JP2002300614A - Personal data base generating method and displaying method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain programs which are selected out of a plurality of programs that are broadcast on many channels and retrieved from a program database corresponding to subscribers' taste, and to automatically make program reservations and records by the use of the above process. SOLUTION: Program taste information which is required to be recorded is transmitted from a program reservation unit 10 to a program retrieving unit 20, the program retrieving unit 20 retrieves and obtains target program information from a program information storage unit 30 on the basis of the program retrieving information fed from the program taste information, personal taste data used for retrieving the programs are updated and stored as a personal information database in the program retrieving unit 20, so that programs which meet most subscribes' taste can be automatically retrieved by the use of the personal data base.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic program reservation for recording a program broadcasted on the basis of user preference information, and more particularly to program preference information obtained by a user via a communication network. The present invention relates to a program reservation system that creates a user database based on a database and automatically searches and provides program information that the user prefers based on the database.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, analog television broadcasting has been performed, and the number of broadcasting channels, such as BS broadcasting and CS broadcasting, has been increasing. Recently, BS digital broadcasting has started, and preparations are underway to start terrestrial digital broadcasting in 2003.

[0003] In digital broadcasting, video signals are converted to MPEG signals.
Broadcasting channels are further increased, for example, because compression encoding is performed according to the -2 system and broadcasting is performed using a highly efficient digital modulation system, so that three digital channels are broadcast using one channel of analog TV broadcasting band. You.

[0004] In such a situation, a viewer receiving a broadcast service receives a program while so-called channel hopping, that is, a user frequently finds a program of interest while switching channels to be received and watches the program.

[0005] As another method of finding the reception channel, the program contents are grasped in advance while looking at the program table of a newspaper or a magazine, and the program of the channel is viewed or the program of the channel is reserved in a VTR or the like. Recording is generally performed.

However, the number of reception channels is increasing year by year, and it takes a considerable amount of time to investigate all programs on broadcast channels that can be actually received and to select a program to be recorded. There is a need for a method of easily searching for a program.

On the broadcast station side, an EPG (Electric Program Guide) is provided for the receiver to make such program search convenient.
In order to make it possible to search for a program, information is broadcast as code information in a broadcast frequency band or an additional information channel using a subcarrier.

However, in order to make it easy to search for a program at home by using information supplied by a variety of program information providing media, information integration, unification of provided formats, and program search It is necessary to build a viewer-friendly program search system by solving many problems such as popularization of keywords for use.

A method for automatically searching for a TV program that may be of interest to a viewer from a channel guide list, and automatically searching for a specific TV program that satisfies a user's preference criteria, and A method of generating a list of television programs when the search is completed is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-200638, entitled "Scheduler device using prediction agent for television receiver and method thereof".

[0010] Then, the method predicts a program that is considered to be interesting to a viewer in a television system in which at least program title information of a television program to be transmitted in the future is transmitted in advance and a channel guide list is configured. This document describes a method and a program search method used as a scheduler device that stores information about a television program watched by a user in the past as a search criterion and allows the user to edit the search criterion.

[0011]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional program prediction agent system, a function of automatically searching for a television program satisfying a criterion regarding a viewer's preference for program viewing is provided in advance by a television system and a video system. The recording device or audio signal recording device must have it.

A program search system having such an ideal automatic search function is still under development.
In addition, search engines become obsolete with the passage of time for receiving devices or recording devices that add this function, and the cost of those devices increases when a search engine is developed and installed that anticipates future technological advances. And other issues.

In view of the above, the present invention searches for a target program in a program receiving apparatus, a program recording apparatus, or a program recording reservation apparatus, stores program preference information transmitted from a recording reservation user as a database, and stores the user program preference database in the database. A search is also performed using EPG information that broadcasts program recording reservation information having a high preference level of the user based on the program information and program information that is formed and provided on the market, and recording reservations are automatically made based on the obtained program information. An object of the present invention is to provide a method of generating a personal database for creating information and a display screen for adding or deleting the personal database by operation to a user.

[0014]

The present invention comprises the following means 1) to 5) to solve the above-mentioned problems. That is,

1) Preference information relating to a search for reservation recording of a broadcast program supplied to a network with a user identification code attached is obtained, and the obtained preference information and the user identification code are added and stored. Based on the preference information obtained from the preference information database or the search program information obtained from the search program database which is the history of the search program, the program information database for the broadcast program is searched to obtain the search program data information. Supplying the obtained search program data information to the user via the network,
Updating the preference information database or the search program database by adding the preference information to the preference information database or additionally accumulating the search program data information in the search program database; Generation method.

