JP2001111921A - Television signal storage/reproducing device, and television signal storage/reproducing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To alloy a user to view a commercial message matching his or her preference by effectively utilizing the viewing time of a television program. SOLUTION: A storage device 102 stores a television signal received by a tuner 101. A preference information table 107 stores information denoting preference of a user to commercial message, and a timing contents cross- reference table 105 stores a televising timing and contents of each commercial message. A CM selection means 108 selects a commercial message matching the preference of the user among the commercials message stored by the storage device 102 and a commercial message part in a signal outputted to a viewing device 109 is replaced with the selected commercial when the user views a television program.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technique for accumulating and reproducing television signals, and more particularly to a technique for effectively utilizing a time during which a user is watching a television program so that a user can view a commercial suited to his / her taste. Related technology.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In commercial television broadcasting, commercials are broadcast in addition to ordinary programs to provide viewers with information on various products. However, unlike regular programs, viewers do not know when and what kind of commercials will be broadcast, so you can watch commercials that interest you or commercials where your favorite talent appears. In some cases, it is difficult to watch commercials that match the tastes of consumers. Further, even if the broadcast time of a commercial is known, it may not be possible to watch a television at that time due to work or the like.

[0003] In order to allow a user to view commercials that match his / her taste, only commercials having attributes specified by the user are extracted from the received television signal and stored, and the commercials are later transmitted from the user. Conventionally, there has been proposed a technique of reproducing stored commercials when a reproduction instruction is issued (for example,
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-218755).

[0004]

According to the above-mentioned prior art, if a user specifies a commercial attribute that matches his / her taste, the user can view the commercial that matches his / her taste later. it can. However, the conventional technique described above is not practical because it is necessary to make time for viewing the commercial.

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to enable a user to view a commercial program that meets his / her taste by effectively utilizing the time while watching a television program without having to make time for the user to watch the commercial program. It is in.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a television signal storage / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a tuner device for receiving a television signal; and a storage device for storing a television signal received by the tuner device. Device and a commercial that matches the user's preference from among the commercials stored in the storage device, and the user selects the commercial part in the signal output to the viewing device when the user watches the television program. Commercial selection means for replacing with commercials.

[0007] In this configuration, the tuner device receives the television signal and stores it in the storage device. The commercial selection means selects a commercial that matches the user's preference from the commercials stored in the storage device, and replaces the commercial part in the signal output to the viewing device with the selected commercial. Therefore, according to this configuration, it is possible to effectively use the time during which a television program is being viewed and to view a commercial that matches the taste. Furthermore, since only commercials that match the taste can be viewed, it is possible to prevent viewing of commercials that are not desired to be viewed, such as commercials that adversely affect children.

Further, in the television signal storage / reproduction device of the present invention, the commercial selection means is provided in the storage device when the television signal storage / reproduction device is activated, in order to increase the number of viewing opportunities for commercials that match the taste. A configuration for selecting one commercial that matches the user's preference from among the stored commercials and outputting the commercial to the viewing device;
When an electronic program guide screen is displayed on the viewing device,
A configuration in which commercials that match the user's preference are sequentially selected from the commercials stored in the storage device, and the selected commercials are displayed on a part of the electronic program guide screen. A recording reservation screen is displayed on the viewing device. A configuration in which the commercials that match the user's preference are sequentially selected from the commercials stored in the storage device, and the selected commercials are displayed on a part of the recording reservation screen. When the screen is displayed, a commercial that matches the user's preference is sequentially selected from the commercials stored in the storage device, and the selected commercial is displayed on a part of the recorded program list screen. When power off is instructed,
A configuration in which one commercial that matches the user's preference is selected from the commercials stored in the storage device and output to the viewing device, or stored in the storage device when the user requests viewing of the commercial. The commercials suitable for the user are sequentially selected from the commercials displayed, and the selected commercials are output to the viewing device.

According to this configuration, when the television signal storage / reproduction device is activated, when the electronic program guide screen is displayed on the viewing device, when the recording reservation screen is displayed on the viewing device, the recording is performed on the viewing device. When the program list screen is displayed,
Even when the power supply is instructed by the user, or when the user views the commercial, it is possible to view the commercial that suits his / her taste.

Further, the television signal storage / reproduction device of the present invention, when a program of a genre in which a commercial tends to be fast-forwarded, is reproduced, the program video and the commercial video matching the user's preference are reproduced. , A tuner device for receiving a television signal, a storage device for storing the television signal received by the tuner device, and user preference information for acquiring preference information indicating a user's preference for commercials. Acquisition means, commercial content information acquisition means for acquiring commercial content information indicating the content of each commercial stored in the storage device, and commercial playback genre information indicating the genre of a program that also displays the commercial at the same time Reproduction genre information acquisition means, As shown in the figure, based on the preference information obtained by the user preference information obtaining means and the commercial content information obtained by the commercial content information obtaining means, the user matches the user's preference from the commercials stored in the storage device. A process of selecting a commercial and replacing a commercial part in a signal output to a viewing device when the user watches a television program with the selected commercial, or stored in the storage device,
When the program of the genre acquired by the commercial reproduction genre information acquisition means is output to the viewing device, sequentially select commercials that match the user's preference from commercials stored in the storage device, CM selection means for performing a process of simultaneously displaying the selected commercial video and the program video on the viewing device.

[0011] In this configuration, the commercial reproduction genre information acquiring means sets the genre setting screen displayed on the viewing device to an input from the viewing device or a rate at which the commercial was fast-forwarded in the program during the reproduction of the program. The commercial reproduction genre information is acquired based on the commercial reproduction genre information, and the program of the genre acquired by the commercial reproduction genre information acquisition means stored in the storage device is output to the viewing device. The commercials that match the user's preference are sequentially selected from the commercials stored in the program, and the video of the selected commercial and the video of the program are simultaneously output to the viewing device.

Further, the television signal storage / playback apparatus of the present invention provides an additional information table in which additional information about a commercial is stored, and a commercial output to the viewing device so that the additional information about the commercial can be used. When the display of the additional information is requested by the user at the time, the additional information screen based on the additional information related to the currently output commercial stored in the additional information table is displayed on the viewing device. Additional information related processing means.

In this configuration, when the display of the additional information is instructed by the user, the additional information display means displays the additional information screen on the viewing device based on the additional information related to the commercial currently reproduced. .

Further, in the television signal storage / playback apparatus according to the present invention, the additional information includes material request destination information indicating a material request destination so that the user can request a material relating to the commercial being viewed. Related processing means:
When a request for a material is requested by the user while the additional information screen is displayed on the viewing device, a communication request is made via a communication line to a material request destination indicated by the material request destination information in the additional information related to the additional information screen. It has a configuration for requesting materials.

In this configuration, when the user instructs a material request, the additional information related processing means causes the material indicated by the material request destination information in the additional information related to the currently displayed additional information screen. Request the data to the billing destination via the communication line.

Further, in the television signal storage / playback apparatus of the present invention, the additional information includes product purchase screen information for displaying a product purchase screen so that a product introduced by a commercial can be easily purchased. And additional product related information indicating a product purchaser, wherein the additional information related processing means relates to the additional information screen when a user purchases a product while the additional information screen is displayed on the viewing device. A product purchase screen is displayed on the viewing device in accordance with the product purchase screen information to be displayed, and a user inputs necessary items on the product purchase screen, so that the product purchase screen indicated by the product purchase information related to the product purchase screen It has a configuration for transmitting the necessary items via a communication line.

In this configuration, when a product purchase is instructed by the user, the additional information-related processing means displays the product purchase screen according to the product purchase screen information related to the currently displayed additional information screen. When the user fills in the necessary information on the product purchase screen, the necessary information is transmitted via a communication line to the product purchaser indicated by the product purchaser information related to the product purchase screen.

