System for searching a data base for information associated with broadcast segments based upon broadcast time

• US 6,578,047 B1
• Filed: 09/22/1999
• Issued: 06/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/1999
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Deguchi, Yuichiro
• Primary Examiner(s): AMSBURY, WAYNE P
• Application Number:
  US09/401,103
• Time in Patent Office: 1,357 Days
• Field of Search: 707/104
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/639 using playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/68 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/37 for identifying segments of broadcast information, e.g. scenes or extracting programme ID
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/40 for identifying broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/52 of users
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/74 using programme related information, e.g. title, composer or interpreter
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

A play list comprising the names of music pieces broadcasted from a broadcast station and broadcast time information are accumulated in a data base. If a user likes a music piece broadcasted from the broadcast station, he activates a book marker which stores time information representing the time at which the book marker is activated. The time information is supplied through a gateway device to a search engine which searches the data base for those broadcast stations in the user'"'"'s geographic area which broadcasted music pieces or the like at a time that matches the time information. The search results are transmitted to the gateway device and displayed.

Claims

1. A search system for searching data bases for information associated with segments of broadcast information comprising:

a portable input device including a storage means for storing time information representing a broadcast time at which a segment is broadcast;

communication means for transmitting the time information stored in said storage means;

a broadcast data base for storing the segments of broadcast information and related information;

a search device including a content data base for accumulating data representing said segments and the broadcast times of respective segments; and

search means for receiving the time information transmitted by said communication means to search said broadcast data base and said content data base for information associated with those segments having broadcast times corresponding to the received time information.

2. The search system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said input device further includes identification information storage means for storing identification information to uniquely identify said input device.

3. The search system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said input device further includes means for providing user information identifying the user of said input device;

said identification and user information being transmitted with said time information by said communication means.

4. The search system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said search device further includes user information accumulating means for accumulating the identification information and the user information;

and said search means searches said information associated with said segments on the basis of the received time information and the identification and user information which is transmitted together with the time information from said communication means.

5. The search system as claimed in claim 1, further including:

a gateway device for interactively communicating with said search device to transmit to said search device the time information used by said search means for searching said data base and to which search results from said search means are transmitted; and

an interface for connecting said input device and said gateway device and through which the time information from said input device is transmitted.

6. The search system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said interface is a USB interface.

7. The search system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said interface is an infrared-ray interface.

8. The search system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said interface is an IEEE-1394 interface.

9. The search system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said interface is an RS-232C interface.

10. The search system as claimed in claim 5, wherein when said input device and said gateway device are connected to each other by said interface, the time information is automatically transmitted from said input device through said interface to said gateway device, and thence from said gateway device to said search device.

11. The search system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said input device includes a receiver for receiving said broadcast segment, and a common housing for said receiver.

12. The search system as claimed in claim 11, wherein said receiver provides information of a broadcast station over which said broadcast segment is received;

wherein said communication means transmits said broadcast station information together with the time information to said search device, and wherein said search means searches said data base for said information associated with said segments on the basis of the broadcast station information and the time information.

13. The search system as claimed in claim 11, wherein said receiver is a radio receiver.

14. The search system as claimed in claim 11, wherein said receiver is a television receiver.

15. The search system as claimed in claim 11, wherein said receiver is a digital broadcast receiver.

16. The search system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said input device includes a portable telephone device, and a common housing for said portable telephone device.

17. The search system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said input device is implemented by computer software.

18. A search device for searching data bases for information associated with segments of broadcast information comprising:

a broadcast data base for storing the segments of broadcast information and related information;

accumulating means for accumulating a content data base representing said segments and broadcast times at which respective segments are broadcasted; and

search means for searching the broadcast and content data bases for information associated with those segments having broadcast times corresponding to time information which is input from a portable input device and represents the broadcast time at which a segment is broadcasted.

19. The search device as claimed in claim 18, wherein said input device includes identification information storage means for storing identification information to uniquely identify said input device.