2) The preference information or the search program data information is encrypted using the user identification code as a key, and is additionally stored in the preference information database or the search program database. How to create a personal database described in the section.

3) On the service provider side, the program preference information supplied by the user is added to the user's personal preference information database and stored in a storage device, and the personal preference information database stored in the storage device is stored in the storage device. On the basis of this information, a program information database in which information relating to a broadcast program is stored is obtained as a reserved program data for performing automatic program reservation recording on the user side by searching, and the obtained reserved program data is supplied to the user side. On the user side, settings for automatic program reservation recording are made based on reserved program data supplied from the service provider side, and editing functions such as addition or deletion of preference information stored in the personal preference information database are provided. Editing operation of the personal preference information database in the automatic program reservation recording system to have In the personal database display method, the service provider can obtain operation information indicating that editing related to the storage content of the personal preference information database supplied from the user has been completed, and the service information can be automatically obtained from the program information database. When it is possible to search for the reserved program data for performing the program reservation recording, information indicating that the operation of the automatic program reservation recording is possible is transmitted to the user side, and the transmitted data is transmitted to the user side. A method for displaying a personal database, wherein the display screen displays that automatic program reservation recording is possible by obtaining information.

4) On the service provider side, the program preference information supplied from the user side is added to the user's personal preference information database and stored in a storage device, and the personal preference information database stored in the storage device is stored in the storage device. On the basis of this information, a program information database in which information relating to a broadcast program is stored is obtained as a reserved program data for performing automatic program reservation recording on the user side by searching, and the obtained reserved program data is supplied to the user side. On the user side, settings for automatic program reservation recording are made based on reserved program data supplied from the service provider side, and editing functions such as addition or deletion of preference information stored in the personal preference information database are provided. Editing operation of the personal preference information database in the automatic program reservation recording system to have In the personal database display method, when the service provider designates the service provider from the user and obtains information for starting the operation related to the automatic program reservation recording, the service provider stores the information in the personal preference information database. The transmitted preference keyword information relating to the user, and related keyword information related to the preference keyword information, and the user side edits the preference keyword information based on the transmitted related keyword information. A method for displaying a personal database, wherein preference keyword information and related keyword information are displayed on a display screen for editing operation.

5) A program information database in which information related to broadcast programs is stored based on the preference program keywords stored in the preference program information database created based on the preference program keywords relating to the program desired by the user. Is a method for displaying a personal database related to a display screen that supports reservation record setting of program recording based on search program information data obtained by searching for the reservation record setting displayed on the display screen. When an operation is performed, a preference program keyword stored in the preference program information database and a related keyword related to the preference program keyword are displayed on the display screen, and the user's preference is displayed based on the displayed keyword. Add program keywords,
Or, when an operation of deletion is performed, and the preference program keyword enabling the operation of the automatic program reservation recording is obtained by the operation, the fact that automatic program reservation recording is possible is displayed on the display screen. How to display personal database.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of a method for generating a personal database and a method for displaying a personal database according to the present invention will be described below with reference to preferred embodiments. FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a program reservation device according to a first embodiment, which relates to an embodiment of a method for generating a personal database and a method for displaying a personal database, and outlines the configuration and operation thereof.

The program reservation apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes a user interface 11, a recorder 12, a preference information generator 13,
It comprises an encryptor 14, a network interface 15, an encryption / decryption device 16, a reservation device 17, and a display device 19.

The program reservation device 10 is connected to a plurality of PCs 51a, 51b,
51n (n is an integer value) and a plurality of servers 52a,..., 52m (m is an integer value).

Next, the operation of the program reservation device 10 thus connected and configured will be described. First, the user interface 11 is operated to input information such as the type of video program desired to be recorded by the user and the genre of a music program by key operation or the like based on an on-screen screen displayed on the display unit 19. A signal relating to the input information is supplied to the recorder 12.

The recorder 12 is a VTR, DVD-RAM
And a recording device having a function of recording a music signal such as a compact cassette or a DAT. The recording device is configured to output a video signal or a video signal based on an operation signal supplied from the user interface 11. The recording operation of the music signal is performed, and the supplied operation signal is supplied to the preference information generator 13.

