WO2001011885A1 - Points totaling system and receiving terminal device - Google Patents

Abstract

A system which provides a variety of services by using an electronic program guide (EPG) and encourages the use of such services. Pressing an EPG key on a remote control outputs EPG-related information accumulated in a RAM onto an image display unit (2). The EPG (50) is displayed on the upper 4/5 portion of the screen of the image display unit (2), with service information displayed in a column (60) on the remaining 1/5 portion. The column (60) displays questionnaire, commercial, commodity sale, and retrieval service; when a user selects a service of one's choice out of these onscreen services, the user can receive that service and, in addition, obtain points set correspondingly to each service, thereby encouraging the use of these services.

Description

 Description Point tallying system and receiving terminal device

 The present invention relates to a background tallying system using an electronic program guide.

 A system that displays broadcast programs in a tabular format on an image display device such as a television set so that the user can select a desired program or make a video recording reservation (hereinafter referred to as an EPG (Electronic Program Guide)) ) Has been realized.

 This EPG is also performed in analog broadcasting such as terrestrial broadcasting, but it is a particularly important technology in digital broadcasting using broadcasting satellites and communication satellites, since the number of channels is extremely large. ing. Disclosure of the invention

 The present invention has been made to provide more various services using the EPG. The point tallying system (hereinafter, also simply referred to as a system) of the present invention is intended to stimulate the use of such services. The purpose is.

 Another object of the present invention is to enable a user to know that points to which a privilege is given have been accumulated.

 Another object of the present invention is to provide a point counting system applied to a cable television.

In addition, the present invention is designed so that points are accumulated each time a program is searched. It is intended to be.

 Still another object of the present invention is to prevent information required for searching for a program from being transmitted by a broadcast signal.

 Another object of the present invention is to enable the user to visually check the broadcast start time of a program searched by a program search service.

 It is another object of the present invention to provide an advertisement effect to the program guide information and to enable the stoppage of the program guide information.

 Another object of the present invention is to prevent payment of a fee for a pay broadcast (so-called reception fee, listening fee, etc.).

 Another object of the present invention is to detect a nonpayment of a fee for a pay broadcast.

 Another object of the present invention is to save points every time a program is selected in the electronic program guide.

 Another object of the present invention is to make it easy to understand the points that a user can receive when selecting a program in the electronic program guide.

 Another object of the present invention is to obtain more points when used in a place where many people gather.

 Another object of the present invention is to make it possible to accumulate points every time a product is purchased by mail order.

 It is a further object of the present invention to allow points to be earned each time a commercial message is viewed or heard.

 An object of the point tallying system of the present invention is to provide a privilege. Another object of the present invention is to enable a user's instruction to be steadily received.

Another object of the present invention is to accumulate points each time a program is recorded via an electronic program guide. Another object of the present invention is to enable a program to be recorded via an electronic program guide even at a location remote from a recording device.

 It is another object of the present invention to enable various services to be unitarily accumulated by one point accumulation means.

 Another object of the present invention is to provide a receiving terminal device used in the above-mentioned point totalizing system.

 It is another object of the present invention to simply configure such a receiving terminal.

 To solve the above problem, a point totalizing system of the present invention comprises: a program guide display means for outputting program guide information for guiding a broadcast program to an image display device; Then, a service information obtaining means for obtaining service information for guiding a service in which a point to which a privilege is provided is preset, and the service information obtained by the service information obtaining means are displayed on the image display device. Service information display means, service designation means for receiving an instruction from the user to use the service information displayed by the service information display means, and a service designated by the service designation means to the user. Service providing means provided by the service providing means, and when a service is provided by the service providing means, the service is set to the service. The in and Bointo is characterized in that a point Bok accumulating means accumulates each user using the service.

In such a point tallying system, service information is displayed by service information display means on an image display device on which program guide information (for example, EPG) is displayed. This service information guides a service whose points are set in advance, and when the points accumulate to a predetermined value, a privilege is given. The service information is obtained from outside by the service information obtaining means. When the user specifies from the service information displayed in this way using the service specifying means, the service is provided to the user by the service providing means. When a service is provided to a user, the point accumulating means accumulates the points set for the service for each user.

 As described above, according to the above-described point totaling system, points are accumulated each time a service is used, so that use of the service guided by the service information can be encouraged. In addition, since the service information is output to an image display device on which program guide information such as EPG is displayed, the user frequently sees the service information.

 Note that the service information acquisition means may acquire a plurality of types of services. In this case, different points may be set for each service, or all points may be the same. When there are a plurality of services as described above, the service designating means may receive an instruction from the user as to which of the plurality of services to use.

 In the above-mentioned point totaling system, when the cumulative value by the point adding means reaches a predetermined value, a notifying means for notifying the user that the cumulative value has reached the value may be provided. Note that a plurality of predetermined values may be set.

In such a point totaling system, if a point at which a privilege is obtained is set as a "predetermined value", the user is given the privilege by a notification operation performed by the notification means. You can know that points have been accumulated. If a “predetermined value” is set to a number that is difficult to distinguish (for example, 100, 500, 100,...), The user can only accumulate points for these numbers. You can know that. Further, the following mode may be adopted. In other words, every time the points increase The accumulated value of the points at that time is displayed on the image display device. For example, if the minimum unit of the point is 1, it corresponds to setting 1, 2, 3,... As a "predetermined value". In this way, the user can know the currently accumulated point value by looking at the image display device. In the above point counting system, it is preferable that the point counting system is used in cable television broadcasting in which a host station and a receiving terminal are connected by a bidirectional communication line and a broadcast program is supplied to the receiving terminal. More preferably, the service information obtaining means obtains service information from the host station through a two-way communication line, and the service providing means transmits both instructions from the user to use the service information by the service specifying means. It is preferable that when receiving via a two-way communication line, a service is provided from the host station to the receiving terminal through the two-way communication line.

 In such a point counting system, the present invention is applied to cable television broadcasting. In this cable television broadcast, a host station and a receiving terminal are connected by a two-way communication line. Then, the service information obtaining means obtains the service information from the host station through the two-way communication line. Also, when the service providing means receives an instruction from the user to use the service information by the service specifying means via the same two-way communication line, the service is transmitted from the receiving terminal to the host station by the two-way communication line. It is something to offer.

 As described above, since two-way communication can be easily performed in cable television broadcasting, the present invention is very suitable as an application target.

In the point totalizing system of the present invention, the service information obtaining means receives, from the outside, a broadcast signal including at least service information of a service for searching for a program, program guide information, and information for searching for a program. You may be a tuner. Also, the program guide display means is used for providing service information. The program guide information received from the outside by the acquisition means is output to the image display device. When the search for a program is designated as a service by the service designation means, the service received by the tuner is transmitted. The point accumulation means accumulates the points set for the program search when the service search means searches for the program. Is preferred.

 In such a point tallying system, the service information acquiring means is configured as a tuner for receiving a broadcast signal including service information and program guide information from outside. That is, program guide information and service information are transmitted to the system as broadcast signals. The program guide display means displays the program guide information in the broadcast signal on the image display device. The service information includes “program search”, and information necessary for this “program search” is also sent as a broadcast signal. Here, various forms of “program search” can be considered, such as directly specifying a program name, narrowing down from a field (for example, news, sports, culture), or narrowing down from performer names. The search results may include displaying the time and channel on which the program is broadcast, or displaying the program name if the program name is not specified directly, or displaying it visually.

 When the "program search" is specified by the service specifying means, the service providing means searches the program using the information necessary for the "program search" received by the tuner. The point accumulating means accumulates points set for the "program search" when the "program search" is performed.

 According to such a point totaling system, it is possible to accumulate points simply by searching for programs.

On the other hand, in the point totalizing system described above, the service information acquisition means comprises: at least the service information of a service for searching for a program; An electronic program guide for selecting the program and a tuner for receiving a broadcast signal containing the program from the outside may be used. The service providing means stores information for searching for the program in advance, and the service designating means When a program search is specified as a service, the program search server performs a search based on information for searching for the program, and transmits a result of the search to the user. When a program search is performed by means, the points set for the program search may be accumulated. Such a point counting system is similar to the system described immediately above. The difference is that "program search" is not included in the broadcast signal received by the tuner (service information acquisition means). However, it is possible to specify “Search Program” in the service specification means. If this is specified, the program search means will perform a search by the program search server based on the information necessary for “Search Program”. To the user. The program search server stores information necessary for "program search" in advance. When the "program search" is performed, the points set for the program search are accumulated by the point accumulating means in the same manner as in the above system.

