10B). Here, the selection box is moved to an item to be used as a search condition from among genres, character strings, prices, and time zones using the up and down keys of the remote control. Here, it moves to the time zone. At this time, when the selection key of the remote controller is pressed, the screen shifts to a time range input screen (FIG. 10C). On this screen, the time range is set using the left and right keys and the channel number key of the remote controller. When the time range is set, the selection box is moved to the "search start" position in the figure and selected to display the search result (d).

Next, an embodiment relating to the operation procedure of the character string designating device according to claim 5 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. The character string is specified when character information is displayed on the screen. When the character string key of the remote controller is pressed while the character information is displayed on the screen, a cursor is displayed at a specific position of the character information (FIG. 11).
(A)). Next, the cursor is moved to the first character of the character string to be designated using the up, down, left, and right keys of the remote controller. Here, the cursor is moved down by one and the cursor is set to "U" (FIG. 11B). Here, when the channel number key "7" of the remote controller is input, a character string of seven characters from "U" is selected (c).

With the above configuration, a desired program can be searched using the program information database without comprehensively examining the program information, and only one search condition explicitly specified by the user is required. By using implicit search conditions together, the search results can be narrowed down.

In addition, it is possible to provide a method of specifying character string data, which is a search condition effective when a user searches for a desired program, as the explicit search condition using a remote controller.

[0034]

As described above, according to the program information search apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to search for a desired program only by specifying one search condition, and to narrow down the search results by a plurality of search conditions. Can be omitted, and the use procedure can be simplified, so that the range of users can be broadened in a program information search apparatus having a feature that users cannot be limited.

As described above, according to the character string designation apparatus of the present invention, a character string can be designated by using a remote controller without using a means for directly inputting characters such as a keyboard. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a program information search device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a flow of a database search process of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a flow of a ranking process according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a flow of a character string designation process according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a data example of program information according to the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a view showing a processing example using “genre” as an explicit search condition according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a processing example using “character string” as an explicit search condition according to the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a processing example using “price” as an explicit search condition according to the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a processing example using “time zone” as an explicit search condition according to the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a processing example of the character string designation device of the present invention.

[Description of sign]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Display 2 Remote control 3 Interface which controls display display and remote control input 4 Database search means 5 Database explicit search condition 6 Database implicit search condition 7 Database for recording program information 8 Character string designation means 9 Remote control receiver 10 Cursor Control means 11 character information display means 12 character information extraction means 13 character string storage means 14 display 15 character information storage means 16 search result storage means 17 database 18 ranking extraction means 19 implicit search condition storage means 20 viewing history recording means 21 database Search method

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A program information search apparatus characterized in that a program information database of a television broadcast is searched with an explicit search condition, and the search results are ranked and extracted with an implicit search condition. 2. A program information database for television broadcasting, an input means for an explicit search condition used for searching the database, and a storage means for an implicit search condition for ranking the search results, The program information database is searched for program information that matches the explicit search condition input from the explicit search condition input means, and the search result is based on the implicit search condition stored in the implicit search condition storage means. A program information search device comprising means for ranking and extracting information. 3. The program information search device according to claim 1, wherein a viewing history of a television broadcast is used as the implicit search condition. 4. The program information search device according to claim 1, wherein a character string specified by a user is used as an explicit search condition. 5. A display for displaying character information and a cursor, remote control means for inputting cursor control information, and a display for displaying character information and a cursor on the display, wherein the character information and the cursor are displayed according to the cursor control information input from the remote control means. 5. A program information search device according to claim 4, further comprising a character string designation device having a means for moving a cursor on a display and designating a designated character string based on the cursor position and input information of said remote control means. apparatus.