In the preference information generator 13, a display 19
Based on an operation signal supplied by key operation in accordance with the screen content displayed on the screen, a preference information signal of a user's preference described later is generated, and a preference information signal of a predetermined format generated in this manner is generated. Is supplied to the encryptor 14.

In the encryptor 14, the supplied preference information signal is encrypted by a common key method or a public key method having a higher security level, and the encrypted signal obtained by the encryption is supplied to the network interface 15. The encrypted signal is supplied to the network 50 via the network interface 15.

The network 50 is connected to a plurality of personal computers (PCs) 51a, 51b, 51c,..., 51n and servers 52a,. Of these connected devices, the data is supplied to a personal computer or a server having an address number designated by the network interface 15.

Here, the network interface 15
The device specified and connected by is a program search device including a personal computer or a server of an application service provider described later, and the program search device is based on encrypted and supplied preference information. Then, the desired program information is obtained, and the obtained program information is generated as an encrypted preference program signal, and the address of the network interface 15 is specified and supplied to the network 50.

The network interface 15 accesses the computer of the application service provider when an encrypted preference program signal supplied from the application service provider is obtained or when a predetermined time elapses, and thereby the preference program signal is accessed. Is obtained and supplied to the encryption / decryption unit 16, where the supplied encrypted signal is decrypted to obtain a preference program signal, and the obtained preference program signal is stored in the reservation unit 1
7 is supplied.

The reservation unit 17 sets a program recording reservation of the recorder 12 based on the supplied favorite program signal, and starts recording of a predetermined program signal or music signal at the set time. It has been done.

In the recorder 12, the reservation status thus made is supplied to a display 19, and the display 19 displays the contents of the program reservation and the setting status of the recorder.
The user who operates the above-described user interface 11 can confirm the contents, and can perform a new key operation based on the displayed contents.

In this manner, the contents of the key operation performed by the user are supplied to the program search device of the application service provider to generate a desired preference program signal, and the generated preference program signal is transmitted to the program reservation device. The recording function of the supplied and intended program is set.

In the program reservation device and the program search device, for example, encryption using the public key method is performed by using the user ID for a part of the information on which the key is based, and they are connected via the network. Thus, the program search device can manage the key of each user even for a plurality of program reservation devices of a large number of users connected to the device.

In this manner, the application service provider having the program search device obtains the details of the program information scheduled to be broadcast from a plurality of broadcast stations, and performs program search using various keywords.
Each time the preference information is supplied with respect to the preference information of a plurality of users, personal preference data for a plurality of individual users is added to the same database to enhance the database,
It is designed to generate a more accurate desired preference program signal.

Next, a description will be given of a program search apparatus for generating the above-mentioned preference information signal which the user prefers. FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the program search device, and FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the program information storage device.

The program search device 20 shown in these figures includes a personal preference information database 21, a personal reservation information database 22, an encryptor 23, an encryption / decryption unit 24, a personal reservation information creator 25, a program search unit 26, and an encryption code. Decryption / decoder 2
7 and a network interface 28, and the program information storage device 30 includes a detailed program information database 31 and a network interface 32.

The program information storage device 3 configured as described above
0 and the program search device 20 are connected to a network 50. Next, the operation of the program information storage device 30 and the program search device 20 configured as described above will be described.

First, the program search device 20 obtains an encrypted signal supplied from the program reservation device 10 by specifying the address of the network interface 28 through the network interface 28, and the obtained encrypted signal is encrypted. It is supplied to the encoder / decoder 27.

In the encryption / decryption unit 27, the encrypted signal is decoded to obtain a preference information signal, and the obtained preference information signal is supplied to a program search unit 26. A target program is searched from programs stored in the detailed program information database 31.

That is, the detailed program information database 31 for the search is connected via the network interface 32 of the program information storage device 30, and the program searcher 26 is connected via the network interface 28 and the network 50. Detailed program information database 31
More targeted program information data is retrieved and obtained.

The program information data obtained by the search is supplied to the personal reservation information creator 25, and the supplied program information data is converted into a personal reservation information signal in a predetermined format. One of the generated personal reservation information signals is supplied to the encryptor 23 and the other is generated by the encryptor / decryptor 27.
Supplied to

One of the personal reservation information signals supplied to the encryption / decryption device 27 is subjected to an encryption process by a predetermined method, and the encrypted signal is transmitted via the network interface 28 and the network 50. The program is supplied to the program reservation device 10 described above.

The other personal reservation information signal supplied to the encryptor 23 is encrypted there, and the encrypted personal reservation information signal is supplied to the personal reservation information database 22 to store the personal reservation information stored in the past. It is added to the information database and stored.

