JP2005348365A - Content specifying/designating device and content specifying method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device and a method for creating information with which a specified content is viewed and listened. <P>SOLUTION: The content specifying/designating device 1 specifies a content according to a content specification/designation 10, acquires the information 11 of a specified content from a viewing/listening content management means, creates content specification information 12 according to the information of acquired content, and transmits it to a content viewing/listening designation unit 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a content specification instruction device and a content specification method, and more particularly to a content specification instruction device and a content specification method for transmitting information for specifying content.

  In conventional TV program reservations, viewers can manually input broadcast channels and broadcast times by referring to program guides published in magazines and newspapers, or by entering G codes (registered trademarks). Watch reservations and recording reservations were made.

In Patent Document 1 below, a user acquires program guide information using an operation instruction terminal such as a mobile phone or a remote controller, browses the program guide displayed on the operation instruction terminal, and selects a program to be reserved. And a system in which the operation instruction terminal performs the reservation operation on its behalf.
JP 2000-13697 A

  In order to convey the information “This program is interesting” to a friend, it is necessary to take two steps: first, information for designating a program, and then transmitting information for designating the program.

  However, even if the user wants to easily convey information related to the viewing of the program “This program is interesting” to the friend, in the method described in Patent Document 1 and the prior art, the user who wants to communicate the newspaper, magazine, etc. It is necessary to refer to the paper medium or the electronic program guide, acquire information about the program, and send it to the other party who wants to convey it using a communication medium such as e-mail. Even if you just want to tell about the program you are watching or watching right before your eyes, you do not need to refer to the electronic program guide as described above to identify the program. Must not. Also, you can manually enter plain text like "Watch 8 channels from 9:00 tomorrow", but you just want to tell the program you are watching in front of you. Will be forced. That is, it can be considered that the step of creating information specifying a program is the most complicated work, and it is considered that convenience for the user is improved by reducing this work.

  The present invention has been made based on the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide a content designation instruction apparatus and a content designation method that can simplify the creation of information for designating content and teach others.

  In order to achieve the above object, a content designation instruction apparatus according to the present invention manages content that is controlled by a content control unit that controls content and the content that is viewed by or viewed by a user. Viewing content management means, user instruction input accepting means for accepting a designation instruction by a user who designates content from the contents managed by the viewing content management means, and content designation instruction accepted by the user instruction input accepting means Content specification information creating means for creating information for designating the content designated based on the content.

  Further, the user instruction input receiving means includes means for receiving a designation instruction for content that can be viewed in the future or content that is scheduled to be viewed by the content designation instruction device.

  Thus, the user can create the content designation information simply by giving an instruction to designate the content.

  Further, the user instruction input accepting unit further accepts information for further designating a part or a plurality of parts of the designated content, and the content designation information creating unit is configured to receive the designated content based on the user instruction. Content designation information for further designating a part or a plurality of parts is created.

  As a result, it is possible to create content designation information including information for designating a part or a plurality of parts in the content.

  Further, the content designation information creating means includes one or a plurality of time information in the content designation information in order to designate a part or a plurality of parts of the designated content.

  Thereby, a part or a plurality of parts in the content can be specified by the time information.

  Further, the time information is time information for specifying a certain moment or time information for specifying a certain period.

  Thereby, a part or a plurality of parts in the content can be specified using a certain moment or a certain period.

  Further, the content designation information creating means uses the time information measured by the time measurement means as time information included in the content designation information in order to designate a part or a plurality of parts of the designated content.

  Thereby, it is possible to easily specify the measured time information without specifying a part or a plurality of parts in the content.

  Furthermore, content storage means for storing content and content storage information storage means for storing information on the content stored in the content storage means are provided, and the content specified by the content specification instruction was stored content In this case, the content designation information creation means is content designation information based on the accumulation absolute time stored in the content accumulation information storage means and the reproduction position of the accumulated content when the content designation instruction is performed. Create

  As a result, the content designation information can be created based on the accumulated content information.

  Further, when creating content designation information based on the absolute time during accumulation stored in the content accumulation information storage means and the reproduction position of the accumulated content when the content designation instruction is performed, The information processing apparatus further includes means for calculating an assumed press time, and sets time information for specifying a part or a plurality of parts of the specified content.

  As a result, when the content specification information is received, when viewing the content based on the content specification information, it is possible to save the effort of recalculating where the content is specified based on the absolute time and the playback position at the time of storage. be able to.

  Further, when a user replies when designating a part or a plurality of parts of the content, the content designation information creation unit instructs the content control unit to reproduce the designated content stored in the content storage unit .

  Thereby, it is possible to give the user an opportunity to create content designation information for designating a part or a plurality of parts of the content again.

  Further, when content is designated by the content designation instruction, the content designation information creation unit inquires of the user whether or not to designate a part or a plurality of parts of the content.

  Thereby, the user can be given a choice as to whether to specify the content or to specify a part in the content.

  Furthermore, it comprises program information acquisition means for acquiring information relating to content, wherein the content designation information creation means obtains program information relating to the content to be designated using the program information acquisition means at the time of creation of the content designation information, It is added to the content specification information.

  Thus, not only information related to the content specified by the user but also information on the side providing the content can be included in the content specifying information.

  In addition, message creation means for creating a message including the content designation information is provided, and the message creation section creates a transferable message including the content designation information created by the content designation information creation means.

  Thereby, it can be transferred in the form of a message.

  Further, the content designation information creation unit gives position information to the content designation information.

  Thereby, the position from which the content designation information is derived can be specified.

  Further, when creating the content designation information based on the accumulated content stored in the content accumulation means, the content designation information creation unit adds position information indicating the location at the time of accumulation of the accumulated content to the content designation information Position information.

  As a result, even if the content storage position is different for each content, correct content designation information can be created.

  Further, the content storage unit includes a local location information acquisition unit that acquires location information, and the content storage unit stores the location information acquired by the local location information acquisition unit in the content storage information storage unit when the content is stored. To do.

  As a result, the location can be reflected in the content designation information, and where the content is stored for each content stored in the content storage means can be stored.

  Further, the content designation information creation unit uses the own location information acquired by the own location information acquisition means as the location information to be given to the content designation information.

  As a result, the position where the content designation information is determined can be specified.

  Further, the content designation information transmission destination storage means for storing the destination to which the content designation information is transmitted is stored, and the content designation information transmission destination storage means stores location information of the transmission destination in addition to the transmission destination address. The designation information creating means converts the content into the designation information based on the location information of the transmission destination based on the location information of the transmission destination, and sets the conversion result as the content designation information.

  Thereby, it is possible to save the trouble of converting the content designation information on the side of receiving the content designation information.

  Further, the conversion of the content designation information is performed by transmitting a request for converting the content designation information to the server managing the program information for each region and receiving the conversion result from the server.

  As a result, it is possible to eliminate the need to store information necessary for converting the content designation information in the content designation instruction apparatus.

  In addition, a content designation instruction method for transmitting information by communication includes a content control step for controlling content, and a viewing content management step for controlling content viewed by or viewed by a user, which is controlled by the content control step. , Specified based on the content designation instruction received in the user instruction input acceptance step and the user instruction input acceptance step for accepting the designation instruction by the user who designates the content from the contents managed in the viewing content management step A content designation instruction method comprising: a content designation information creation step for creating information for designating content.

  Thus, the user can create the content designation information simply by giving an instruction to designate the content.

  Further, the user instruction input receiving step further accepts information for further specifying a part or a plurality of parts of the specified content, and the content specifying information creating step includes the specified content based on the user instruction. Content designation information for further designating a part or a plurality of parts is created.

  As a result, it is possible to create content designation information including information for designating a part or a plurality of parts in the content.

  Further, the content designation information creating step includes one or a plurality of time information in the content designation information in order to designate a part or a plurality of parts of the designated content.

  Thereby, a part or a plurality of parts in the content can be specified by the time information.

  And a time measuring step for measuring time, wherein the content specifying information creating step includes time information measured in the time measuring step as time information for specifying a part or a plurality of parts of the specified content. Is used.

  Thereby, it is possible to easily specify the measured time information without specifying a part or a plurality of parts in the content.

  Further, when the content designated by the content designation instruction is a stored content stored in a content storage device, the content specification information creating means includes an absolute time during storage stored in the content storage device, Content designation information is created based on the reproduction position of the stored content when the content designation instruction is given.

  As a result, the content designation information can be created based on the accumulated content information.

  Further, the information processing apparatus includes a program information acquisition step for acquiring information about content, wherein the content designation information creation step uses the program information acquisition step to obtain program information about the content to be designated when the content designation information is created, It is added to the content specification information.

  Thus, not only information related to the content specified by the user but also information on the side providing the content can be included in the content specifying information.

  Further, a message creation step for creating a message including the content designation information is provided, and the message creation step creates a transferable message including the content designation information created by the content designation information creation step.

  Thereby, it can be transferred in the form of a message.

  Furthermore, the content designation information creation step adds position information to the content designation information.

  Thereby, the position from which the content designation information is derived can be specified.

  Further, when creating the content designation information based on the accumulated content stored in the content accumulation device, the content designation information creating step adds position information indicating a location at the time of accumulation of the accumulated content to the content designation information. It is position information.

  As a result, even if the content storage position is different for each content, correct content designation information can be created.

  Furthermore, a self-location information acquisition step for acquiring location information is provided, and the step of storing the location information acquired in the self-location information acquisition step in the content storage information storage device when content is stored in content storage. Prepare.

  As a result, the position of the user can be used as position information to be added to the content designation information.

  Furthermore, the content designation information creation step uses the location information acquired in the location information acquisition step as the location information to be added to the content designation information.

  As a result, the position where the content designation information is determined can be specified.

  Further, the content designation information creating step converts the content designation information into content designation information based on the location information of the transmission destination based on the location information of the transmission destination to which the content designation information is transmitted, and sets the conversion result as the content designation information.

  Thereby, it is possible to save the trouble of converting the content designation information on the side of receiving the content designation information.

  Further, the conversion of the content designation information is performed by transmitting a request for converting the content designation information to the server managing the program information for each region and receiving the conversion result from the server.

  As a result, it is possible to eliminate the need to store information necessary for converting the content designation information in the content designation instruction apparatus.

  Note that in this application, multimedia information such as e-mail, WWW (World Wide Web) homepage, Internet distribution, terrestrial broadcasting, satellite broadcasting, analog broadcasting, digital broadcasting, and one or more scenes included in these broadcastings are collectively referred to. In particular, a communicable electronic medium including content designation information such as an email, a homepage, and IM (Instant Messenger) is called a “message”, and information for designating the content is also referred to as “content”. This is “content specification information”. Furthermore, the content title, scene name, provision start time (broadcast start time), provision end time (broadcast end time), etc. of the content provided by the broadcast station or ISP (Internet Service Provider) that is the content provider The content information determined by the content provider regardless of the operations of the content designation instruction device 1, the content viewing instruction device 2, and the content information server 3 is referred to as “content information” or “program information”.

  By using the means as described above, it is possible to provide an apparatus or method capable of creating and teaching information for designating content to the other party with a simple operation.

  Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a system including a content designation instruction device and a content viewing instruction device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the content designation instruction device 1 and the content viewing instruction device 2 communicate with each other through the network 0.

  The user views the content using the content designation instruction device 1 and presses the “send information” button 10 when viewing the content that the other person wants to recommend. In response to pressing of the “information transmission” button 10, the content designation instruction device 1 identifies what content the user is viewing as shown on the display screen 11, and the content can be identified on other machines. Information (hereinafter referred to as “content designation information”) is generated. Thereafter, the content designation instruction device 1 automatically creates a message 12 including the generated content designation information and transmits it to the content viewing instruction device 2 through the network 0. When the content viewing instruction device 2 receives a message including the content designation information or receives a content viewing instruction from the user, the content viewing instruction device 2 reproduces the content so that viewing of the content designated by the content designation information is started. Do.