 In other words, in this system, the information necessary for “program search” is stored in the program search server in advance, so that the broadcast signal transmitting side does not need to transmit this information. Therefore, the broadcast signal can be simplified.

 Further, in the above-mentioned point totalizing system, the program searched by the service providing means may be displayed so as to be identifiable in the program guide information displayed by the program guide display means.

According to such a system, the searched program can be visually displayed. Also, if the recording guide is made available by this program guide information, the recording reservation operation is easy. In other words, the program to be recorded is searched for using the “program search” service, and as a result, a visual identification table is obtained. By specifying the program to be displayed, a reservation can be made, and the user does not need to be aware of which channel of the day the channel starts at.

 Further, in the above-mentioned point totalizing system, when the program guide display means displays the program guide information on the image display device, the advertisement guide means displays an advertisement on the image display device; There may be provided an advertisement stopping means for stopping the display of the advertisement in accordance with a user's instruction.

 The advertisement display means of such a point tallying system also displays an advertisement when the program guide display means displays the program guide information on the image display device. However, in this case, an advertisement that is inconvenient for the side providing the program, the side providing the service, or the side providing the privilege may be displayed. In addition, some of these three parties may not want to advertise themselves.

 Therefore, this system further includes an advertisement stopping means, and the advertisement stopping means stops displaying the advertisement in response to a user's instruction. That is, the advertisement can be displayed or not displayed according to the user's will.

 Therefore, according to the above-described system, it is possible to add an advertising effect to the program guide information and stop the program guide information.

 Further, in the above-described point aggregation system, at least a part of the broadcast program may be a pay broadcast, and the payment detecting means for detecting whether or not the user has paid the fee for the pay broadcast, and the payment detecting means If it is detected that the user has not paid the fee, a service restricting means may be provided to prevent the service from being provided by the service providing means.

Such a point counting system is a system in which at least a part of a broadcast program is a pay broadcast. The payment detecting means detects whether or not the user has paid the fee for the pay broadcast. "User pays If it is detected that the service is not provided, the service restricting means prevents the user from receiving the service provided by the service providing means.

 In other words, users who have not paid will not be able to use services (for example, mail-order sales, program search, program recording reservation, participation in questionnaires, etc., described below) even if they use this system. Receive tees.

 Therefore, according to such a system, it is possible to prevent nonpayment of a fee for a pay broadcast.

 Further, in the above-mentioned point aggregation system, at least a part of the broadcast program is a pay broadcast, and a payment detecting means for detecting whether or not the user has paid the fee for the pay broadcast; And a program selection restricting means for preventing selection of a program based on the program guide information when it is detected that the program is not paid.

 Such a point tallying system is provided with a payment detecting means, similarly to the above-described system, and when it is detected that "the user has not paid the fee", the program selection restricting means sets the program selection restricting means. Since the selection of the program based on the broadcast information is not allowed, the nonpayment of the fee of the pay broadcast can be prevented. Note that all programs may not be selected, but only the pay program may not be selected. In any case, it is more effective if the program cannot be selected without using the electronic program guide.

 In addition, if the system is configured so that points can be given only by selecting a program, “select a program” is one of the services.

Further, in the above-mentioned point counting system, at least a part of the broadcast program is a pay broadcast, and a payment detecting means for detecting whether or not the user has paid the fee for the pay broadcast, and the payment detecting means, Pay the fee If not attached, a privilege limiting means for preventing the privilege from being received may be provided.

 In such a point totaling system, when the payment detecting means detects that the user has not paid the fee J, the privilege limiting means prevents the privilege from being received.

 Here, as a method of preventing the privilege from being received, it is conceivable that a point is not obtained even when the service is used, a required amount of points is obtained, and no privilege is given even if the points are accumulated.

 Therefore, even with the above-mentioned system, it is possible to prevent the payment of the fee for the pay broadcast.

 In the above-mentioned point counting system, when a fee for a pay broadcast is paid, a receipt information transmitting means for transmitting receipt information indicating that the fee has been received to the limiting means is provided, and the payment detecting means receives the receipt information. It is preferable to detect payment of the fee by doing so.

 Here, the reception information is information indicating that the fee has been received from the user, and when the fee of the pay broadcast is paid, the receiving information transmitting means restricts the means (that is, the service restricting means, the program selection restricting means, the privilege restriction). (The corresponding one of the means).

 Broadcasting stations that broadcast pay programs are examples of recipients of fees. If payment is made by automatic debit from an account of a financial institution such as a bank or post office, these financial institutions may be the recipients of the fee.

As a method of transmitting the received information to the restriction means, a cable television system is configured, and if the receiving terminal of the user is provided with the program selection restriction means, a two-way communication line is used. And sending it to the receiving terminal. In addition, as described later, services are provided to users from service providing means via the Internet. When transmitting the reception information to the service restricting means for restricting the service, the broadcasting station transmits the reception information to the service providing means. Magnetic card ゃ It is also conceivable to record the receipt information on an IC card (hereinafter referred to as a card) and send the card to the user by mail or the like (in this case also called transmission). When the user inserts this card into the receiving terminal, the payment means provided on the receiving terminal detects that this user has paid, and the service can be provided or the program can be selected. Good.

 Further, in the above-mentioned point totalizing system, the broadcast program is a program in which zero or more points are set in advance, respectively, and the service providing means is at least a program displayed on the program guide display means as a service. The point accumulating means accumulates the points set for each program when the program is selected by the service providing means. It may be something.

 In such a point counting system, zero or more points are set in advance for each broadcast program. When a broadcast program is selected from the program information displayed on the program guide display means, the points set for each program are accumulated.

 According to such a point counting system, points can be earned each time a program is selected in the program guide information. When points are set for each program, it is of course not necessary that all programs have different points at all times. Rather, the same points (in this case, 0 points are not included) may be set for all programs. In this case, as long as you receive the service of “select a program”, you will get a certain number of points regardless of the selected program.

Further, in the above-mentioned point totaling system, the program guide displaying means includes: Of the points set in advance for the broadcast program, points larger than zero may be output to the image display device as program guide information together with the corresponding program.

 Such a point totaling system outputs points larger than zero out of the preset points of the broadcast program to the image display device together with the corresponding program as program guide information.

 In other words, in this point totaling system, it is possible to know how many points are obtained when a program is selected by looking at the image display device to which the program guide information is output. For programs with 0 points set (that is, programs that do not receive points even when selected), the points do not need to be displayed, and "0 points", "0", "zero", etc. It may be displayed.

 According to such a point totalizing system, it is very easy to understand the points that the user can get when selecting a program in the electronic program guide.

 Further, in the above point totalizing system, each point set for the broadcast program is changed according to a place where a device for displaying the broadcast program is installed, and the number of people gathering at the place is large. It is preferable to be as high as possible.

 In such a point tallying system, each point set for a broadcast program is set higher as the location where a device for displaying the broadcast program is installed is a place where many people gather. Here, the “device for displaying a broadcast program” may be an image display device, that is, a device for displaying program guide information, or may be another display device.

To determine whether the place where the equipment is installed is a place where many people gather, when installing the equipment, the side using the equipment applies to the side that gives the point and gives the point. It is advisable to do so by the person making the certification. example For example, a waiting room at a hospital, a waiting room at an airport, a waiting room at a station, or downtown can be determined to be “many people gather”. In addition, the number of people who are looking at the image of the device, such as installing an image processing device on the device, is detected. Points may be automatically lowered when it is determined that there are few.

 According to such a point counting system, more points can be obtained when used in a place where many people gather.

 It is not unusual for a location where many people gather to have a fixed channel and that the device be kept powered on. In such a case, if different points are set in advance for each program, the points may be obtained one after another as the program changes, or a boin of the program initially selected to display the channel may be obtained. You may be able to get only birds.

 Further, in the point totalizing system, the service providing means may be a service that performs at least mail order sales as a service.

 According to this system, it is possible to accumulate points every time a user purchases a product by mail order using this system.

