JP2002152712A - Program guide providing system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] To provide program / sample information based on viewer attributes and preferences. SOLUTION: In step S1, after browsing a list of programs, free samples, etc., a viewer clicks specific items, such as specific programs, free samples, etc., in step S2. This click operation is performed, for example, by clicking 0 in the program column.
In the time zone from 0:00 to 01:00, by clicking on the “space” portion, the information is stored in the server of the program guide provider. The click operation may include, for example, clicking not only the word unit but also the entire sentence “living in an eco-house” in the same time zone. In step S3, the server of the program guide creator 6 counts the number of clocks and determines whether or not the predetermined number N has been reached. In step S4, the server picks up a keyword based on the stored click content. In step S5, a new list is created based on the picked-up keywords, and the list is immediately provided to the viewer 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a program guide providing system, and more particularly, to a program guide creator's server in which attributes and preferences of a viewer who is a client are registered, and based on the viewer's preferences. The present invention relates to a system for providing a list of broadcast programs customized for individual viewers, and a list of free sample information and event information related to the taste and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, broadcast channels have been diversified, and a huge number of broadcast programs have been provided to viewers. The broadcast program table is provided to newspapers and magazines as a table arranged in broadcast time order for each broadcast station. On the other hand, new product information and event information are published in magazines and the like, but are published separately from the program guide in the same magazine. Also, new product information and event information may be notified to general consumers by direct mail or the like.

[0003] Creating customized broadcast programs for individual viewers is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-8 / 1990.
No. 3888. In the “program display device” disclosed in this publication, a viewer sets a program search condition in the receiving device. The program search conditions include a program title, a video reference rate, a fee, control information, a category, and the like. The receiver creates and displays a program table that satisfies all search conditions based on the information superimposed on the television signal.

[0004] For example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-187324.
In the "program information creation device and method and receiving device" disclosed in the publication, based on the program information received by the receiving device, when the same program is broadcast in digital and analog, to select one, It consists of low-cost programs. "
"My Channel" can be created.

[0005]

However, viewers do not always select a broadcasting station to watch a program. Viewers watch TV programs while hunting channels and select those that suit their tastes.

[0006] On the other hand, the broadcast station cannot determine the taste of the viewer, which makes the viewer think that the television is boring, and there is a mismatch between the broadcast station and the viewer.

[0007] Further, from the standpoint of an advertiser who sponsors a broadcast program, even if the audience rating is raised by being viewed by a group of viewers who do not respond to the advertisement at all, there is a question of cost effectiveness. Occurs.

[0008] Similarly, it is questionable whether information such as introduction of events, provision of presents and samples for sales promotion, distribution of catalogs, etc. has been effectively delivered to consumers by means such as direct mail.

Therefore, the present invention connects a viewer, a broadcasting station, an advertiser, and a sponsor to a program guide creator on a network,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a program guide providing system for providing a viewer with a program guide and free samples / event information based on the viewer's attributes and preferences, if necessary, through the mediation of an advertising agency.

[0010] The present invention further provides that the broadcast station has the attribute
Improve audience ratings by analyzing tastes, constantly discovering the changing tastes of viewers, and enabling broadcasters to create high-quality programs that match those tastes. It is an object of the present invention to provide a program guide providing system that can provide the program guide.

[0011] The present invention further seeks to revitalize consumption behavior by focusing on products and services sold by sponsors of such high quality programs, and to increase the satisfaction of the sponsors and sponsors in terms of cost effectiveness. It is an object of the present invention to provide a program guide providing system that can perform the program.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems comprises a viewer, a broadcasting station, and an advertiser or a sponsor, each of which is network-connected to a program guide creator,
The program guide creator registers a plurality of items representing preferences of the viewer based on input from the viewer, and the broadcast station classifies broadcast programs according to the items, and the broadcast station provides the broadcast program. Register the list of programs to be performed with the program guide creator,
The advertiser or sponsor registers the free sample information categorized by the item with the program guide creator, and the viewer displays a program table that is a list of broadcast programs and a free sample list corresponding to the registered item. It is browsed on the homepage of the program guide creator.

In the present invention, when a viewer browsing the program table clicks an arbitrary description in the program table, the program table creator determines based on the contents of the clicked description. The program guide may be changed.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a program guide providing system according to the present invention. In this system, a plurality of viewers 1, a plurality of broadcasting stations 2, one or more advertising agencies 3, an advertiser 4, a sponsor 5, and a program guide creator 6 are connected by a communication network such as the Internet. I have.

Each of the viewers 1 uses a personal computer, a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant, etc.
The preference is registered with the program guide creator 6 existing in the site on the network.

