Associated information providing method, associated information providing apparatus, associated information providing program, content providing system, content providing apparatus, content providing method, content providing program, content request apparatus, content request method, content request program, and content accumulating apparatus

• US 20030126616A1
• Filed: 12/05/2002
• Published: 07/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Dewa, Yoshiharu
• Granted Patent: US 8,799,975 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/112
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23109 by placing content in organized collections, e.g. EPG data repository details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video databases G06F16/739
• 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 21/258 Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics, processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data arrangements for services using the result on the distributing side of broadcast systems H04H60/66; profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25866 Management of end-user data customer care in data networks H04L41/5077
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4113 PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4182 for identification purposes, e.g. storing user identification data, preferences, personal settings or data restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code in combination with an additional device, e.g. dongle or smart card G06F21/123
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4786 e-mailing message switching systems, e.g. electronic mail systems H04L51/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6187 involving transmission via a telephone network, e.g. POTS
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/658 Transmission by the client directed to the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8133 specifically related to the content, e.g. biography of the actors in a movie, detailed information about an article seen in a video program
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8586 by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

The present invention is intended to link television broadcast content and Web content with each other so that both types of content match the characteristics of television media, and prevent the viewing of television broadcasting from being interrupted. An associated information providing method for providing associated information linked with a video to an audience includes the steps of: receiving select information for selecting the video viewed by the audience and audience identification information for identifying the audience; retrieving locational information on a network of associated information about contents of the video viewed by the audience on the basis of the received select information; and transmitting the retrieved locational information to the audience on the basis of the audience identification information.

Claims

1. An associated information providing method for providing associated information linked with a video to an audience, comprising the steps of:

receiving select information for selecting said video viewed by said audience and audience identification information for identifying said audience;

retrieving locational information on a network of associated information about contents of said video viewed by said audience on the basis of said received select information;

and transmitting said retrieved locational information to said audience on the basis of said audience identification information.

2. An associated information providing apparatus for providing associated information linked with a video to an audience, comprising:

transmitting means for transmitting select information for selecting said video viewed by said audience and audience identification information for identifying said audience;

retrieving means for retrieving locational information on a network of associated information associated with contents of said viewed video on the basis of said transmitted select information; and

transmitting means for transmitting said retrieved locational information to said audience on the basis of said audience identification information.

3. The associated information providing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said video is a video which is distributed through a network.

4. The associated information providing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said video is a video to be broadcast by television broadcasting.

5. The associated information providing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said select information is time information.

6. The associated information providing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said time information is indicative of an absolute time.

7. The associated information providing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said time information is indicative of a relative time from a video start time.

8. The associated information providing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said locational information is transmitted to a device which is different from a device on which said video is viewed by said audience.

9. The associated information providing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said locational information is transmitted to a mobile terminal which is different from a device on which said video is viewed by said audience.

10. An associated information providing program for causing a computer to execute an associated information providing method for providing associated information linked with a video, comprising the steps of:

receiving select information for selecting said video viewed by said audience and audience identification information for identifying said audience;

retrieving locational information on a network of associated information about contents of said video viewed by said audience on the basis of said received select information;

and transmitting said retrieved locational information to said audience on the basis of said audience identification information.

11. A content providing system for providing content linked with a broadcast program to an audience, comprising:

program viewing means for viewing said broadcast program;

select information transmitting means for transmitting select information about contents of said broadcast program viewed by said audience through said program viewing method and audience identification information for identifying said audience;

content storage means for storing content associated with the contents of said broadcast program into a predetermined location on a network;

a first database for storing locational information on said network of said content storage means;

a second database for storing a relationship between said locational information about said content on said network stored in said first database and said broadcast program;

a third database for storing said audience identification information and address information for transmitting data to said audience; and

locational information transmitting means for searching said first database and said second database on the basis of said select information transmitted by said select information transmitting means,

retrieving, as a result of the searching, locational information on said network of said content associated with the contents of said broadcast program,

searching said third database on the basis of said audience identification information,

retrieving, as a result of the searching, said address information, and

transmitting, to said audience, locational information on said network of said content associated with the contents of said broadcast program retrieved as the result of the searching of said first database and said second database for an address indicated by said retrieved address information.