20. The search device as claimed in claim 19, wherein said input device further includes means for providing user information identifying the user of said input device, said identification and user information being input to said search device.

21. The search device as claimed in claim 20, further including user information accumulating means for accumulating the identification information and the user information and wherein said search means searches said information associated with said segments on the basis of the time information input by said input device and the identification and user information of said input device.

22. A portable input device for searching a broadcast data base for storing segments of broadcast information and related information and a content data base having accumulation means for accumulating information representing broadcast segments and broadcast times at which the segments are broadcasted, said input device inputting time information to a search device for searching said broadcast and content data bases for information associated with a broadcast segment on the basis of the broadcast time at which the segment is broadcasted, comprising:

storage means for storing at least the time information representing the broadcast time at which the segment was broadcasted; and

communication means for transmitting the time information stored in said storage means.

23. The input device as claimed in claim 22, further including identification information storage means for storing identification information to uniquely identify said input device.

24. The input device as claimed in claim 22, further including a connection interface for interactive communication with a search device for searching said data base for information associated with a broadcast segment on the basis of time information transmitted to said search device, said connection interface connecting said communication means and a gateway device to which search results of said search device are transmitted, wherein said time information is transmitted from said communication means through said interface to said gateway device and thence to said search device.

25. The input device as claimed in claim 24, wherein said interface is a USB communication interface.

26. The input device as claimed in claim 24, wherein said interface is an infrared ray communication interface.

27. The input device as claimed in claim 24, wherein said interface is an IEEE-1394 interface.

28. The input device as claimed in claim 24, wherein said interface is an RS-232C interface.

29. The input device as claimed in claim 24 wherein when said input device and said gateway device are connected by said interface, the time information is automatically transmitted from said input device through said interface to said gateway device, and thence from said gateway device to said search device.

30. The input device as claimed in claim 22, including a common housing, and further including a receiver disposed in said housing for receiving said broadcast segment.

31. The input device as claimed in claim 30, wherein said receiver is an electromagnetic wave receiver.

32. The input device as claimed in claim 31, wherein said receiver provides said input device with information of a broadcast station over which said broadcast segment is received, said communication means transmitting the broadcast station information together with the time information.

33. The input device as claimed in claim 31, wherein said receiver is a radio receiver.

34. The input device as claimed in claim 31, wherein said receiver is a television receiver.

35. The input device as claimed in claim 31, wherein said receiver is a digital broadcast receiver.

36. The input device as claimed in claim 31, including a common housing, and wherein said receiver is a portable telephone device disposed in said housing.

37. The input device as claimed in claim 22, wherein said input device is implemented by computer software.

38. A portable input device for searching a broadcast data base for storing segments of broadcast information and related information and a content data base having accumulation means for accumulating information representing broadcast segments and broadcast times at which the segments are broadcasted, said input device inputting information corresponding to the broadcast time to a search device for searching said broadcast and content data bases for information associated with a broadcast segment, said input device comprising:

a counter which counts predetermined clock signals;

storage means for storing a count value of said counter at a time when a segment is broadcasted; and

communication means for transmitting the count value stored in said storage means.

39. The input device as claimed in claim 38, further including identification information storage means for storing identification information to uniquely identify said input device.

40. The input device as claimed in claim 38, wherein said input information corresponding to broadcast time is determined by said search device as a function of the count value stored in said storage means and the count value of said counter at the time of transmission by said communication means.

41. The input device as claimed in claim 38, further comprising a connection interface for interactive communication with a search device for searching said data base for information associated with a broadcast segment on the basis of time information supplied to said search device, said interface connecting said communication means and a gateway device to which search results of said search device are transmitted, wherein said count value is transmitted from said communication means through said interface to said gateway device, the count value of the counter at the time of transmission is transmitted to said gateway device, said gateway device determines first time information corresponding to the count value and second time information corresponding to the count value at the time of transmission, and the first and second time information are transmitted from said gateway device to said search device.

