JP4816994B2 - Information processing apparatus and method, recording medium, and program - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and method, a recording medium, and a program, and more particularly, to an information processing apparatus and method, a recording medium, and a program that record operation details for content as a viewing history.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a recording device that extracts households to be sampled and investigates the audience rating such as “what time and which channel was viewed”.
[0003]
For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-307530 proposes a method for investigating a detailed audience rating for each user (for example, for each scene).
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional recording device, it is premised that the broadcasted program is viewed in real time, and the program (content) recorded on the recording device such as a hard disk recorder is viewed later. It was not.
[0005]
Also in the method of the above publication, the survey target is a broadcast program that is on the air, and the survey regarding the recorded program is excluded.
[0006]
Furthermore, in the conventional recording device, operations such as “fast forward” and “rewind” are executed, and “this scene was seen while watching (fast forward)”, “I saw this scene repeatedly” Or, operations such as “I skipped this scene” and detailed viewing contents could not be obtained.
[0007]
Therefore, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-224617 proposes a method for investigating the viewing trend of media other than broadcasting. However, the investigation requires complicated input from the user. There was a problem.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and makes it possible to detect a use situation of recorded content.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  The information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes: a determination unit that determines whether or not a predetermined operation has been performed; and, as a result of determination by the determination unit, if it is determined that the predetermined operation has been performed, Storage means for acquiring and storing information on the operation time executed and the operation target to be operated;The operation target is content, and the information related to the operation target is the reproduction position in the content.It is characterized by that.
[0010]
The storage means is a first storage means for temporarily storing information related to the operation content, operation time, and operation target, and a second storage that receives the transfer of the information stored in the first storage means and stores it permanently. Storage means.
[0011]
When the predetermined operation is power-on or power-off, the operation content and operation time can be acquired and stored in the storage means.
[0012]
A transmission unit that transmits information on the operation content, operation time, and operation target stored in the storage unit can be further provided.
[0013]
The determination unit can further determine whether the predetermined operation is an operation executed by the user or an operation executed by the information processing apparatus.
[0014]
The storage unit can further store specific information on information related to the operation target.
[0015]
  SpecialThe fixed information may be metadata.
[0016]
  The information processing method of the present invention includes a determination step for determining whether or not a predetermined operation has been performed, and, as a result of determination by the processing of the determination step, if it is determined that the predetermined operation has been performed, A storage control step for acquiring information on an operation time when the operation was performed and information on the operation target to be operated and controlling the storage thereof.The operation target is the content, and the information related to the operation target is the playback position in the content.It is characterized by that.
[0017]
  The program recorded in the recording medium of the present invention is a determination step for determining whether or not a predetermined operation has been executed, and when it is determined that the predetermined operation has been executed as a result of the determination by the processing of the determination step, And a storage control step for acquiring information on the operation content, operation time at which the operation was performed, and information on the operation target to be operated and controlling the storage thereof.The operation target is the content, and the information related to the operation target is the playback position in the content.It is characterized by that.
[0018]
  The program according to the present invention includes a determination step for determining whether or not a predetermined operation has been executed, and if it is determined that the predetermined operation has been executed as a result of the determination by the processing of the determination step, Acquires information related to the operation time executed and the operation target to be operated, and causes the computer to execute a storage control step for controlling the storageThe operation target is content, and the information related to the operation target is the reproduction position in the content.It is characterized by that.
[0019]
  In the information processing apparatus, method, and program of the present invention, it is determined whether or not a predetermined operation has been executed, and if it is determined that the predetermined operation has been executed, the operation content related to the operation and the operation that has been executed Information about the time and the operation target to be operated is acquired and stored.The operation target is content, and the information related to the operation target is a reproduction position in the content.
[0020]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0021]
FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of a viewing history transmission system to which the present invention is applied. In this viewing history transmission system, hard disk recorders 2-1 to 2-N (hereinafter simply referred to as hard disk recorder 2 when it is not necessary to individually distinguish the hard disk recorders 2-1 to 2-N) on the Internet 1. The server 3 and the broadcasting device 5 are connected.