  The content designation information is information for designating content. In this specification, the content specification information mainly includes a channel (content specification channel) through which content is distributed, and a content time (content specification time) specified by the side that sends the content specification information. . “Channel” indicates the location of a satellite broadcast, a channel that provides a digital broadcast of terrestrial or satellite, a radio broadcast channel, or a WWW homepage in addition to a channel that provides a conventional terrestrial broadcast program. It includes general contents indicating the location of content, such as storage media such as URL (Uniform Resource Locator), URI (Uniform Resource Identifiers), video, and DVD (Digital Versatile Disk).

  In some cases, the content designation time may not be included in the content designation information. In addition to this, the content designation information may be any information that can designate content such as a program name and G-code (registered trademark).

  Further, the content designation time may be a certain time, or may be a fixed time interval determined by the one time and the one time. Further, in the present specification, an example is shown in which the content designation instruction device 1 creates content designation information and transmits it as a message to the content viewing instruction device 2. However, the content designation instruction device 1 and the content viewing instruction device 2 are shown. The content designation information is stored in the storage medium by the content designation instruction device 1 by using a detachable storage medium or a storage medium connected by wire or wireless, and the storage medium storing the content designation information is used for viewing the content. By inserting it into the instruction device 2, it may be replaced with transmission / reception of the content designation information by the message.

  A process until the content designation instruction device 1 designates a content and sends the content designation information to the content viewing instruction device 2 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the content designation instruction apparatus.

  Referring to the figure, content specifying instruction device 1 controls the reproduction of content by content control unit 1607, and the user connects the controlled real-time broadcast content or stored content to content specifying instruction device 1 or to it. The viewing content management unit 16071 in the content control unit 1607 manages which content is being viewed using the device and which content is being viewed.

  The viewing content management unit 16071 stores the channel (second column in FIG. 3) in association with the switching time (the leftmost column in FIG. 3) in conjunction with the channel switching by the user. The time measurement unit 1602 performs measurement such as the switched time.

  The viewing content management unit 16071 preferably adds a history in the same manner as when switching channels when the content of the content being viewed changes, for example, when a program is switched. For example, at the time of channel switching, based on the switched channel and the switching time, at least the content provision end time (broadcast end time) provided at the time of channel switching from the server that manages the content provision schedule such as a program guide When the channel change by the user is not performed even after the acquired provision end time has passed, it may be added to the history in the same manner as at the time of channel switching described above.

  Further, by acquiring and storing the title of the content in addition to the provision end time at the time of channel switching, it can be used for viewing history presentation in FIG. 5 described later.

  The viewing content management unit 16071 determines the content that the user was viewing or is viewing based on the viewing history of the user shown in FIG.

  When the user views the content and wants to recommend it to someone, the user sends a message including the content specification information to the other party who wants to recommend the content using the content specification instruction device 1 through the network I / F 1603. To do. Specifically, an “information transmission” button, which is one of the user instruction input reception units 1605 provided in the content designation instruction device 1, is pressed. This button can be a soft key or a hard key. Further, it is not necessary to perform a process for information transmission, which will be described later, but only to check that “this moment was interesting”. For example, the viewing content management unit 16071 may store an interesting moment by quickly pressing the “information transmission button” twice.

  Upon receiving this user instruction, the viewing content management unit 16071 stores the time of receiving the instruction and “checked as interesting” as shown in the fifth column in FIG. 3 (the rightmost column in FIG. 3). ). In addition, this “interesting” check may store the checked time, or may store the elapsed time from the content switching time that is “interesting”. For example, in the example of FIG. 3, the checked time is 13:40:50, but since this content is viewed from 13:30:25, the check time is 13:40:50. Instead of storing 10 minutes and 25 seconds.

  When the information transmission button is pressed, the message creation unit 1601 first starts a process of specifying content that the user wants to transmit. The flow of this process will be described with reference to FIG. When the information transmission button is pressed (S1720), a history viewed by the user is presented (S1721). When the user selects content to be transmitted from the presented history, it is determined whether or not the selected content is content that has been viewed recently, that is, content that has been viewed immediately before the information transmission button is pressed (S1722). If it is determined that the selected content is recently viewed content (YES in S1722), the process proceeds to a step of “sending currently viewed content” described later.

  If it is determined that the selected content is not recently viewed content (NO in S1722), the content stored in the viewing content management unit 16071 described above and checked by the user as “interesting” It is checked whether or not is selected (S1729). If the checked content has been selected (YES in S1729), the checked time and the provided channel of the selected content are acquired from the viewing content management unit 16071 and used as content designation information (S1730). Of course, the viewing start time of the selected content and the elapsed time until the check may be used instead of the checked time.

  If the selected content is not checked (NO in S1729), the content storage information storage unit 16061 is checked to see if the selected content is stored in the content storage unit 1606 (S1723). The contents stored in the content accumulation information storage unit 16061 will be described later. As a result of examining the content accumulation information storage unit 16061, if it is determined that the content is accumulated (YES in S1723), it is determined whether or not further points in the content are designated (S1724). Designating a point means specifying a more detailed scene in the program. Whether or not to specify may always be the same processing depending on the setting value of the user, or the user may be inquired every time processing is performed.

  When a point is not designated (NO in S1724), the viewing start time, viewing end time, and channel of the selected content are acquired from the viewing content management unit 16071 and used as content designation information (S1727).

  If it is determined in S1723 that the selected content has not been accumulated (NO in S1723), the process proceeds to S1727. When designating a point (YES in S1724), the content control unit 1607 is instructed to play the selected content (S1725). The playback at this time may be stored in the content viewing management unit 1607 as a channel change. During this content reproduction S1725, the user waits until the “send information” button is pressed (S1726). When the button is pressed, when the button is pressed at the time of content accumulation as described in FIG. It progresses to step S1705 which calculates whether it came.

  Even if the content playback is completed, if there is no “information transmission” instruction from the user or the point designation is canceled, the content playback is canceled and the user is watching before pressing the information transmission button. You may return to the content that was saved. In addition, it is not necessary to store the content viewing history. In this case, content designation information cannot be generated for content that has been viewed in the past, but immediately after the step of pressing the “Send information” button in S1720, S1728 is performed. By jumping to the “send currently viewed content” step, content designation information can be generated and transmitted at least for the content that was viewed until just before the “send information” button was pressed.

  Here, “reproduction” changes its form depending on the content to be reproduced. For example, if the content is broadcast content, based on the reception of broadcast waves, video and audio are presented for television broadcasts, only audio is presented for radio broadcasts, and emails and homepages are presented. Indicates that they are displayed, the recorded content is presented in the case of a recorded video, the recorded voice is presented in the case of a recorded voice, and the like.

  Note that the content designation information creating unit 16011 may create content designation information not only for the content stored in the content viewing management unit 1607 but also for content that can be viewed in the future or content that is scheduled to be viewed. “Available in the future and scheduled to be viewed” means that it is currently unbroadcast but can be viewed over time. In other words, “content to be broadcast tonight” and “program to be broadcast next week”. Information specifying these contents that can be viewed in the future includes EPG (Electrical Programming Guide): program provision schedule information acquired from a service that provides an electronic program guide, -It can be obtained from CODE (registered trademark). Needless to say, the user may obtain information from a non-electronic medium such as a newspaper and manually input the content designation information to the user instruction input receiving unit 1605. Furthermore, without obtaining information on the program provision schedule from the outside, the content designation information created by the above-described method can be changed to the content designation information delayed by one day, one week, or one month, so that the next time It is also possible to change to the content designation information. This method is particularly effective when the next content of content provided regularly, such as daily, weekly, and monthly, for example, a content such as a series drama, is specified.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the presentation example in S1721 presents the viewing history stored in the viewing content management unit 16071. For the convenience of the user, only the viewing time and the content channel are displayed. Instead of presenting, it is preferable to display the title of the content. The display order is preferably arranged from the most recently viewed order. Further, it is desirable that the content checked by the user as “interesting” is displayed separately from the viewing history as shown in FIG. The user sees the presented contents and selects the contents by moving the cursor and selecting one. In addition, by assigning numbers to the content lists to be presented, selection can be made by directly pressing the number buttons when the controller operated by the user is provided with number buttons.

  The step of “sending the currently viewed content” will be described with reference to FIG. When the step starts (S1701), using the viewing history stored in the viewing content management unit 16071, whether the currently viewed content is real-time broadcast, accumulated content such as video, or content on the WWW? Is determined (S1702). If the result of determination is that the user was watching a real-time broadcast, the time at which the button was pressed is acquired from the time measurement unit 1602 (S1703), and the broadcast channel providing the content being viewed Is acquired (S1704). When the content is not a real-time broadcast but a content on the WWW, the time when the button is pressed is acquired from the time measurement unit 1602 (S1711), and the URI of the content is acquired and used as a broadcast channel (S1712). Step S1711 for acquiring the button pressing absolute time is not necessarily performed. On the other hand, if the user has watched accumulated content such as a video, the content management unit 1607 is inquired about which video is being viewed, and the accumulation start time when the video is accumulated is acquired from the content accumulation information storage unit 16061. At the same time, the stored content playback position when the “information transmission” button is pressed is acquired (S1705).

  Thereafter, the assumed button press time is calculated based on the playback position when the button is pressed and the storage start time of the stored content. Specifically, if you were watching the video you were watching in real time (actual airing time) using the storage start time of the acquired video and the stored content playback position when you pressed the button, when you press the “Send Information” button It is calculated whether or not it has been done, and the calculation result is set as the assumed button press time (S1706). For example, while watching a video that has started to be stored from 11:00:00 on November 1, 2002, the “send information” button is pressed when the video playback position is 25 minutes 25 seconds after the beginning of the video. If this content is viewed in real time, it is 25 minutes and 25 seconds after the content from 11:00:00, so the "Send Information" button is pressed at 11:25:25. The time of 11:25:25 is assumed to be the button press assumed time. The obtained assumed button press time is handled as an absolute button press time in S1708 described later. Thereafter, a channel on which the stored content that is the source of the video was broadcasted is also acquired (S1707).

  The content designation information is created using the absolute button press time thus obtained as the content designation time and the broadcast channel as the content designation channel (S1708). Of course, when the content being viewed is content on the WWW, and the absolute time of button press is not acquired, the absolute time of button press may not be included in the content designation information. Further, the content designation information may be created not with the absolute button press time but with the elapsed time from the content start time (broadcast start time) or the accumulation start time until the button is pressed.

  Thereafter, if there is a message to be sent together with the content designation information, it is added (S1709) and transmitted (S1710).

  Similarly to the content viewing instruction apparatus 2, when content specification information is generated, the broadcast start time and broadcast end time of the content are acquired through the program information acquisition unit 1608 and included in the following message together with the content specification. It doesn't matter.

  As to which content is stored in the content storage information storage unit 16061 of the content specification instruction device 1, the start time (storage start time) of storage, recording or recording (hereinafter “storage”), and the end time of storage (Accumulation end time) and the channel on which the content was provided may be stored. An example is shown in FIG.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of information related to content.

  In the figure, the first column (1301) indicates the accumulation start time, the second column (1302) indicates the accumulation end time, and the third column (1303) indicates the channel on which the content is provided. In this example, 131 is a video shot by an ordinary video camera, 132 and 133 are recordings of a television broadcast, 134 is a recording of moving images acquired via the WWW, and 135 is a WWW home page. This indicates that 136 is a radio broadcast recording.