 Further, in the point totaling system, the service providing means may be a service that delivers at least a commercial message as a service.

In such a point aggregation system, the service providing means distributes a commercial message as a service. Here, commercial messages (hereinafter also referred to as CMs) refer to CM videos broadcast on television, newspaper advertisements, advertisements hanging on cars, advertisements posted at stations, and the like. The delivered CM is displayed on an image display device on which the program guide information is output. It is desirable that the signal is displayed on an image display device), but it may be output to other devices. For example, when receiving newspaper advertisement distribution as a service, it is conceivable to distribute it as a fax to a separately entered number. Also, when displaying on an image display device, if this image display device is equipped with a speaker, etc., sound (and no or music, hereinafter referred to as “sound”) synchronized with the CM image is output simultaneously. Alternatively, CM audio broadcast on the radio may be distributed and output from the speaker.

 According to this system, points are accumulated each time a CM is received, so that the user can be encouraged to watch (or listen to) the CM.

 Benefits granted when the points accumulated through use of the service attain a predetermined value include product purchase rights, product vouchers, free viewing rights for paid programs, and free usage rights for Internet paid sites. And at least one of the following: free use of telephone (including mobile phones and PHS), discount coupons, cash, and air tickets. Of these, the free viewing rights for paid programs, the free usage rights for the Internet paid sites, the free usage rights for telephones, and cash constitute what should be called "privilege grant means J" in the system. For example, in the case of cash, it is conceivable to transfer money to the account specified by the user, and if mail-order sales can be provided as a service, the product purchase right will also be For example, it is conceivable that, after a predetermined number of points are accumulated, a corresponding amount can be used for mail-order sales.

It is even better if the user can select the desired benefit from these benefits. In this way, the use of the service can be more strongly stimulated. it can. It should be noted that, if one of the benefits listed above is included, it is of course possible to configure so that other benefits can be provided.

 By the way, some services can be realized by one-way communication from the broadcaster to the user (service information acquisition means), but many services need to be performed by two-way communication. It is also conceivable to accumulate points at the receiving terminal on the user's side, but in any case, it is necessary to notify the accumulating result to the person who gives the privilege.

 When something needs to be transmitted from the user to the broadcasting side or to the side that provides service provision means or benefits, if the communication line is congested, the receiving side will steadily transmit the contents to the receiving side. It may not be transmitted.

 In order to solve this problem, in the above-mentioned point totalization system, the service designating means transmits at least a part of the instruction from the user when the communication line from the service designating means to the service providing means is free. It is preferably transmitted to the service providing means.

 In such a point totalizing system, the service designating means transmits at least part of the instruction from the user from the service designating means to the service providing means when the communication line is free (for example, at midnight, (Early morning).

In this way, the contents of transmission can be steadily transmitted from the service designating means to the service providing means. When the service information acquisition means is configured as a tuner, at least a part of the service provision means is located on the user side, so that a line (wiring) from the service designation means to this service provision means is not crowded. Very Hard to think. Therefore, regarding this service designating means, the contents of transmission may be transmitted to the service providing means at any time. Further, in the point totaling system, the service information acquiring means selects at least the service information of the service for recording the program and the program. And a start time, an end time, and a broadcast channel of each program included in the electronic program guide. A service for recording a program is selected by selecting a program displayed in the program, and the service providing means specifies the recording of the program as a service by the service specifying means, and the object of the recording. Is input by the user, the start time, the end time, and the broadcast channel corresponding to the program received by the receiving unit are recorded on the recording device connected by wire or wirelessly to the service specifying means. A recording reservation may be made based on this. Such a point totaling system is designed to accumulate points when a program is recorded using an electronic program guide. For this purpose, the service information obtaining means includes service information of a service for recording a program, an electronic program guide for selecting a program, a start time of each program included in the electronic program guide, and an end. The service designating means is configured as a receiving unit for receiving the time and the broadcast channel from outside, and the service designation means receives designation of a service for recording a program by selecting a program displayed in the electronic program guide. Have been.

 Then, the service providing means is connected to the service specifying means by wire or wireless when the recording of the program as a service is specified by the service specifying means and the program to be recorded is input by the user. A recording reservation is made for the recording device. This recording reservation is made based on the start time, end time, and broadcast channel corresponding to the program received by the receiving unit.

 According to such a point counting system, points are accumulated each time a program is recorded via the electronic program guide.

The receiving unit (service information acquisition means) is included in the electronic program guide. W

 Instead of the end time of each program, the broadcast time of the program may be received. Also, the points to be obtained may be different depending on the program to be recorded. In this case, you may set a program that gives you zero points when you record, that is, a program that does not get any points when you record.

 Further, in the above point counting system, the image display device is a display device provided in the wireless telephone device, and the service information acquiring means records at least a program from the outside via an antenna provided in the wireless telephone device. A receiving unit for receiving service information of a service, an electronic program guide for selecting a program, and a start time, an end time, and a broadcast channel of each program included in the electronic program guide; Means are keys provided with numbers, symbols, etc., provided on the wireless telephone device, and the service providing means is capable of specifying recording of a program as a service by the key, inputting a program to be recorded, When the telephone number is input, the start time corresponding to the program, received by the receiving unit, is recorded in the recording device specified by the telephone number. The recording reservation may be made based on the recording end time and the broadcast channel.

Such a point counting system can provide electronic program guides from a wireless telephone device such as a mobile phone, a PHS (Personal Handy phone System), or a PDA (Personal Digital AsistarU: a mobile information terminal) incorporating these. It is a system that allows users to get points when recording programs using the program. That is, in this system, the image display device is configured as a display device provided in such a wireless telephone device, and the service information acquisition means is configured to at least broadcast a program from outside via an antenna provided in the wireless telephone device. The service information of the service to be recorded, the electronic program guide for selecting a program, the start time of each program included in the electronic program guide, It is configured as a receiving unit that receives the end time, the broadcast channel, and.

 The service designating means is provided in the wireless telephone device, and is configured as a key to which numerals, symbols, etc. are attached. The service providing means designates the recording of the program as a service by the key of the wireless telephone device, and a recording target. When a program is input and a telephone number is input, a recording reservation is made to the recording device specified by the telephone number.

 Here, the recording device specified by the telephone number means a recording device installed in a house or room to which a telephone line is connected by the telephone number. It is assumed that this recording apparatus is provided with an interface and a configuration for receiving a call from the service providing means and making a recording reservation in accordance with a transmission signal of the service providing means.

 According to such a point totalizing system, it is possible to make a recording reservation of a program via an electronic program guide even at a place remote from the recording device. Then, the user can get points by this recording reservation.

 Note that a PDA without a built-in mobile phone or PHS may display program guide information on a display device provided with the PDA when connected to a mobile phone or PHS and use the same processing as described above. .

 Further, in the point aggregation system, a service providing means is provided for each service, and information indicating that each service has been used is transmitted to the point accumulating means. The information transmitted from the user to the effect that each service has been used may be accumulated for each user.

In such a point totalizing system, a service providing means is provided for each service, and information indicating that each of the services has been used is transmitted to the point accumulating means. And the point accumulation means The information transmitted from the service providing means that each service is used is accumulated for each user, not for each service. For example, when services such as program search, mail-order sales, and commercial viewing are provided as services, any one of these three services can be integrated by a single point accumulation means.

 In this way, points obtained from various services can be added, which is very advantageous for users.

 Further, in another aspect of the present invention, a receiving terminal device used in the point tallying system includes at least the service information acquiring unit, the service information displaying unit, and the service specifying unit.

 Such a receiving terminal device provides convenience to be enjoyed by a user in correspondence with the system to which the receiving terminal device is applied. Further, in the above-mentioned receiving terminal device, it is preferable that the service is provided from an externally provided service providing means, and the points set for the service are accumulated in the externally provided point accumulating means. . Such a receiving terminal device receives a service provided from an externally provided service providing means, and accumulates points set in the service in an externally provided point accumulating means.

 As described above, it is conceivable that the receiving terminal is provided with the point accumulating means and the receiving terminal accumulates points. However, with the above configuration, the configuration of the receiving terminal can be simplified. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

 FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram of an embodiment to which the point aggregation system of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of the inside of the receiving terminal 8 used in the present embodiment. Yes,

 FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the receiving terminal initialization process executed by the receiving terminal 8.

 FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the EPG 50 and the service information column 60 are output to the image display device 2.

 5 (a), 5 (b) and 5 (c) show the service selection processing executed by the receiving terminal 8, the point management processing executed by the point management server 18, and the program search server 14 FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the point notification process executed by the point management server 18.

 FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an EPG 50 'suitable for a case where different points are given according to the program to be selected.

 FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram showing a point totaling system for making a recording reservation using a mobile phone 70.

 FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram showing a case where the present invention is applied to cable television broadcasting. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

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

 [First embodiment]

 First, FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram of an embodiment to which the point totaling system of the present invention is applied. In this embodiment, EPG is displayed on the image display device 2 as program guide information. This EPG is transmitted by being superimposed on a broadcast wave from the communication satellite 4. It is assumed that the image display device 2 is configured to output sound as well as display images.

The user of the system uses a parabolic antenna 6 Broadcast radio waves are received, and programs and EPGs are displayed on the image display device 2 by the receiving terminal 8 (corresponding to the receiving terminal device of the present invention). Reference numeral 10 denotes a remote controller that emits infrared rays in response to a user operation for the user to watch a program, display an EPG, or use a service described later. The receiving terminal 8 is connected to the Internet via a telephone line 12, and is connected to a program search server 14, a commercial / merchandise server 16, and a point management server 18 also connected to the Internet. Communication is enabled at The program search server 14 is connected to the broadcasting station 20 and receives supply of information necessary for searching for a program therefrom. Note that a connection provider intervenes in the connection between the Internet and the receiving terminal 8, but is omitted in the figure. The remote control 0 is also provided with a numeric key for specifying a channel and the like, and a cursor (described later) or an identification display portion (described later) output on the screen of the image display device 2 to be moved up, down, left, and right on the screen. Arrow keys († i <"-">), execution keys to execute or specify the processing displayed at the position where the cursor is located, and EPG to the screen of the image display device 2. An EPG key to be displayed on the terminal, a reservation key for making a reservation for recording on a video deck separately connected to the receiving terminal 8 (hereinafter simply referred to as a recording reservation), a service designation key (described later), and the like are provided.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic block diagram of the inside of the receiving terminal 8. The receiving terminal 8 includes a tuner 24 that extracts a specific radio wave from the radio wave received by the parabolic antenna 6, a demodulation of the radio wave extracted by the tuner 24, descrambling, and the like (hereinafter simply referred to as decoding). Decoding device 26 that performs decoding, a transport 28 that extracts video information and audio information from the received signal decoded in this way, and an MPEG video decoder 30 that decodes the video information extracted by the transport 28. MPEG audio decoder 32 for decoding the audio information extracted by transport 28, and decoding device 26 Data extractor 34, which extracts the data necessary for EPG display, etc. from the received signal decoded in step 3, and controls the writing and reading of data to and from the hard disk drive (shown as HDD in this figure) 36 HDD controller 38, a remote control interface (indicated as IZF in this figure) 40 that receives infrared signals from remote control 0 and converts them into electrical signals, and data transmitted and received via telephone line 12 A modem 46 for performing modulation and demodulation of the data, and a data processing unit 48 connected to these units and performing various processes described later. The data processing unit 48 is realized as a computer system having a CPU (Central Processing Unit) RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), and the like. The processing is described below: First, Fig. 3 is a flowchart showing an outline of the receiving terminal initialization processing which is started when the power is turned on to the receiving terminal 8. The program for realizing this processing is a data processing. It is stored in the ROM in the unit 48. It is assumed that the receiving terminal 8 is connected to the image display device 2. When this processing is started, first, in S110, the data processing unit It is determined whether or not 48 has been initialized, where the initialization is to register whether or not to perform the point aggregation in the data processing unit 48. The initialization has already been performed. If this is the case, the process ends and the If not, go to S 120. In S 120, ask the user whether or not to perform point aggregation.Specifically, register を Mileage service 1. Register 2. "Not registered" is output to the image display device 2 via the MPEG video decoder 30. (Point counting is called mileage in this system, analogous to the mileage program operated by airlines.) The mileage program allows you to receive benefits such as air tickets according to the total number of miles flown. Depending on the points you receive, you will be given the right to purchase the product so that you can take a shot.) In view of this display, the user presses the numeric key 1 or 2 on the remote control 10.

 In the following S130, it is determined which one the user has selected. 2. If "No registration" is selected, jump to S190. On the other hand, if 1 is selected, that is, if "register" is selected, the flow advances to S140 to accept the input of the telephone number from the user. Specifically, a message “Please enter the number of your telephone, mobile phone or PHS” is output to the image display device 2 via the MPEG video decoder 30. The purpose of receiving this number is to have the user enter a unique number. Therefore, as in the message, it may be a mobile phone number or a PHS number, or any number as long as it is a unique digit of 10 or 11 digits. However, these are generally referred to as telephone numbers here. Use the numeric keys on the remote control 10 to enter the telephone number.

 In the following S150, input of a password (here, 4 digits) is accepted from the user. Specifically, a message “Please enter a password” is output to the image display device 2 via the MPEG video decoder 30. Use the numeric keys on the remote control 10 to enter the password. The contents thus entered, that is, the telephone number and the password are transmitted to the point management server 18 via the modem 46 and the telephone line 12 (S160). Upon receiving this, the point management server 18 calculates a unique number (hereinafter referred to as “registration number”) for the user used in the point counting from the telephone number and the password, and receives the input contents. Send to terminal 8. In S170, the registration number transmitted from the point management server 18 is received via the modem 46.

Then, the registration number is displayed on the image display device 2 in S180. Specifically Outputs the message "Your mileage number is 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9" to the image display device 2 via the MPEG video decoder 30. Here, "1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9" is an example of a registration number. Then, in S190, the fact that initialization has been completed is registered, and this processing ends. This registration is performed by creating a file on the hard disk drive 36 by encrypting the registration number and the like when the user uses the point count (S130: YES). If the user does not use the (S130: NO), a file in which the fact is recorded is created in the hard disk drive 36. Before and after, in S110, it is determined whether or not the receiving terminal 8 has been initialized based on whether or not these files exist in the hard disk drive 36. That is, the receiving terminal initialization process is executed only once in one receiving terminal 8.

 The receiving terminal 8 that has been initialized in this way receives the broadcast radio wave from the communication satellite 4 via the parabolic antenna 6, outputs the program of the channel specified by the remote controller 10 to the image display device 2, and Information related to the EPG superimposed on the broadcast wave is extracted by the data extraction unit 34 and accumulated in the RAM in the data processing unit 48. When the EPG key of the remote controller 10 is pressed, the information relating to the EPG accumulated in the RAM is output to the image display device 2 via the MPEG image decoder 30. This is shown in Figure 4.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the EPG key is pressed, the EPG 50 is displayed in the upper part 45 of the screen of the image display device 2. On the EPG 50, the contents of each channel are arranged in the vertical direction in the order of broadcasting, and are further arranged in a horizontal direction for a plurality of channels (four channels in this figure). Column 52 shows the approximate time at which each program will be broadcast, and column 54 shows each channel. File name is displayed. Although blank in this figure, each column below column 54 displays the name, performer, and content of the program broadcast on that channel. The process of displaying the EPG 50 corresponds to the program guide display means of the present invention. Using this EPG 50, a desired program can be received or a video recording reservation can be made. For example, to make a recording reservation for a program starting at 8:00 on the B channel, simply identify the column 56 displaying the program (indicated by diagonal lines in this figure) and press the reservation key. Complete. Note that the arrow keys are used to change the columns to be identified and displayed. For example, when the “キ ー” arrow key is pressed from the state of this figure, the identification display of 櫊 56 is canceled, and the program starting from 7:00 on the B channel is displayed instead. Pressing the “→ j” arrow key from the state of this figure cancels the identification display of 攔 56, and instead identifies the program starting at 8:00 on the C channel.