The personal reservation information database stored, updated, and enhanced in this manner is used as a history of the user who has requested the search at the time of the next program search.
By referring to the history, the search accuracy of the target program is further improved.

Since it is necessary to prevent such a database relating to personal history from being used for an unintended purpose, data recorded as an information database is encrypted by the encryptor 23 and stored. When using the stored data, the read data is transmitted to the decryptor 24.
And used for improving the search accuracy.

In order to improve the search accuracy, the personal preference information supplied by operating the user interface 11 is stored and used as a database.
The personal preference information database is similarly encrypted and stored as the personal preference database 21.

The identification of an individual at the time of storing these databases is performed by a user ID in a preference information format described later, and the program reservation device is stored in the program search device of the application service provider. When it is desired to obtain such information, the user's personal reservation information database is accessed by using the user's own ID and, if necessary, a password, and personal reservation information and other related information are obtained via the network 50. There are also ways to make it work.

The configuration and operation of the program reservation device according to the first embodiment have been described above. Next, the configuration and operation of a second program reservation device as a modification will be described. FIG. 4 shows the configuration of a program reservation device according to the second embodiment.

The program reservation device 10a shown in FIG. 1 includes a user interface 11a, a recorder 12a, a preference information generator 13a, an encryptor 14, a network interface 15, an encryption / decryption device 16, a reservation device 17, a personal computer 18, and a display device. 19a.

The program reservation device 10a thus configured is different from the program reservation device 10 according to the first embodiment in that the recorder 12 has a function relating to the generation of personal preference information. The difference is that the recorder 12a itself does not have a function relating to the generation of the personal preference information.

Next, the operation of the thus configured program reservation device 10a will be described. The program reservation device 10a
Generates preference information and supplies it to the program search device 20 as in the first embodiment, but the preference information is performed by a user interface 11a different from the recorder 12a, for example, connected to a personal computer 18.

Then, the user interface 11a
Is performed based on the display screen of the display 19 connected to the personal computer 18. The personal computer 18 has software for generating personal information installed therein, and the display screen generated by the software is displayed on the personal computer 18. Display 19
Has been made to be displayed.

The preference information is generated by the personal computer 18 on the basis of the operation information inputted by operating the pointing device or the keyboard based on the display screen. The preference information generated in this manner is described later. Is supplied to the encryptor 14 as a signal of a predetermined format.

The preference information is encrypted and transmitted via the network interface 15 in the same manner as in the first embodiment.
For example, the program is supplied to a program search device 20 installed by an application service provider via a network 50 such as the Internet, and a preference program signal as a search result of the program search device is supplied to the program reservation device 10a. On the basis of the program signal, the reservation unit 17 makes settings for the program reservation / recording operation of the recorder 12a.

As described above, in the program reservation device 10 of the first embodiment and the program reservation device 10a of the second embodiment, the preference information generated by them is supplied to the program search device 20 via the network. At the same time, a preference program signal for program recording is generated, and a recorder built in the program reservation device is set to record video information or music information broadcast in accordance with the preference program signal. Things.

Next, an operation related to the reservation recording of the favorite program signal will be described. FIG. 5 shows an example of a screen display for setting program reservation recording, and the operation of program reservation recording will be described with reference to FIG.

The operation unit on the program reservation screen shown in FIG. 7 includes a program database selection / setting unit, a screen information setting / deletion unit, a time setting operation unit, and a program preview control unit.

First, the program database selection / setting unit sets the provider that supplies the program information to EPG-A, EPG-
B, EPG-C, and a service provider.

EPG-A to EPG-C indicate providers that provide electronic program guides. A service provider is a service provider (agent) that provides personalized program information by contracting with a user. The service provider is selected and set by operating the triangular arrow shown on the left side of FIG.

When the specific service provider is set in this way, the program reservation devices 10 and 10a supply the information together with the user identification information to the program search device 20 managed by the service provider via the network 50.

In the program reservation device 20, the user's program preference keywords and a list of related preference keywords previously stored in the personal preference information database are transmitted to the user, and the transmitted keywords are displayed on the display unit 19.
Will be displayed.

The keyword displayed in this manner is confirmed by the user, and a desired favorite keyword to be added or deleted is selected by a screen information selection, setting, or deletion unit. At the stage when the preference keyword is determined, the "determine" button is operated, and the preference information determined in this way is transmitted to the service provider.