  Although the accumulation end time is not stored on the WWW homepage shown in 135, the content acquisition time or visited time is used as the accumulation start time for content that rarely changes or does not change with time, such as the homepage. It is not necessary to store the accumulation end time only by storing. Alternatively, even the accumulation start time may not be stored.

  An example of the display of the content designation instruction device 1 from the button press to the message transmission in this flow is shown in FIG.

  When the “send information” button is pressed, the processing shown in FIG. 4 and the processing shown in S1701 to S1707 in FIG. 6 are performed, and after the content specification information is determined, the determined content specification information (Wednesday, August 20 PM9) : 358 ch) and asks the user whether he wants to send this information as a recommendation message (1801). At this time, as shown in 1801, if the title of the program ("useless fountain") can also be acquired, it is easier for the user to display it at the same time, but if it takes time to acquire the program information. , You do not have to put in particular. When the user confirms and instructs “Recommend”, a list of names of recipients to whom to send is acquired from the content designation information transmission destination storage unit 16012 and presented to the user. (1802). Here, when the user selects a destination as a destination, an editor screen is presented so that a message to be added can be added if there is a message other than the content designation information (1803). Here, the user can send a message with content designation information to the other party by adding a message and giving an “OK” instruction.

  Although the screen is for selecting a destination in 1802, if the user has determined in advance the party to whom the message with content designation information is to be sent, step 1802 may be skipped. The additional message in 1803 may be automatically added to a predetermined message if the user feels complicated.

  An example of content designation information sent from the content designation instruction apparatus 1 to the content viewing instruction apparatus 2 and a display example and a viewing instruction example of WWW contents such as mail contents and homepages including the content designation information in the content viewing instruction apparatus 2 Will be described with reference to FIG.

  Referring to FIG. 9, here, at 21:35 on August 20, 2003, an instruction for “information transmission”, that is, content specification of the content specification instruction device 1 is issued, and the content viewed at this time is 8 channels of VHF. It is assumed that the program was “wasted fountain” broadcast from 21:00 to 21:55 on the same day provided by (Name: Deer TV). 1900 is an example in which only the content designation channel “channel is VHF 8ch” is included in the message as content designation information. 1901 is an example in which content designation information is created and included in a message with a content designation channel “channel is VHF 8ch, August 20, 2003 21:35” and a content designation time designated at one time. Reference numeral 1902 denotes a fixed start time and end time acquired from the viewing content management unit 16071, or a program start time and end time acquired by the program information acquisition unit 1608 (FIG. 2), which are determined by two times. This is an example in which a content designation time is created as a time interval and is included in a message as content designation information together with a content designation channel. 19022 is an example in which the button press absolute time is expressed by the elapsed time (past) from the start time of the program to the button press. Reference numeral 1903 denotes an example in which the expression “8ch” of 1902 is expressed by the name of the television station (in this example, deer television).

  The “start” and “end” used for the start time and end time of the program may be used to include not only the start time and end time of the program but also the storage start time and storage end time in the content designation information. I do not care.

  If the content designation information does not include the content designation time as in 1900, the content designation time indicated by “point” or “start” “stop” may not be described. Display examples 1904, 1905, and 1906 are displayed on the content viewing instruction apparatus 2 that has received the content including the content designation information and the additional information. The content designation time may be displayed as in 1904, or the designation information and additional information such as 1901 to 1903 may be displayed as they are, and a display in which the user selects the content to be viewed may be displayed. Reference numerals 1904 and 1905 are preferable examples when used in e-mails and the like. On the other hand, for example, as shown in 1906 on the WWW page or the like, it can be received from a server providing a recommended content list arranged in a good-looking manner and viewed. Here, a number is assigned to each option (viewable content), and not only a usage method in which selection is instructed with a cursor, but a number button such as a remote controller may be used for designation. This method is effective for a television device or a mobile phone that is familiar with numeric input.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the content designation instruction apparatus 1 includes a memory 501, a CPU 502, a nonvolatile memory 503, a network connection circuit 504, an output unit 505 such as a display and a speaker, and an input unit such as a mouse, a keyboard, and a microphone. 506, a timer 508, and a broadcast receiving tuner 507, which are connected by a bus 500. Further, each unit does not necessarily have to be stored in one housing, and may be placed outside by wired or wireless communication means. A message creation unit 1601, a content designation information creation unit 16011, a content control unit 1607, a viewing content management unit 16071, and a program information acquisition unit 1608 are a memory 501 or a CPU 502, a content designation information storage unit 16012, a content accumulation unit 1606, and content accumulation information. The storage unit 16061 is the memory 501 or the non-volatile memory 503, the user instruction input receiving unit 1605 is the input unit 506, the output unit 1604 is the output unit 505, the network I / F 1603 is the network connection circuit 504, and the time measurement unit 1602 is The timer 508 or the CPU 502 is used. The broadcast receiving tuner 507 may be a television device or an STB (Set Top Box) independent of the content viewing instruction device 2, and the memory 501 and the nonvolatile memory 503 are memories inserted into the content viewing instruction device 2. A card, a wired hard disk device connected, or a server computer connected to the content viewing instruction device 2 via a network may be used.

  FIG. 10 further shows a GPS (Global Positioning System) sensor 509, which is not essential in the present embodiment. Used in the second embodiment to be described later.

  Next, a first embodiment of the content viewing instruction device 2 will be described.

  The general behavior of the content viewing instruction device 2 will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the viewing instruction “view this content” is received by the user, specifically, when the content to be viewed is selected by the user (S101), it is checked whether or not the content specifying time is included in the selected content specifying information. (S100).

  If it is included (YES in S100), the content designation channel and the content designation time are acquired (S102), and the current time is also acquired (S103). Here, the current time and the content specified time are compared (S104), and if the content specified time is earlier than the current time as a result of the comparison, it is checked whether the content specified by the content specifying information has been accumulated. The process proceeds to step (S1051). On the other hand, when the content specified time is in the future compared to the current time, the process proceeds to a step of making a storage reservation or a viewing reservation (S1053). When it is determined that the current time and the content designation time are substantially the same, the channel is changed to the channel designated by the content designation channel (S1052).

  When the content designation information does not include the content designation time (NO in S100), the content designation channel is acquired (S1021) and switched to the content designation channel (S1052). In which part of the content viewing apparatus 2 these steps are performed is shown below.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a functional configuration of the content viewing instruction device 2 of FIG.

  The content viewing instruction device 2 receives the message by the message receiving unit 412 via the network I / F 408, acquires the content specified by the content specifying information included in the received message by the content receiving unit 407, and the content control unit Control is performed at 401, and output to the output unit 404 for viewing.

  Here, when the content designation information is included in the received message, the content control unit 401 uses the content designation information acquisition unit 403 to acquire the content designation information from the message and stores it in the content designation information storage unit 406. To do. Using the user instruction input receiving unit 405, the user selects from the content information stored in the content designation information storage unit 406 and gives a viewing instruction. Alternatively, when the content control unit 401 determines that content acquisition information is included in the acquired message and the user gives a viewing instruction using the user instruction input reception unit 405, the above-described operation is performed according to the content specification information (FIG. 11). ) Predetermined processing is performed, and in some cases, the current time measured by the time measuring unit 402 is taken into consideration, and the content specified by the content specifying information is output by the output unit 404.

  Whether the content designated by the content designation information, which is the output content at this time, is accumulated is checked using the content accumulation information storage unit 41001. If it is accumulated, the content designation information is stored in the content accumulation unit 410. The content specified in the above is set as the output content. If the output content is a content that is broadcast in real time, the channel is switched using the channel switching unit 411 and the content is output. The channel switching unit 411 may actually perform channel switching depending on the configuration of the content viewing instruction device 2, but may simply serve to output a signal instructing channel switching. Further, the content viewing instruction apparatus 2 acquires program information using the program information acquisition unit 409 as necessary.

  When receiving the message, the main control unit 401 of the content viewing instruction apparatus 2 first performs the process shown in FIG.

  Referring to FIG. 13, when a message is received (S601), it is checked whether or not content designation information is included (S602). If the content designation information is not included (NO in S602), normal message processing is performed (S606). If the content designation information is included (YES in S602), the content designation information is included in the content designation information. The designated channel and the content designated time are acquired (S603).

  Further, the program information acquisition unit 409 acquires information on the program broadcasted at the specified content time acquired on the acquired content specification channel from the server providing the program information (S604). If the received message includes program information as obtained in S604, the program information is acquired together with the content designation information in S603, and the process in S604 may not be performed. If the content designation time is not included in the content designation information, only the content designation channel is acquired in S603, and S604 may not be performed. An example of the content specification information format and a message including the content specification information is shown in FIG.

  The acquired program information, content designation channel, content designation time, and time when the program starts and end time are stored together in the content designation information storage unit 406. An image diagram of the contents stored in the content designation information storage unit 406 is shown in FIG.

  Referring to FIG. 14, in 141, the content designation channel (first column channel) and the content designation time (second column point, third column start, fourth column stop) are stored. Items that are not included as content specification information need not be stored. In the example of 142, further, the broadcast start time (fifth column) and the broadcast end time (sixth column) obtained as a result of the program information acquisition unit 409 acquiring the content information of the content indicated by the content designation information, and The program name (rightmost column) is also stored. The program information acquisition unit 409 does not necessarily need to acquire the program information. However, when the contents stored in the content designation information storage unit 406 described later are presented to the user, the program information is acquired. Since it is easier for the user to grasp the content designation information when the information is presented together, it is preferable to acquire the program information performed by the program information acquisition unit 409.

  Similarly, the content designation information storage unit 406 must store at least the content designation channel as in 141 and the content designation time if included in the content designation information, but also stores program information as indicated by 142. It is desirable to have. The storage of the content designation information as shown in 141 and 142 may be stored for each transmission source that has transmitted the content designation information. Further, an example is shown in 143 in which each content designation information and the transmission source may be stored in association with each other without being stored for each transmission source.

  In FIG. 143, the contents designation information on the second and fourth lines is sent from Mirodi, and the contents designation information on the third line is sent from Satuki. Yes.

  The user operates the content viewing instruction device 2 using the user instruction input receiving unit 405, and obtains the screen of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 15, the content viewing instruction apparatus 2 displays part or all of the content designation information stored in the content designation information storage unit 406 using the output unit 404. The user selects content desired to be viewed by operating a user instruction input receiving unit 405 such as a button that can be operated in the vertical direction. As described above, when the content is selected by the user, the content viewing instruction device 2 determines that “there is a viewing instruction”, and performs the processes of FIGS. 11 and 16.

  Here, a specific example of determining whether or not “substantially the same” in the determination of “substantially the same as the content designation time” described in FIG. 11 will be described with reference to FIG.

  Referring to FIG. 16, when a viewing instruction is received (S901) as described above, it is checked whether or not the content designation time is included in the selected content designation information (S900). When it is included (YES in S900), the content designation channel and the content designation time are acquired (S902), and the current time is acquired together (S903). Here, the program information acquisition unit 409 is used to inquire about the information of the program broadcast at the current time on the content designation channel to the server that provides the program information, and the broadcast start time and the broadcast end time are acquired. (S904).

  The acquired broadcast start time, broadcast end time, and current time are compared (S905), and if the current time is included between the broadcast start time and the broadcast end time, it is determined that “substantially the same” (S9062). The process proceeds to the step of switching to the content designated channel. Otherwise, if the current time is earlier than the broadcast start time, the process proceeds to a step for recording reservation or viewing reservation for the specified content (S9063). If the current time is later than the broadcast end time, the current content is specified. The process proceeds to a step of checking whether or not the content has been accumulated (S9061).