42. The input device as claimed in claim 41, wherein said interface is a USB interface.

43. The input device as claimed in claim 41, wherein said interface is an infrared ray communication interface.

44. The input device as claimed in claim 41, wherein said interface is an IEEE-1394 interface.

45. The input device as claimed in claim 41, wherein said interface is an RS-232C interface.

46. The input device as claimed in claim 41, wherein the count value and the count value at the time of transmission are automatically transmitted from said input device through said interface to said gateway device and from said gateway device to said search device when said gateway device and said input device are connected to each other by said interface.

47. The input device as claimed in claim 38, including a common housing, and further including a receiver disposed in said housing for receiving said broadcast segment.

48. The input device as claimed in claim 47, wherein said receiver is an electromagnetic wave receiver.

49. The input device as claimed in claim 48, wherein said receiver provides said input device with information of a broadcast station over which said broadcast segment is received, said communication means transmitting the broadcast station information together with the count value and the count value at the time of transmission.

50. The input device as claimed in claim 48 wherein said receiver is a radio receiver.

51. The input device as claimed in claim 48, wherein said receiver is a television receiver.

52. The input device as claimed in claim 48, wherein said receiver is a digital broadcast receiver.

53. The input device as claimed in claim 48, wherein said receiver is a portable telephone device.

54. The input device as claimed in claim 38, wherein said input device is implemented by computer software.

55. A system for searching a broadcast data base for storing segments of broadcast information and related information and a content data base for information associated with music pieces broadcasted by a broadcast station, said data bases storing a play list of music pieces broadcasted by different broadcast stations at respective times, comprising:

a portable book marker operable by a user to store information representing the time at which the book marker is operated;

a transmitter for transmitting the stored time information together with user identification (ID) information; and

a search engine for receiving the transmitted time and ID information and for searching said broadcast and content data bases as a function of said time and ID information to select information associated with music pieces that were broadcasted by a set of broadcast stations at a time that matches said time information.

56. The system of claim 55 further including a display for displaying the selected information.

57. A method of searching data bases for information associated with segments of broadcast information comprising the steps of:

accumulating a broadcast data base for storing the segments of broadcast information and related information;

accumulating a content data base representing said segments and broadcast times of respective segments;

registering time information representing the broadcast time at which a user-desired segment is broadcast in a portable input device;

transmitting the registered time information to a data base search engine; and

using the transmitted time information to search said broadcast and content data bases for information associated with those segments having broadcast times which match the registered time information.

58. A method of searching a broadcast data base for storing segments of broadcast information and related information and a content data base for information associated with segments of broadcast information comprising the steps of:

accumulating a broadcast data base for storing the segments of broadcast information and related information,

accumulating a content data base representing said segments and broadcast times at which respective segments are broadcasted;

searching the broadcast and content data bases for information associated with those segments having broadcast times which match time information that is input by a user through a portable input device, and that represents the broadcast time at which a user-desired segment is broadcasted.

59. A method of inputting search parameters for searching a broadcast data base for storing segments of broadcast information and related information and a content data base comprised of information representing broadcast segments, broadcast times at which segments are broadcasted and broadcast stations over which the segments are broadcasted, said method comprising the steps of:

registering, in a portable input device, at least time information representing the broadcast time at which a user-desired segment is broadcasted; and

transmitting as data base search parameters the registered time information, user identification information and geographic area information representing the geographic area at which said user is located.

60. The method of claim 59 wherein said step of registering includes the step of detecting the identity of the broadcast station over which said user-desired segment is broadcasted, the broadcast station information identity being transmitted as a search parameter together with the time information.

61. The method of claim 59 wherein said step of registering time information comprises counting predetermined clock signals storing a first count value at the time said user-desired segment is broadcasted, producing a second count value at the time said search parameters are transmitted, and calculating time information as a function of said first and second count values.