 In the remaining 1/5 part 60 of this screen, service information is displayed (hereinafter, this part 60 is referred to as service information column 60). The service information 0 60 displays questionnaire, commercial, merchandise, and search services. When a user selects a desired service from these services, the user can receive the service and respond to each of these services. The set point can be obtained. Here, it is assumed that two points are set for the questionnaire, three points for the commercial, four points for the product sales, and one point for the search service. The process of displaying the service information column 60 corresponds to the service information display means of the present invention, and the process of extracting the information related to the service information column 60 from the broadcast signal corresponds to the service information acquisition means.

Note that "Questionnaire J refers to participating in a questionnaire sponsored by an organization that operates the system or a company that is a member of the system. A" commercial "refers to a member of the system that is a member of the system. Company A video (and / or audio; hereinafter, simply referred to as a commercial video) produced for the purpose of notifying a story or an event is viewed on the image display device 2. "The product sales j is a kind of mail order that purchases the product displayed on the image display device 2 online. The" search service "is a service for a user to search for a desired program. It is possible to specify the URL directly, filter by field (eg, news, sports, culture), filter by performer name, and specify the search period.

 To select a service, first press the service designation key. Then, a cursor 62 is displayed in the service information column 60, and this can be moved with the arrow keys of “-” and “→”. When the cursor 62 is positioned at the desired service and the execution key is pressed, the provision of the service is requested. The process of making this designation corresponds to the service designating means of the present invention. FIG. 5 (a) shows a flowchart of the service selection process performed by the data processing unit 48 when a service is selected. This process is started when the execution key is pressed while the cursor 62 is displayed in the service information column 60.

When this process is started, first, in S210, the service selected from the position where the cursor 62 is currently displayed is determined. Then, in S220, the selected content and the registration number are transmitted to the point management server 18. Then, from the server corresponding to the service, video (information in addition to (or in place of) some audio, hereinafter represented by video) and information corresponding to the service are transmitted. Of these, the video is coded in the MPEG format and transmitted. In S230, this is received, decoded by the MPEG video decoder 30 and / or the MPEG audio decoder 32, output to the image display device 2, and the process ends. As will be described later, when the data is transmitted to the point management server 18 in S220, the point The data management server 18 further sends the data to the server that provides the service separately and receives the data from the server at S230, so it is required to reach S230 from S220. It takes time. The length of this time depends on the content of the service provided. Also, in S 230, usually, data is exchanged between the server that provides the service and the receiving terminal 8, and the information transmitted from the receiving terminal 8 is received in S 230. An outline of the point management processing performed by the point management server 18 is shown in Fig. 5 (b). The point management server 18 is large in size, does not have a configuration related to reception and processing of broadcast signals, and has a function of distributing data to a plurality of reception terminals 8. It is implemented as a computer system as well. In this process, first, in S310, a server providing the service is selected according to the information from the receiving terminal 8. For example, if an instruction to provide "search service" as a service is received from the receiving terminal 8, the program search server 14 is selected, and an instruction to provide "commercial" or "product sales j" is received. In this case, the commercial / sales server 16 is selected, and when the instruction to provide the "questionnaire" is received, the point management server 18 selects itself.

At S320, a signal for requesting the server selected at S310 to provide a service is issued via a telephone line. Then, in S330, a signal to the effect that "the service has been provided" is received from the server via the telephone line 12. This is to confirm that the service was actually provided to the user. To reach S330 from S320, the selected server is requested to provide a service (S320), the server provides the service, and a signal to that effect is pointed. It takes time for the management server 18 to receive (S330). In addition, when the user provides a “workout” as a service, the processing of S320 and S330 is performed instead. In addition, the point management server 18 itself transmits the data for the questionnaire to the receiving terminal 8.

 When a signal indicating that the service has been provided is received in S330, a point corresponding to the provided service is provided for each registration number of the receiving terminal 8 that has requested the provision of the service, that is, for each user. (S340). This processing of S340 corresponds to the point accumulation means of the present invention. When the point notification processing is performed in S350, this processing ends.

 The outline of the processing performed by the server requested to provide the service from the point management server 18 in S320 is shown in FIG. 5 (c), taking the case where "search service" is specified as an example. As described above, this service is executed by the program search server 14. The program search server 14 is realized as a computer system, like the point management server 18. In this process, first, in S 410, information necessary for the search service is transmitted to the receiving terminal 8 via the telephone line 12. The information required for the search service includes image data for prompting the user to input a search item, control data for returning the input data to the program search server 14, and the like.

In S420, a search item input by the user from the receiving terminal 8 is received via the telephone line 12. The search items include information such as which of the program name, field, and performer to specify, what to search among the specified items, and from what period. To be more specific, “Searching for this week's program to search for Suiyoagega Kijiyo (program name)” “Today's program to search for programs with a field of sports” “From this month's program to Fujiwarano Noriko Search for programs to appear. " When the search item is received from the receiving terminal 8 in this way, the search is executed in S430. As described above, the program search server 14 holds a large amount of information necessary for the search service supplied from the broadcast station 20. Search for a program that matches the received search item. Then, in S440, the search result is transmitted via telephone line 12 to receiving terminal 8 that has transmitted the search item. S410 to S440 correspond to the service providing means of the present invention. When the provision of the service is completed in this way, the fact is transmitted to the point management server 18 in S450, and this processing ends.

 The search items received by the program search server 14 in S420 are created in the receiving terminal 8 as follows. In other words, use the numeric keys and the enter key to select from the choices (with numbers) displayed on the screen of the image display device 2, or use the arrow keys to select from the numbers and 50 sound tables displayed on the screen. The desired character is specified by arranging the desired character by using the execution key. The search period and field are specified by the former method, and the program name and performers are specified by the latter method. In addition, the search result transmitted in S440 is such that the EPG 50 is scrolled up, down, left, and right as needed so that the program can be displayed on the screen of the image display device 2, and the program is identified and displayed. Is output by If there are multiple programs that match the search item, the program that is broadcast first is displayed. If there are still a plurality of applicable programs, the program located on the leftmost position on EPG50 is displayed. When the search service is performed in this way, "1" which is a point set for this service is added in S340.

When “product sales” is designated as a service, the commercial-product sales server 16 executes processing for mail order sales. When this process is compared with the search service process, “image information equivalent to a product catalog” is transmitted to the receiving terminal 8 instead of “information necessary for the search service”, and the desired product is replaced with the search item. Instead of receiving a command signal and performing a search, dispatch the product to the seller of the product or a company entrusted with delivery of the product And send the purchase price and purchaser information to the credit company. Then, the fact that the mail order has been performed is transmitted to the point management server 18. In S340, "4" which is a point set for "product sales" is added.

 When "commercial" is specified as a service, the commercial / sales server 16 executes a process for providing commercial video. When this processing is compared with the search service processing, instead of “information necessary for search service”, “commercial video menu (image information for the user to specify which commercial video to view)” is received. It transmits to terminal 8, receives a signal designating a desired commercial instead of a search item, and transmits a commercial video to receiving terminal 8 instead of executing a search. Then, the fact that the commercial video has been provided is transmitted to the point management server 18. In S340, "3" which is the point set for "Commercial" is added.

 When “questionnaire” is specified as the service, the point management server 18 executes a process for the questionnaire. When this process is compared with the search service process, an “image of the questionnaire content” is sent to the receiving terminal 8 instead of “information necessary for the search service”, and a questionnaire response is sent instead of the search item. Receive. Then, in S340, "2" which is a point set for "Ask" is added.

Here, the point notification processing executed in S350 will be described. In this process, first, in S510, it is determined whether or not the accumulated points have reached a value at which a privilege can be granted. Here, the privilege is the right to purchase goods at “sales”, 100 yen at 100 points, 500 yen at 450 points, 100 yen at 800 points A purchase right worth 0 yen is granted. If it has not reached this point, this process ends. The information on the privilege that can be given by the account is transmitted to the receiving terminal 8 via the telephone line 12. For example, if the accumulated points are 450 points, "Congratulations, you have accumulated 450 points (1) 100 yen yen worth of shopping (100 points) (2) 5 The image information to be displayed on the image display device 2 is transmitted, "shoving for the $ 0.00 yen (450 points) (3) Earn more points". This processing corresponds to the notification means of the present invention. On the receiving terminal 8 side, the video is displayed on the image display device 2 after the provision of the specified service is completed.