12. A content providing apparatus for providing content linked with a broadcast program, comprising:

a first database for storing locational information on a network of content associated with contents of said broadcast program;

a second database for storing a relationship between said locational information about said content on said network stored in said first database and said broadcast program;

a third database for storing said audience identification information and address information for transmitting data to said audience identification information and said audience;

communication means for executing communication with said audience; and

transmitting means for searching said first database and said second database on the basis of select information transmitted by said audience through said communication means, retrieving, as a result of the searching, said locational information on said network of said content associated with said contents of said broadcast program, searching said third database on the basis of said audience identification information transmitted with said select information through said communication means, retrieving said address information as a result of the searching, and transmitting, to said audience through said communication means, said locational information on said network retrieved as the results of the searching of said first database and said second database for an address indicated by said retrieved address information.

13. The content providing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein broadcasting by which said broadcast program is broadcast is television broadcasting.

14. The content providing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said select information is time information.

15. The content providing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said locational information is transmitted through said communication means to a device which is different from a device on which said broadcast program is viewed by said audience.

16. A content providing method for providing content linked with a broadcast program to an audience, comprising the steps of:

executing communication with a user; and

searching a first database storing locational information on a network of content on said content linked with contents of said content broadcast on the basis of select information for said contents of said broadcast content to be selected by said user transmitted in said communication step and a second database for storing a relationship between said locational information on said network stored in said first database and said broadcast content, retrieving, as a result of the searching, said locational information on said network of said content on said network linked with said contents of said broadcast content, searching a third database for storing user identification information for identifying said user on the basis of said user identification information transmitted with said select information in said communication step and address information for transmitting data to said user, retrieving said address information as a result of the searching of said third database, and transmitting, through said communication step, said locational information retrieved as the results of the searching of said first database and said second database to an address indicated by said address information retrieved as a result of the searching of said third database.

17. A content providing program for causing a computer to execute a content providing method for providing content linked with a broadcast program to an audience, comprising the steps of:

executing communication with a user; and

searching a first database storing locational information on a network of content on said content linked with contents of said content broadcast on the basis of select information for said contents of said broadcast content to be selected by said user transmitted in said communication step and a second database for storing a relationship between said locational information on said network stored in said first database and said broadcast content, retrieving, as a result of the searching, said locational information on said network of said content on said network linked with said contents of said broadcast content, searching a third database for storing user identification information for identifying said user on the basis of said user identification information transmitted with said select information in said communication step and address information for transmitting data to said user, retrieving said address information as a result of the searching of said third database, and transmitting, through said communication step, said locational information retrieved as the results of the searching of said first database and said second database to an address indicated by said address information retrieved as a result of the searching of said third database.

18. A content request apparatus for requesting content linked with a broadcast program being viewed, comprising:

broadcast program viewing means for receiving said broadcast program and viewing said received broadcast program;

communication means for executing communication with the outside; and

transmitting means for retrieving locational information on a network of content on said network associated with contents of content broadcast in said broadcast program on the basis of a select information transmitted by a user and transmitting, through said communication means, said select information for said broadcast program viewed through said broadcast program viewing means and user identification information for identifying said user transmitted from said user to a content providing source adapted to transmit said retrieved locational information with said select information to said user on the basis of said user identification information.

19. The content request apparatus according to claim 18, wherein broadcasting for broadcasting said broadcast program is television broadcasting.

20. The content request apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said select information is time information.

21. A content request method for requesting content linked with a broadcast program being viewed, comprising the steps of:

receiving said broadcast program and viewing said received broadcast program;

executing communication with the outside; and

retrieving locational information on a network of content on said network associated with contents of content broadcast in said broadcast program on the basis of a select information transmitted by a user and transmitting, through said communication means, said select information for said broadcast program viewed through said broadcast program viewing step and user identification information for identifying said user transmitted from said user to a content providing source adapted to transmit said retrieved locational information with said select information to said user on the basis of said user identification information.

22. A content request program for causing a computer apparatus to execute a content request method for requesting content linked with a broadcast program being viewed, comprising the steps of:

receiving said broadcast program and viewing said received broadcast program;

executing communication with the outside; and

retrieving locational information on a network of content on said network associated with contents of content broadcast in said broadcast program on the basis of a select information transmitted by a user and transmitting, through said communication means, said select information for said broadcast program viewed through said broadcast program viewing step and user identification information for identifying said user transmitted from said user to a content providing source adapted to transmit said retrieved locational information with said select information to said user on the basis of said user identification information.

