System for searchng TV program data via the internet

• US 20020029390A1
• Filed: 05/21/2001
• Published: 03/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Naoto Kai
• Original Assignee: Masakazu Nosu
• Inventors: Kai, Naoto
• Granted Patent: US 6,993,783 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/110
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/81 combined with telephone network over which the broadcast is continuously available
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/33 Arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/72 using electronic programme guides [EPG] focusing on identifying broadcast space time H04H60/39 ; menu type display of EPG in television receivers H04N21/47
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/82 the transmission system being the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2747 Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A system for searching TV program data via the Internet, wherein TV program data is received from broadcasting stations via the Internet and recorded in a database. A program data search means enables the user to search for specific TV program data or search tabulation data for the TV program data provided by a search tabulation means.

Claims

1. A system for searching TV program data via the Internet for managing TV program data supplied by broadcasting stations via the Internet and providing TV program data and tabulated data on results of searching the TV program data to a user, the system comprising:

broadcasting station terminals provided for broadcasting stations supplying the TV program data;

user terminals for receiving the TV program data; and

a data management apparatus connected to the broadcasting station terminals and user terminals via the Internet;

the data management apparatus comprising;

a communication connection controller connected to the Internet via a firewall;

a database;

a web server that receives via the Internet search requirements from the user terminals and transmits via the Internet results of searching the database;

a database server for searching and updating the database;

a data management terminal for managing the database; and

a central processing controller;

the database comprising;

a program data database including a timetable for recording data of the broadcasting schedule for TV programs, and a subject matter table for storing program guide data;

a user table for recording user registration data of users searching the TV program data;

a usage fees table for recording usage data of the users; and

a user database formed of a search tabulation table for recording tabulation data of searches performed by the user;

the central processing controller comprising;

program data recording means that includes broadcasting schedule recording means for receiving entry requirements from the broadcasting station terminals and recording broadcasting schedule data in the timetable and subject matter recording means for recording program guide data in the subject matter table;

user contract recording means that includes user registration means for receiving requirements from user terminals and recording user registration data in the user table and contract time recording means for receiving requirements from the data management terminal and storing contract time data in the user table and the usage fees table;

program data searching means for receiving requirements from the user terminals and searching for broadcasting schedule data and program guide data recorded in the program data database; and

tabulation usage fees recording means that includes search tabulation recording means for recording the search tabulation data in a search tabulation table, the search tabulation data being the number of searches performed on TV program data recorded in the timetable by the program data searching means and tabulated according to broadcasting date, user attributes, program category, and program, and usage fees data recording means for recording usage fees data for searching TV program data in the usage fees table.

2. A system for searching TV program data via the Internet as recited in claim 1, wherein the program data searching means comprises:

month specific searching means for searching the timetable for broadcasting schedule data and program guide data according to a specified broadcast month;

day specific searching means for searching the timetable for broadcasting schedule data and program guide data according to a specified broadcast day;

program category specific searching means for searching the timetable for broadcasting schedule data and program guide data according to a specified program category; and

station data access ratio searching means for calculating the access ratio of program data according to programs by user attributes, programs by program category, and program according to tabulated search data recorded in the search tabulation table by the search tabulation recording means and searching the search tabulation data in the reverse order of the program data access ratio.

3. A system for searching TV program data via the Internet as recited in claim 1, wherein the TV program data includes television program data of Internet TV broadcasting stations that broadcast via the Internet.