Then, the program guide creator 6 browses the program guide created by the program guide creator 6 on the site on the network of the program guide creator 6 based on the preference or the like. Further, the viewer can view the detailed information of the program that the user is interested in as a result of browsing the program guide, the details of the business of the advertiser, such as the free samples provided by the sponsor, and the like via the program guide creator 6 via the Internet. The above link allows you to browse on each homepage.

Each of the broadcast stations 2 registers a daily list of broadcast programs provided by the broadcast station 2 to a program guide creator 6 via a network. This list includes program names categorized by broadcast start time, end time position, and viewer preference.

Here, for example, if preference items that can be specified by a viewer are classified as sports watching, outdoor, domestic travel, overseas travel, and the like,
Programs are also categorized by similar preference items. The viewer can select one or more from a plurality of preference items and register it in the database of the program guide creator 6, and the broadcast station 2 can select one or more from the plurality of items to classify the program.

Further, the broadcast station 2 may store the detailed information of the program in its own database, and browse the detailed information desired by the viewer on its homepage. This detailed program information is accessed by a link on the network via the program guide creator 6 when the viewer desires.

In general, a broadcast program to be sponsored is determined in consultation with the advertising agency 3.

Therefore, each of the advertising agencies 3
The advertiser 3 determines a broadcast program to be a sponsor in consultation with the advertiser. However, the consultation is not always performed via a network.

However, it is possible for the advertising agency 3 to negotiate a part or all of the contract contents with the advertiser 4 and the broadcasting station 2 via the network.

Each of the advertisers 4 is a sponsor of a particular program. In general, in order for the advertiser 4 to determine a broadcast program to be a sponsor, the broadcast program is determined in consultation with the advertising agency 3.

The advertiser 4 also sells / provides products /
It has a home page for posting service information, its history, business details, and the like. When the viewer desires, the home page is accessed by a link on the network via the program guide creator 6.

Each of the sponsor 5 and the advertiser 4 registers the sample or event information with the program guide creator 6. Sponsor 5
In addition, the advertiser 4 may transmit to the program guide creator 6 information such as reception of a present or a catalog for promotion in addition to the free sample / event information. The sample, event information, and the like are classified according to the above-mentioned preference items.

The sponsor 5 agrees with the purpose of the program, or
It provides free sample / event information in support of the advertiser 4, which is the sponsor of the program.

Therefore, the sponsor 5 can browse the detailed information of the program on the homepage of the broadcasting station 2 and the business contents of the advertiser 4 on the homepage of the advertiser 4 if necessary. Can be.

The program guide creator 6 includes viewer 1, broadcast station 2,
The information transmitted by the advertiser 4 and the sponsor 5 via the network is linked, and the information is matched with the viewer's attributes and tastes, so that programs, free samples, gifts,
Provide a list of catalog information and event information.
Further, the program creator 6 allows the viewer to view the detailed information of the program / sample, the business situation / history of the advertiser / sponsor, etc. using the link on the network.

FIG. 2 is a table showing an example of attributes and preferences registered by the viewer 1 in the server of the program creator. As shown in FIG. 2, the attributes include occupation, blood type, height, married / unmarried, children, and the like. In addition, the items of taste include the items of hobbies subdivided into sports, travel, do-it-yourself, etc., the items of frequently listened music subdivided into jazz, classical music, etc., and the subdivided into baseball, soccer, etc. Items such as sports items are included.

The contents of the attribute / preference registration table may be changed by the program guide creator 6. When there is a change, the changed attribute / preference registration table is transmitted to the broadcasting station 2, the advertiser 4, and the sponsor 5. Then, the classification of the program or the free sample is changed according to the new preference item or the like.

When the viewer 1 accesses the program guide creator 6, an attribute / preference registration table shown in FIG. 2 is presented. Then, the viewer 1 performs necessary input and registers attributes. At this time, the registration may be completed even if some inputs are rejected by a registration program.

FIG. 3 is a list of programs, free samples, and the like created by the program guide creator 6 based on the viewer's preference items and the like. This list is created by the program guide creator when each viewer 1 accesses the program guide creator 6, and is viewed by the viewer 1 who has made the access. As a result, whenever the viewer 1 desires, a program guide that matches his / her preference is obtained.

As shown in FIG. 3, the list includes a program guide section arranged in chronological order and a sample event listing information such as free samples provided by the advertiser 4 and the sponsor 5.
Includes gift box.

In the program guide column, programs matching the preference items of each viewer are posted for each time zone. Therefore, when there is no matching program, the column is blank, while when there are many matching programs, all of them are posted. The viewer 1 browses while scrolling the screen on a display such as a personal computer or an information terminal, if necessary. Alternatively, a plurality of windows for each program may be displayed simultaneously so that the programs can be compared with each other.