Further, the television signal storage / reproduction system of the present invention allows a user to view commercials that match his / her taste by effectively utilizing the time the user is watching a television program without complicating the configuration of the user device. A television signal storage and playback system comprising a commercial information distribution center and a plurality of user devices connected to the commercial information distribution center, wherein each of the user devices is A tuner device for receiving a signal, a storage device for storing a television signal received by the tuner device, and a notification of the history of programs previously viewed or recorded by the user to the commercial information distribution center, and the distribution of the commercial information. Broadcast timing information of commercials that match the user's preferences sent from the center Based on the history notifying means to receive, the broadcast timing information of commercials that match the user's preference received by the history notifying means, and the correspondence between the date and time when the television signal was stored in the storage device and the storage address, Selecting a commercial that matches the user's preference from the commercials stored in the storage device,
Commercial selection means for replacing the commercial part in the signal output to the viewing device when the user watches the television program with the selected commercial, the commercial information distribution center, the history notified from the user device, The broadcast timing information of a commercial meeting the user's preference of the user-side device is obtained based on the information, and the obtained broadcast timing information is transmitted to the user device that is the notification source of the history.

In this configuration, when the history notifying means in the user side apparatus notifies the commercial information distribution center of the history of the program which the user has viewed or recorded in the past, the commercial information distribution center receives the notification based on the notification. In this way, a commercial broadcast timing that matches the user's preference is obtained, and the commercial broadcast timing is returned to the transmission source user device. The commercial selection means in the user-side device is based on the broadcast timing information of the commercial corresponding to the preference sent from the commercial information distribution center and the correspondence between the date and time when the television signal was stored in the storage device and the storage address. Then, a commercial that matches the user's preference is selected from the commercials stored in the storage device, and the commercial part in the signal output to the viewing device is replaced with the selected commercial.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, when there is a commercial that does not match the user's preference in a television program being viewed by the user, the commercial is replaced with a commercial that matches the user's preference, and the user is caused to view the program. A device 101, a storage device 102, a date / time address correspondence table 103, a CM (commercial) broadcast timing CM content information acquisition means 104, a timing content correspondence table 105, a user preference information acquisition means 106, and a preference information table 107; , CM selection means 108 and viewing device
109 and a user operation unit 110 such as an operation button and a remote controller provided on the front panel unit.

The tuner device 101 has a function of receiving a television signal and outputting it to the storage device 102 in the form of a digital signal. Here, the broadcasting form of the television signal received by the tuner device 101 is any of analog terrestrial broadcasting, digital terrestrial broadcasting, analog cable television broadcasting, digital cable television broadcasting, analog satellite broadcasting, digital satellite broadcasting, and Internet broadcasting. No problem.

The storage device 102 has a function of storing a digital signal format television signal output from the tuner device 101, a function of randomly accessing stored information, a storage start date and time of a television signal, and a storage end. It has a function of registering the date and time, the storage start address, the storage end address, and the channel on which the stored television signal is broadcast in the date and time address correspondence table 103 in association with each other. The storage device 102 having such a function can be realized using a hard disk device, a digital video disk device, or the like.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of the date / time address correspondence table 103. The example shown in FIG.
x, the programs and commercials broadcast on the dates and times TS1 to TE1 are stored in the addresses AS1 to AE1 of the storage device 102,
The programs and commercials broadcast on the date and time TS2 to TE2 on the channel CHy are stored in the addresses AS2 to AS of the storage device 102.
This indicates that the data is accumulated in E2.

CM broadcast timing CM content information acquisition means
104 has a function of acquiring commercial broadcast timing information indicating the broadcast timing of each commercial to be broadcast and commercial content information indicating the content, and registering it in the timing content correspondence table 105. Here, the commercial broadcast timing information includes the commercial broadcast start date and time, the commercial length, and the commercial broadcast channel. Further, the commercial content information includes a keyword for a product or the like introduced by the commercial, the name of a talent appearing, and the like.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of the timing content correspondence table 105. In the example shown in the figure, a commercial having a length of L1 seconds broadcasted from the date and time Ta on the channel CHx is
The keywords 1, ..., n representing the contents are "PC", ..., "N Company", respectively, and the performer is "○○
.., And the keyword L1,..., Keyword n is “sports car”,.
"" Indicates that the performer is "xxx".

CM broadcast timing CM content information acquisition means
For example, the following two methods can be adopted as specific methods for acquiring CM broadcast timing information and CM content information.

In the first method, CM broadcast timing information and CM content information are superimposed on a television signal output from a broadcasting station, and the CM broadcast timing CM content information acquiring means 104 receives the television broadcast signal according to an instruction from the user. This is a method of extracting CM broadcast timing information and CM content information superimposed on a signal.

In the second method, CM broadcast timing information,
In this method, a management center for managing CM content information is set up, and CM broadcast timing information and CM content information are acquired therefrom. More specifically, when there is an instruction from the user, the CM broadcast timing CM content information acquisition means 104 connects itself to the management center using the telephone number or e-mail address of the management center, and Requesting CM broadcast timing information and CM content information.
Then, the management center that has received the request transmits the CM broadcast timing information and the CM content information to the CM broadcast timing CM content information acquisition means 104 of the request source.

The user preference information acquiring means 106 has a function of acquiring preference information indicating a user's preference for commercials, and registering the preference information in the preference information table 107.

As a specific method for the user preference information acquiring means 106 to acquire the preference information, for example, the following four methods can be adopted.

The first method is to use a preference information setting screen as shown in FIG. The user operates the user operation unit 11
When the display instruction of the preference information setting screen is performed by using 0, the user preference information acquisition means 106 displays the preference information setting screen as shown in FIG. When the preference information setting screen is displayed, the user uses the user operation unit 110 to enter a keyword for a commercial that matches the preference in the keyword input field 41 and also inputs the name of a favorite talent in the talent name input field. User preference information means 106
When the user performs an input completion operation, the keyword input field
The keyword input in 41 and the name input in the talent name input field 42 are stored in the preference information table 107. still,
In the example of FIG. 4, the keyword input box 41 and the talent name input box
Although the user himself inputs the keyword and the name in 42, a list of the keyword and the talent name may be displayed, and the keyword and the talent name may be selected from the list.

The second method is a method of acquiring preference information based on the history of programs that the user has viewed or recorded in the past. In order to realize this method, a television signal output from a broadcasting station includes a keyword (for example, baseball,
Drama, travel, personal computer, etc.) When the user records or views a television program, the user preference information acquisition unit 106 acquires a keyword indicating the genre and content of the program from the television signal. If a counter corresponding to the acquired keyword is already provided, the value of the counter is incremented by 1. If not, a counter for the acquired keyword is newly provided, and the count value is set to “ 1 ". The user preference information setting means 106 performs such processing for a certain period of time, and after a certain period of time, selects a predetermined number of counters having a large count value from the counters corresponding to each keyword, and assigns the selected counter to the selected counter. The corresponding keyword is registered in the preference information table 107 as preference information.

The third method is a method of acquiring preference information based on a reproduction ratio of each program stored in the storage device 102 and a keyword indicating a genre or content of each program.
When implementing this method, a keyword indicating the genre and content of a program is superimposed on a television signal output from a broadcasting station. When a program is recorded in the storage device 102, the user preference information acquisition means 106 stores the storage start address, storage end address, and keyword. Such information is stored for each recorded program. Then, when the program stored in the storage device 102 is reproduced, it is checked what percentage of the program has been watched by the user, and if the program has been watched by the user in a predetermined ratio or more, it is held. The keyword corresponding to the program is registered in the preference information table 107 as preference information. Here, what percentage of the program is watched by the user can be calculated, for example, by calculating the rate of reproduction between the storage start address and the storage end address without fast-forwarding.