  In the above-described program information acquisition performed by the program information acquisition unit 409 when a message is received, if the content is being broadcast at the time of message reception, it may be desirable to view it immediately. An example is shown in FIG.

  Referring to FIG. 17, content designation information is acquired (S603), and program information acquisition unit 409 acquires program information using the acquisition result (S604). The steps so far are the same as steps S603 and S604 shown in FIG. At this time, the current time is further acquired (S1001), and the broadcast start time, broadcast end time, and current time of the program acquired in S604 are compared, and if the current time is included in the broadcast time (in S1002). (YES) Switch to the content designation channel (S1003). If not included, the content designation information and the program information are stored together as described above (S605). This storing step is also the same as that shown in FIG.

  By using this method, the user can immediately view even the content designation information delivered in real time. The execution of this switching step may be performed automatically, or may be performed after inquiring execution permission from the user. Alternatively, the content designation instruction device 1 may designate whether to perform channel switching automatically or ask the user for execution permission together with the content designation information. Further, whether to automatically switch channels or ask the user for permission to execute may be switched depending on user settings. Also, if the transmission source that sent the content specification information is a reliable transmission source, the channel is switched without confirmation from the user. If the transmission source is unreliable, the channel is switched after confirmation from the user is confirmed. Switching may not be performed. In this case, a reliable transmission source may be stored, or determination may be made based on whether or not the content designation information has been authenticated by a third party.

  Here, the channel change steps shown in S1052, S9061, and S1003 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  Referring to FIG. 18, when the process proceeds to the channel change step (S1101), a screen asking the user whether to change the channel is displayed on output unit 404 (S1102).

  In the screen display example, as shown in FIG. 19, when content such as S1052 and S9061 is selected and designated for viewing, the screen as shown in (b) is viewed almost simultaneously with the reception of the message as in S1003. If there is time, a screen like (a) is displayed. In response to these questions, the user waits for a reply (S1103). When "Yes" is answered (YES in S1103), the acquired content designation channel is changed (S1104). When "No" is answered. (NO in S1103), do nothing in particular.

  Here, the time for waiting for the user's response may be continued until a response is received from the user, but if there is no response with a certain time limit, it may be processed that “No” is returned. Further, when the channel change S1104 is not performed, accumulation may be performed instead of the change.

  In addition, the content designation instruction device 1 can designate conditions regarding channel switching together with the content designation information. For example, the content designation instruction device 1 sets an option “change = auto” instructing automatic channel change to 1901 “tv: ///8.vhf/set? Point = 2003.08.21.21.35” in FIG. In addition, the received content viewing instruction apparatus 2 may perform the channel change S1104 without performing the step S1102 for inquiring the user and the step S1103 for waiting for the user's reply.

  Similarly, an option “rec = auto” for instructing accumulation is transmitted by the content designation instruction device 1, and the received content viewing instruction device 2 does not ask the user, and accumulation is performed regardless of whether the channel is changed or not. You can start. Also in this case, depending on the transmission source of the content designation information, the display may be performed as shown in FIG. 19 (e), and the processing of S1104 may be performed without user confirmation, that is, skipping the confirmation step of S1103. At this time, in order to automatically stop the process from proceeding to S1104, a canceling unit may be provided as shown in (e).

  The step of checking whether or not the content specified by the content specification information shown in S1051 and S9061 is accumulated will be described with reference to FIG. Upon entering the checking step of S1051 and S9061 (S1401), the content designation time and the content designation channel, which are the contents of the content designation information, are confirmed (S1402) and stored in the content accumulation information storage unit 41001 in the content accumulation unit 408. Check the content accumulation information.

  When the content storage unit 410 stores the content, the content storage information is stored in the content storage information storage unit 41001 as shown in FIG. 7, for example. The content accumulation information is composed of an accumulation start time 1301, an accumulation end time 1302, and a content provision channel 1303. It is assumed that the content storage information storage unit 41001 stores the content in the same manner as the content specification instruction device 1.

  Here, it is checked whether the content designation channel matches in the stored content and there is content including the content designation time (S1403). Specifically, the content storage information storage unit 41001 is checked to see if the content broadcast on the specified content specification channel is stored, and if it has been stored, the content specified time is stored next. It is checked whether it is between the storage start time and the storage end time of the content that has been stored, and if it is in between, the content storage unit 408 determines that the content has been stored.

  For example, assuming that the content designation information is the content designation channel “tv: //vhf.11/” and the content designation time is “June 6, 2002 12:40:30”, first, in the content accumulation information storage unit 4081. The content providing channel 1303 is referred to. Here, since the content providing channels in the fourth row (133) match except for the index row in the table of FIG. This time, the content start time of the content storage information of 133 is 12:30:30 on June 6, 2002, and the storage end time is “6,2002, 12:40:30” Since it is 12:55:00 on June 6, 2002, and the content designation time is June 6, 2002, 12:40:30, between the accumulation start time and the accumulation end time, this 133 is the content designation. It is determined to be information.

  If it is determined that the content indicated by the content designation information is accumulated in the content accumulation unit 408 (YES in S1403), the process proceeds to a step of reproducing the content indicated by the content designation information (S1404). At this time, the reproduction may be started from the content designation time based on the content designation information, or the stored content including the content designation information may be reproduced from the beginning. Here, it may be possible to designate on the content designation instruction apparatus 1 side whether to reproduce from the content designation time or from the beginning of the content.

  For example, the option “startfrom =” in which the content designation instruction apparatus 1 instructs the reproduction from the content designation time to 1901 “tv: ///8.vhf/set? Point = 2003.08.21.21.35” in FIG. By adding “point”, the content viewing instruction apparatus 2 starts reproduction from the content designation time, while the content designation instruction apparatus 1 has “startfrom = head” instructing reproduction from the beginning of the content. The content viewing instruction device 2 may start reproduction from the accumulation start time or the top of the content. When playback is started from the specified content time, it does not have to be played from the point specified by the specified content time. For example, it is specified by the specified content time, such as 10 seconds ago, 1 minute ago, 5 minutes ago. Playback may be started slightly before the point in time.

  If the content designated by the content designation information is not found in the content accumulation information storage unit 41001 (NO in S1403), the user is notified that the content has not been accumulated (S1405). As an operation at this time, it is preferable to display “There was no content” on the output unit 404. Alternatively, when part or all of the content designation information stored in the content designation information storage unit 406 shown in FIG. 15 is displayed, the content designated by the content designation information is the content accumulation information storage unit. It is checked whether it is stored in 41001, and if it is not stored, it is output so that it can be determined that it is not stored, or content designation information that is not stored in content storage information storage unit 41001 is not output, The user may be notified that the information is not accumulated by taking a method such as.

  Further, information and keywords related to the content may be acquired by some means, and an accumulation reservation may be made using the acquired information and keywords of the content so that they will not be missed from the next time. Alternatively, if the content is provided regularly, the next provision time may be acquired from the server that stores the content provision schedule, and the accumulation reservation or viewing reservation may be made, or one day later or 1 You may make a reservation by estimating that the same channel is the same time in a week. Even if the content is not found, if there is content that has been accumulated in a time close to the content designation time, it may be determined that the content accumulated in the near time is the content designated by the content designation information It doesn't matter.

  For example, even if the content designation channel is the same as 133 in FIG. 7 and the content designation time is 12:25 on June 6, 2002, or 13:05 on the same day, the content designation information is It may be determined that 133 is designated.

  Next, the accumulation reservation steps shown in S1053 and S9063 will be described with reference to FIG. When the storage reservation step is entered (S1501), the content designation time and the content designation channel, which are the contents of the content designation information, are confirmed (S1502), and the program information acquisition unit 207 is used to provide the program information to the server. Inquires about the information of the program broadcasted at the content designated time on the content designated channel, and acquires the broadcast start time and broadcast end time (S1503).

  If the information of the program broadcast at the content designated time on the content designated channel is already stored in the content designated information storage unit 406, the program information obtaining unit 407 does not bother to obtain it again. You may acquire from the content designation | designated information storage part 406. Based on the program information obtained by either method, the content storage unit 408 makes a storage reservation (S1504). Although an example of accumulation is used here, the channel switching unit 411 may be set to change the channel to a content designation channel at a simple viewing reservation, that is, a scheduled viewing start time. Further, the content designation instruction device 1 may be able to designate whether it is a viewing reservation or a storage reservation.

  The content viewing instruction device 2 can also be configured with the configuration shown in FIG. The content control unit 401 shown in FIG. 12 is the memory 501 and the CPU 502, the time measurement unit 402 is the timer 508, the content designation information acquisition unit 403 is the memory 501 and the CPU 502, and the output unit 404 is the output device 505. The receiving unit 405 is an input device 506, the content designation information storage unit 406 is a memory 501 and a non-volatile memory 503, the content receiving unit 407 is a memory 501 and a CPU 502, and the network I / F 408 is a network connection circuit 504. The unit 409 is the memory 501 and the CPU 502, the content storage unit 410 and the content storage information storage unit 41001 are the memory 501 and the nonvolatile memory 503, and the channel switching unit 411 is the memory 501, the CPU 502, and the broadcast reception tuner 507. Sage receiving unit 412 each composed of a memory 501 and CPU 502.

  Similar to the content designation instruction device 1, these components constituting the content viewing instruction device 2 are not necessarily wired, and may be connected wirelessly or through a network. In particular, the broadcast receiving tuner 507 may be a television device or an STB (Set Top Box) independent of the content viewing instruction device 2, and the memory 501 and the nonvolatile memory 503 are plugged into the content viewing instruction device 2. It may be a memory card that is connected, a transportable hard disk device, or a server computer connected to the content viewing instruction device 2 via a network. FIG. 10 further shows a GPS (Global Positioning System) sensor 509, which may be omitted in this embodiment and used in a second embodiment to be described later.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a system configuration according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  In the second embodiment, the content information server 3 is newly used as shown in FIG.

  If the location where the content designation instruction device 1 that generates the content designation information is placed and the location where the content viewing instruction device 2 that views the content based on the content designation information is located at a remote location, the broadcast area is May be different. At this time, even if the content designation information is the same, the same content may not be designated at the place where the content designation instruction device 1 and the content viewing instruction device 2 are placed.

  More specifically, content that was broadcast on one channel at 3:00 on March 3 in Tokyo may not be broadcast on the same day in Nagoya. However, this is not a problem that can be solved simply by matching the channel numbers of the same affiliated TV stations. In order to solve this problem, the content information server 3 receives the position information (hereinafter referred to as original position information) from which the content designation information is created together with the content designation information, the destination to which the content designation information is transmitted, and the content designation information. The destination position information (hereinafter referred to as desired position information) to which the device has moved is received (13).

  Therefore, the content information server 3 searches for the content designation information from the broadcast schedule of the broadcast area to which the original position information belongs, identifies the content designated by the content designation information, and broadcasts the identified content in the broadcast area to which the desired position information belongs. Search from the schedule, convert the content designation information as content designation information in the broadcast area to which the desired position information belongs, and send it back.

  When the content designation instruction device 1 generates the content designation information and transmits it to the content viewing instruction device 2, the content designation instruction device 1 may create and send a message with the location information of the location where the content designation instruction device 1 is installed. Then, the position information of the content viewing instruction device 2 is acquired, and a request for conversion from the content designation information at the location of the content designation instruction device 1 to the content designation information at the location of the content viewing instruction device 2 is sent to the content information server 3. The conversion result may be transmitted to the content viewing instruction device 2.