In the sample / event / presentation column, a free sample or the like matching each viewer's preference items is posted. This list is not directly related to the published program, but shares the favorite items to which the published program is applicable.

If no matching free samples exist, the column is blank, while if there are many matching free samples, all of them are listed. In this case, it is preferable to assign priorities to the provided samples, for example, to display the sample of the advertiser who is the program provider at the highest rank or on the largest screen. The viewer 1 browses while scrolling the screen on a display such as a personal computer or an information terminal, if necessary. or,
A plurality of windows for each program may be displayed simultaneously so that the programs can be compared with each other.

In the list shown in FIG. 3, preference items are created for a specific viewer 1 whose news items are environmental issues, lifestyle items, and documents.

For example, in the program guide column, 02: 0
In the time zone from 0 to 03:00, one program matching the preference item of the viewer 1 is posted. In this case, the program start time is 02:30, the program name is "fun table", the broadcasting station 2 is N TV, and the subtitle of the program is "cheap and safe natural food". And the sample
In the event / presentation column, three free samples or the like that match the preference items of the viewer 1 are posted. One of them is, for example, the nutritional food “XXX” presented by Company R.
X ".

The viewer 1 can obtain detailed information on a program or the like by browsing the list shown in FIG. That is, viewer 1
Can obtain detailed information of the program “Spaceship Earth” starting at 00:20, for example, via a link on the network via the program guide creator 6. For this purpose, for example, the homepage of the television A, which is the broadcasting station 2 that produces the program, can be accessed. The same applies to the details of events, catalogs, presents, etc., such as the history of companies P, Q, and R.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a process of changing the list based on the viewer's browsing operation while browsing the list. The list is changed when the viewer clicks on a description item such as a specific program or a free sample.

In the program guide providing system of the present invention,
After the browsing of the list shown in FIG. 3 is started in step S1, the viewer can click on a specific entry such as a specific program / sample in step S2.

This clicking operation is performed, for example, in the time zone from 00:00 to 01:00 in the program column of FIG.
By clicking on the "space" part, the information is stored in the server of the program guide provider.

The click operation may include, for example, clicking not only the word unit but also the entire sentence “living in an eco-house” in the same time zone. Also, the viewer 1 may similarly click the sample event / presentation column.

In step S3, the server of the program guide creator 6 counts the number of clicks for each program and each sample, and determines whether or not a predetermined number N has been reached.

Subsequent to step S3, step S4
In, the server picks up the keyword based on the stored click content. In the example of Step 2, the keywords to be picked up are “space” and “eco-house”. However, depending on the algorithm of the server, in addition to "space" and "eco-house",
"House" can also be a keyword.

Next, in step S5, an item is changed or the priority of the item is changed based on the picked-up keyword, and a new list is created. For example, the server of the program guide creator 6 searches and reads out the program / sample including the picked-up keyword as having a high priority and reads out the contents of the original list with the read-out program / sample. Replace it. In this case, when the number of clicks on either the broadcast program list or the free sample information list reaches the predetermined number N, both the broadcast program list and the free sample information list are changed.

To create a new list, instead of using the keywords as they are, new keywords that can be associated with the keywords may be used. Associating keywords is software, associative memory,
Alternatively, it may be executed using both.

The new list thus obtained is immediately available to the viewer 1 for viewing.

Next, in step S6, if the viewer 1 is not interested in the new list, the new list is deleted, and the process returns to step S1 to browse the list using the registered preference items. Will be resumed.

On the other hand, if the viewer 1 is interested in the new list in step S6, the process proceeds to step S7.

In step S7, the browsing is continued by replacing the original list viewed in step S1 with a new browsing table. At this time, the original browsing table may be deleted, or may be stored in the server of the program guide creator to prepare for subsequent browsing.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a process of creating a new list by picking up keywords based on the instruction of the viewer 1.

In FIG. 5, step S30 is executed instead of step S3 in FIG. In step S30, the viewer 1 instructs the program creator 6 to pick up a keyword.

The other steps are the same as those in the flowchart of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram for explaining the memory arrangement of the program guide providing system of the present invention. The server of the program guide creator 6 includes an attribute / preference registration memory 11 and the like.

The attribute / preference register memory 11 stores data of all the viewers 1a, 1b, 1c and the like.

The program registration memory 12 stores program information transmitted from all broadcast stations 2. However, the detailed information of each program, for example, the outline of the program, is stored in the memory of each broadcasting station 2, and the viewers 1a, 1a
b, 1c, etc., may be accessed via the exchange node of the network and the buffer of the program guide creator.

