JP2002247551A - Bidirectional broadcasting service using fee collecting system and method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a bidirectional broadcasting service using fee collecting system and the method by which the processings of the various kinds of data sent from viewers who view data broadcasting to a broadcasting station is performed in a bidirectional service center as an agent and the using fee of a bidirectional broadcasting service is collected corresponding to the number of the processings of the various kinds of the data. SOLUTION: This system is provided with a data broadcasting transmission system for inserting a script supplied by a bidirectional service center server to data broadcasting contents and performing broadcasting, a plurality of broadcasting receivers for receiving the broadcasting, the bidirectional service center server for sending out responses to the data broadcasting through the broadcasting receivers through a telephone line and the Internet, summing up the sent-out responses, calculating the using fee for the bidirectional broadcasting service and transmitting the claim of the using fee and a broadcasting station accounting system for receiving the claim of the using fee and paying the using fee to the bidirectional service center server.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system and method for collecting fees for interactive broadcasting services, and more particularly to a bidirectional service center for processing various data transmitted from a viewer who has watched a data broadcast to a broadcasting station. Further, the present invention relates to a system and method for collecting usage fees of an interactive broadcasting service, which can collect usage fees for an interactive broadcasting service according to the number of processed data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In Japan, BS (Broadc)
Asting Satellite (broadcasting satellite) digital broadcasting has been started, and significant multi-channel television broadcasting has been progressing at a stretch. The digitization of television broadcasting has made it possible to view abundant channels with high image quality and high sound quality, and to provide many benefits to broadcasters and viewers. For example, on the viewer side, new pleasures from interactive broadcasting services, such as quizzes for attending viewers and responses to questionnaires, are increasing, and there is a possibility that online banking and online mail order can be performed. It is becoming possible for broadcasters to generate new revenue sources such as brokerage commissions for online shopping and advertising fees. In addition, it has become possible to distribute digital products having a large amount of data, such as music, video, and game software, to viewers from companies and the like using digital broadcasting.

In digital broadcasting, analog waveforms used in analog television broadcasting are not handled, but analog waveforms are sampled and treated as quantized digital signals. It can be easily realized.

As is well known, in data broadcasting, various information such as audio, video, text, graphics, and data is viewed and listened to by effectively utilizing gaps or empty areas of broadcast waves such as terrestrial broadcasting, satellite broadcasting, and FM broadcasting. The main characteristic of data broadcasting is that the use of wired media such as a telephone line or the Internet for the uplink enables bidirectionality, while the downlink has a large capacity. Simultaneous transmission using broadcast radio waves enables more efficient and economical transmission than wired media.

[0005] The basic business structure of data broadcasting can be said to be "two-way broadcasting service" based on a combination of transmission of a large amount of information by broadcast waves and access routes using wired media. .

[0006]

In an interactive broadcasting service using data broadcasting, various data are transmitted from a viewer who has watched the data broadcasting to a broadcasting station using an uplink. If a questionnaire is transmitted by data broadcasting, the answer is transmitted. If an advertisement is performed by data broadcasting, a request for transmitting detailed advertisement information is transmitted. Alternatively, a request for a broadcast program is transmitted as various data.

[0007] However, in the conventional interactive broadcasting service, although various data are transmitted from the viewer, there is no means for effectively using the data. For example, utilizing the data sent from the viewer to the broadcast station, such as requests for broadcast programs, questionnaires, and reactions related to advertisements, to reflect on the planning and production of programs, or to utilize them for marketing, etc. There was no means.

[0008] It is an object of the present invention to perform processing of various data transmitted from a viewer who has watched a data broadcast to a broadcasting station in a bidirectional service center, and provide a bidirectional broadcasting service according to the number of processed data. It is an object of the present invention to provide a system and a method for collecting a usage fee for an interactive broadcasting service that enable the collection of a usage fee.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An interactive broadcasting service usage fee collection system according to the present invention is a system for collecting usage fees for an interactive broadcasting service. A data broadcast transmission system that inserts into a content and broadcasts the data broadcast, and the data broadcast transmission system performs the broadcast as a digital broadcast via a broadcast wave as a downlink and receives the broadcast. And a viewer who has watched the data broadcast via the broadcast receiver sends an answer to the data broadcast via a telephone line or the Internet as an up line by operating a remote control or the like attached to the broadcast receiver. And the interactive service center server that tallies the responses to the transmitted data broadcast;
The interactive service center server summarizes the replies to the aggregated data broadcast, calculates a charge for the interactive broadcast service, transmits the charge for the charge, receives the charge for the charge, and A broadcasting station accounting system for paying a fee to the interactive service center server.