A fourth method is to acquire preference information based on a keyword indicating the content of a commercial reproduced without being fast-forwarded during reproduction. The commercial keywords reproduced without fast-forwarding are the contents of the timing content correspondence table 105 and the date / time address correspondence table 103.
The user preference information obtaining means 106 registers the keyword obtained based on each of the above-described information in the preference information table 107 as the preference information.

The CM selection means 108 has a function of replacing a commercial part in a signal output to the viewing device 109 with a commercial which is stored in the storage device 102 and which meets the user's preference.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing example of the CM selecting means 108 when the user is watching a television program on air, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a user watching a television program stored in the storage device 102. Is a flowchart showing a processing example of the CM selecting means 108 when the operation is performed, and the operation of the present embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, the operation at the time of storing a television signal will be described. When the start of storage of a television program is instructed, the storage device 102 stores the television signal received by the tuner device 101 in the form of a digital signal, and broadcasts the storage start date and time, the storage start address, and the program to be stored. The registered channel is registered in the date / time address correspondence table 103. After that, when the end of TV program storage is instructed,
The storage device 102 terminates the storage operation of the television signal, and stores the storage end date and time and the storage end address in the same entry as the entry in which the storage start date and time, the storage start address and the channel are registered in the date and time address correspondence table 103. register.

Next, the operation at the time of viewing a television program which is on air will be described.

When an instruction to view an on-air television program is given, the CM selecting means 108 first sends the tuner device to the selecting means 108a provided therein.
An instruction is given to select the television signal output from 101 (FIG. 5, S1). Thereby, the selection means 10
8a outputs the television signal output from the tuner device 102 to the viewing device 109.

Next, the CM selection means 108 searches the timing content correspondence table 105 based on the current date and time and the channel currently being viewed, and outputs CM commercial timing information for the first commercial broadcasted after the television program viewing starts. ,
CM content information is acquired (S2). In other words, from each entry of the timing content correspondence table 105, an entry indicating that the information indicating the stored channel indicates the channel currently being viewed is searched, and further, from the found entries, the stored broadcast is stored. By searching for an entry whose start date and time (only for a date and time later than the current time is the closest to the current date and time), CM broadcast timing information and CM content information of the first commercial to be broadcast are obtained.

Thereafter, based on the information obtained in S2 and the preference information registered in the preference information table 107, the CM selection means 108 determines whether or not the commercial broadcasted first matches the user's preference. It is determined (S3). This determination is made based on, for example, whether or not a synonym of the keyword registered in the preference information table 107 exists in the keyword and the talent name in the information acquired in S2.

If it is determined that the commercial to be broadcast first does not match the user's preference (S3 is N
O) is a search of the timing content correspondence table 105, and an entry in which information relating to a commercial matching the user's preference is stored (an entry in which a synonym of a keyword registered in the preference information table 107 is registered as CM content information) Is selected (S4). At the time of the first search, the first entry of the timing content correspondence table 105 is set as the search start position, and at the time of the second and subsequent searches, the entry next to the entry for which the target information was obtained at the previous search is set as the search start position. . In addition, the timing content correspondence table 10
If the search is performed up to the last entry of 5, the search is performed again from the first entry.

Thereafter, the CM selecting means 108 determines whether or not commercials matching the user's preference indicated by the information in the entry selected in S4 are stored in the storage device 102 (S5). This determination is made based on the CM broadcast timing information in the entry selected in S4 and the information stored in the date / time address correspondence table 103.
That is, the broadcast channel stored in each entry of the date / time address correspondence table 103 matches the broadcast channel of the commercial selected in S4, and the storage start date / time,
The determination is made based on whether or not there is any one whose storage end date and time is before and after the broadcast start date and time of the commercial selected in S4.

If it is determined that the data is not stored in the storage device 102 (S5: NO), the process returns to S4.
On the other hand, if it is determined that the commercial is stored (YES in S5), it is determined whether or not the commercial length matching the user's preference selected in S4 matches the commercial length actually broadcasted. A judgment is made (S6).

If it is determined that they do not match (S6
Is NO), the process returns to S4, and if it is determined that they match (YES in S6), the process of S7 is performed.

In S7, the storage start address As and the storage end address Ae of the commercial for which the determination result in S6 is YES (commercials that replace commercials that do not match the user's preference) in the storage device 102 are calculated and stored. I do. The accumulation start address As and the accumulation end address Ae are calculated based on the commercial start date and time and the information stored in the date and time address correspondence table 103. Now, for example, the content of the date / time address correspondence table 103 is as shown in FIG. 2, and the broadcast start date / time of the commercial for which the determination result in S6 is YES is T2.
Assuming that (TS2 <T2 <TE2), the accumulation start address As and the accumulation end address Ae can be calculated by performing the following processing. First, from the entries of the date / time address correspondence table 103, an entry whose accumulated accumulation start date and time and accumulation end date and time are before and after the broadcast start date and time T2 is searched. In this case, the second entry of the date / time address correspondence table 103 shown in FIG. 2 is searched. When an entry that meets the condition is found, the following equations (1) and (2) are operated based on the information stored in the entry, and the accumulation start address As and the accumulation end address Ae are obtained. In the equation (2), La is a value determined by the length of the commercial.

As = AS2 + (AE2-AS2) · (T2-TS2) / (TE2-TS2) (1) Ae = As + La (2)

Thereafter, the CM selection means 108 waits for the broadcast date and time of the commercial to be replaced with a commercial that matches the user's preference (S8). Then, when the broadcast date and time of the commercial comes (S8: YES), the CM selection means 108 instructs the storage device 102 to reproduce the data from the storage start address calculated in S7 to the storage end address, and internally stores the same. Selection means 108 provided
A is instructed to select the output of the storage device 102 only while the reproduction signal is being output from the storage device 102 (S9). As a result, commercials that do not match the user's preference being aired are replaced with commercials stored in the storage device 102 that match the user's preference. When the reproduction signal is no longer output from the storage device 102, the selection means 108a selects the output signal of the tuner 101 again.

When the processing of S9 is completed, the CM selection means 108 searches the timing content correspondence table 105 to obtain information of the commercial whose next broadcast order is next (S10).
Also, when the determination result of S3 is YES, S10
Is performed. Thereafter, the CM selection means 108 determines whether or not the next commercial in the broadcast order matches the user's preference (S3). Thereafter, the CM selecting means 108 performs the same processing as described above. In the above description, the accumulation start address As and the accumulation end address Ae of the commercial to be replaced are obtained by performing the operations shown in Expressions (1) and (2).
This is applicable only when the data is stored in the memory 102 in a manner that has a proportional relationship with the length and time of the data to be stored, and the data length and time do not have a proportional relationship as in MPEG2. This is not applicable when data is stored in a format that may have such cases. When data is stored in MPEG2, etc., the date / time address correspondence table shown in FIG.
Instead of 103, a table is provided in which the broadcast time and broadcast channel of the data stored at that address are registered in association with each address of the storage device 102, and the commercial storage start address to be replaced using this table As and the accumulation end address Ae may be obtained.

Next, the operation at the time of viewing the television program stored in the storage device 102 will be described.

When the reproduction of the television program is instructed, the storage device 102 reproduces the stored television program in accordance with the instruction. When the reproduction of the television program is instructed, the CM selecting means 108 instructs the internal selecting means 108a to select the output of the storage device 102 (FIG. 6, S1).
1). As a result, the selection means 108a outputs the reproduction signal output from the storage device 102 to the viewing device 109, and allows the user to view the stored television program.

