Broadcast receiver and method and apparatus for computing viewing/listening information

• US 20020078469A1
• Filed: 11/08/2001
• Published: 06/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kano, Tsuyoshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,861,256 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/139
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/76 Wired systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/31 Arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/37 for identifying segments of broadcast information, e.g. scenes or extracting programme ID
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/39 for identifying broadcast space-time use of Electronic Programme Guides H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/66 for using the result on distributors' side
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/80 characterised by transmission among terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/89 which are wired networks

Abstract

A broadcast receiver includes a controller which detects a reception log of a receiving unit and which records the reception log in a reception log memory. The reception log includes at least the reception channel, reception start time, and reception end time. Periodically, for example, once a week, an audience member connects the broadcast receiver to a general-purpose computer. The general-purpose computer transmits the reception log data recorded in the reception log memory, together with a receiver ID written in a ROM, through a telephone line over a communication network such as the Internet. A person who computes viewing/listening information obtains the reception log data and receiver ID from the communication network and computes viewing/listening information such as a program rating. Instead of providing the broadcast receiver with the reception log memory and a computer interface, a removable storage unit with a computer interface can be used.

Claims

1. A broadcast receiver comprising:

a receiving unit for selecting a channel and for receiving broadcasting;

a controller for controlling channel selection by the receiving unit and for detecting a reception log;

a storage unit in which the detected reception log is recorded; and

an interface for transmitting the reception log read from the storage unit to an external computer.

2. A broadcast receiver according to claim 1, wherein said at least one reception log stored in the storage unit is transmitted to the external computer every predetermined period.

3. A broadcast receiver according to claim 1, wherein the controller records the reception as the reception log in the storage unit only when the receiving unit continuously receives the same channel or the same program for a predetermined period or longer.

4. A broadcast receiver according to claim 1, wherein the controller records, as the reception log, at least the channel received by the receiving unit or program identification information and reception period information in the storage unit.

5. A broadcast receiver comprising:

a receiving unit for selecting a channel and for receiving broadcasting;

a controller for controlling channel selection by the receiving unit and for detecting a reception log; and

a mounting section on which a removable storage unit with a computer interface is mounted;

wherein, by mounting the storage unit on the mounting section, the reception log detected by the controller is recorded in the storage unit; and

by mounting the storage unit on an external computer, the computer reads the reception log from the storage unit.

6. A broadcast receiver according to claim 5, wherein, the controller records the reception as the reception log in the storage unit only when the receiving unit continuously receives the same channel or the same program for a predetermined period or longer.

7. A broadcast receiver according to claim 5, wherein the controller records, as the reception log, at least the channel received by the receiving unit or program identification information and reception period information in the storage unit.

8. A viewing/listening information computing method comprising the steps of:

obtaining a reception log of at least one broadcast receiver and recording the reception log in a database;

recording program information concerning a broadcast program in the database; and

reading the reception log and the program information from the database and computing viewing/listening information which is information concerning viewing and/or listening.

9. A viewing/listening information computing method according to claim 8, wherein:

the reception log includes at least a channel received by the broadcast receiver or program identification information and reception period information; and

the viewing/listening information to be computed comprises an audience rating for a predetermined channel or program.

10. A viewing/listening information computing method according to claim 8, wherein:

the reception log includes at least a channel received by the broadcast receiver or program identification information and reception period information; and

the viewing/listening information to be computed comprises a non-viewing/non-listening rating for a predetermined channel or program.

11. A viewing/listening information computing apparatus comprising:

reception state management means for obtaining a reception log of at least one broadcast receiver;

a database in which the obtained reception log and program information concerning a broadcast program are recorded; and

viewing/listening information management means for computing viewing/listening information which is information concerning viewing and/or listening based on the reception log and the program information read from the database.

12. A viewing/listening information computing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein:

the reception log includes at least a channel received by the broadcast receiver or program identification information and reception period information; and

the viewing/listening information to be computed comprises an audience rating for a predetermined channel or program.

13. A viewing/listening information computing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein:

the reception log includes at least a channel received by the broadcast receiver or program identification information and reception period information; and

the viewing/listening information to be computed comprises a non-viewing and/or non-listening rating for a predetermined channel or program.