Then, the service provider having obtained the preference information searches the detailed program information database stored in the program storage device 30 based on the preference information, and obtains the program list obtained by the search. Transmitted to
The transmitted information is displayed on the display 19 in a search program list area.

The user “sets” the desired program from the search program list displayed in this manner, “deletes” the program not desired to be recorded, and “decides” when the operation on the reserved program list is completed. Is operated, and the program determined in such a manner is reserved, and the recording of the program is set so that the program is recorded when the reserved time comes.

The determined search program list is supplied to and stored in the personal reservation information database 22 of the program search device 20 via the network 50, and the stored reservation information database does not require the above-described operation. Program recording is automatically set by the service provider, and is used as data for automatic favorite program extraction in the automatic program reservation recording setting service.

Then, for example, when a favorite program keyword is edited by a user operation, the "OK" button is operated and the operation information is transmitted to the service provider. On the service provider side, automatic program reservation recording is performed using the favorite program keyword. When it is determined that the service for automatic program reservation recording is possible, information of "automatic program reservation recording possible" indicating that the service for automatic program reservation recording is possible is transmitted to the user side.

On the user side, the information of “automatic program reservation recording possible” is displayed on the display device to indicate that the setting for automatic program reservation recording is possible, and the user can perform the setting and non-setting operations. Let it do. That is, for example, the display of "automatic reservation recording" is displayed in light shaded characters, and when the setting is enabled, the part is blinked, and the part is operated to set "automatic reservation recording". When it is valid, the part is displayed in bright and clear characters.

In this way, the user transmits program preference information to the service provider, and the service provider searches for program information for automatic reservation recording and transmits it to the user. A format of a signal transmitted between a program reservation device on the user side and a program search device on the service provider side for making a recording reservation setting will be described.

FIG. 6 shows a preference information transmission format for transmitting an individual preference information signal. That is, the preference information signal generated by the preference information generation device includes a 64-bit system ID (identification) signal, a 64-bit user ID signal, a 16-bit total data size signal indicating the total data amount of these signals, A 16-bit preference information number signal indicating the number of preference information to be transmitted, preference information 1, preference information 2,..., And preference information N (N is a natural number) signal.

Then, each of the N pieces of preference information is 16
Bit preference information data size, 8-bit content type code 1, 8-bit content type code 2, 8
Number of bit preference data, preference data corresponding to the number,
It consists of an 8-bit keyword number and keywords corresponding to the number.

Further, the keyword is transmitted as data based on a combination of an 8-bit keyword character number and a keyword corresponding to the character number. FIG. 7 shows a format of the preference data transmitted in such a manner.

When the preference data is composed of N types of preference data, the respective preference data and N sets of data of the respective preference degrees for the preference data are transmitted in order.

FIG. 8 shows a transmission format of the keyword data. The N keywords such as the description of the program and the performers are a set of the number of keywords that can display kanji and hiragana in 2-byte code for each keyword, and the keyword data based on the number of characters. Are sequentially transmitted.

The transmission format of the personal preference information signal transmitted sequentially has been described above. In this manner, a program to be recorded is searched from a large number of contents based on the personal preference information signal.

FIG. 9 shows examples of the types of these contents. The figure shows the relationship between the content of the content and the type code 1 for largely classifying the content.

The type code 1 is defined in hexadecimal from "0" to "F", "0" is undefined content, "1" is movie, drama, "2" is news, etc.
"3" is show-related, ..., "B" is special content, "C" to "E" are reserved for the future, "F"
Are contents individually defined by the user.

The contents that have been roughly classified according to the type code 1 are classified into the middle class, and the type code 2 performs the classification. FIG. 10 shows an example of the type code 2 for middle-classifying content.

In the figure, together with a type code 2 for middle-classifying movie and drama contents classified as "1" of type code 1, the content is represented by "0" in hexadecimal.
To "F".

That is, “0” indicates a general movie, drama,
"1" is detective, thriller, "2" is adventure, western,
War stuff ... "8" is an adult movie, drama,
“9” to “E” are reserved for the future, and “F” is content individually defined by the user.

FIG. 11 shows an example of contents according to type code 2 of contents for children and young people whose type code 1 is “5”, and FIG. 12 shows contents of arts and educational contents whose type code 1 is “7”. The example of the content by the type code 2 is shown.