Next, the CM selecting means 108
(S12), and based on this and the contents of the date / time address correspondence table 103,
The date and time (accumulation date and time T) at which the current playback portion was accumulated is calculated, and information indicating the channel on which the current playback portion was being broadcast is obtained (S13). Now, for example, assuming that the contents of the date / time address correspondence table 103 are as shown in FIG. 2 and the current reproduction address is A1 (AS1 <A1 <AE1), the following processing is performed to obtain the storage date / time T
Can be calculated, and information indicating the channel on which the current playback portion has been broadcast can be obtained. First, from the entries in the date / time address correspondence table 103, an entry in which the storage start address and the storage end address stored in the entry are before and after the current reproduction address A1 is searched. In this case, the first entry of the date / time address correspondence table 103 shown in FIG. 2 is searched. If you find an entry that meets the conditions,
The selecting means 108 sets the broadcast channel CHx stored in the found entry as information indicating the channel on which the current playback portion was broadcast. Further, the CM selecting means 108
Using the information stored in the found entry, the calculation represented by the following equation (3) is performed to calculate the storage date and time T of the current playback part.

T = TS1 + (TE1-TS1) · (A1-AS1) / (AE1-AS1) (3)

Next, the CM selecting means 108 obtains information on the commercial reproduced first after the reproduction starts from the timing content correspondence table 105 (S14). That is, from among the entries of the timing content correspondence table 105, the stored broadcast start date and time (only the date and time in the future than the storage date and time calculated in S13) is the most suitable for the storage date and time T calculated in S13. By finding the closest entry, we get information about the first commercial played. Further, in S14, the accumulation start address and the accumulation end address of the commercial reproduced first are also calculated.

Thereafter, the CM selection means 108 determines whether or not the commercial to be reproduced first matches the user's preference by checking the contents of the preference information table 107 and the CM content information of the commercial to be reproduced first obtained in S14. (S15).

If it is determined that the information does not match the user's preference (S15: NO), the timing content correspondence table 105 is searched for one entry in which information on commercials that match the user's preference is stored (S1).
6).

Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the commercial indicated by the information stored in the entry searched in S16 is stored in the storage device 102 (S17).
If it is determined that the data is not stored (S17 is N
In O), the search start position is changed to the entry next to the entry found in the previous search, and the process of S16 is performed again. On the other hand, if it is determined that it is stored (S
17 is YES), the process of S18 is performed.

In S18, the accumulation start address and the accumulation end address of the commercial to be replaced with the commercial that does not match the user's preference (the commercial for which the determination result in S17 is YES) are calculated.

After that, the CM selection means 108
It waits until the reproduction address in 2 becomes the start address of the commercial to be replaced (S19). This reproduction start address is obtained in S14 or S21.

When it is determined that the start address of the commercial to be replaced has been reached, the CM selecting means 108
Reproduces from the storage start address calculated in S18 to the storage end address to the storage device 102, and thereafter,
An instruction is given to start reproduction from the address next to the last address of the commercial to be replaced (S20). Thus, commercials that do not match the user's preference are replaced with commercials that match the user's preference.

After that, the CM selection means 108 acquires from the timing content correspondence table 105 information on the commercial whose reproduction order is next, and calculates the accumulation start address and the accumulation end address of the commercial (S2).
1). Also, when the result of the determination in S15 is YES, the CM selecting means 108 performs the processing in S21.

When the process of S21 is completed, the CM selecting means
108 determines whether or not the next commercial in the playback order matches the user's preference (S15). Thereafter, CM selection means 10
8 repeatedly performs the same processing as described above.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, if there is a commercial that does not match the user's preference in the television program being watched by the user, the commercial is replaced with a commercial that matches the user's preference. This makes it possible to view commercials that match the user's preference without having to make time for the user to view the commercials.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The present embodiment not only replaces a commercial that does not match the user's preference with a commercial that does match the user's preference, but also starts up, quits, an electronic program guide (EPG).
By outputting a commercial that matches the user's preference at the time of displaying the screen, at the time of displaying the recording reservation screen, and the like, the viewing opportunity of the commercial that matches the preference is increased.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention. The difference between the present embodiment and the first embodiment shown in FIG.
, A CM reproduction genre table 212, an operation mode setting means 213, and an operation mode table 214, a point that a storage device 202 is provided instead of the storage device 102, and a date and time instead of the date and time address correspondence table 103. It has an address correspondence table 203 and a CM selection means 208 in place of the CM selection means 108. Note that the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 indicate the same parts.

The storage device 202 has a function of storing a digital signal format television signal output from the tuner device 101, a function of randomly accessing stored information, and a storage start date and time for each stored TV program. , The storage end date and time, the storage start address, the storage end address, the channel on which the stored TV program is being broadcast, and the genre, and registering them in the date and time address correspondence table 203. The genre of the television program is obtained by extracting information indicating the genre superimposed on the television signal. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of the date / time address correspondence table 203. In addition to the items of the date / time address correspondence table 103 shown in FIG.

The operation mode table 214 stores information indicating whether each operation mode is enabled. FIG.
Is a diagram showing an example of the contents of an operation mode table 214.
In the example shown in FIG. 9, the start mode and the replacement mode are enabled, and the EPG screen mode, the recording reservation screen mode, the recorded program list screen mode, the end mode, the CM
This indicates that the playback genre mode is disabled. The validity of each of these operation modes is set by the user using the operation mode setting means 213.

Here, each operation mode will be described.

A. Startup mode: When the power is turned on, one of the commercials stored in the storage device 202 that matches the user's preference is selected and the viewing device 109 is selected.
Operation mode to output to

B. EPG screen mode ... E
When the PG screen is displayed, a part of the EPG screen
An operation mode in which commercials stored in the storage device 202 that match the user's preference are continuously displayed.

C. Recording reservation screen mode: an operation mode in which, when the recording reservation screen is displayed on the viewing device 109, commercials that match the user's preference stored in the storage device 202 are continuously displayed in a part of the recording reservation screen. .

D. Recorded program list screen mode ... viewing device 10
9 is an operation mode in which, when the recorded program list screen is displayed, commercials that match the user's preference stored in the storage device 202 are continuously displayed on a part of the recorded program list screen.

E. End mode: When the user instructs to turn off the power, one of the commercials stored in the storage device 202 that matches the user's preference is selected.
An operation mode in which the power is turned off after the selected one is output to the viewing device 109.

F. Replacement mode: An operation mode in which commercials that do not match the user's preference existing in the television program being viewed by the user are replaced with commercials that match the user's preference stored in the storage device 202.

G. CM playback genre mode: When a television program of the genre stored in the CM playback genre table 212 is being played, commercials that match the user's preference stored in the storage device 202 are continuously displayed on a part of the screen. The operation mode to display.

The CM reproduction genre information obtaining means 211 obtains the genre of a program in which a commercial video that matches the user's preference is incorporated in a part of the video of the program being reproduced, and displays the obtained genre in the commercial reproduction genre information. As a CM playback genre table 212.

As a specific method for the CM reproduction genre information acquiring means 211 to acquire the genre of a program incorporating a commercial video image matching the user's taste, for example,
The following two methods can be adopted.

The first method is, as shown in FIG. 10, a method of displaying a genre setting screen including a list of genres of programs on the viewing device 109, and allowing the user to specify the genre of the program into which the commercial video is to be incorporated. is there.

In the second method, when a stored television program is reproduced, a ratio of a fast-forwarded commercial among commercials present in the program is obtained, and a genre of the program whose ratio is equal to or more than a predetermined ratio is determined. This is a method of using CM reproduction genre information.

The CM selecting means 208 has a function of replacing a commercial that does not match the user's preference with a commercial that matches the user's preference stored in the storage device 202, or a function that matches the user's preference at the time of startup or termination. When outputting a commercial to the viewing device 109 or displaying an EPG screen,
A function to incorporate a commercial image that matches the user's preference into a part of the display screen when displaying a recording reservation screen, etc.
When viewing a television program of the genre stored in the reproduction genre table 212, a function of incorporating a commercial video that matches the user's preference into a part of the screen is provided.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.