[0022]
The hard disk recorder 2 has a function of receiving radio waves broadcasted by the broadcasting device 5 and recording broadcast content. As will be described later, the operation content for the recorded broadcast content and the time when the operation was performed are displayed. The viewing history data is transmitted to the server 3 via the Internet 1.
[0023]
The server 3 receives viewing history data transmitted from the hard disk recorder 2 via the Internet 1 and analyzes the viewing history data. The server 3 stores the analysis result in the viewing history database 4 for each user ID.
[0024]
The broadcasting device 5 is a broadcasting station that broadcasts a program, transmits radio waves corresponding to the broadcast program (broadcast content), and transmits metadata related to the program via the Internet 1.
[0025]
Note that one server 3 and one broadcasting device 5 are connected to the Internet 1 each, but the number of units connected is arbitrary.
[0026]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the hard disk recorder 2.
[0027]
The tuner 11 receives a television signal from a terrestrial wave, a communication satellite, or a broadcast satellite, outputs the extracted video signal to the video signal processing circuit 13, and outputs the audio signal to the audio signal processing circuit 12. The tuner 11 also supplies the received video signal and audio signal to an MPEG (Moving Picture Expert Group) encoder / decoder / VRAM (Video Random Access Memory) 14. The MPEG encoder / decoder / VRAM 14 encodes the input signal by the MPEG method, and supplies the encoded signal to the storage 22 composed of a hard disk for recording.
[0028]
Further, the tuner 11 receives an EPG (Electrical Program Guide) related to a program (if metadata including information related to a content index and a segment is also included), supplies it to the storage 22, and stores it. In addition, when the signal received by the tuner 11 is recorded, the storage 22 also stores the recording start time, the length of the recording time, the received broadcast channel, the genre to which the program belongs, and the like.
[0029]
Note that the metadata includes an index and a segment. The index corresponds to a predetermined time of the content, and a comment and an icon regarding the content at the time are added. A segment corresponds to a predetermined period, such as a highlight scene, of the content, and a start time, an end time, a comment, an icon, and the like are added to the segment.
[0030]
When a story is configured by an arbitrary number of segments, this story is also stored in the storage 22.
[0031]
The MPEG encoder / decoder / VRAM 14 decodes the signal reproduced from the storage 22 by the MPEG method, writes the video data in the built-in VRAM once, reads it again from there, and outputs it to the video signal processing circuit 13. . The reproduced audio data is decoded and then output to the audio signal processing circuit 12.
[0032]
The video signal processing circuit 13 performs predetermined processing on the input video signal, converts it to an analog signal, outputs it to the display 33, and displays it. The audio signal processing circuit 12 performs predetermined processing on the input audio signal, converts it to an analog signal, and outputs it to the speaker 32.
[0033]
In addition to video or audio content, the storage 22 also stores information data (for example, broadcast date and time, channel, etc.) when a video signal is recorded. The storage 22 further stores an OS (Operation System), application programs, data unique to the application programs, and the like.
[0034]
A non-volatile RAM (Random Access Memory) 21 stores unique ID information of the hard disk recorder, user ID information, area information where the user resides, and the like. A ROM (Read Only Memory) 20 stores a bootstrap module as a module for starting the OS, other programs, parameter data, and the like. In the RAM 19, a bootstrap module, an OS, an application program, and the like are expanded from the ROM 20 and the storage 22 as necessary, and are executed by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 18.
[0035]
The data stored in the storage 22 can be recorded in the RAM 19 or the nonvolatile RAM 21, for example.
[0036]
When the user operates the keyboard 23 or the mouse 24 and inputs a predetermined command, the CPU 18 executes processing corresponding to the command. The clock 25 performs a timing operation and outputs time information.
[0037]
The hard disk recorder is provided with a remote control light receiving unit 17, which receives the infrared signal generated by the light emitting unit 61 (FIG. 3) of the remote controller 31 in response to a user operation. A signal corresponding to the infrared signal is output to the CPU 18.