  The content viewing instruction device 2 stores the content designation information in association with the position information received together with it, and when issuing the content viewing instruction, refers to the broadcast area to which the position information attached to the content designation information belongs. Compared with the broadcast area where the content viewing instruction apparatus 2 is located, if the broadcast area is different, the content information server receives the position information and the desired position information received from the original position information together with the content designation information. A request for conversion of content designation information is issued as position information where the content viewing instruction device 2 is placed, and the conversion result is received to start viewing.

  "Location information" such as original location information and desired location information represents geographical location information, and broadcast area such as area code, postal code, latitude and longitude information, prefecture name, place name, address, local name, etc. Any geographic information that can be used to identify

  The content information server 3 will be described below.

  FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the content information server 3. The content information server 3 receives the content designation information, the original area information, and the desired area information in the broadcast area to which the original position information belongs as a region conversion request for the content designation information from the content designation instruction device 1 or the content viewing instruction device 2. The content indicated by the received content designation information is retrieved from the content information stored in the content information storage unit 311 and converted into the content designation information in the area indicated by the desired area information. As a result, the converted content designation information is returned from the transmission unit 33.

  The content information server 3 further includes a broadcast area search unit 312, and can also determine a broadcast region from the location information, prefecture name, local name, broadcast station name domain name, etc. with reference to the broadcast area correspondence storage unit 3121. . The content information server 3 can be composed of a commercially available server device or personal computer.

  At least, as shown in FIG. 24, a CPU 322, a memory 321, a nonvolatile memory 323, and a network connection circuit 324 connected by a bus 320 may be provided. The reception unit 32 and the transmission unit 33 are the network circuit 324, the content information search unit 31 and the broadcast area search unit 312 are the memory 321 or the CPU 322, and the content information storage unit 311 and the broadcast area correspondence storage unit 3121 are the memory 321 or nonvolatile memory. 323. The content specification information may be received and returned in the form of mail, IM, or HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) as long as the medium can perform data communication.

  The content information stored in the content information storage unit 311 will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in 331 and 332, the content information storage unit 311 broadcast start time (each leftmost column of 331, 332), broadcast end time (second column), content ID (third column) for each channel for each broadcast region ), A broadcast content list in which performers (fourth column) and titles (rightmost column) are recorded. The content ID is preferably an identifier uniquely assigned for each content. It is sufficient that “unique” is unique in the content information storage unit 311. FIG. 25 shows the content information for the 4th channel in Kinki and the 5th channel in Kyushu, including the 5th row in Kinki (excluding the row showing the column names) and the 1st in Kyushu. It can be seen that the “useless fountain” written in the row has the same content ID “40”, the same performer “Natsuko Nakayama”, the same title “useless fountain”, and the same content.

  If there is a content ID uniquely assigned in the content information storage unit 311, it is easy to search the same content from a set of content information stored by region, but if no content ID is assigned, the performer An analogy may be made based on whether the titles are the same or not. By storing the broadcast content list for each broadcast area in this way, the content ID or title indicated by the content designation information is specified from the broadcast content list of the broadcast area to which the original position information belongs (broadcast information specifying step) and searched. The retrieved contents can be searched (broadcast information searching step) from the broadcast content list of the broadcast area to which the desired area information belongs.

  An example of the broadcast area correspondence table stored in the broadcast area correspondence storage unit 3121 is shown in FIG. Reference numeral 341 indicates a correspondence between a notation example of the position information (right column) and a broadcast area (left column) to which the location indicated by the position information belongs.

  When the broadcast area correspondence storage unit 3121 stores this correspondence, the broadcast area search unit 312 can search the received position information from the correspondence table 341 and specify the broadcast area. Reference numeral 342 indicates a correspondence between the broadcast station name (center row), the channel number (right column), and the broadcast area (left column). The broadcast area correspondence storage unit 3121 stores this correspondence so that the broadcast area search unit 312 can search for the received broadcast station name instead of the position information from the correspondence table 342 and specify the broadcast area. .

  In addition to these examples, information such as an area code, a postal code, and latitude / longitude information that can generally specify a position and area and a broadcast area may be stored in association with each other.

  A broadcast area can be specified using any one of these correspondence tables (broadcast area specifying step). Using the broadcast area correspondence table, the content information server 3 can receive only the inquiry about the broadcast area and send back the broadcast area. For example, if the content information server 3 receives the URL “http: // address of the content information server / set? Area = nara” and can acquire only the “area = nara” from the received URL, It may be interpreted as a broadcast area inquiry, and the broadcast area “Kinki” to which “nara” belongs may be returned in the same manner. It goes without saying that the exchange of these information is not limited to the URL, but may use e-mail or the like.

  The flow from when the content information server 3 receives the content designation information in the original area information to the conversion to the content designation information in the desired area information and to generate reply information will be described with reference to FIG.

  Upon receiving the content designation information conversion request, the content information server 3 acquires content designation information (content designation time, content designation channel), original position information, and desired position information included in the conversion request (S3501).

  In the broadcast area specifying step, the respective broadcast areas to which the original area information and the desired area information belong are specified (S3502). Needless to say, if neither the original position information nor the desired position information is added to the content designation information, this broadcast area specifying step S3502 need not be performed.

  The broadcast areas specified in the broadcast area specifying step S3502 are compared with each other (S3503), and if the broadcast areas are the same, information for returning the received content information together with the broadcast area B is generated (S3509).

  If they are not the same, first, the content indicated by the content designation information is specified from the broadcast content list of the broadcast area to which the original position information belongs, and a broadcast information specifying step for acquiring content information is performed (S3504). Next, the acquired broadcast information is searched from the broadcast content list of the broadcast area B, and the broadcast information in the broadcast area B, particularly the broadcast start time and the broadcast channel are acquired (S3505). In order to create the content designation information from here, the broadcast start time in the broadcast area to which the original area information indicated by the original content designation information belongs is acquired (S3506), and the content designation time included in the original content designation information and Is added to the broadcast start time of the content in the broadcast area to which the desired area information belongs (S3507).

  By doing so, it is possible to calculate how long the original content designation time is in the broadcast area to which the desired area information belongs. New content designation information is generated with the new content designation time and broadcast channel thus obtained, and desired position information is added to generate reply information (S3508).

  In S3509 and S3508, the desired position information is information grasped by the content designation instruction device 1 or the content viewing instruction device 2 that is the conversion request source, and therefore the desired position information may not be given.

  An example of information that the content information server 3 exchanges with the content designation instruction device 1 and the content viewing instruction device 2 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The content information server 3 sets the content designation information, the original area information, and the desired area information in accordance with, for example, the URL format like 2601, the content designation channel “tv: //8.vhf/”, the content designation time “2003 8”. In addition to “March 20, 21:35”, the original area information (srcarea) is followed by nara and the desired area information (destarea) is followed by Fukuoka (fukuoka). The content designation information, the original area information, and the desired area information are acquired from this URL and processed. This URL may further include a start time (start) and an end time (end) of a program as indicated by 2602.

  The content designation information converted into the broadcast schedule of the broadcast area to which the desired area information belongs by the processing shown in FIG. 27 is reshaped in the URL format and returned as 2603. At this time, it is desirable to clearly indicate in which region the content designation information is created (area = fukuoka). If, in the broadcast information search step, it is determined that the content indicated by the content designation information is not broadcast in the broadcast area to which the desired area information belongs, the received information is sent back as it is or broadcasted with “no search result” It is desirable to reply that it will not. In that case, as shown in 2604, the received content designation information may not be converted as it is, but the regional information may be given and transmitted as it is.

In this example, the content designation information at the location indicated by the original position information is converted into the content designation information at the location indicated by the desired location information. Similarly, for example, the content provision schedule as shown in FIG. 25 is stored for each broadcasting form such as terrestrial digital broadcasting, terrestrial analog broadcasting, satellite broadcasting, and broadcasting for mobile devices, and the same between the broadcasting forms. If there is content, store it so that it can be recognized that it is the same in the same title, the same performer, etc., or assign an ID uniquely determined in the content information server 3 as described above This makes it possible to convert the content information for the desired broadcast format and return it.
The content designation instruction device 1 in the second embodiment will be described.
FIG. 29 shows a functional configuration of the content designation instruction apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment. As shown here, the content designation instruction device 1 further includes a broadcast area acquisition unit 16081 in its own location information acquisition unit 1609 and program information acquisition unit 1608 in contrast to the configuration of the first embodiment. .

  The own position information acquisition unit 1609 is configured by the GPS sensor 509 (FIG. 10), and the program information acquisition unit 1608 and the broadcast area acquisition unit 16081 are configured by the memory 501 (FIG. 10) or the CPU 502 (FIG. 10), respectively.

  The content storage information stored in the content storage information storage unit 16061 in the content storage unit 1606 may be stored by the method shown in FIG.

  In addition to the accumulation start time (leftmost column), the accumulation end time (second column), and the broadcast channel (third column), it is desirable to store the broadcast location information (rightmost column). In this example, position information is stored, but it may be a broadcast area. In addition, location information does not necessarily need to be stored, and it does not matter where you view it, for example, a homepage on the Internet or a video camera that you shoot yourself instead of accumulating broadcasts. It is not necessary to memorize area information. Of course, it is desirable to store location information, regional information, a broadcast area, etc., for information published on a limited area even on the Internet homepage.

  A flow in which the content designation instruction device 1 creates content designation information will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 31. FIG.

  As in the first embodiment, when the “information transmission” button is pressed (S1720), the viewing history managed by the viewing content management unit 16071 is presented (S1721), and the user selects the content to be transmitted. Prompt. Of the steps shown in FIG. 4, the step different from the first embodiment is S1727.

  In the second embodiment, in S1727, the viewing start time and viewing end time of the selected content are acquired, and the location information of the place where the selected content was viewed is acquired, and the process proceeds to S2903 in FIG. Here, in the viewing content management unit 16071, it is desirable to store the viewing location as well as the channel switching time and channel as shown in FIG. 3, but if not, the “information transmission” button is pressed. Sometimes the position information of the place where the content designation instruction device 1 exists may be substituted.

  In the “send currently viewed content” step in the second embodiment shown in FIG. 31, first, as in the first embodiment, the viewing content management unit 16071 is inquired about the currently viewed content (S1702). ). When watching a real-time broadcast, the time at which the button is pressed is acquired from the time measuring unit 1602 (S1703), the broadcast channel providing the content being viewed is acquired (S1704), and the local position information is acquired. The position information of the place where the content designation instruction device 1 is placed is acquired from the unit 1609 (S2901).

  When watching content on the WWW instead of real-time broadcasting, the button press absolute time is acquired (S1711), the URI of the content is acquired (S1712), and the own location information is acquired, as in the first embodiment. The process proceeds to step S2901. In the processing when viewing the WWW, the button press absolute time acquisition step S1711 and the own position information acquisition step S2901 do not have to be performed.

  When viewing stored content instead of real-time broadcasting, the video storage start time and where the “information transmission” button was played are acquired (S1705), and the acquired playback time and content storage are acquired. From the accumulation start time acquired from the information storage unit 16061, it is calculated when the button is pressed if the program is viewed in real time instead of the video, and is set as the absolute button pressing time (S1705). In addition, the channel on which the video was broadcast is acquired (S1707). Then, the position information where the video was broadcast is acquired from the content accumulation information storage unit 16061 (S2902).