 The user who has seen this designates any one of 1 to 3 using the numeric keys and the execution key of the remote controller 10. In S530, this signal is received, and which is selected is determined in S540. If the 3, that is, “do not exercise the privilege” is selected, the processing is terminated, and if 1 or 2 is selected, the process proceeds to S550. Here, the description will be continued on the assumption that “1”, that is, “shopping for 100,000 yen” has been selected. In S550, the special privilege of "$ 100 worth of shopping" is set. Specifically, the registration number of this user and the fact that the user has acquired the purchase right for 1000 yen are transmitted to the commercial / sales server 16 via the telephone line 12 and the next time, Will be able to buy (or discount) 100,000 yen if you use “sales,” and display “100,000 yen for free”. 2 to be displayed.

 Then, in S560, the points for the exercised privilege are subtracted from the accumulated points, and this processing ends. In this case, since you exercised 100 points from the state where you accumulated 450 points, the remaining points will be 350 points.

According to the present invention, which is configured as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 and performs processing as shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 5, and FIG. 6, each time a service such as a search service, commercial, merchandise, or ticket is used, , Since points are accumulated, The use of the service displayed in the service information column 60 can be called out. In particular, points are accumulated even when watching commercials, so that the commercial advertisers can also efficiently advertise. This is convenient for the user because he can watch the desired commercial at any time. Also, since the service information # 60 is displayed on the same screen as the EPG 50, the user will frequently see the service information and can strongly urge the use of the service.

 Moreover, when the accumulated points reach 100 points, 450 points, and 800 points, the fact is displayed on the image display device 2 by the point notification processing and the receiving terminal 8, so that the user Can know that points have been accumulated as much as the privilege is given without having to pay attention to the accumulated value of points and perform self-management.

 When the search service is selected as the service, the searched program is visually displayed on the EPG 50, which is very convenient.

 Further, since the information required for the program search service is stored in the program search server 14, there is no need to superimpose this information on the broadcast signal transmitted from the communication satellite 4. Therefore, the broadcast signal is not complicated, and the receiving operation for realizing the search service can be performed in a short time.

 The points accumulated in the point management server 18 can be accumulated in common for the above four types of services, so that the points obtained by any of the services can be added up, which is very advantageous for the user. It is.

 [Second embodiment]

In the first embodiment, points are obtained by using the service displayed in the service information column 60. However, for example, only points using the EPG 50 may be used to obtain 0.1 points. At this time, the points may be changed according to the time at which the program is broadcast. For example, the so-called golden hour (night (7 ~ 9), the points are high, while the points are low at midnight or early morning. Alternatively, the reverse may be performed.

 FIG. 7 shows EP G 50 ′ displayed on image display device 2 in this case. As shown in the figure, in EPG 50 ′, the points that the user can receive when the program is selected are displayed for each program. For example, if you select the program in column 56, you will get 0.2 points. In this way, the user can save points by simply selecting a program, and the point-giving side (eg, the sponsor of the program) has a motivation to watch the program. Can be given to users. Changing the points according to the broadcast time as described above may be performed in the case of the program search described above. That is, if the searched program is broadcast during the golden hour, the points may be raised, and if it is early in the morning or late at night, the points may be lowered.

 In addition, this EPG 50 'has an advertisement column 64 in which an advertisement is displayed. As a result, it is possible to cover the cost for distributing the EPG 50 ′ and the cost for granting a privilege. In addition, the remote controller 10 ′ for operating the EPG 50 ′ is provided with an advertisement display key, and when this key is pressed, the advertisement column 64 is erased, and the D channel is set in the same manner as the EPG 50 in FIG. Is displayed. In this way, it is possible to respond to the user's request for viewing more program information. In addition, it is possible to respond to a request from a broadcasting station or the like who thinks that it is not preferable to display an advertisement on the EPG 50 '. Note that the deleted advertisement column 64 is displayed when the advertisement display key is pressed again. In addition, a user who sees the advertisement column 64 may be provided with an additional point. For example, when the advertisement column 64 is deleted, the points displayed for each program may be reduced by 0.05.

[Third embodiment] In addition, in the point totaling system of the first embodiment, the recording reservation can be made by using the EPG 50. However, the point may be obtained by making the recording reservation. Also in this case, similarly to the second embodiment, the points that can be received according to the program may be different. This point may be the same as the value you would get if you simply selected the program, or a different value.

 In addition, this may be developed so that a recording reservation can be made to a recording device such as a video deck located at a location remote from the receiving terminal. Figure 8 shows this conceptual diagram. In the system shown in this figure, it is possible to use a mobile phone 70 having a function of browsing sites on the Internet to make a scheduled recording on a video deck 72 at a remote location.

 First, a broadcast station 20 is called from a mobile phone 70 via an Internet service provider (not shown). Actually, the URL of the broadcasting station 20 is transmitted after securing the connection with the connection provider. Broadcasting station 20 transmits simple EPG data for a recording reservation service to mobile phone 70 via the Internet. Then, a display as shown in [Table 1] is made on the display section 74 of the mobile phone 70.

 [Table 1] Mobile phone EPG service

 1 999/12/01 PM7: 00

 1 Ch TV

 > 2 Ch h X X broadcast

 3 Ch △ mm net

4 Ch channel XXX The second line from the top of this screen shows the current date and time. When the operator of the mobile phone 70 moves the force indicated by “>” on the screen using the arrow keys 76 and the like, positions it to the left of the desired channel, and presses the execution key 7 8, The display shown in [Table 2] is displayed on the display section 74 of the mobile phone 70.

 [Table 2] Mobile phone EPG service

 2 Ch XX broadcast

 《Return》

 > 7:00 News of the day

 7:30 Quiz

 8:00 Oedo catch book

These displays are simple EPG. The simplified EPG data sent from the broadcasting station 30 includes the broadcast start time and broadcast end time of each program in addition to the information shown in [Table 1] and [Table 2]. Further, the operator operates the arrow keys 76 and the like as appropriate to position “>” to the left of the desired program, and presses the execution key 78. Then, the recording reservation of the program is transmitted to the broadcasting station 20 via the Internet, and the point of the user of the mobile phone 70 is added by the point management server 18. Position the “>” to the left of “Return” and press the Enter key 7 8 to return to the [Table 1] screen. By operating the left and right arrow keys in [Table 2] (the keys on the left and right sides of the execution key 78 in Fig. 8), [Table 2] for channels other than channel 2 can be displayed without going through [Table 1]. ] Is displayed. If you make a mistake in the channel, perform one of these operations.

—On the other hand, the mobile phone 70 will display the channel of the selected program, the broadcast start time, After the broadcast end time is memorized, disconnect the line once. Then, a telephone call is made to the telephone line 80 and the recording reservation controller 82 connected to the video deck 72. The mobile phone 70 waits for the recording reservation controller 82 to open the telephone line, and transmits the channel, the broadcast start time, and the broadcast end time of the previously stored program. Upon receiving these data, the recording reservation controller 82 transmits a signal indicating completion of reception to the mobile phone 70. The mobile phone 70 receiving this signal disconnects the line.

 The recording reservation controller 82 performs reservation recording on the VCR 72 based on the data received from the mobile phone 70.

 With such a configuration, it is possible to make a recording reservation to the VCR 72 from a remote location, and to accumulate points accordingly.

 Note that PHS may be used instead of the mobile phone 70. If a high-definition display unit (for example, a TFT liquid crystal display device) can be used for these wireless telephones, an EPG 50 or EPG 50 as shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. 'May be displayed. A simple EPG (or full-fledged EPG) is displayed on the display of a laptop or PDA connected to the mobile phone 70 instead of the display 74 of the mobile phone 70, and recording can be reserved from here. You may do so.

Further, the recording reservation controller 82 may not be connected to the video deck 72 by wire. For example, according to the data received from the mobile phone 70, an infrared signal for remotely controlling the VCR 72 may be emitted to record a specified program. Specifically, when the broadcast start time sent from the mobile phone 70 comes, the power of the VCR 72 is turned on, and the VCR 72 is set to the channel sent from the mobile phone 70. , Start recording. Then, when the broadcast end time sent from the mobile phone 70 comes, the recording is stopped and the VCR 72 is turned off, and an infrared signal is sent. May be. Further, if the recording reservation controller 82 is configured as a pager (so-called pager), it is not necessary to be connected to the telephone line 80. In this case, for example, when the mobile phone 70 transmits a preset pager number and information necessary for recording to the recording reservation controller 82, the recording reservation controller 82 operates the VCR 72. And make a recording reservation.