23. A content providing system for providing content linked with a broadcast program to an audience, comprising:

content providing means for providing content by a broadcast program to said audience through a broadcasting network;

information requesting means for requesting, from said audience through a network corresponding to said broadcasting network, information corresponding to said content being viewed on said broadcasting network;

locational information notifying means for notifying, on the basis of said request, said audience of locational information on the Internet on which said information corresponding to said content exists; and

information retrieving means for retrieving, by said audience on the basis of said locational information, said information corresponding to said content on a network other than said broadcasting network.

24. The content providing system according to claim 23, wherein said network corresponding to said broadcasting network on which said information corresponding to said content being viewed on said broadcasting network requested by said audience transmits, from said audience, audience identification information for identifying said audience and time information indicative of a time at which said content is viewed by said audience.

25. The content providing system according to claim 23, wherein said network on which said audience is notified of said locational information on the Internet on which said information corresponding to said content exists on the basis of said request notifies a device, of said locational information, on the side of said audience different from a providing destination at which said content in said broadcast program is provided to said audience.

26. The content providing system according to claim 25, wherein said notification is executed by transmitting electronic mail describing said locational information to said device on the side of said audience.

27. The content providing system according to claim 25, wherein said network different from said broadcasting network on which said information corresponding to said content is retrieved by said audience on the basis of said locational information further has other information corresponding to said content at a location other than a location indicated by said locational information.

28. The content providing system according to claim 27, wherein said location indicated by said locational information is described with locational information indicative of said location other than said location indicated by said locational information.

29. The content providing system according to claim 27, wherein said network other than said broadcasting network on which said information corresponding to said content is retrieved by said audience on the basis of said locational information is the Internet.

30. A content providing method for providing content linked with a broadcast program, comprising the steps of:

providing content by a broadcast program to said audience through a broadcasting network;

requesting, from said audience through a network corresponding to said broadcasting network, information corresponding to said content being viewed on said broadcasting network;

notifying, on the basis of said request, said audience of locational information on the Internet on which said information corresponding to said content exists; and

retrieving, by said audience on the basis of said locational information, said information corresponding to said content on a network other than said broadcasting network.

31. A content providing program for causing a computer device to execute a content providing method for providing content linked with a broadcast program, comprising the steps of:

providing content by a broadcast program to said audience through a broadcasting network;

requesting, from said audience through a network corresponding to said broadcasting network, information corresponding to said content being viewed on said broadcasting network;

notifying, on the basis of said request, said audience of locational information on the Internet on which said information corresponding to said content exists; and

retrieving, by said audience on the basis of said locational information, said information corresponding to said content on a network other than said broadcasting network.

32. A content accumulating apparatus for accumulating content for use in a broadcast program, comprising:

a second database for storing content identification information for identifying content for use in a program to be broadcast for every predetermined duration unit obtained by dividing a duration of the broadcasting and storing information indicative of a time for said every predetermined duration unit at which said program is broadcast, both pieces of information being related with each other; and

a first database for storing said content identification information and information indicative of a location of content identified by said content identification information, both pieces of information being related with each other.

33. The content accumulating apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said information indicative of said location of said content is a Universal Resource Identifier.

34. The content accumulating apparatus according to claim 32, further comprising:

a third database for storing user identification information for identifying a user who can view said program and notification destination information indicative of a destination of notification of information for said user, both pieces of information being related with each other.

35. The content accumulating apparatus according to claim 34, wherein, upon notification of information indicative of a current time from said user, said second database is searched on the basis of said current-time indicative information to retrieve said content identification information corresponding to said content broadcast in said program at a time indicated by said current-time indicative information, said first database is searched on the basis of said content identification information to retrieve information indicative of a location of content identified by said content identification information, said third database is searched on the basis of said user identification information for identifying said user, and a notification destination indicative of said notification destination information of said user notified of said current-time indicative information retrieved in the searching of said third database is notified of information of said location of said content retrieved by the searching of said first database.

36. The content accumulating apparatus according to claim 32, wherein, if said content is a moving picture, said moving picture is clipped as a still picture for said every predetermined duration unit and said still picture is directly stored in said first database as related with said time-indicative information.

37. The content accumulating apparatus according to 32, wherein said second database relates each of a plurality of content identification information for each of a plurality of types of content with said time-indicative information.

38. The content accumulating apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said predetermined duration unit is a time unit of a duration by which realtime nature can be maintained when the durations divided for said every predetermined duration unit are reorganized.