  S1703, S1704, S1705, S1706, and S1707 are the same processes as those in the first embodiment. Thereafter, it is determined whether to convert the program information to the location information of the location where the content viewing instruction device 2 as the transmission destination is placed (S2903). When matching (YES in S2903), the location information of the transmission destination is acquired. In step S2904, the program information is matched with the location information of the transmission destination (S2905). Specifically, the location information (third column in FIG. 30) stored in the content storage information storage unit 16061 is “original location information”, and the destination location information is “desired location information”. The content information server 3 may be requested to convert the content designation information, and the received conversion result may be used as the content designation information.

  The content designation information is constructed from the absolute button press time thus obtained and the broadcast channel, and is transmitted to the content viewing instruction device 2 together with the location information of the transmission destination or the location information of the location where the content designation instruction device 1 is placed. Information is created (S1708 '). As a method of converting to the content designation information at the position indicated by the location information of the transmission destination, the position held by the content information server 3 inside the content designation instruction device 1 instead of requesting the conversion to the content information server 3 The correspondence table between the information and the program broadcast area and the broadcast schedule information in each broadcast area may be stored and converted in the content designation instruction apparatus 1 by referring to the stored contents.

  FIG. 32 shows an example of the content designation information and the area information created by the content designation instruction device 1 and transmitted to the content viewing instruction device 2.

  Here, in accordance with the example in FIG. 9, an instruction for “information transmission”, that is, content designation of the content designation instruction apparatus 1 is issued on August 20, 2003 at 21:35. It is assumed that the program was called “Waste Fountain” that was broadcast on the channel (name: Deer TV) and was broadcast from 21:00:00 to 21:55 on the same day. Deer TV is said to be a broadcasting station in Nara Prefecture. 1901 ′ is an example in which the content designation information “Channel is VHF 8ch, August 20, 2003 21:35” and “Location information (area) is Nara” are included in the message.

  On the other hand, an example including the start time and end time of the program acquired by the program information acquisition unit 1608 (FIG. 29) in addition to the content designation information is represented by 1902 ′, and the expression “8ch” is the name of the television station (this book An example expressed by “deer TV” in the example is shown in 1903. Here, the information “area = nara” is omitted because “deer television” is equivalent to the position information “Nara”. A message including the content designation information and the additional information is created by the content designation instruction device 1, and a display example on the received content viewing instruction device 2 is 1905 ′. This is a display in which the designation information 1901 ′ to 1903 ′ and additional information are shown as they are, and the user selects content to be viewed. Of course, it is not necessary to display the content designation information and the area information as in the display of 1904 and 1906 shown in FIG. Also, since the conversion request for the content designation information transmitted to the content information server 3 is shown in 2601, 2602 in FIG. 28, the description is omitted.

  The content viewing instruction device 2 in the second embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 33 shows a functional configuration of the content viewing instruction device 2.

In addition to the functional configuration in the first embodiment, the content viewing instruction device 2 includes a self-location information acquisition unit 413 and a broadcast information acquisition unit 4091 in the program information acquisition unit 409. The local position information acquisition unit 413 is configured by the GPS sensor 509 (FIG. 10), and the broadcast area acquisition unit 4091 is configured by the memory 501 or the CPU 502 (FIG. 10). With these two additional functions,
The content viewing instruction device 2 processes the message containing the content designation information according to the procedure shown in FIGS.

  When a message is received (S601), it is determined whether or not content designation information is included in the received message (S602). If it is not included (NO in S602), normal message storage processing is performed (S606). Since it is the same as the first embodiment of the content viewing instruction apparatus shown in FIG. 13, it is not shown in FIG. The processing that is performed when the content specifying information is included in the received message (YES in S602) is different from the first embodiment shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 34, it is described from the point where it is determined that the content specifying information is included in the received message (YES in S602 of FIG. 13).

  In this example, the content designation information acquisition unit 403 of the content viewing instruction apparatus 2 also acquires the temporary position information P1 received together with the content designation information in the step of obtaining the content designation information (S603 '). The temporary position information indicates position information included in the message together with the content designation information. Then, the location information P2 (hereinafter “own location information”) of the location where the content viewing instruction device 2 is placed is obtained using the location information acquisition unit 413 (S2201). This step S2201 does not necessarily have to be performed after S603 ′, and the location information may be automatically acquired and held when the location where the content viewing instruction device 2 is placed is moved. .

  Here, the broadcast area acquisition unit 4091 in the program information acquisition unit 409 acquires and compares the broadcast areas to which the respective positions of the temporary position information P1 and the own position information P2 received together with the content information belong (S2202).

  This broadcast area acquisition method may be a method of referring to the correspondence table between the position information and the program broadcast area held in the content viewing instruction apparatus 2, or any server for grasping the broadcast area, for example, a content information server A method of sending location information to 3 and inquiring about the broadcasting area may be used. Of course, in the former method, it is needless to say that a correspondence table needs to be held in the content viewing apparatus 2. As a result of the comparison of the broadcast areas, if it is determined that both are the same broadcast area (YES in S2202), the program information acquisition unit 409 uses the same procedure as S604 in FIG. obtain.

  As a result of the comparison of the broadcast areas, if it is determined that the two broadcast areas are different (NO in S2202), the program information acquisition unit 409 sends both the temporary position information P1 and the own position information P2 to the content information server 3. By transmitting the original position information and the desired position information together with the received content designation information, the conversion result is obtained from the content information server 3 (S604 ′). As a method of converting to the content designation information corresponding to the location of the content viewing instruction device 2, which is the processing of S604 ′, instead of requesting the content information server 3 to convert, the content information in the content viewing instruction device 2 A correspondence table between the position information and the program broadcast area held by the server 3 and broadcast schedule information in each broadcast area may be stored and converted by the content viewing instruction device 2 by referring to the stored contents. Absent.

  Thereafter, the received content designation information or the content designation information acquired in S604 ′, the program information acquired in S604 or S604 ′, and the own location information are stored together in the content designation information storage unit 406 (S605 ′).

  The method shown in FIG. 34 is effective when the content viewing instruction apparatus 2 hardly moves in and out of the broadcast area because it is a method of correcting the content designation information based on the own position information when receiving the content designation information. If the content viewing instruction apparatus 2 hardly moves in the broadcast area, the content viewing can be performed by the same processing as that in FIGS. 16 and 17 of the first embodiment regarding the viewing operation after the content viewing instruction is given. .

  A description will be given of a preferable method when the content viewing instruction device 2 is frequently moved in and out of the broadcast area, and is composed of a highly portable device such as a small television, a mobile phone, or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant).

  FIG. 35 shows the flow of processing when the content viewing instruction apparatus 2 receives content including content designation information.

  Since the content designation information acquisition unit 403 of the content viewing instruction apparatus 2 acquires the content specification information and acquires the enclosed temporary position information (S603 ′), the method is the same as the method shown in FIG. I left it out. When the content designation information (content designation channel, content designation time) and temporary position information are acquired in S603 ′, the program information acquisition unit 409 acquires information regarding the content designation time in the temporary position information and the broadcast program of the content designation channel. (S604 ″), the temporary location information is stored in the content designation information storage unit 406 together with the content designation information and the program information (S605 ″).

  When the content viewing instruction device 2 receives the content including the content designation information, it is checked whether the content indicated by the received content designation information is broadcast in real time at the time of reception. An example that may be encouraged to do so is shown in FIG.

  Referring to FIG. 36, the content designation channel, the content designation time, and the temporary position information are acquired from the content designation information (S603 ′), and the location where the content viewing instruction device 2 is placed (own position information) is obtained here. (S2201).

  Here, similar to the process shown in FIG. 34, the broadcast areas of the temporary position information and the own position information are compared, and program information matching the own position information is acquired (S2202, S604, S604 ′). Thereafter, the current time is acquired by the time measuring unit 402 (S1001), and whether or not the current time is between the broadcast start time and the broadcast end time acquired in S604 or S604 ′, that is, the content specified by the content specification information is. It is checked whether or not the broadcasting is in progress at the own position (S1002). If broadcasting is in progress, the channel is switched to the designated channel (S1003). If it is outside the broadcasting time, content designation information and program information are displayed as in S605 ″ of FIG. The temporary position information is also stored in the content designation information storage unit 406.

  A method for viewing content by selecting from the content designation information and temporary position information stored in the content designation information storage unit 406 will be described with reference to FIG.

  Referring to FIG. 37, when a content designation information viewing instruction is received (S901), a content designation channel and a content designation time are obtained from content designation information storage unit 406, and temporary position information is also obtained (S902).

  Then, information on the location where the content viewing instruction device is located (own position information) is acquired (S2201), and the content specified by the content designation information is determined from the own position information, the acquired content information, and the temporary position information. When broadcast at the position is acquired (S2202, S604, S604 ′). Then, the current time is acquired (S903), and the current time is compared with the program broadcast time of the content specified by the content specifying information at the acquired position (S905). Switching (S9062), if it is after the broadcast, it is checked whether the content designated by the content designation information has been stored (S9061), and if it is before the broadcast, the recording reservation is executed (S9063).

  In steps S9061, S9062, and S9063, processing similar to that in the first embodiment is performed to check whether content is stored, to switch to a content designation channel, and to perform recording reservation. If the storage unit 410 that actually records is separable from the content viewing instruction device 2, the content designation is made at the location where the storage unit (storage device, HDD recorder, etc.) is placed again before making a recording reservation. It is desirable to acquire a schedule for broadcasting the content specified by the information and perform a recording reservation process.

  The greatest feature of the second embodiment is that the content designated by the content designation information based on the temporary position information in S2202, S604, and S604 ′ shown in FIGS. 34, 36, and 37 is the content viewing instruction device 2. The step of checking when the broadcast is performed at the place where the content is placed (own position) is performed either when the content including the content designation information is received or when viewing the content.

  By providing this step, the content designation instruction device 1 can easily send the content including the content designation information without worrying about the place where the content viewing instruction device 2 is placed.

  In the present embodiment, the content designation information storage unit 406 stores the content designation information and the program information and stores the position information, at least the broadcast area as shown in FIG. 38. The position information may be stored in a unified manner (261), or it may be stored separately from the temporary position information or the position information (262). In the case of tentative position information 262, “temporary” is specified and stored in the “broadcast area”. Needless to say, this “(temporary)” is not necessarily used, and other methods may be used as long as it is possible to distinguish between the temporary position information and the own position information.

  In this example, information (such as an e-mail address) and region information about a destination to which content designation information is transmitted are stored in the content designation instruction device 1, and the content designation instruction device 1 sends the content designation information and the other party to the content information server 3. Region information ("desired region information" in the content information server 3) is transmitted, the content information server returns content designation information matching the partner's region information to the content designation instruction device 1, and the result is the content designation instruction device 1 Shows a method of transmitting to the content viewing instruction device 2 (FIG. 39A).

  Further, when the content designation instruction device 1 transmits content designation information to the content viewing instruction device 2 and the content viewing instruction device 2 issues a viewing instruction, that is, when viewing the content, it is received together with the content designation information and the content designation information. The location information indicating the location of the content viewing instruction device 2 is transmitted to the content information server 3, and the content information server 3 matches the received content designation information with the location information indicating the location of the content viewing instruction device 2. The transmission and content viewing instruction device 2 also shows a method of viewing content using the content viewing information corrected at the place where the content viewing instruction device 2 is placed (FIG. 39 (b)).

  Here, the content specification instruction device 1 transmits all the destination information and the content specification information to the content information server 3, and the content information server 3 does not send the converted content specification information back to the content specification instruction device 1. Instead, it may be sent to the content viewing instruction device 2 (FIG. 39 (c)).