[0038]
When displaying a GUI (Graphical User Interface) screen for user operation (for example, a screen for selecting a video content to be reproduced from a list of displayed video content), the CPU 18 generates the GUI processing program. The GUI-displayed image data is supplied to the MPEG encoder / decoder / VRAM 14 and is output to the display 33 via the video signal processing circuit 13 and displayed.
[0039]
The modem 16 performs processing for communicating with the Internet 1. The modem 16 is used when receiving update information of the OS and application programs and transmitting data from a user to a broadcasting station or a data server. When the metadata is distributed from the Internet 1, the modem 16 receives it.
[0040]
The broadband network interface 15 is connected to a broadband network such as DSL (Digital Subscribe Line) / CATV (Cable Television) / optical fiber in the Internet 1. The broadband network interface 15 is used when receiving update information of an OS or application program, or transmitting data from a user to a broadcasting station or a data server. The broadband network interface 15 is also used when the metadata is transmitted via a broadband network.
[0041]
In this hard disk recorder, a magnetic disk 41, an optical disk 42, a magneto-optical disk 43, and a semiconductor memory 44 are connected through an input / output interface 26 as necessary.
[0042]
FIG. 3 mainly illustrates a configuration example of buttons of the remote controller 31.
[0043]
The backward skip button 51 and the forward skip button 57 are operated by the user when the segment (or index) to be reproduced is skipped backward (temporally backward) or skipped forward (temporally forward), respectively. . The rewind button 52 is operated when the playback position is moved backward at high speed. The stop button 53 is operated when stopping the reproduction. The pause button 54 is operated when the playback or recording state is temporarily stopped. The playback button 55 is operated when starting playback. The fast forward button 56 is operated when the playback position is fast forwarded.
[0044]
The light emitting unit 61 incorporates an infrared light emitting element, and emits an infrared signal corresponding to the operation to the remote control light receiving unit 7 when these buttons are operated.
[0045]
In addition, although illustration is abbreviate | omitted, the remote controller 31 is provided with a numeric keypad and other various buttons besides these buttons.
[0046]
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the server 3.
[0047]
The CPU 71 executes various processes according to a program stored in the ROM 72 or a program loaded from the storage unit 78 to the RAM 73. The RAM 73 also appropriately stores data necessary for the CPU 71 to execute various processes.
[0048]
The CPU 71, ROM 72, and RAM 73 are connected to each other via a bus 74. An input / output interface 75 is also connected to the bus 74.
[0049]
The input / output interface 75 includes an input unit 76 composed of a keyboard and a mouse, a display such as a CRT and LCD, an output unit 77 composed of a speaker, a storage unit 79 composed of a hard disk, a modem and a terminal. A communication unit 79 composed of an adapter or the like is connected. The communication unit 79 performs communication processing via a network including the Internet 1.
[0050]
A drive 80 is connected to the input / output interface 75 as necessary, and a magnetic disk 91, an optical disk 92, a magneto-optical disk 93, a semiconductor memory 94, or the like is appropriately mounted, and a computer program read therefrom is Installed in the storage unit 79 as necessary.
[0051]
Next, the basic operation of the hard disk recorder 2 described above will be described.
[0052]
When the user operates the remote controller 31, the keyboard 23, or the mouse 34 to instruct reception of predetermined content, the CPU 18 controls the tuner 11 to receive a designated broadcast channel. The tuner 11 receives the radio wave of the designated channel based on the control of the CPU 18 and outputs the demodulated signal to the MPEG encoder / decoder / VRAM 14. The MPEG encoder / decoder / VRAM 14 encodes the signal supplied from the tuner 11 by the MPEG method, and supplies the encoded signal to the storage 22 for storage.
[0053]
In this way, the content is stored in the storage 22. Corresponding metadata is transmitted from the broadcasting device 5 via the Internet 1, received by the modem 16, and stored in the storage 22. The metadata can also be generated independently by the user and stored in the storage 22.