When the power is turned on by the user, the CM
The selecting means 208 refers to the operation mode table 214 and checks whether or not the startup mode is ON (FIG. 1).
1, S31). If it is not turned on (S3
If (1 is NO), the process at the time of turning on the power is ended. On the other hand, if the startup mode is ON (YES in S31), one entry storing information on a commercial matching the user's preference is selected from the timing content correspondence table 105 (S32). Further, it is determined whether or not the commercial indicated by the information stored in the entry is stored in the storage device 202 (S
33).

If the data is not stored, the process in S32 is performed again.
In addition to instructing the reproducing means 202 to output the reproduced signal from the storage device 202 to the audiovisual device 109, the control unit 202 instructs the selecting unit 208a to reproduce the commercial. As a result, commercials that match the user's preference can be displayed on the viewing device 109.
Is output to

Thereafter, when the user instructs to view the television program being broadcast, the CM selecting means 208
Refers to the operation mode table 214 and checks whether or not the replacement mode is ON. If it is ON, the same processing as the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 is performed.

When the user instructs to play back the stored television program, the CM selecting means 208
Refers to the operation mode table 214 and checks whether or not the replacement mode is ON. If it is ON, the same processing as the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6 is performed. On the other hand, if the replacement mode is OFF, the operation mode table 214 is referred to and the C
It is determined whether or not the M playback genre mode is ON. When the CM reproduction genre mode is ON, the CM selection means 208 performs the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG.

In FIG. 12, the CM selection means 208 first determines the genre of the television program currently being reproduced by the storage device 202 (S41). This can be obtained from the contents of the current playback address of the storage device 202 and the date / time address correspondence table 203.

Next, the CM selection means 208 checks whether or not there is any commercial reproduction genre information stored in the reproduction genre table 212 that matches the genre of the program currently being reproduced (S42).

If it is determined that there is no match (S42: NO), it instructs the selection means 208a to select the signal output from the storage device 202 (S47), and thereafter, again. The process of S41 is performed. Therefore, when there is no match, only the television program being reproduced is output from the viewing device 109.

On the other hand, if it is determined that there is a match (S42: YES), the timing content correspondence table 105 is searched for one piece of information relating to a commercial that meets the user's preference, and is indicated by the information. It is checked whether or not the commercial is stored in the storage device 202 (S43, S44). If not stored, the search start position is changed to the entry next to the entry searched for in the previous search, and the process of S43 is performed again. If stored, the process of S45 is performed.

In S45, the CM selecting means 208 instructs the reproducing apparatus 202 to reproduce the currently reproduced television program and the commercial which meets the user's preference for which the judgment result in S44 is YES, and synthesizes. The means 208b is instructed to generate a signal for displaying a screen as shown in FIG. 13 by synthesizing a television program and a commercial output from the storage device 202, and instructing the selecting means 208a. An instruction is given to select the output of the combining means 208b. As a result, the TV program being played back and the commercial that matches the user's preference are simultaneously displayed on the viewing device 109 as shown in FIG.

When the process of S45 is completed, the CM selecting means
208 waits for the commercial to end (S46 returns Y
After waiting for ES), the process of S41 is performed.

Next, the operation when the user gives an instruction to display the EPG screen will be described.

The user uses the user operation unit 110 to enter the EP
When the display of the G screen is instructed, the CM selection means 208
As shown in the flow chart of FIG. 4, it is checked whether or not the EPG screen mode is ON by referring to the operation mode table 214 (S51).

When the EPG screen mode is ON, the signal for the EPG screen and the commercial signal output from the storage device 202 are synthesized by the synthesizing means 208b, as shown in FIG. It instructs to generate a signal for displaying a proper screen on the viewing device 109, and instructs the selecting means 208a to select the output of the synthesizing means 208b (S52).

Thereafter, the CM selection means 208 selects one piece of information relating to the commercial that matches the user's preference from the timing content correspondence table 105, and determines whether or not the commercial indicated by the information is stored in the storage device 202. (S53, S54). If the search start entry has not been stored, the search start entry is shifted and S53 is repeated.
If the data is stored, the storage device 202 is instructed to reproduce the commercial whose determination result in S54 is YES (S55). As a result, as shown in FIG. 15, an image in which a commercial matching the user's preference is incorporated in a part of the EPG screen is displayed on the viewing device 109, as shown in FIG. Thereafter, the CM selecting means 208 waits for the commercial to end (S56), and then returns to S5.
Step 3 is performed. The above processing is repeated until the user instructs the end of the EPG screen (until S57 becomes YES).

Next, the operation when the user instructs the display of the recording reservation screen will be described.

When the user instructs the display of the recording reservation screen using the user operation unit 110, the CM selection means 208 refers to the operation mode table 214 and sets the recording reservation screen mode to O.
It is checked whether or not N has been reached (S61).

If it is determined that the recording reservation screen mode is ON, a signal for the recording reservation screen and a commercial output from the storage device 202 that matches the user's preference are output to the synthesizing means 208b. The signal is synthesized, and FIG.
In addition, it instructs to generate a signal for displaying a screen as shown in FIG. 7 on the viewing device 109, and instructs the selecting means 208a to select the output of the synthesizing means 208b (S62).

Thereafter, the CM selection means 208 selects one piece of information relating to the commercial that matches the user's preference from the timing content correspondence table 105 (S63), and determines whether the commercial indicated by the information is stored in the storage device 202. Is checked (S64). If the search start entry has not been stored, the search start entry is shifted and the process returns to S63.
Is performed, and if the data is stored, the process of S65 is performed.

In S65, the CM selecting means 208 instructs the storage device 202 to reproduce the commercial for which the determination result in S64 is YES (S65). As a result, as shown in FIG. 17, a video in which a commercial that matches the user's preference is incorporated in a part of the recording reservation screen is displayed on the viewing device 109, as shown in FIG. Thereafter, the CM selecting means 208 waits for the commercial to end (S66), and returns to S6.
Step 3 is performed. The above processing is repeated until the user instructs the end of the recording reservation screen (until S67 becomes YES).

Next, the operation when the display of the recorded program list screen is instructed by the user will be described.

When the user operates the user operation unit 110 to instruct the display of the recorded program list screen, the CM selection unit 208
Is an operation mode table as shown in the flowchart of FIG.
Referring to 214, it is checked whether or not the recorded program list screen mode is ON (S71).

When the recorded program list screen mode is ON, a signal for the recorded program list screen and a commercial signal output from the storage device 202 that match the user's preference are output to the synthesizing means 208b. And a viewing device
In FIG. 109, it is instructed to generate a signal for displaying a screen as shown in FIG. 19, and instruct the selecting means 208a to select the output of the synthesizing means 208b (S
72).

Thereafter, the CM selecting means 208 selects one piece of information relating to the commercial that matches the user's preference from the timing content correspondence table 105 (S73), and determines whether or not the commercial indicated by the information is stored in the storage device 202. Is checked (S74).

If the data is not stored, the search start entry is shifted and the process of S73 is performed again. If the data is stored, the storage device 202 is returned to the storage device 202 for the commercial whose determination result in S74 is YES. The reproduction is instructed (S75). As a result, as shown in FIG. 19, the viewing device 109 displays an image in which a commercial matching the user's preference is incorporated in a part of the recorded program list screen.
Thereafter, the CM selecting means 208 waits for the commercial to end (S76: YES), and performs the process of S73 again. The above processing is repeated until the user instructs to end the display of the recorded program list screen (S77: YES).

Next, the operation in the case where the power-off is instructed by the user will be described.

When the power supply is instructed by the user, C
As shown in the flow chart of FIG. 20, the M selection means 208 refers to the operation mode table 214 and checks whether or not the end mode is ON (S81).