 The G code may be transmitted as the channel, broadcast start time, and broadcast end time. Also, the telephone (or pager) number for transmission from the mobile phone 70 to the recording reservation controller 82 may be set to the mobile phone 70 in advance, or may be changed each time transmission is performed. You may do so. The former has the advantage that the operation of the mobile phone 70 is simplified. On the other hand, in the latter case, it becomes possible to make a recording reservation for a plurality of VCRs 72 at different locations. No matter which VCR 72 is reserved, the user of the mobile phone 70 can receive the points.

 [Fourth embodiment]

In the first embodiment, service distribution and point counting were performed via the Internet, and EPG 50 and programs were provided on the communication satellite 4, but all of this was performed using cable television broadcasting. Is also good. Figure 9 shows a conceptual diagram of this. In this cable television broadcasting (hereinafter, also referred to as CATV), a broadcasting station 20 ′ and a receiving terminal 8 ′ are connected by a down cable 66 and an upper cable 68, respectively. That is, in this cable television broadcast, two-way communication is possible between the broadcast station 20 'and the receiving terminal 8' (hence, the user). As the cables 66 and 68, coaxial cables and optical cables can be used. The receiving terminal 8 'differs from the receiving terminal 8 described in the first embodiment in that it has a function as a CATV converter. In fact, you need a branching / distributor, repeater, etc. It is omitted in the figure.

 Then, from the broadcast station 20 ′, in addition to the original broadcast program, a signal for the EPG 50 and a signal for the service information column 60 are transmitted via the downlink cable 66. When the EPG key of the remote controller (not shown) is pressed, the EPG50 and the service information column 60 are displayed on the image display device 2 'as in FIG. “Information required for search service” used for program search, “Image information equivalent to product catalog” used for product sales, and “Commercial video menu” used when “Commercial” is specified as a service And “commercial video” are always sent to the receiving terminal 8 ′ via the downlink cable 66. For example, when "product sales" is selected from the service information column 60, "image information corresponding to a product catalog" is displayed on the screen of the image display device 2 '. When a service is selected from the service information column 60 by operating the arrow keys or the execution key, a signal indicating that the service has been selected is transmitted to the broadcasting station 20 ′ via the upstream cable 68 and broadcast. The points are summed up at station 20 '.

 As described above, in the cable television broadcasting, two-way communication can be easily performed, and therefore, it is very suitable as an application target of the present invention. In this case, an embodiment in which the upstream cable 68 is not used may be adopted. To do this, the upstream signal is placed in a frequency band that is not used for broadcasting, and a repeater provided in the middle of the cable is capable of amplifying the upstream signal. This eliminates the need for the upstream cable 68.

 [Fifth embodiment]

When the broadcasting station 20 performs pay broadcasting, the system of the present invention can be applied to collection of the reception fee. For example, if a user does not pay the reception fee, the broadcasting station 20 sends a signal to the point management server 18 to the effect that the user has not paid the reception fee (hereinafter, a non-receipt signal). ) And send a receipt signal after paying the reception fee. When receiving the non-reception signal, the point management server 18 does not give the point to the user until the reception signal is received, even if the user uses the service. This gives the user a penalty of not being given a point, and can encourage payment of the reception fee.

 Also, the broadcast station 20 may transmit the non-reception signal to the program search server 14 or the commercial server 16 instead of the point management server 18 so that the services provided by these servers cannot be received. Good. In this way, this user will be given the penalty of not being able to use EPG or being able to watch paid programs, so that they can be encouraged to pay for the reception.

 If the EPG 50 is not transmitted from the communication satellite 4 but is distributed via the Internet each time a user requests, the following can be achieved. In other words, for users who do not pay the reception fee, EPG will not be distributed even if requested, or the paid program will not be able to be selected using EPG. In this case, the user will be given a penalty of not being able to use EPG or not being able to watch paid programs, and will be encouraged to pay for the reception.

 [Sixth embodiment]

For services that users receive, such as participating in a questionnaire, for which the user does not need to know the results immediately, the receiving terminal temporarily stores the user's answer, etc., and the telephone line 12 or the Internet The signal from the receiving terminal 8 may be transmitted when the connection provider is not available. This may take some time, but the point management server 1 8 etc. can receive the answer of the questionnaire steadily.

 [Other]

 The embodiments to which the present invention is applied have been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments and can be implemented in various modes. For example, the connection between the receiving terminal 8 and various servers is performed via the Internet, but may be directly connected using a dedicated line or connected using radio waves.

 In addition, a line other than the telephone line 12 may be used for connection to the Internet. For example, the connection may be made using an ISDN, a mobile phone, or a PHS. Although the information necessary for the program search is stored in the program search server 14, it may be sent from the communication satellite 4. In this case, it is expected that it takes time for the receiving terminal 8 to receive this information, but on the other hand, the search operation is performed in the receiving terminal 8, and the program search server 14 and the data The search ends instantly, since there is no need to exchange in the evening. In this case, it is preferable to accumulate points each time a search is performed by transmitting the fact to the point management server 18 so that points corresponding to the search service are accumulated. Further, when a search service is specified, the specification is transmitted to the broadcasting station 20 via the point management server 18 and the program search server 14 and transmitted from the communication satellite 4 to the receiving terminal 8. Good.

 When selecting a service from the service information column 60, it was designated by the cursor 62, but it may be determined by discoloring the character of the service name. Although the services that provide four types of services, such as questionnaire, commercial, merchandise sales, and search services, were mentioned as services, other services may be provided, and points may be accumulated for those services as well.

Also, the privilege may be other than the product purchase right. For example, product vouchers, free viewing rights for paid programs, free usage rights for internet paid sites, Free telephone usage rights, discount tickets, cash, air tickets, etc. are possible. As a matter of course, free viewing rights and free usage rights have a limited viewing period and total usage time. In addition, it may be possible to select from among these plural benefits. For product vouchers, discount coupons, and air tickets, it may be possible to have them mailed if specified.

 The information relating to the EPG received from the communication satellite 4 is stored in the RAM in the data processing unit 48, but may be stored in the hard disk drive 36. Further, the present invention may be applied to a system using a broadcasting satellite instead of the communication satellite 4 or a terrestrial system.

 Although the service selection and the search items are specified by the remote controller 10 using infrared rays, other configurations may be used. For example, a PHS master unit may be provided in the receiving terminal 8 and the remote controller may be a PHS terminal so that the above-described designation can be performed. Further, the receiving terminal 8 and the image display device 2 are provided separately, but they may be integrally configured. In this case, the image display device 2 may be provided with a PHS master unit.

 Various lines such as telephone line 12, mobile phone, and PHS may be selected for connection to each server.

 Although the point accumulation is performed by the point management server 18, it may be performed by the reception terminal 8. In this case, each time the receiving terminal 8 receives the provision of the service, the points set for the service are added, and when a certain amount is accumulated, the user is notified or the point management server 18 is provided. (Or something similar). Alternatively, the receiving terminal 8 may record points on a recording medium such as an IC card and mail the points to the point management server 18 or the like together with designation of a privilege to receive the privilege, so that the privilege may be received.

The value of the point may be changed according to the attribute of the user. Here, The “one attribute” is the user's income and gender. The determination of the attribute may be performed by applying to the side to which a point is given when the receiving terminal 8 or the like is purchased. And, for example, when people with high income use it, it is conceivable to increase or decrease the number of points. Also, instead of changing the points according to the attributes, the benefits may be changed.

 Also, the start time, end time, and broadcast channel of each program are transmitted as data for making a recording reservation. In addition, the broadcast date may be transmitted. In this way, it is possible to reserve programs for the next day and thereafter. In order to display the EPG on which programs from the next day are displayed, it is conceivable to provide a “next day” key or the like on the remote controller 10 and display it by pressing this key. Press the “Next day” key twice to display the EPG of the day after tomorrow, and press the “Previous day” key provided separately to return to the previous day's EPG. In the case of the simple EPG shown in [Table 2], a column of “Next day” is provided to simulate “Return”, and “>” is positioned to the left of this column, and the execution key 78 is pressed. It may be possible to display a simple EPG for the same channel the next day. Industrial applicability

 According to the present invention, service information is displayed on an image display device on which program guide information is displayed. This service information is for guiding a service in which points are set in advance, and a privilege is given when the points are accumulated up to a predetermined value. When the user specifies a specific service using the service specifying means, the specified service is provided to the user, and the points set for that service are accumulated for each user. Therefore, the use of the service guided by the service information will be evident.