  At this time, it is desirable that the content information server 3 obtains the location information of the transmission destination from the content designation instruction device 1 in addition to the address of the transmission destination as the transmission destination information. In addition, it goes without saying that the content information server 3 needs to acquire the position information of the content designation instruction device 1 itself. Since the content information server 3 performs transmission to the content viewing instruction device 2, the operator of the content information server 3 can transmit advertisements and the like to the content viewing instruction device 2 together with the content designation information.

  When the content information server 3 receives a request for transmitting content designation information once, the content information server 3 associates and stores the request source that made the transmission request, the location information of the request source, the destination of the content designation information, and the location information of the destination. By doing so, when the content designation information is transmitted to the same destination from the next time on, the information may be used again. In addition, the content information server 3 functions as a WWW server, publishes a home page on which program information including content designation information is published, and issues a selection instruction in response to a content designation information selection instruction from the content viewing instruction apparatus 2 The position information of the content viewing instruction device 2 is acquired, and the content designation information matching the broadcast area of the place where the content viewing instruction device 2 is located is transmitted to the content viewing instruction device 2, and the content viewing instruction device 2 You may watch.

(Third embodiment)
A specific example of the apparatus of the present invention described above will be described.

  FIG. 40 shows a video display device 381 and a controller 382 that controls the video display device 381.

  The controller 382 includes at least an information transmission button 3821 and an object, a pointer, a cursor, or the like displayed in the video output unit 3826 if the video display unit 381 or the controller 382 includes a video output unit 3826 such as a display. It is desirable that an up direction key 3822, a down direction key 3824, and a determination button 3823 be provided. Of course, in some cases, a key for instructing in the left-right direction and a device for instructing movement of an object in the three-dimensional space may be provided.

  Further, a numeric button 3825 may be provided, and an input may be performed to select one or a plurality of options displayed with numbers in the video display device 381 or the video output unit 3826. Furthermore, an English character key or a hiragana key may be provided. The controller 382 operates the video display device 381 using wireless communication such as infrared rays or BlueTooth or wired communication. Further, the controller 382 may receive information from the video display device 381 such as which program the video display device 381 is displaying. The combination of the video display device 381 and the controller 382 constitutes the content designation instruction device 1 and the content viewing instruction device 2 of the present invention. Although FIG. 40 illustrates an apparatus that displays video, it goes without saying that an apparatus that outputs only audio may be used in some cases.

  FIG. 41 shows an example in which the content designation instruction device 1 is configured as a television device.

  This television apparatus includes a video output unit 505 that outputs video, which is a function of a normal television device, an audio output unit 505, a tuner 507 that receives broadcast waves from the broadcast station 4, and an operation signal reception unit that receives a remote control signal. 506. The video output unit 505 and the audio output unit 505 function as an output unit 1604, and the operation signal reception unit 506 functions as a user instruction input reception unit 1605. The tuner 507 is used as a route for receiving content.

  Further, a message creation unit 1601, a content designation information creation unit 16011, a time measurement unit 1602, a program information acquisition unit 1608, a broadcast area acquisition unit 16081, a CPU 502 functioning as a viewing content management unit 16071, a content designation information transmission destination storage unit 16012, a content storage unit 1606, a storage device 503 that functions as a content storage information storage unit 16061, a GPS antenna 509 that functions as its own location information acquisition unit 1609, and a network connection circuit 1603 that functions as a network I / F.

  When the operation signal receiving unit 506 serving as the user instruction input receiving unit 1605 receives the “information transmission” signal from the user, the CPU serving as the content designation information creating unit 16011 acquires the current time in the time measuring unit 1602 and viewing content The content designation information is generated by inquiring the management unit 16071 about the content currently being viewed, and in some cases by inquiring the content storage information storage unit 16061. In some cases, the content designation instruction device 1 is placed in the own location information acquisition unit 1609. The content designation information obtained as a result is obtained by acquiring the program information designated by the content designation information through the program information acquisition unit 1608 or by matching the content designation information with the region to the content information server 3. Network I / F is a network Transmitting to the transmission destination stored in the storage device 503 which is the content designation information transmitting destination storage unit 16012 through the connection circuit 504.

  Furthermore, if this example is provided with means for communicating with a mobile communication network or a telephone network, it can also function as a mobile phone with a TV tuner.

  FIG. 42 shows an example when the content viewing instruction device 2 is configured as a television device.

  41, a video output unit 505 that outputs video, which is a function of a normal television device, an audio output unit 505, a tuner 507 that receives broadcast waves from the broadcasting station 4, and an operation signal reception that receives remote control signals. Part 506. The video output unit 505 and the audio output unit 505 function as an output unit 1604, and the operation signal reception unit 506 functions as a user instruction input reception unit 1605. The tuner 507 is used as a route for receiving content, and further functions as a channel switching unit 411 that switches channels according to an instruction from the CPU 502 described later. Further, a message receiving unit 412, a content receiving unit 407, a content control unit 401, a content designation information acquisition unit 403, a program information acquisition unit 409, a broadcast area acquisition unit 4091, a CPU 502 functioning as a time measurement unit 402, a content storage unit 410, A content storage information storage unit 41001, a storage device 410 functioning as a content designation information storage unit 406, a network connection circuit 504 functioning as a network I / F, and a GPS antenna 509 functioning as a local location information acquisition unit 413 are provided.

  When the message receiving unit 412 receives a message including the content designation information in the network connection circuit 504 that is the network I / F through the network 0, the content designation information acquisition unit 403 acquires the content designation information in the message, It is stored in the storage device 503 which is the content designation information storage unit 406.

  When the operation signal receiving unit 506 that is the user instruction input receiving unit 405 receives a viewing instruction from the user, the content control unit 401 uses the time measurement unit 402 and the content accumulation information storage unit 41001 according to the received user instruction. Depending on the situation, content viewing is performed using the program information acquisition unit 409 or the own position information acquisition unit 413.

  The content designation instructing device 1 and the content viewing instructing device 2 do not necessarily need to be separate devices, and one device may have both functions.

  FIG. 43 shows an example of a television device that functions as both the content designation instruction device 1 and the content viewing instruction device 2.

  The program information acquisition unit 409 (16081), the broadcast area acquisition unit 4091 (16081), the content storage unit 410 (1606), and the content storage information storage unit, which are functions necessary for both the content designation instruction device 1 and the content viewing instruction device 2 41001 (16061) and the user instruction input receiving unit 405 (1605) may be one each. The television apparatus can view the content designated by the content designation information received from the outside, and can also generate and transmit the content designation information to the outside.

  FIG. 44 shows an example of an apparatus configured as a PVR (Personal Video Recorder) having the functions of both the content designation instruction apparatus 1 and the content viewing instruction apparatus 2.

  Both output units of the video output unit 505 and the audio output unit 505 function to output a video signal and an audio signal to a video display device such as a television device connected to the PVR and an audio presentation device such as a stereo device.

  In this PVR, an operation signal transmission / reception unit 506 performs transmission / reception of an operation signal, and a portion functioning as a user instruction input reception unit 405 (1605) receives a user input signal from a remote control device or the like, and is connected to a television apparatus. Transmits an operation signal for operating an external device such as a stereo device. This operation signal is performed by the content control unit 401.

  FIG. 45 shows an example of a controller having the functions of both the content designation instruction device 1 and the content viewing instruction device 2 and a PVR operated by this controller.

  In FIG. 45, the network 0 and the broadcasting station 4 should be shown, but are omitted due to space limitations. The controller includes a content reception unit 407, a message reception unit 412, a time measurement unit 402 (1602), a content control unit 401, a content designation information acquisition unit 403, a program information acquisition unit 409 (1608), and a broadcast area acquisition unit 4091 (16081). A CPU 502 that functions as a message creation unit 1601 and a content designation information creation unit 16011; a storage device 503 that functions as a content designation information storage unit 406 and a content designation information transmission destination storage unit 16012; and a user instruction input reception unit 405 (1605). Operation signal transmission / reception unit 506 that functions, video output unit 505 and audio output unit 505 that function as output unit 404 (1604), GPS antenna 509 that functions as own position information acquisition unit 413 (1609), and network / And a network connection circuit 504 that functions as F 408 (1603).

  A function for communicating with the outside through the network 0 to acquire content designation information and acquiring program information, a function for content designation information generation and message creation as functions as the content designation instruction device 1, and a content designation information storage unit 406 A part or all of the content designation information stored in the screen is presented to the user through the video output unit 505 and the audio output unit 505, and the user is prompted to select, that is, to view, and the viewing instruction given by the user is changed to an operation signal. The function of transmitting to the PVR through the transmission / reception unit 506 is achieved. Further, the viewing content management unit 16071 in the PVR may be inquired through the operation signal transmission / reception unit 506 in order to know the operation state of the PVR.

  The PVR is a PVR original function, that is, a tuner 507 for receiving broadcast waves, a content storage unit 410 (1606), a storage device 503 functioning as a content storage information storage unit 41001 (16061), a television device or a stereo device. A video output unit 505 and an audio output unit 505 for functioning as an output unit 404 (1604) for outputting video and audio to an external video / audio output device such as a user instruction input receiving unit 405 for receiving operation signals from a remote control device An operation signal transmission / reception unit 506 for functioning as (1605) is provided.

  Furthermore, a CPU 502 for functioning as a content control unit 401, a viewing content management unit 16071, and a content reception unit 407 is provided, and a network I / F 408 (1603) is provided as necessary. The PVR receives an operation signal from the controller through the operation signal transmission / reception unit 506, and plays back the content stored in the content storage unit 410 (1606) or sends it to the channel switching unit 411 according to the received operation signal. The content control unit 401 controls the content by switching the channel of the tuner 507.

  The PVR performs more functions as the content viewing instruction device 2 than functions as the content designation instruction device 1. If the controller further includes means for communicating with a mobile communication network, a telephone network, or the like, the controller can also function as a mobile phone.

  As described above, the embodiments and examples of the present invention have been described. However, the embodiments and examples disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. is there. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, and includes meanings equivalent to the terms of the claims and all modifications within the scope.