If it is determined that the end mode is OFF (S81: NO), the power is turned off by controlling a power supply relay (not shown) (S8).
7).

On the other hand, if it is determined that the end mode is ON (YES in S81), the selecting means
It instructs 208a to select the output signal of the storage device 202, and selects one piece of information relating to a commercial that meets the user's preference from the timing content correspondence table 105 (S82, S83). Thereafter, it is checked whether or not the commercial indicated by the selected information is stored in the storage device 202 (S84).

If the data is not stored, the search start entry is shifted and the process of S83 is performed again. If the data is stored, the commercial for which the determination result of S84 is YES is sent to the storage device 202. It instructs to reproduce (S85). As a result, one commercial meeting the user's preference is output to the viewing device 109.

Thereafter, the CM selection means 208 waits for the commercial to end (S86), and turns off the power when the commercial ends (S87).

Next, an operation when a user requests viewing of a virtual commercial channel is described.

The user operates the storage device as shown in FIG.
If the user wants to view only the commercials that match his / her preference from the commercials stored in 202 and view the virtual CM specialty channel, the user operation unit 110
, Input a viewing request for a virtual commercial channel.

When a request to view a virtual CM specialized channel is input, the CM selection means 208 selects a reproduction signal output from the storage device 202 to the selection means 208a as shown in the flowchart of FIG. To be performed (S91).

Thereafter, the CM selection means 208 searches the timing content correspondence table 105 for one piece of information relating to a commercial that matches the user's preference (S92), and the commercial indicated by the searched information is stored in the storage device 202. It is checked whether or not there is (S93).

If the information is not stored (NO in S93), the search is started from the entry next to the previous search end position, and one piece of information related to the commercial matching the user's preference is selected (S92). On the other hand, when the commercial is stored (YES in S93), the storage device 202 is instructed to reproduce the commercial whose determination result in S93 is YES (S94), and when the commercial ends (S95 is terminated). YES), the process of S92 is performed again. Through the above processing, commercials that match the user's preference are continuously output to the viewing device 109. The above-described processing is repeated until the user instructs the end of the virtual CM dedicated channel (until S96 becomes YES).

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 23 is a block diagram of the third embodiment of the present invention, in which a plurality of user-side devices 300-1 to 300-n,
And a CM information distribution center 400. The user devices 300-1 to 300-n and the CM information distribution center 400
It is connected via a line such as the Internet.

[0120] The user apparatus 300-1 is provided with a transmitting / receiving means 301.
, A tuner device 302, a storage device 303, a date / time address correspondence table 304, a history notification unit 305, a preference matching table 306, a CM selection unit 307, and a viewing device 308.
CM broadcast timing CM content information acquisition means 309;
Timing content correspondence table 310 and additional information acquisition means
311, an additional information table 312, an additional information related processing means 313, and a user operation unit 314. Note that the other user devices also have the same configuration.

The transmission / reception means 301 has a function of exchanging data via a line such as the Internet.

The tuner device 302 is also compatible with Internet broadcasting, and has a function of switching directories and files between sites or within sites, so as to substitute for channels.

Storage device 303, date / time address correspondence table
Reference numeral 304 denotes the storage device 102 and the date / time correspondence table 1 shown in FIG.
It has the same function and configuration as 03.

The history notifying means 305 operates for a certain period (for example, 1
Weekly), the viewing history and the recording history indicating the television programs watched and recorded by the user during that period are stored in the CM information distribution center.
In addition to having a function of transmitting the broadcast timing information to the commercial information distribution center 400, it has a function of receiving the broadcast timing information of commercials that match the user's preference sent from the CM information distribution center 400 and storing it in the preference matching CM table 306.

The CM selecting means 307 replaces the commercial part in the signal output to the viewing device 308 with a commercial stored in the storage device 303 and which matches the user's preference. Has the function of outputting the data of (1) to the viewing device 308.

CM broadcast timing CM content information acquisition means
309 obtains commercial broadcast timing information indicating the broadcast timing of each commercial to be broadcast, commercial content information indicating the content, and CM identification information for identifying the commercial, and a timing content correspondence table
310 has the function of registering.

The additional information obtaining means 311 has a function of obtaining additional information relating to a commercial and storing it in the additional information table 312. The additional information is, as shown in FIG.
The CM identification information of the commercial related to the additional information, the data for the additional information screen for displaying the additional information screen, the information requesting information such as the e-mail address and the telephone number of the requesting material, and the merchandise purchase screen are displayed. The data includes product purchase screen data to be displayed, and product purchase destination information such as an e-mail address and a telephone number indicating a transmission destination of the product purchase information input by the user using the product purchase screen. Such additional information is transmitted from a broadcasting station or the like that manages the additional information to the user side device by superimposing it on a broadcast wave using a mechanism similar to the current teletext broadcasting, or transmitted over a telephone line or cable television. And can be sent to the user device.

The additional information related processing means 313 is
8 has a function of displaying an additional information screen and a product purchase screen, requesting materials such as catalogs, and transmitting product purchase information.

The CM information distribution center 400
1, user classification means 402, classification table 403, C
M broadcast timing notifying means 404 and a timing classification correspondence table 405 are provided.

The transmission / reception means 401 is connected to the user devices 300-1 to 300-1.
It has a function to send and receive data to and from 300-n.

In the classification table 403, classification numbers, genres of programs frequently viewed by users belonging to the classification, and favorite talents are registered in association with each other.

The user classifying means 402 is provided for the user side device 300-
i (1 ≦ i ≦ n), based on the viewing history, recording history and the contents of the classification table 403 sent from the user side device.
It has the function of acquiring the classification number of the classification to which the 300-i user belongs.

[0133] In the timing classification correspondence table 405, classification numbers and broadcast timing information of a plurality of commercials that are expected to match the tastes of users belonging to the classification are registered.

The CM broadcast timing notifying means 404 is based on the classification number of the user of the user device 300-i and the contents of the timing classification correspondence table 405 obtained by the user classification means 402, and It has a function of acquiring broadcast timing information and notifying the user device 300-i. The contents of the classification table 403 and the timing classification table 405 are the same as those of the user-side devices 300-1 to 300-30.
Favorite programs, talents,
The results of the commercial questionnaire and each user device 300-
It is determined based on the viewing history and operation history sent from 1 to 300-n via the Internet.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.

When the user of the user-side apparatus 300-1 performs an operation for viewing the broadcasted television program and an operation for reproducing the television program stored in the storage device 308, The same processing as in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is performed, and a commercial that does not match the user's preference is replaced with a commercial that matches the user's preference and output to the viewing device 308. However, in the first embodiment, in S4 of FIG. 5 and S16 of FIG. 6, one piece of information relating to a commercial matching the user's preference is searched from the timing content correspondence table. However, in the present embodiment, From the preference matching CM table 306, one piece of CM broadcast timing information relating to a commercial matching the user's preference is retrieved.

Next, the user operates the additional information-related processing means 313.
The operation when various requests are made to the server will be described.

When the user wants to know additional information about the car while the commercial is being played as shown in FIG. 25A, the user operates the user operation section 314,
It requests the additional information related processing means 313 to display an additional information screen.

Upon receiving this request, the additional information-related processing means 313 acquires the CM identification information of the commercial currently being broadcasted (S101 in FIG. 26). The CM identification information can be acquired, for example, as follows.