[0054]
When the user operates the remote controller 31, the keyboard 23, or the mouse 24 to instruct the reproduction of the content stored in the storage 22, the CPU 18 reads out the predetermined content stored in the storage 22, and the MPEG encoder / This is supplied to the decoder / VRAM 14. The MPEG encoder / decoder / VRAM 14 decodes the supplied signal, outputs the video signal to the display 33 via the video signal processing circuit 13, displays it, and sends the audio signal via the audio signal processing circuit 12. Output to the speaker 32.
[0055]
In this way, the user can view the content recorded in the storage 22 at an arbitrary timing. Further, the operation details and the operation time for the content viewed at an arbitrary timing are recorded as a viewing history.
[0056]
FIG. 5 shows an example of a data description format (DTD: Document Type Definition) when recording the operation content and the operation time. In this example, data is described in XML (eXtensible Markup Language) format.
[0057]
The first entry <! ATTLIST WatchLog UserID CDATA #IMPLIED> indicates a viewing history (WatchLog) having a viewer ID (UserID) as an attribute. The second entry <! ELEMENT WatchLog (Operation *)> indicates that the viewing history is composed of one or more operations. The third entry <! ELEMENT Operation (Operator, Operand?)> Indicates that the operation consists of one operation content (Operator) and 0 or one operation target (Operand).
[0058]
The fourth entry <! ATTLIST Operation MetadataId CDATA #IMPLIED> indicates the metadata ID used for viewing when the operation is performed as an optional attribute of the operation. <! ELEMENT Operator (PowerOn | PowerOff | Play | Pause | Stop | FF | RF | JumpToSegment | JumpToIndex)> is the fifth entry. It indicates that it is one of pause, stop, fast forward, rewind, jump to segment, or jump to index.
[0059]
The sixth entry <! ATTLIST Operator DateTime CDATA #REQUIRED> indicates the time of operation as an attribute of the operation content. The seventh entry <! ATTLIST Operator UserOperation (Yes / No) #REQUIRED> indicates whether the operation is performed by the user or the system as an attribute of the operation content.
[0060]
The eighth entry <! ATTLIST JumpToSegment StoryID NMTOKEN #IMPLIED> indicates which story segment the jump was made to. The ninth entry <! ATTLIST JumpToSegment SceneNo NMTOKEN #IMPLIED> indicates which scene segment the jump was made to. The tenth entry <! ATTLIST JumpToIndex IndexNo NMTOKEN #IMPLIED> indicates which index the jump has been made to.
[0061]
The eleventh entry <! ELEMENT Operand (Channel | MediaTime)> indicates that the operation target (content) consists of the broadcast channel and the time when the operation target (media) was broadcast. . <! ATTLIST Channel network (terrestrial | BS-a | BS-d | CS | CS-110) "terrestrial">, which is entered as the twelfth entry, broadcasts the broadcast channel as an attribute of the broadcast channel. The form is shown. The 13th entry <! ELEMENT Channel (#PCDATA)> indicates the channel on which the operation target is broadcast. The 14th entry <! ELEMENT MediaTime (#PCDATA)> indicates the time when the operation target was broadcast.
[0062]
In addition, if "EMPTY" is described after the operation content, such as <! ELEMENT PowerOn EMPTY>, <! ELEMENT PowerOff EMPTY>, or <! ELEMENT Play EMPTY>, the operation is It indicates that the terminal node does not have the above elements and attributes.
[0063]
6 to 8 show examples of viewing history data recorded in the data description format described above. In these examples, a plurality of viewing history data 101-1 to 101-9 are illustrated, and descriptions regarding each operation content are made in the range from <Operation> to </ Operation>. Further, description about the operation content is made in the range from <Operator> to </ Operator>, and description about the operation target (content) is made in the range from <Operand> to </ Operand>.
[0064]
<Operator UserOperation = "Yes" DateTime = "2001-04-24T16: 59: 00.00 + 09: 00"> in the viewing history data 101-1 is that the operation is performed by the “user”, and the operation time is “ “April 24, 2001, 16:59:00”. <PowerOn /> indicates that the operation content is “power on”.