Each of the contents roughly classified as "0" to "F" in the type code 1 is the type code 2
, Each of which is classified as "0" to "F", and further sub-classification and further subdivision can be performed by providing a type code 3 and a type code 4 as necessary. .

Such a classification of contents is performed by, for example, DVB (Digital Video Broadcast
ting), ARIB (Association of Radio Industries)
and Businesses) and the like, so that the format is almost the same as the digital broadcasting system specified by the organizations such as
It is preferable that the format be consistent with G (Electronic Program Guide).

Next, preference data transmitted after these type codes will be described. FIG. 13 illustrates the contents of the preference data.

In the figure, the preference codes are classified into 256 levels from 0 to 255, and the type of preference is predetermined such as "1" for violence degree, "2" for healing degree,. In addition, the degree of the type of the preference is indicated by a degree of 0 to 100, and the greater the number of the degree, the higher the degree of the preference, which indicates that the preference is desired.

The preference information made in this manner is transmitted to the program search device 20, and the program search device 20 searches for the detailed program information stored in the program information storage device 30 so that the desired program information is obtained. Is obtained.

Next, the program information stored as the detailed program information database will be described. FIG. 14 illustrates information items related to the detailed program information database.

The information items shown in the figure are examples of information on programs stored in the detailed program information database 31, and include information items such as schedules for broadcasting, names of people related to programs, and program characteristics. ing.

FIG. 15 exemplifies the program contents stored in the detailed program information database for the information item. In this figure, the program content information corresponding to the information items shown in FIG. 14 is described. Such an information item and the program content information corresponding to the information item are collected by an application service provider having a program information storage device and a database is created.

The detailed program information database stores these information items and program content information in, for example, H
It is described in a predetermined format in TML (Hyper Text Markup Language: Hyper Text Description Language) or the like, and is available through the network 50 for a fee or free of charge.

The information items exemplified here may be expressed by using the preference code shown in FIG. 13 described above, but the expression method is such that the program information storage device 30 is used for the purpose of public disclosure. Is shown in plain terms without using numbers, and this is convenient for users who can directly access this information. However, the display method can be freely determined by preference codes or plain terms.

In the program search device 20, the target program information is searched based on the preference information transmitted from the program reservation devices 10, 10a using the database of the program information storage device 30 provided in this manner. The preference program signal obtained by the search is transmitted to the program reservation devices 10 and 10a. Next, the transmission format of the preference program signal will be described.

FIG. 16 shows a data format of a preference program signal transmitted as personal reservation information. The preference program signal shown in the figure is a 64-bit system ID signal for identifying the program reservation device, and 64 which is user identification information.
Bit user ID signal, a 16-bit total data size signal indicating the total data amount of the preference program signal data,
It is composed of signals of recording (recording) information 1, recording (recording) information 2,... And recording (recording) information N (N is a natural number).

[0093] Each recording (sound recording) information is 8
Bit program reception day, 8-bit broadcast identification code, 8
Bits of the program channel, each of which has 8 bits of program start time "hour", "minute", program end time "hour",
And "minute" signals.

For example, 0 is a Monday, 1 is a Tuesday,..., 6 is a Sunday, and 0 is a terrestrial analog broadcast and 1 is a BS. Analog broadcasting, 2 is BS digital broadcasting,
No. 3 is used like digital terrestrial broadcasting.

[0095] The program channel is directly designated by its channel number, and the program broadcast start and end time information is directly described by the number used for 24-hour display.

In this manner, the data of the favorite program signal is transmitted from the program search device to the program reservation device, the target program is searched and supplied to the program search device as the favorite program signal, and the video signal or the music signal is output. In the recording apparatus described above, a reservation for recording is set based on the preference program signal, and the target program is recorded.

The program reservation device for which the reservation setting is made usually transmits the program preference information from the same program reservation device, and the same device receives the preference program information and sets the recorder. These operations may be performed between different program reservation devices.

The different case is, for example, a case where an automatic program reservation for a home server installed in a living room is made by a program reservation device installed in a child's room, or a case where a program reservation person is assigned to a program reservation device owned by a friend. In this case, automatic program reservation is performed.

In this way, the user who operates the program reservation device can transmit the preference program information obtained by the operation result to the program reservation device managed by a user other than the user so as to transmit the preference program information to the user. Program reservation record information obtained by performing an operation by designating an ID identification number or an ID identification number for the program reservation device can be supplied to a plurality of program reservation devices.

The configuration and operation of the program reservation device including the video signal or music signal recording device and the program search device to which the device is connected via a network have been described.