If the commercial output to the viewing device 308 is being aired, the broadcast start date and time stored in the entries of the timing content correspondence table 310 are past the current date and time. Then, an entry whose stored broadcast start date and time is closest to the current time is searched for, and the CM identification information stored in the entry is used as the CM identification information of the commercial currently being played. If the commercial output to the viewing device 308 is output from the storage device 303, the commercial is currently played based on the current playback address of the storage device 303 and the contents of the date / time address correspondence table 304. The broadcast date and time of the commercial is calculated, and the stored broadcast start date and time of the entries in the timing content correspondence table 310 are set to the entries before the calculated broadcast date and time. An entry whose start date and time is closest to the broadcast date and time is searched for, and the CM identification information stored in the entry is used as the CM identification information of the commercial currently being broadcast.

When the CM identification information is obtained in S101, the additional information table 312 is searched using the CM as a key to search for additional information related to the commercial currently being played (S10).
2). If it cannot be found, the process is terminated. If it can be found, the process of S103 is performed. When a commercial in which additional information is not stored is output to the viewing device 308, in order to prevent the user from requesting the display of the additional information screen, when displaying the commercial,
A mark indicating the presence or absence of additional information may be displayed.

In S103, the selection means 307a in the CM selection means 307 is instructed to select the output signal from the additional information related processing means 313, and the additional information screen information in the additional information found in S102 is selected. Output data. As a result, an additional information screen indicating the telephone number of the dealer or the like is displayed on the viewing device 308, as shown in FIG. 25B, for example.

After the additional information screen is displayed, the user
When a material such as a catalog is required, a material request request is input from the user operation unit 314, and when a product is to be purchased, a product purchase request is input.

When the material request is input (YES in S104), the additional information-related processing means 313 requests the material request destination indicated by the material request information in the additional information, via a line, for a catalog or the like. An e-mail is sent (S105).

When a product purchase request is input (S
If 106 is YES), the additional information-related processing means 313 outputs the data for the product purchase screen in the additional information (S107).
As a result, a product purchase screen as shown in FIG. 25C is displayed on the viewing device 308. When the product purchase screen is displayed, the user inputs necessary information for purchasing the product, and the additional information-related processing means 313 compares the input required information (product purchase information) with the product purchase destination in the additional information. The information is transmitted to the product purchaser indicated by the information via the line (S10
8).

To end the processing of the additional information related processing means 313, the user inputs an end instruction from the user operation section 314. When an end instruction is input (S109: YE
S), the additional information related means 313 returns the selecting means 307a to the original state (the state of selecting the output of the tuner device 302 or the state of selecting the output of the storage device 303) (S11).
0).

Next, operations of the history notifying means 305 and the CM information distribution center 400 will be described.

History notification means 305 in the user device 300-1
The CM information distribution center 40 transmits, via a line, a viewing history and a recording history indicating a television program watched and recorded by a user during a certain period (for example, one week).
Send to 0.

The user classifying means 402 in the CM information distribution center 400 is based on the viewing history, recording history and the contents of the classification table 403 sent from the user device 300-1.
The classification number of the classification to which the user of the user device 300-1 belongs is acquired, and the acquired classification number and the user ID of the user device 300-1 are passed to the CM broadcast timing notifying means 404. As a result, the CM broadcast timing notifying means 404 predicts from the timing classification correspondence table 405 that the CM broadcast timing information (corresponding to the user's preference of the user device 300-1) registered in association with the classification number. Using the transmission / reception means 401, the broadcast timing information of the commercial is transmitted to the user device 300- indicated by the user ID.
Send to 1.

The history notification means 305 in the user device 300-1
When the CM broadcast timing information is sent from the CM information distribution center 400, the CM broadcast timing information is transmitted to the taste matching CM table 306.
To be stored.

[0151]

As described above, the television signal storage / reproduction device of the present invention replaces the commercial portion in the signal output to the viewing device with a commercial that matches the user's preference, so that the user can convert the television program. There is the effect that it is possible to view commercials that match the tastes by effectively utilizing the viewing time. In addition, you can only watch commercials that match your tastes,
It is possible to prevent viewing of commercials that the user does not want to view, such as commercials that adversely affect children.

In the television signal storage / playback apparatus of the present invention, when the television signal storage / playback apparatus is activated, when the electronic program guide screen is displayed on the viewing apparatus, the recording reservation screen is displayed on the viewing apparatus. A commercial program that matches the user's preference is output even when the recorded program list screen is displayed on the viewing device, when the power is instructed by the user, or when the commercial is requested by the user. Therefore, there is an effect that the user has more opportunities to view commercials that match his / her taste.

Further, since the television signal storage / reproduction apparatus of the present invention is provided with commercial reproduction genre information acquisition means for acquiring a genre of a program for displaying commercials at the same time, a program of a genre in which commercials tend to be fast-forwarded is provided. There is also an effect that a commercial that matches the user's preference can be viewed when is reproduced.

Further, in the television signal accumulating / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention, the commercial information distribution center obtains the broadcast timing information of the commercial matching the user's preference of the user side apparatus based on the history notified from the user side apparatus. Therefore, there is an effect that the configuration of the user-side device can be simplified.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of a date / time address correspondence table 103;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a content example of a timing content correspondence table 105;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a preference information setting screen.

FIG. 5 is C when watching a program being aired.
9 is a flowchart showing a processing example of the M selection means 108.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing example of the CM selection means 108 when viewing a stored program.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of a date / time address correspondence table 203;

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of an operation mode table 214.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a genre setting screen.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a processing example of the CM selecting means 208 at the time of activation.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a processing example of the CM selection means 208 when the CM reproduction genre mode is ON.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a display example when the CM reproduction genre mode is ON.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a processing example of the CM selection means 208 when an EPG screen is displayed.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a display example when the EPG screen mode is ON.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a processing example of the CM selection means 208 when a recording reservation screen is displayed.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a display example when a recording reservation screen mode is ON.

FIG. 18 shows a CM selection unit 208 when a recorded program list screen is displayed.
6 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing of FIG.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a display example when a recorded program list screen mode is ON.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a processing example of the CM selecting means 208 when a power-off is instructed.

FIG. 21 is a diagram for explaining a virtual commercial channel.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing a processing example of the CM selecting means 208 when reproduction of a virtual CM specialized channel is requested.

FIG. 23 is a block diagram of a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating a content example of additional information.

FIG. 25 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the additional information related processing means 313.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing a processing example of an additional information related processing means 313;

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 ... Tuner device 102 ... Storage device 103 ... Date and time address correspondence table 104 ... CM broadcast timing CM content information acquisition means 105 ... Timing content correspondence table 106 ... User preference information acquisition means 107 ... Preference information table 108 ... CM selection means 108 a ... Selection means 109 viewing device 110 user operation unit 202 storage device 203 date / time address correspondence table 208 CM selection means 208 a selection means 208 b synthesis means 211 CM reproduction genre information acquisition means 212 CM reproduction genre table 213 ... operation mode setting means 214 ... operation mode tables 300-1 to 300-n ... user side device 301 ... transmission / reception means 302 ... tuner device 303 ... storage device 304 ... date and time address correspondence table 305 ... history notification means 306 ... preference matching CM Table 307: CM selection means 307a: Selection means 308: Viewing device 309: CM broadcast timing CM contents Information acquisition means 310… Timing content correspondence table 311… Additional information acquisition means 312… Additional information table 313… Additional information related processing means 314… User operation unit 400… CM information distribution center 401… Transmission means 402… User classification means 403… Classification Table 404: CM broadcast timing notification means 405: Timing classification correspondence table

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 7/08 H04N 5/91 L 5K061 7/081 7/08 Z 7/173 630 (72) Inventor Ochiai Katsuhiro F-7-term, Shiba 5-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo NEC Corporation F term (reference) 5C025 AA23 BA25 BA27 BA28 CA06 CA09 CB08 CB10 DA01 DA10 5C052 AA01 AA02 AC08 CC20 DD10 5C053 FA14 FA20 FA23 FA24 FA30 HA29 JA22 JA30 KA01 KA08 KA24 KA30 LA07 LA14 5C063 AA20 AB03 CA23 CA40 DA07 5C064 BA07 BB10 BC16 BC20 BC27 BD02 BD07 5K061 AA09 BB07 BB17 DD00 DD12 FF01 FF11 JJ07