[0065]
<Operator UserOperation = "Yes" DateTime = "2001-04-24T17: 00: 00.00 + 09: 00"> in the viewing history data 101-2 is that the operation is performed by the "user", and the operation time is " “April 24, 2001, 17:00:00”. <Play /> indicates that the operation content is “reproduction”. <Channel network = "BS-a"> 7 </ Channel> indicates that this broadcast content is the content broadcast on "seventh channel of satellite wave Bs-a (a means analog)" Show. <MediaTime> 2001-01-01T10: 00: 00.00 + 09: 00 </ MediaTime> indicates that the time when this broadcast content was broadcast is “1 January 2001, 10:00:00” ing.
[0066]
<Operator UserOperation = "No" DateTime = "2001-04-24T17: 30: 00.00 + 90: 00"> in the viewing history data 101-3 indicates that the operation is based on "system", and the operated time is " “April 24, 2001, 17:30:30”. <Stop /> indicates that the operation content is “stop”. <Channel network = "BS-a"> 7 </ Channel> indicates that this broadcast content is a content broadcast on "seventh channel of satellite wave Bs-a". <MediaTime> 2001-01-01T10: 00: 30.00 + 09: 00 </ MediaTime> indicates that the time at which this broadcast content was broadcast is “01.01.2001 10:30:30” ing.
[0067]
That is, the viewing history data 101-2 and 101-3 were broadcast on the seventh channel of the satellite wave Bs-a on January 1, 2001 at 10:00:00 and recorded (recorded) in the storage 22. The playback of the content was instructed at 17:00 on April 24, 2001, and the content ended at 17:30 on April 24, 2001. Show.
[0068]
<Operation MetadataID = "Metadata001"> in the viewing history data 101-4 indicates that the metadata ID is "001". <Operator UserOperation = "Yes" DateTime = "2001-04-25T10: 00: 00.00 + 09: 00"> indicates that the operation is performed by the “user”, and the time when the operation is performed is “April 25, 2001 10 "00 hour 00 second". <JumpToIndex IndexNo = "5" /> indicates that the operation content is "jump to index of index number 5". <Channel> 1 </ Channel> indicates that this broadcast content is the content broadcast on the “first channel of the terrestrial wave”. <MediaTime> 2001-01-01T17: 03: 20.22 + 09: 00 </ MediaTime> indicates that the time when this broadcast content was broadcast was "01: 01: 17: 3: 20" ing.
[0069]
<Operator UserOperation = "Yes" DateTime = "2001-04-25T10: 03: 10.00 + 09: 00"> in the viewing history data 101-5 indicates that the operation is performed by the "user", and the operation time is " April 25, 2001, 10: 3: 10 ”. <JumpToIndex IndexNo = "10" /> indicates that the operation content is "jump to index number 10 index". <Channel> 1 </ Channel> indicates that this broadcast content is the content broadcast on the “first channel of the terrestrial wave”. <MediaTime> 2001-01-01T17: 23: 20.22 + 09: 00 </ MediaTime> indicates that the time when the broadcast content was broadcast is “01: 01: 17: 23: 20 on January 1, 2001” Yes.
[0070]
That is, the viewing history data 101-4 and 101-5 are broadcasted on the first channel of the terrestrial broadcast at 17: 3: 20 on January 1, 2001 and recorded in the storage 22 (index number 5). Jump to index) is instructed at 10:00:00 on April 25, 2001, broadcast on the first channel of terrestrial broadcast at 17:23:20 on January 1, 2001, and recorded in the storage 22 This indicates that the jump to the content (index of index number 10) was instructed at 10: 3: 10 on April 25, 2001.
[0071]
<Operation MetadataID = "Metadata002"> in the viewing history data 101-6 indicates that the metadata ID is "002". <Operator UserOperation = "Yes" DateTime = "2001-04-25T18: 15: 00.00T + 09: 00"> indicates that the operation is performed by the “user” and the operation time is “April 25, 2001” 18:15:00 ”. <JumpToSegment StoryID = "time @ MACaddrr" SceneNo = "0" /> indicates that the operation content is "jump to segment of scene number 0 of story with story ID time @ MACaddrr". <Channel> 3 </ Channel> indicates that this broadcast content is the content broadcast on the “terrestrial third channel”. <MediaTime> 2001-04-01T10: 02: 10.00 + 09: 00 </ MediaTime> indicates that the time when this broadcast content was broadcast is “01:02:10 on April 1, 2001” ing.