With these devices, it is possible to easily realize an information recording device having a function of automatically searching for and recording a specific television program that satisfies the criteria regarding the user's viewing preference.

That is, the recording device is simply connected to a network, and by providing a transmission function relating to the preference program signal information, the user's viewing preference is retrieved and extracted, and the recorded program is recorded based on the extracted preference information. The reservation information is created, and the created reservation information can be obtained via a network. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a function for such a program search in the recording device, and a convenient function that reduces the price is provided. Can be configured.

The automatic program search function is
Terms and linguistic interpretations are needed for the described preference information and program information attached to the program. The ideal automatic search function for handling such intellectual information is still under development. Accuracy is evolving every day.

When such a developing technology content is installed in a consumer device, its function is likely to become obsolete and inconveniences the equipment purchaser. Therefore, such a function is installed in a consumer device. Instead, if the service is installed in an external application service provider as shown in the example, the update processing of the search algorithm of the site only needs to be performed in the provider's device, and the function of a large number of recording devices is thereby achieved. Can be improved.

The recording device equipped with these functions is always equipped with the latest program search algorithm, so that a satisfactory program search for the user can be performed.
This service is used because the preference data for the used program search and the reservation data of the search result are encrypted and the encrypted information is managed for each customer by an ID number. Leakage and misuse of personal privacy information are prevented.

In the future, when the system of the program preference keywords is improved and the performance of the program search engine for the program preference keywords is improved, the home server is provided with the function of the program search device, for example. The server performs automatic search reservation recording of a program that the user prefers.

Furthermore, if the user views the recorded program to perform a search for automatic program recording including program history, automatic program recording of a program with a higher preference level can be performed. It is possible to realize a home server capable of performing the above.

[0108]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the contents of the program that the user desires to record for reservation are supplied by the user's preference information, the user can transmit the preference information via the network. For example, the program desired to be recorded is retrieved from a plurality of pieces of broadcast information and transmitted. Therefore, the program that the user prefers is automatically set as a reservation, and the personal program according to the method of reserving the program to be recorded is set. There is an effect that a method of generating a preference database can be provided.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effects of the first aspect, program preference information,
This has the effect of providing a method for creating a personal program preference database that protects personal data related to program reservation or that manages data for each individual using a personal identification code.

Further, according to the third aspect of the present invention, when the search information for program search reservation including the program preference information transmitted from the user reaches a level necessary for performing the program search, To transmit information indicating that automatic program reservation recording can be performed to the user, the user displays, for example, on a screen for operating preference program automatic search information that automatic program reservation recording is possible. Has the effect of providing a personal database display method in which the recorder can be set for automatic program reservation recording by operating the display location.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when a service provider that provides information for program search reservation based on program preference information supplied from a user is designated as a service provider, The user transmits preference keyword information for program search stored in the past and keyword information related to the preference keyword for program search to the user side, and the user side further transmits the transmitted program preference information to the user's desire. There is an effect that a method of displaying a personal database for increasing the preference level of a program for which automatic program reservation recording is performed on a user's recorder can be provided by performing addition and deletion so as to match the keyword. .

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, program search preference keyword information for program search reservation and program search preference keyword based on program preference information obtained by a user's operation. Related related keyword information is displayed on a display screen for user operation, and the user adds and deletes program preference information so as to be a keyword that meets the user's desire. When the program preference information for the programmed program search reservation reaches a level necessary for performing the program search, the user displays the information indicating that automatic program reservation recording can be performed. To provide a method for displaying a personal database that allows the user to make settings for automatic program reservation recording with peace of mind. A.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a program reservation device connected to a network according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a program search device connected to a network according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a program information storage device connected to a network according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a program reservation device connected to a network according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a display screen of a program reservation device connected to a network according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a preference information transmission format.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a transmission format of preference data.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a transmission format of keyword data.

FIG. 9 is an example in which contents are classified by type code 1;

FIG. 10 is an example in which a movie or a drama having a type code 1 is further classified by a type code 2 and illustrated.

FIG. 11 is an example in which content for children and adolescents with a type code 5 is further classified by a type code 2 and illustrated.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example in which arts and culture contents having a type code of 7 are further classified by a type code 2;

FIG. 13 illustrates contents of preference data for a preference code.

FIG. 14 illustrates information items relating to a detailed program information database.