It is a figure which shows the relationship between the content designation | designated instruction | indication apparatus and content viewing instruction | indication apparatus in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the function structure of the content designation | designated instruction | indication apparatus in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed a mode that a viewing content management part manages viewing content. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process based on the "information transmission" instruction | indication which a content designation | designated instruction | indication apparatus performs. It is a figure which shows an example of a screen at the time of showing the viewing-and-listening content which a viewing-and-listening content management part manages to a user. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process based on the instruction | indication which "the content which is now viewing / listening" performs which a content designation instruction | indication apparatus performs. It is the figure which showed a mode that the information regarding the content memorize | stored in a content storage part was memorize | stored in a content accumulation information storage part. It is the figure which showed an example of the display of the content designation | designated instruction | indication apparatus from button press to message transmission. It is a figure which shows the example of a content designation | designated information, and the example of a display of WWW contents, such as a mail content and a homepage containing the content designation | designated information in a content viewing instruction | indication apparatus, and a viewing instruction example. It is a figure which shows the physical structure of the content specification instruction | indication apparatus and content viewing instruction | indication apparatus in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the flow of a rough process of the content viewing instruction | indication apparatus in this invention. It is a figure which shows the function structure of the content viewing instruction | indication apparatus in 1st Example of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the processing performed when a content viewing instruction | indication apparatus receives a message. It is an image figure of the content memorize | stored in a content designation | designated information storage part. It is a figure which shows an example of the display of the list of content designation | designated information which a content viewing instruction | indication apparatus shows to a user. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the concrete process which a content control part determines that "the content designation | designated time and the present time are substantially the same." It is the flowchart which showed the flow which judges whether the information regarding the content in broadcast at the time of message reception which a content control part performs is contained. It is the flowchart which showed the flow of the channel change step which a content control part performs. It is the figure which showed the example of a display shown to a user based on message reception, a content designation | designated information list, and a content viewing instruction. It is the flowchart which showed the flow of the process which investigates whether the content designated by content designation | designated information is accumulate | stored. It is the figure which showed the flow of the process which performs accumulation | storage reservation of a content. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the content designation | designated instruction | indication apparatus, the content viewing instruction | indication apparatus, and a content information server in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed the function structure of the content information server. It is the figure which showed the physical structure of the content information server. It is the figure which showed a mode that it stored about the information of the content in the content information storage part. It is the figure which showed the example of the broadcast area corresponding table memorize | stored in the broadcast area corresponding | compatible memory | storage part. It is the flowchart which showed the flow from receiving the content designation | designated information in original area information to converting into the content designation information in desired area information, and producing | generating the information for a reply. It is the figure which showed the example of the information which the content information server 3 exchanges with a content designation | designated instruction | indication apparatus and a content viewing instruction | indication apparatus. It is a figure which shows the function structure of the content designation | designated instruction | indication apparatus in 2nd Embodiment. It is the image figure which showed the mode of the content storage information memorize | stored in the content storage information storage part in a content storage part. It is the flowchart shown about the flow of the process in which the content specification instruction | indication apparatus in 2nd Embodiment produces content specification information. It is a figure which shows the example of content designation | designated information and area information. It is a figure which shows the function structure of the content viewing instruction | indication apparatus in 2nd Embodiment. 9 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing content designation information in the second embodiment. It is the flowchart which showed the flow of a process when a content viewing instruction | indication apparatus receives the content containing content designation | designated information. It is the flowchart which showed the flow which checks whether the content which the received content designation | designated information is broadcast in real time at the time of reception, and processes it. It is the flowchart which showed the flow of the process which chooses from the content designation | designated information memorize | stored in the content designation | designated information storage part, and temporary position information, and views a content. It is the image figure which showed the example in which a content designation | designated information storage part memorize | stores location designation | designated information and at least a broadcast area while memorize | stores content specification information and program information. It is an image figure which shows the exchange of the information between a content designation | designated instruction | indication apparatus, a content viewing instruction | indication apparatus, and a content information server in this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a video display apparatus and a controller which implements this invention. It is a block diagram when a content specification instruction | indication apparatus is comprised as a television apparatus. It is a block diagram when a content viewing instruction | indication apparatus is comprised as a television apparatus. It is a block diagram when the apparatus which has a function of both a content specification instruction | indication apparatus and a content viewing instruction | indication apparatus is comprised as a television apparatus. It is a block diagram when the apparatus which has both the function of a content specification instruction | indication apparatus and a content viewing instruction | indication apparatus is comprised as PVR. FIG. 2 is a block diagram when a device having both functions of a content designation instruction device and a content viewing instruction device is configured as a controller, and a block diagram of a PVR operated by the controller.

Explanation of symbols

  0 network, 1 content designation instruction device, 2 content viewing instruction device, 3 content information server, 1601 message creation unit, 16011 content designation information creation unit, 16012 content designation information transmission destination storage unit, 1602 time measurement unit, 1603 network I / F, 1604 output unit, 1605 user instruction input reception unit, 1606 content storage unit, 16061 content storage information storage unit, 1607 content control unit, 16071 viewing content management unit, 1608 program information acquisition unit, 16081 broadcast area acquisition unit, 31 content Information search unit, 311 content information storage unit, 312 broadcast area search unit, 3121 broadcast area correspondence storage unit, 32 reception unit, 33 transmission unit, 320 bus, 321 memory, 322 CPU 323 Non-volatile memory, 324 Network connection circuit, 401 Content control unit, 402 Time measurement unit, 403 Content designation information acquisition unit, 404 output unit, 405 User instruction input reception unit, 406 Content designation information storage unit, 407 Content reception unit , 408 Network I / F, 409 Program information acquisition unit, 4091 Broadcast area acquisition unit, 410 Content storage unit, 41001 Content storage information storage unit, 411 Channel switching unit, 412 Message reception unit, 413 Self location information acquisition unit, 500 bus , 501 memory, 502 CPU, 503 nonvolatile memory, 504 network connection circuit, 505 output unit, 506 input unit, 507 broadcast receiving tuner, 508 timer, 509 GPS sensor.

Claims (33)

Content control means for controlling content;
Viewing content management means that is controlled by the content control means and manages the content viewed or viewed by the user;
User instruction input accepting means for accepting a designation instruction by a user who designates content from the contents managed by the viewing content managing means;
A content designation instruction apparatus comprising: content designation information creation means for creating information for designating designated content based on the content designation instruction accepted by the user instruction input acceptance means.   The content according to claim 1, wherein the user instruction input receiving means further includes means for receiving a designation instruction for content that can be viewed in the future or content that is scheduled to be viewed by the content designation instruction device. Designated pointing device.   The user instruction input accepting means further accepts information for further designating a part or a plurality of parts of the designated content, and the content designation information creating means is a part of the designated content based on the user instruction. 3. The content designation instruction apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for creating content designation information for further designating a plurality of portions.   The content designation information creating means further comprises means for including one or more pieces of time information in the content designation information in order to designate a part or a plurality of parts of the designated content. 4. The content designation instruction device according to 3.   5. The content designation instruction apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the time information included in the content designation information is time information for identifying a certain moment or time information for identifying a certain period. Furthermore, a time measuring means for measuring time is provided,
The content designation information creating means uses the time information measured by the time measurement means as time information included in the content designation information in order to designate a part or a plurality of parts of the designated content. The content specification instruction device according to any one of claims 3 to 5. further,
Content storage means for storing content;
Content storage information storage means for storing information of the content stored in the content storage means,
When the content designated by the designation instruction is an accumulated content, the content designation information creating unit is configured to store the absolute time during accumulation stored in the content accumulation information storage unit and when the designation instruction is performed. 7. The content designation instruction device according to claim 3, further comprising means for creating content designation information based on a reproduction position of the stored content.   When the content designation information is created based on the absolute time during accumulation stored in the content accumulation information storage means and the reproduction position of the accumulated content when the content designation instruction is performed, the assumed button press time is set. The content designation instruction apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the content designation instruction device calculates the time information to designate a part or a plurality of parts of the designated content.   When creating content designation information for designating a part or a plurality of parts of the content, the content designation information creation means instructs the content control means to play the designated content stored in the content storage means The content designation instruction apparatus according to claim 8, wherein:   10. The content designation information creating unit further inquires of the user whether or not to designate a part or a plurality of parts of the content when the content is designated by the content designation instruction. The content designation instruction device according to any one of the above. Furthermore, a program information acquisition means for acquiring information related to the content is provided,
2. The content designation information creating means, when creating the content designation information, uses the program information acquisition means to obtain program information relating to the designated content and add it to the content designation information. The content designation instruction device according to claim 10. Furthermore, a message creation means for creating a message including the content designation information is provided,
12. The content according to claim 1, wherein the message creation unit creates a transferable message including the content designation information created by the content designation information creation unit. Designated pointing device.   The content designation instruction apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the content designation information creating unit further includes a unit that adds position information to the content designation information.   When creating the content designation information based on the stored content stored in the content accumulation means, the content designation information creation means provides the position information indicating the location at the time of accumulation of the accumulated content to the content designation information The content designation instruction apparatus according to claim 13, wherein: Furthermore, it has own position information acquisition means for acquiring position information,
15. The content storage unit stores the position information acquired by the own position information acquisition unit in the content storage information storage unit when storing the content. Content specification instruction device.   16. The content designation information according to claim 15, wherein the content designation information creating unit uses the own location information acquired by the own location information acquisition unit as location information to be added to the content designation information. apparatus. Furthermore, it comprises content designation information transmission destination storage means for storing a destination to which the content designation information is transmitted,
The content designation information transmission destination storage means further stores location information of the transmission destination in addition to the transmission destination address, and the content designation information creation means determines the content designation information to be transmitted based on the location information of the transmission destination, The content designation information obtained by converting the content designation information based on the location information of the transmission destination, and the content designation information acquired as a result of the conversion, is used as the content designation information to be transmitted to the transmission destination. The content designation instruction device described in 1.   The content specification information is converted by transmitting a request for converting the content specification information to a server managing program information for each region and receiving a conversion result from the server. Item 18. The content designation instruction device according to Item 17. A content control step for controlling the content;
A viewing content management step that is controlled by the content control step and manages the content viewed or viewed by the user;
User instruction input receiving step for receiving a designation instruction by a user who designates content from among the contents managed in the viewing content management step, and content designated based on the content designation instruction received in the user instruction input accepting step And a content designation information creating step for creating information for designating a content.   The user instruction input accepting step further accepts information for further designating a part or a plurality of parts of the designated content, and the content designation information creating step comprises a part of the designated content based on the user instruction The content specifying method according to claim 19, wherein content specifying information for further specifying a plurality of portions is created.   The content according to claim 20, wherein the content designation information creating step includes one or more pieces of time information in the content designation information in order to designate a part or a plurality of parts of the designated content. Specification method. Furthermore, a time measuring step for measuring time is provided,
The content specifying information creating step uses the time information measured in the time measuring step as time information for designating a part or a plurality of parts of the designated content. The content specifying method according to any one of claims 21 to 21.   When the content specified by the content specification instruction is stored content stored in a content storage device, the content specification information creation step includes the absolute time during storage stored in the content storage device, and the content specification 23. The content designation method according to claim 19, wherein content designation information is created based on a reproduction position of the stored content when an instruction is given. Furthermore, a program information acquisition step for acquiring information related to the content is provided,
The content specification information creating step uses the program information acquisition step to acquire program information related to a content to be designated and add it to the content designation information when the content designation information is created. The content designation method according to claim 23. And a message creating step for creating a message including the content specifying information,
The content according to any one of claims 19 to 24, wherein the message creating step creates a transferable message including the content designation information created by the content designation information creation step. Specification method.   The content specification method according to any one of claims 19 to 25, wherein the content specification information creation step adds position information to the content specification information.   When creating the content designation information based on the accumulated content stored in the content accumulation device, the content designation information creating step includes the position information indicating the location at the time of accumulation of the accumulated content to the content designation information 27. The content specifying method according to claim 26, wherein: In addition, a self-location information acquisition step for acquiring location information is provided,
28. The method according to any one of claims 19 to 27, further comprising a step of storing the position information acquired in the own position information acquisition step in a content storage information storage device when the content is stored. The content specification method described.   The content specifying method according to claim 28, wherein the content specifying information creating step uses the self location information acquired in the self location information acquiring step as the position information to be added to the content specifying information. .   30. The content designation information creating step creates content designation information based on location information of a transmission destination based on location information of a transmission destination to which the content designation information is transmitted. The content specifying method described in any of the above.   The creation of the content designation information is performed by transmitting a request for converting the content designation information to a server managing program information by region and receiving a conversion result from the server. Item 30. The content specifying method according to Item 30. A content control step for controlling the content;
A viewing content management step that is controlled by the content control step and manages the content viewed or viewed by the user;
User instruction input receiving step for receiving a designation instruction by a user who designates content from among the contents managed in the viewing content management step, and content designated based on the content designation instruction received in the user instruction input accepting step Content specification information creation step for creating information for designating,
Prior to creating the content designation information, a program information acquisition step for acquiring information about the content;
A message creation step for creating a message including the content designation information created in the content designation information creation step;
A program for causing a computer to execute an own position information acquisition step of acquiring position information.   A computer-readable recording medium on which the program according to claim 32 is recorded.

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