[0072]
<Operation MetadataID = "Metadata002"> in the viewing history data 101-7 indicates that the metadata ID is "002". <Operator UserOperation = "No" DateTime = "2001-04-25T18: 17: 00.00T + 09: 00"> indicates that the operation is based on the “system” and the operation time is “April 25, 2001” 18:17:00 ”. <JumpToSegment StoryID = "time @ MACaddrr" SceneNo = "1" /> indicates that the operation content is "jump to the segment of the scene number 1 of the story whose story ID is time @ MACaddrr". <Channel> 3 </ Channel> indicates that this broadcast content is the content broadcast on the “terrestrial third channel”. <MediaTime> 2001-04-01T10: 17: 10.00 + 09: 00 </ MediaTime> indicates that the time when this broadcast content was broadcasted was “10:17:10 on April 1, 2001” ing.
[0073]
<Operation MetadataID = "Metadata002"> in the viewing history data 101-8 indicates that the metadata ID is "002". <Operator UserOperation = "No" DateTime = "2001-04-25T18: 20: 00.00T + 09: 00"> indicates that the operation is performed by the “user” and the operation time is “April 25, 2001” 18:20:00 ". <JumpToSegment StoryID = "time @ MACaddrr" SceneNo = "2" /> indicates that the operation content is “jump to the segment of the scene number 2 of the story whose story ID is time @ MACaddrr”. <Channel> 3 </ Channel> indicates that this broadcast content is the content broadcast on the “terrestrial third channel”. <MediaTime> 2001-04-01T10: 39: 10.00 + 09: 00 </ MediaTime> indicates that the time when this broadcast content was broadcast is “10:39:10 on April 1, 2001” ing.
[0074]
That is, the viewing history data 101-6 to 101-8 are broadcast on the third channel of the terrestrial wave at 10: 2: 10 on April 1, 2001 and recorded in the storage 22 (story ID is time ID @ MACaddrr's story scene number 0 segment) was instructed on April 25, 2001 at 18:15:00, and on April 1, 2001 at 10:17:10 Was jumped to the content (story number 1 segment of the story ID of time @ MACaddrr) broadcasted on the storage 22 and instructed at 18:17:00 on April 25, 2001. Content broadcast on the third channel of the terrestrial broadcast at 10:39:10 on April 1 and recorded in the storage 22 (store ID with the story ID time @ MACaddrr Li jump to the scene segment of the number 2) shows that it has been instructed to 20 minutes 00 seconds at 2001 April 25, 18.
[0075]
<Operator UserOperation = "Yes" DateTime = "2001-04-25T23: 59: 00.00T + 09: 00"> in the viewing history data 101-9 is that the operation is performed by the "user", and the operation time is This indicates that it is “April 25, 2001, 23:59:00”. <poweroff /> indicates that the operation content is “power off”.
[0076]
In this way, every time an operation is performed by the user or the system, the operation content, operation time, and operation target (content information, metadata in use, etc.) are recorded in the storage 22 as viewing history data. Is done.
[0077]
The processing in this case will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0078]
In step S1, the CPU 18 determines whether or not a predetermined operation is instructed by the user, that is, whether or not an input signal from the remote controller 31, the keyboard 23, or the mouse 24 is received, and the predetermined operation is instructed by the user. If it is determined that the process has been performed, the process proceeds to step S3.
[0079]
If it is determined in step S1 that a predetermined operation is not instructed by the user, the process proceeds to step S2, and the CPU 18 determines whether or not the operation has been executed by the system, and if the operation has not been executed by the system. When it determines, it returns to step S1 and repeatedly performs the process mentioned above.
[0080]
If it is determined in step S2 that the operation has been executed by the system, the process proceeds to step S3.