The free sample registration memory 13 stores free sample information transmitted from all the advertisers 4 and the sponsors 5. Here, the free sample information includes free sample information, gift information, pamphlet provision information, event information, and the like. Detailed information on individual samples and the like, and detailed information on the advertiser 4 and the sponsor 5 such as business outlines are stored in the memory of each advertiser 4 and the sponsor 5, and the viewers 1a, 1b, 1c, etc., via the exchange node of the network and the buffer of the program guide creator.

The keyword memory 14 stores the words described in the program guide column and the sample event / presentation column, which are clicked by the viewer and the number of clicks.

The associative memory 15 is a memory that associates one or more new words from one or more keywords. The program creation program uses the new word to store the attribute / preference registration memory 11 and the program registration memory 1
2. Retrieve the free sample registration memory 13 to change the program table, that is, the list of programs and free samples.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram for explaining the flow of information in the program guide providing system of the present invention.

In FIG. 7, the information A is the content of the viewer 1 registering the preference and determining the priority of the preference.

The information B is the content registered by the broadcasting station 2 by adding a category (preference, etc.) and a key (keyword) to the program.

Information C indicates that the advertiser 4 has advertiser information,
This is the contents to be registered by attaching a category and a key (keyword) to a sample, a present, a catalog, an event, and the like.

The information D is the content registered by the sponsor 5 by attaching a category (preference, etc.) and a key (keyword) to a sample, a present, a catalog, an event, and the like.

The program creator 6 having received such information A, B, C, and D via the network associates each information with a program.

Then, based on the interlocking content E, information B,
C and D are matched with information A.

Then, by the click operation of the viewer 1 who browses the program table which is the matching result F, the priority order such as the preference is changed according to the click frequency. The change result G is reflected on the interlocking result E again.

Changing the priority of A at the click frequency (G) and changing the priority of C and D at the click frequency (H) are performed simultaneously. For example, an item for classifying a program or a priority of an item is changed according to a click frequency of a program column, and at the same time, a priority of a sample, a present, a catalog, an event, etc. of the same category is also changed. The reverse may also be the case.

While performing the click operation, the viewer 1, the advertiser C, and the sponsor D receive detailed information I,
J can be browsed on the corresponding homepage and reflected in the click operation again.

Thus, the viewer 1 determines a program to be watched. At this time, the viewer 1 can switch the channel by a click operation or make a video reservation by a click operation (K) via the site of the program creator.

The advertiser 4 and the sponsor 5 can review the registered contents again based on the detailed information J (L).

[0074]

According to the present invention described above, it is possible to provide a viewer with a program guide and free sample / event information based on the viewer's attributes and preferences.

In particular, the broadcasting station can create a high-quality program that matches the tastes of the viewer, etc.
The audience rating can also be improved.

Further, in particular, an advertiser sponsoring such a high-quality program attracts attention to products and services to be sold to activate consumption behavior and to satisfy advertisers and sponsors in terms of cost effectiveness. The degree can be increased.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a program guide providing system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows an example of an attribute / preference registration table registered by a viewer in a program guide creator's server.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a list of programs and samples provided by a program guide creator.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a process of changing a list of programs, free samples, and the like by a viewer's click operation.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining another process of changing a list of programs, samples, etc. by a click operation of a viewer;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram for explaining a memory arrangement of the program guide providing system according to the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram for explaining the flow of information according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 viewer 2 broadcast station 3 advertising agency 4 advertiser 5 sponsor 6 program guide creator 11 attribute / preference registration memory 12 program registration memory 13 sample registration memory 14 keyword memory 15 associative memory

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A viewer, a broadcasting station, and an advertiser or a sponsor are each connected to a program guide creator via a network, and the program guide creator sets a plurality of items representing attributes and preferences of the viewer. Registering based on the input from the viewer, the broadcast station categorizes broadcast programs by the item,
The list of programs provided by the broadcast station is registered with the program guide creator, the advertiser or sponsor registers the free sample information classified by the item in the program guide creator, and the viewer, A program guide providing system for browsing a program guide, which is a list of broadcast program information and a list of free sample information corresponding to the registered items, on a homepage of a program guide creator. 2. The broadcast station stores detailed information of a broadcast program included in the program guide in its server, and the viewer accesses the detailed information via the program guide creator. 2. The program guide providing system according to claim 1, wherein 3. The program guide providing system according to claim 1, wherein the viewer accesses the sponsor through the program guide creator. 4. A viewer browsing the program table clicks an arbitrary description in the program table, and the program table creator clicks on the click when the number of clicks reaches a predetermined number. 2. The program guide providing system according to claim 1, wherein the program guide is changed based on the contents of the description. 5. A viewer who browses the program table, clicks an arbitrary description in the list, and the program table creator responds to an instruction by another click operation of the viewer to display the broadcast program information. 2. The program guide providing system according to claim 1, wherein the list and the sample information list are changed.