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

• US 7,861,256 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2001
• Issued: 12/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kano, Tsuyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): HOSSAIN, FARZANA E
• Application Number:
  US10/010,877
• Publication Number:
  US 20020078469A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,337 Days
• Field of Search: 725/9, 725/14, 725/131, 725/151
• US Class Current: 725/9
• 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 that detects a reception log of a receiving unit and that 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 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 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 also be used.

Claims

1. A viewing and listening information computing method, comprising the steps of:

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

recording program information concerning a broadcast program in the database, the program information including a program label indicating the type of program and unit portions of the program separated based on different content specific to the type of program;

reading the reception log, the receiver ID, and the program information from the database and computing viewing and listening information concerning viewing and listening,

wherein the viewing and listening information includes viewer preferences for each unit portion of the program,

wherein computing the viewing and listening information includes computing a rating for each unit portion of the program using a total number of receivers that received the unit portion of the program, and

wherein a reception is recorded in the reception log of said at least one broadcast receiver only when said at least one broadcast receiver continuously receives a channel and/or a program for a predetermined period and a reception is not recorded in the reception log of said at least one broadcast receiver when said least one broadcast receiver does not continuously receive a channel and/or a program for at least the predetermined period.

2. The viewing and listening information computing method according to claim 1, wherein

the reception log includes one of a channel received by the broadcast receiver and program identification information and reception period information;

and

the viewing and listening information computed includes an audience rating for one of a predetermined channel and a program.

3. The viewing and listening information computing method according to claim 1, wherein

the reception log includes one of a channel received by the broadcast receiver and program identification information and reception period information;

and

the viewing and listening information computed comprises a non-viewing and non-listening rating for one of a predetermined channel and a program.

4. A viewing and listening information computing apparatus, comprising:

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

a database in which the obtained reception log, receiver ID, and program information concerning a broadcast program are recorded, the program information including a program label indicating a type of program and unit portions of the program separated based on different content specific to the type of program;

viewing and listening information management means for computing viewing and listening information which is information concerning viewing and listening based on the reception log, the receiver ID, and the program information read from the database,

wherein the viewing and listening information includes viewer preferences for each unit portion of the program,

wherein the viewing and listening information includes a rating for each unit portion of the program computed using a total number of receivers that received the unit portion of the program, and

wherein a reception is recorded in the reception log of said at least one broadcast receiver only when said at least one broadcast receiver continuously receives a channel and/or a program for a predetermined period and a reception is not recorded in the reception log of said at least one broadcast receiver when said least one broadcast receiver does not continuously receive a channel and/or a program for at least the predetermined period.

5. The viewing and listening information computing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein:

the reception log includes one of a channel received by the broadcast receiver and program identification information and reception period information; and

the viewing and listening information computed includes an audience rating for one of a predetermined channel and a program.

6. The viewing and listening information computing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein:

the reception log includes one of a channel received by the broadcast receiver and program identification information and reception period information; and

the viewing and listening information computed includes a non-viewing and non-listening rating for one of a predetermined channel and a program.

7. A system comprising:

a receiver, including;

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

a controller for controlling channel selection and for detecting a reception log; and

a memory for storing the reception log and a receiver ID;

a viewing and listening information computing apparatus communicatively coupled to the receiver, the viewing and listening information computing apparatus including;

a reception state management computer for obtaining a reception log and the receiver ID from the receiver;

a database in which the obtained reception log and receiver ID are recorded;

a program management computer for receiving program information including a program ID, a program label indicating a type of program, and unit portions of a program separated based on different content specific to the type of program; and

a viewing and listening information management computer for computing viewing and listening information including a rating concerning viewing and listening for each unit portion of the program based on the reception log, the receiver ID, and the program information, and for transmitting the computed viewing and listening information to a program producer;

wherein the rating is computed using a total number of receivers that received the unit portion of the program.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the receiver and the viewing and listening information computing apparatus are coupled via a communication network including the Internet.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the receiver and the viewing and listening information computing apparatus are coupled via an external computer.

10. A method of obtaining viewing and listening information, comprising:

selecting a channel and receiving a broadcast via a receiving unit having a receiver ID;

detecting a reception log;

storing the reception log and the receiver ID in a database;

obtaining, using a program management computer, program information including a program ID, a program label indicating a type of program, and unit portions of a program separated based on different content specific to the type of program;

computing, using a viewing and listening management computer, viewing and listening information concerning viewing and listening for each unit portion of the program based on the reception log, the receiver ID, and the program information; and

transmitting the computed viewing and listening information to a program producer;

wherein the viewing and listening information includes a rating for each unit portion of the program computed using a total number of receivers that received the unit portion of the program.