[0081]
In step S3, the CPU 18 obtains the operation content (power on, power off, playback, pause, stop, fast forward, rewind, jump to segment, jump to index, etc.) executed by the user or the system. , And stored in a temporary storage area of the RAM 19.
[0082]
In step S <b> 4, the CPU 18 acquires the current time (including date) when the operation was performed from the clock 25 and stores it in the temporary storage area of the RAM 19. In step S <b> 5, the CPU 18 acquires the content currently being played back and the playback position within the content being played back, that is, acquires information related to the operation target (content) and stores it in the temporary storage area of the RAM 19.
[0083]
For example, in the case of the viewing history data 101-2 shown in FIG. 6, the time of “1 Jan 2001 10:00:00” of the content broadcast on “the seventh channel of the satellite wave Bs-a” is The acquired data is transferred from the RAM 19 to the storage 22 and recorded there by the processing in step S8 described later.
[0084]
In step S6, the CPU 18 determines whether or not the currently reproduced content uses metadata. If it is determined that the metadata is used, the CPU 18 proceeds to step S7 and uses the metadata. Is obtained from the storage 22 and stored in the temporary storage area of the RAM 19.
[0085]
For example, in the case of the viewing history data 101-4 shown in FIG. 7, the metadata ID “001” has been acquired, and the acquired data is transferred from the RAM 19 to the storage 22 by the process of step S8 described later. And recorded there.
[0086]
If it is determined in step S6 that the currently reproduced content does not use metadata, the process of step S7 is skipped and the process proceeds to step S8.
[0087]
In step S8, the CPU 18 transfers the data saved in the temporary storage area of the RAM 19 to the storage 22 that is a permanent storage area. Thereby, viewing history data including operation contents, operation time, operation target, metadata, and the like are recorded in the storage 22. In step S9, the CPU 18 discards the data stored in the temporary storage area of the RAM 19 and releases the memory.
[0088]
In step S10, the CPU 18 determines whether or not to transmit data to the server. If it is determined that the data is not yet transferred to the server, the CPU 18 returns to step S1 and repeatedly executes the above-described processing.
[0089]
Here, the transmission timing of the data to the server 3 may be transmitted every predetermined time or when viewing history data of a predetermined capacity is recorded in the storage 22, or a new one may be transmitted to the storage 22. It may be transmitted each time data is recorded.
[0090]
If it is determined in step S10 that the data is to be transmitted to the server, the process proceeds to step S11, where the CPU 18 transmits the viewing history data recorded in the storage 22 to the server 3 via the Internet 1, and the process ends. .
[0091]
As described above, the viewing history data is stored in the temporary storage area (RAM 19) once the operation content, the operation time, the operation target, or the metadata is once operated by the user or the system. Since the hard disk recorder 2 is quickly transferred and recorded in the permanent storage area (storage 22), the consistency of the viewing history data can be maintained even when the system of the hard disk recorder 2 is down or when the application software is abnormally terminated.
[0092]
In the above description, the operation content, operation time, operation target, or metadata is temporarily stored in the RAM 19. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be temporarily stored in the nonvolatile RAM 21, for example.
[0093]
Next, the reception process of the server 3 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0094]
In step S <b> 31, the CPU 71 controls the communication unit 79 to receive viewing history data transmitted via the Internet 1. In step S32, the CPU 71 acquires viewing history data received by the communication unit 79 and analyzes it. Specifically, from the viewing history data, information such as “which scene was repeated and how many times”, “which scene was skipped”, or “which scene was swept forward” was analyzed as the analysis result. can get.
[0095]
In step S33, the CPU 71 causes the analysis result obtained in step S32 to be associated with the user ID and recorded in the viewing history database 4, and the process ends.
[0096]
As described above, the server 3 analyzes the viewing history data transmitted from the hard disk recorder 2 and records it to provide services for individuals such as providing program information according to the preference of each user. Can be used as basic information.
[0097]
The series of processes described above can be executed by hardware, but can also be executed by software. When a series of processing is executed by software, a program constituting the software may execute various functions by installing a computer incorporated in dedicated hardware or various programs. For example, it is installed from a recording medium in a general-purpose personal computer or the like.