Claims

The scope of the claims

1. Program guide display means for outputting program guide information for guiding a broadcast program to an image display device;

 Service information obtaining means for obtaining, from the outside, service information for guiding a predetermined service to a point to which a privilege is awarded when accumulated to a predetermined value;

 Service information display means for displaying the service information acquired by the service information acquisition means on the image display device;

 Service designating means for receiving from the user an instruction to use the service information displayed by the service information display means,

 Service providing means for providing the service, which has been instructed by the service specifying means, to the user;

 When a service is provided by the service providing means, a point accumulating means for accumulating the points set in the service for each user who has used the service;

 A point tallying system comprising:

2. In the point counting system according to claim 1,

 Notification means for notifying the user that the accumulated value has reached the predetermined value when the accumulated value by the point addition means reaches a predetermined value.

 A point tallying system comprising:

3. In the point totalizing system according to claim 1 or 2,

 The point tallying system is

The host station and the receiving terminal are connected via a bidirectional communication line to receive the broadcast program. Used in cable television broadcasting supplied to a communication terminal, wherein the service information obtaining means is

 Acquiring the service information from the host station by the bidirectional communication line;

 The service providing means includes:

 When the service specifying means receives an instruction from the user to use service information via the two-way communication line, the service is provided from the host station to the receiving terminal by the two-way communication line.

 A point tallying system characterized in that:

4-The point totalization system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the service information acquisition unit includes:

 A tuner for receiving, from outside, a broadcast signal including at least the service information of a service for searching for a program, the program guide information, and information for searching for a program,

 The program guide display means includes:

 Outputting the program guide information externally received by the service information obtaining means to the image display device,

 The service providing means includes:

 When a search for a program is designated as the service by the service specifying means, the tuner performs a search based on information received for the service received by the tuner.

 The point accumulation means,

 When the program search is performed by the service providing means, the points set for the program search are accumulated.

A point counting system characterized by the following.

5. The point totalization system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the service information acquisition unit is configured to:

 A tuner for receiving a broadcast signal including at least the service information of a service for searching for a program, an electronic program guide for selecting a program, and

 The service providing means includes:

 Information for searching for a program is stored in advance, and when a search for a program is specified as the service by the service specifying means, a search is performed based on the information for searching for the program, and the result of the search is referred to. A program search server for transmitting to the user,

 The point accumulation means,

 When a program search is performed by the program search means, the points set for the program search are accumulated.

 A point counting system characterized by the following.

6. In the point tally system according to claim 4 or 5,

 A point totalizing system, wherein a program searched by the service providing means is identifiably displayed in the program guide information displayed by the program guide displaying means.

7. The point totaling system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the program guide display means displays an advertisement on the image display device when the program guide information is displayed on the image display device. Advertisement display means, and advertisement stop means for stopping display of advertisements by the advertisement display means in accordance with the user's instruction. A point tallying system comprising:

8. The point aggregation system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein at least a part of the broadcast program is a pay broadcast,

 Payment detection means for detecting whether the user has paid the fee for the pay broadcast,

 Service limiting means for preventing the provision of the service by the service providing means when the payment detecting means detects that the user has not paid the fee; and

 A point totaling system comprising:

9. The point aggregation system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein at least a part of the broadcast program is a pay broadcast,

 Payment detection means for detecting whether the user has paid the fee for the pay broadcast,

 Program selection restricting means for preventing selection of a program based on the program guide information when the payment detecting means detects that the user has not paid the fee;

 A point totaling system comprising:

10. The point aggregation system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein at least a part of the broadcast program is a pay broadcast,

 Payment detection means for detecting whether the user has paid the fee for the pay broadcast,

By the payment detecting means, if the user has not paid a fee, privilege limiting means for preventing the privilege from being received, A point totaling system comprising:

1 1. In the point totaling system according to any one of claims 8 to 10,

 Receiving information transmitting means for transmitting, to the limiting means, receiving information indicating that the fee has been received, when the fee for the pay broadcast is paid.

 The payment detecting means comprises:

 A point totalizing system for detecting payment of a fee by receiving the receipt information.

1 2. In the point totaling system according to any one of claims 1 to 11,

 The broadcast program,

 0 or more points are preset respectively, and the service providing means is:

 As the service, at least providing a selection of a broadcast program from program information displayed on the program guide display means,

 The point accumulation means,

 When the program is selected by the service providing means, the points set for each program are accumulated.

 A point tallying system characterized in that:

1 3. In the point totaling system according to claim 1,

 The program guide display means includes:

Of the points set in advance for the broadcast program, points larger than zero are assigned to the image table as the program guide information together with the corresponding program. Output to display device

 A point tallying system, characterized in that:

14. The point collection system according to claim 12 or 13, wherein each point set in the broadcast program is changed according to a place where a device on which the broadcast program is displayed is installed. A point tallying system characterized in that the higher the number of people gathering at a location, the higher the number.

15. In the point counting system according to any one of claims 1 to 14,

 The service providing means includes:

 At least mail-order service as the service

 A point tallying system, characterized in that:

16. In the point tallying system according to any one of claims 1 to 15,

 The service providing means includes:

 A point totalizing system, characterized in that at least a commercial message is delivered as the service.

17. In the point tallying system according to any one of claims 1 to 16,

 As the above benefits, at least one of product purchase right, product voucher, free viewing right of paid program, free right of internet paid site, free use of telephone, discount ticket, cash, air ticket is granted.

A point aggregation system characterized by the following.

18. In the point counting system according to any one of claims 1 to 17,

 The service designating means comprises:

 A point counting system, wherein at least a part of the instruction from the user is transmitted to the service providing means when the communication line from the service specifying means to the service providing means is free,

1 9. In the point totaling system according to any one of claims 1 to 18,

 The service information obtaining means,

 At least, the service information of a service for recording a program, an electronic program guide for selecting a program, a start time, an end time, and a broadcast channel of each program included in the electronic program guide are externally transmitted. The receiving unit that receives

 The service designating means comprises:

 By selecting a program displayed in the electronic program guide, a service for recording the program is specified.

 The service providing means includes:

 When the recording of a program is designated as the service by the service designating means and a program to be recorded is input by the user, the recording is performed by a recording device connected to the service designating means by wire or wirelessly. Making a recording reservation based on a start time, an end time, and a broadcast channel corresponding to the program received by the receiving unit.

A point tallying system characterized in that:

20. The point aggregation system according to claim 19, wherein the image display device is:

 A display device provided in the wireless telephone device,

 The service information obtaining means,

 From the outside via an antenna provided in the wireless telephone device, at least the service information of a service for recording a program, an electronic program guide for selecting a program, and a start of each program included in the electronic program guide. A receiving unit for receiving the time, the end time, and the broadcast channel, and

 The service designating means comprises:

 A key provided on the wireless telephone device, to which a numeral, a symbol, or the like is attached;

 When the key is used to designate recording of a program as the service, input a program to be recorded, and input a telephone number, the recording unit specified by the telephone number receives the information by the receiving unit. A recording system for making a recording reservation based on a start time, an end time, and a broadcast channel corresponding to the program.

2 1. In the point counting system according to any one of claims 1 to 20,

 The service providing means includes:

 Provided for each service, for transmitting information to the effect that each service has been used to the point accumulating means,

 The point accumulation means,

A point totalizing system for accumulating information on use of each service transmitted from each service providing means for each user.

22. A receiving terminal device used in the point counting system according to any one of claims 1 to 21,

 A receiving terminal device comprising at least the service information acquisition unit, the service information display unit, and the service designation unit.

23. The receiving terminal device according to claim 22,

 A receiving terminal device receiving a service from the service providing means provided outside, and accumulating the points set in the service in the point accumulating means provided outside. .