FIG. 15 illustrates the contents of a program stored in a detailed program information database.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a data format of a preference program signal transmitted as personal reservation information.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10, 10a program reservation device 11 user interface 12, 12a recorder 13 preference information generator 14 encryption device 15 network interface 16 encryption / decryption device 17 reservation device 18 personal computer 19 display device 20 program retrieval device 21 personal preference information database 22 personal reservation Information database 23 encryptor 24 encryptor / decryptor 25 personal reservation information creator 26 program searcher 27 encryptor / decryptor 28 network interface 30 program information storage device 31 detailed program information database 32 network interface 51a, 51b, 51c,... 51n PC 52a, ..., 52m Server

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 5/76 H04N 5/76 Z 5C063 5/7826 7/173 640Z 5C064 7/025 5/782 Z 7 / 03 7/08 A 7/035 7/173 640 F term (reference) 5B075 ND20 NK02 NR12 PP22 PQ02 PR03 PR08 UU34 5C018 HA10 5C025 CA02 CA09 CB08 CB09 DA01 5C052 AA01 AC08 CC11 DD06 5C061 BB03 5C063 AB07 AC07 DA07 BC07 BC18 BC23 BC25 BD03 BD08

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A method for obtaining preference information related to a search for reservation recording of a broadcast program supplied to a network with a user identification code attached thereto, storing the obtained preference information and the user identification code. Based on the preference information obtained from the preference information database or the search program information obtained from the search program database which is the history of the search program, the program information database for the broadcast program is searched to obtain the search program data information. Supplying the obtained search program data information to the user via the network, and adding the preference information to the preference information database, or additionally storing the search program data information in the search program database. Updating the preference information database or the search program database by using a personal database. Forming method. 2. The preference information or the search program data information is encrypted using the user identification code as a key, and is additionally stored in the preference information database or the search program database. 1. A method for generating a personal database according to 1. 3. The service provider adds program preference information supplied by the user to the user's personal preference information database and stores the program preference information in a storage device, and stores the personal preference information database stored in the storage device. On the basis of this information, a program information database in which information relating to a broadcast program is stored is obtained as a reserved program data for performing automatic program reservation recording on the user side by searching, and the obtained reserved program data is supplied to the user side. On the user side, settings for automatic program reservation recording are made based on reserved program data supplied from the service provider side,
A personal database display method according to an editing operation of the personal preference information database in an automatic program reservation recording system having an editing function such as addition or deletion of preference information stored in the personal preference information database, the service comprising: On the provider side, operation information indicating that editing relating to the storage content of the personal preference information database supplied from the user side is completed is obtained, and the reserved program data for performing automatic program reservation recording from the program information database is obtained. When the search is enabled, information indicating that the automatic program reservation recording operation is possible is transmitted to the user, and the user obtains the transmitted information to display the automatic program on the display screen. A method for displaying a personal database, which indicates that reservation recording is possible. 4. The service provider adds program preference information supplied by the user to the user's personal preference information database and accumulates the program preference information in a storage device, and stores the personal preference information database accumulated in the storage device. On the basis of this information, a program information database in which information relating to a broadcast program is stored is obtained as a reserved program data for performing automatic program reservation recording on the user side by searching, and the obtained reserved program data is supplied to the user side. On the user side, settings for automatic program reservation recording are made based on reserved program data supplied from the service provider side,
A personal database display method according to an editing operation of the personal preference information database in an automatic program reservation recording system having an editing function such as addition or deletion of preference information stored in the personal preference information database, the service comprising: On the provider side, when the service provider is specified by the user and information for starting the operation related to the automatic program reservation recording is obtained, preference keyword information on the user stored in the personal preference information database; and The user transmits the related keyword information related to the preference keyword information, and the user side edits the preference keyword information and the related keyword information for editing the preference keyword information based on the transmitted related keyword information. Display on a display screen Display method of people database. 5. A program information database in which information related to a broadcast program is stored based on a preference program keyword stored in a preference program information database created based on a preference program keyword relating to a program desired by a user. A method for displaying a personal database related to a display screen that supports reservation record setting of program recording based on search program information data obtained by searching for When an operation is performed, a preference program keyword stored in the preference program information database and a related keyword related to the preference program keyword are displayed on the display screen, and the user's preference is displayed based on the displayed keyword. Addition or deletion of program keywords is performed,
A method of displaying a personal database, characterized in that when the preference program keyword enabling the operation of the automatic program reservation recording is obtained by the operation, the fact that automatic program reservation recording is possible is displayed on the display screen.