[0098]
As shown in FIG. 2, a recording medium for recording a program that is installed in a computer and can be executed by the computer includes a magnetic disk 41 (including a flexible disk), an optical disk 42 (CD-ROM (Compact Disc- Package media, such as Read Only Memory (DVD) (including Digital Versatile Disc), magneto-optical disk 43 (including MD (Mini-Disc) (registered trademark)), or semiconductor memory 44, or a program is temporarily stored Or it consists of a Flash ROM or hard disk that is permanently recorded. Recording of a program on a recording medium is performed using a wired or wireless communication medium such as a public line network, a local area network, the Internet, or digital satellite broadcasting via an interface such as a router or a modem as necessary. .
[0099]
In the present specification, the step of describing the program recorded on the recording medium is not limited to the processing performed in chronological order according to the described order, but is not necessarily performed in chronological order. It also includes processes that are executed individually.
[0100]
Further, in this specification, the system represents the entire apparatus composed of a plurality of apparatuses.
[0101]
【The invention's effect】
  According to the information processing apparatus and method and the program of the present invention,It is possible to reliably record the operation content for the content as a viewing history.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a viewing history transmission system to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the hard disk recorder of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a remote controller in FIG. 2;
4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a server in FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data description format.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of viewing history data.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of viewing history data following FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of viewing history data following FIG.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating recording processing of a hard disk recorder.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a server reception process.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Internet, 2-1 to 2-N hard disk recorder, 3 server, 4 viewing history database, 5 broadcasting device, 11 tuner, 12 audio signal processing circuit, 13 video signal processing circuit, 14 MPEG encoder / decoder / VRAM, 18 CPU , 19 RAM, 21 Non-volatile RAM, 22 Storage, 23 Keyboard, 24 Mouse, 31 Remote controller, 71 CPU, 79 Communication unit

Claims (10)

Determining means for determining whether or not a predetermined operation has been performed;
As a result of the determination by the determination unit, when it is determined that the predetermined operation has been executed, the operation content related to the operation, the operation time when the operation was executed, and information related to the operation target to be operated are acquired. Storage means for storing , and
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation target is content, and the information regarding the operation target is a reproduction position in the content . The storage means temporarily stores information related to the operation content, the operation time, and the operation target;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a second storage unit that receives the transfer of the information stored in the first storage unit and stores the information permanently. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the predetermined operation is power on or power off, the storage unit acquires and stores the operation content and the operation time. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a transmission unit configured to transmit information regarding the operation content, the operation time, and the operation target stored in the storage unit. 2. The determination unit according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit further determines whether the predetermined operation is an operation executed by a user or an operation executed by the information processing apparatus. Information processing device. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit further stores specific information on information related to the operation target. Before SL particular information processing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the meta-data. A determination step of determining whether or not a predetermined operation has been performed;
If it is determined that the predetermined operation has been executed as a result of the determination in the determination step, the operation content related to the operation, the operation time when the operation was executed, and the information related to the operation target to be operated are displayed. acquired viewing contains a storage control step of controlling the storage,
The information processing method , wherein the operation target is content, and the information related to the operation target is a reproduction position in the content . A determination step of determining whether or not a predetermined operation has been performed;
If it is determined that the predetermined operation has been executed as a result of the determination in the determination step, the operation content related to the operation, the operation time when the operation was executed, and the information related to the operation target to be operated are displayed. acquired viewing contains a storage control step of controlling the storage,
A recording medium on which a computer-readable program is recorded , wherein the operation target is content, and the information related to the operation target is a reproduction position in the content . A determination step of determining whether or not a predetermined operation has been performed;
If it is determined that the predetermined operation has been executed as a result of the determination in the determination step, the operation content related to the operation, the operation time when the operation was executed, and the information related to the operation target to be operated are displayed. And having the computer execute a storage control step for acquiring and controlling the storage ,
The operation target is a content, and the information related to the operation target is a reproduction position in the content .

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