Claims (23)

[Claims] 1. A tuner device for receiving a television signal, a storage device for storing the television signal received by the tuner device, and a commercial suitable for a user's preference among commercials stored in the storage device And a commercial selection unit for replacing a commercial part in a signal output to the viewing device when the user watches the television program with the selected commercial. 2. A user preference information acquisition means for acquiring preference information indicating a user's preference for a commercial, and a commercial content information acquisition means for acquiring commercial content information indicating the content of each commercial stored in the storage device. And, the commercial selection means, based on the preference information acquired by the user preference information acquisition means and the commercial content information acquired by the commercial content information acquisition means,
2. The television signal storage / playback apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a commercial that matches a user's preference is selected from commercials stored in the storage device. 3. When the television signal storage / reproduction device is activated, the commercial selection means selects one of the commercials stored in the storage device, which suits the user's preference, and sends it to the viewing device. 2. The television signal storage / playback device according to claim 1, further comprising an output unit. 4. The commercial selection means, when an electronic program guide screen is displayed on the viewing device, sequentially selects commercials that match the user's preference from commercials stored in the storage device, 2. The television signal storage / playback apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selected commercial is displayed on a part of the electronic program guide screen. 5. The commercial selection means, when a recording reservation screen is displayed on the viewing device, sequentially selects commercials that match a user's preference from commercials stored in the storage device, and selects the commercials. 2. The television signal storage / playback apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the commercial is displayed on a part of the recording reservation screen. 6. The commercial selection means, when a recorded program list screen is displayed on the viewing device, sequentially selects commercials that match a user's preference from commercials stored in the storage device, 2. The television signal storage / playback apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selected commercial is displayed on a part of the recorded program list screen. 7. The commercial selection means, when the user instructs to turn off the television signal storage / reproducing apparatus, selects one commercial suitable for the user from the commercials stored in the storage apparatus. 2. The television signal storage / playback apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said television signal storage / playback apparatus has a configuration for selecting and outputting to said viewing apparatus. 8. The commercial selecting means, when the user requests viewing of a commercial, sequentially selects commercials that match the user's preference from commercials stored in the storage device, and selects the commercials. 2. The television signal storage / playback apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the television signal storage / playback apparatus has a configuration for outputting to the viewing apparatus. 9. The commercial content information acquiring means,
The television signal storage / reproduction device according to claim 2, further comprising a configuration for acquiring commercial content information superimposed on the television signal received by the tuner device. 10. The commercial content information acquiring means has a configuration for acquiring commercial content information by communicating with a commercial content information management center that manages commercial content information. 13. The television signal storage and playback device according to claim 1. 11. The user preference information acquiring means has a configuration in which a preference information setting screen is displayed on the viewing device, and preference information set by a user is acquired using the preference information setting screen. The television signal storage / reproduction device according to claim 2. 12. The television signal storage / reproduction according to claim 2, wherein said user preference information acquisition means has a configuration for acquiring preference information based on a history of programs that the user has viewed or recorded in the past. apparatus. 13. The user preference information acquiring means has a configuration for acquiring preference information based on the reproduction ratio of each program stored in the storage device and the content of each program. Item 3. A television signal storage / reproduction device according to item 2. 14. The television signal storage / playback apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said user preference information acquisition means acquires preference information based on the content of a commercial that was not fast-forwarded during reproduction. 15. A tuner device for receiving a television signal, a storage device for storing the television signal received by the tuner device, a user preference information acquisition unit for acquiring preference information indicating a user's preference for commercials, Commercial content information acquisition means for acquiring commercial content information indicating the content of each commercial stored in the storage device, and commercial playback genre information acquisition for acquiring commercial playback genre information indicating a genre of a program to be simultaneously displayed with the commercial Means, based on the preference information obtained by the user preference information obtaining means and the commercial content information obtained by the commercial content information obtaining means in accordance with a user's instruction, from among the commercials stored in the storage device, According to the taste of A process of selecting a commercial and replacing a commercial part in a signal output to a viewing device when the user watches a television program with the selected commercial, or obtaining the commercial reproduction genre information stored in the storage device When the program of the genre obtained by the means is output to the viewing device, the commercials that match the user's preference are sequentially selected from the commercials stored in the storage device, and the video of the selected commercial is selected. A television signal storage / reproducing apparatus, comprising: a CM selecting unit for performing a process of simultaneously displaying the video of the program on the viewing device. 16. The commercial reproduction genre information obtaining means displays a genre setting screen on the viewing device,
16. The television signal storage / reproducing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein a genre specified by a user using the genre setting screen is acquired as commercial reproduction genre information. 17. The commercial reproduction genre information acquiring means, when reproducing a program stored in the storage device, obtains a ratio of fast-forwarded commercials among commercials in the program, and the ratio is equal to or more than a predetermined value. 16. The television signal storage / reproducing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the genre of the program is acquired as commercial reproduction genre information. 18. An additional information table in which additional information about a commercial is stored, and when the display of the additional information is requested by a user while the commercial is being output to the viewing device, the additional information is stored in the additional information table. 2. A television signal storage / reproduction system according to claim 1, further comprising: an additional information related processing means for displaying an additional information screen based on the additional information relating to the currently output commercial on the viewing device. apparatus. 19. The additional information includes material request destination information indicating a material request destination, and the additional information related processing means requests a material request by a user when an additional information screen is displayed on the viewing device. 19. The television signal according to claim 18, wherein, in the case of a request, a material request is made via a communication line to a material request destination indicated by the material request destination information in the additional information related to the additional information screen. Storage and playback device. 20. The additional information includes merchandise purchase screen information for displaying a merchandise purchase screen and merchandise purchaser information indicating a merchandise purchaser. The additional information-related processing means includes an additional information screen displayed on the viewing device. If a product purchase is requested by the user when is displayed, a product purchase screen is displayed on the viewing device according to the product purchase screen information related to the additional information screen,
When the user inputs necessary items on the product purchase screen, the required items are transmitted to the product purchaser indicated by the product purchaser information related to the product purchase screen via a communication line. 19. The television signal storage and playback device according to claim 18, wherein: 21. A television signal storage / reproduction system comprising a commercial information distribution center and a plurality of user devices connected to the commercial information distribution center, wherein each of the user devices is a television signal. , A storage device for storing television signals received by the tuner device, and a notification of the history of programs previously viewed or recorded by the user to the commercial information distribution center, and the commercial information distribution center. History notifying means for receiving broadcast timing information of commercials that match the user's preference sent from the user; broadcast timing information of commercials that match the user's preference received by the history notifying means; Based on the correspondence between the date and time when the signal was stored and the storage address Selecting a commercial that matches the user's preference from among the commercials stored in the storage device, and using the selected commercial as a commercial part in a signal output to the viewing device when the user watches a television program. The commercial information distribution center, based on the history notified from the user-side device, obtains the broadcast timing information of the commercial that matches the user's preference of the user-side device; Is transmitted to the user device of the history notification source. 22. The tuner device includes a configuration for receiving analog terrestrial broadcasting, a configuration for receiving digital terrestrial broadcasting, a configuration for receiving analog cable television broadcasting, a configuration for receiving digital cable television broadcasting, and a configuration for receiving analog satellite broadcasting. 16. The television signal storage / playback device according to claim 1, wherein the television signal storage / playback device has a configuration for receiving, a configuration for receiving digital satellite broadcasts, or a configuration for receiving Internet broadcasts. 23. The television signal storage and playback device according to claim 1, wherein the storage device is a hard disk device or a digital video disk device.