[0010] Further, the interactive service center server generates a script for the data broadcast transmission system, and collects a script library for storing and holding script source data as a library, and collects answers of viewers who have watched the data broadcast. An answer destination IP address DB that stores and holds a plurality of IP addresses of a group of servers to be executed, and a script for the data broadcast transmission system is generated by inserting the corresponding IP address in the answer destination IP address DB into the source data of the script library. It is characterized by comprising a script generation unit and a script transmission unit for transmitting the script generated by the script generation unit to the data broadcast transmission system.

Further, the script generated by the script generation unit is an ECMA script.

Further, the script generated by the script generation unit is a Java script.

[0013] Further, the interactive service center server further collects the answers sent through the telephone line or the Internet so that the interactive service center server counts the answers sent from the viewer. An answer collection unit, a response totalization DB for classifying and organizing the responses collected by the response collection unit as a response to a questionnaire, an advertisement, or a broadcast program, and storing and holding the same;
A response analysis and usage fee calculation unit for analyzing the response total of B and calculating a usage fee for the interactive broadcast service, and a usage fee calculated by the response analysis and usage fee calculation unit are charged to the broadcast station accounting system as billing. A sending unit for transmitting a usage fee, and a receiving port for receiving the usage fee by the broadcaster accounting system and determining whether the usage fee is a reasonable amount, and then paying the usage fee to the interactive service center server. And a depositing section as

An interactive broadcasting service usage fee collecting method according to the present invention is a method for collecting an interactive broadcasting service usage fee, in which an interactive service center server supplies a script to a data broadcast transmission system. Receiving the broadcast by inserting the script into the data broadcast content by the data broadcast transmission system, receiving the broadcast by a plurality of broadcast receivers, and viewing the data broadcast via the broadcast receiver. A viewer transmitting an answer to the data broadcast by operating a remote controller or the like attached to the broadcast receiver; andthe interactive service center server totaling the transmitted answer to the data broadcast; Steps for compiling the responses to the data broadcast compiled by the interactive service center server Calculating a usage fee for an interactive broadcast service in accordance with the number of data processes summarizing responses to the data broadcasting and transmitting the usage fee bill; and a broadcasting station receiving the usage fee bill. Paying the usage fee to the interactive service center server by an accounting system.

Further, in the step of the interactive service center server supplying a script to the data broadcast transmission system, the interactive service center server generates a script for the data broadcast transmission system by using a script source. A script library that stores and holds data as a library, and an answer destination IP address DB that stores and holds a plurality of IP addresses of a server group that collects answers of viewers who have watched the data broadcast,
The script generation unit includes a step of generating a requested script, and a step of transmitting the script generated by the script generation unit to the data broadcast transmission system.

Further, in the step of generating the requested script by the script generation unit, an ECMA
A feature is to generate a script.

Further, in the step of generating the requested script by the script generation unit, a Java script is generated.

Further, the interactive service center server further includes a step in which the interactive service center server counts the answers sent from the viewers in an answer collection unit; Categorizing and organizing the answers as a response to a questionnaire, an advertisement, or a broadcast program and storing and storing them in an answer totaling DB;
Analyzing the answer aggregation of B, and calculating a usage fee for the interactive broadcast service by an answer analysis / usage calculation unit;
The usage fee calculated by the answer analysis / usage calculation unit,
Sending the bill as a charge to the broadcasting station accounting system by a usage fee billing sending unit; and receiving the usage fee by the broadcasting station accounting system and determining whether the usage fee is a reasonable amount. Paying a fee to the interactive service center server.

[0019]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a system for collecting usage fees for interactive broadcasting services according to the present invention.

In order to realize an interactive broadcast service, in the present embodiment, a broadcast station 1 having a data broadcast transmission system 10 and an interactive service center server 7 for supplying a script to the data broadcast transmission system 10 are provided. It is assumed that the provided interactive service center 6 is involved in the data broadcasting business. The interactive service center 6
It is operated by an independent data broadcasting company independent of the broadcasting station 1.

In the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a script provided by the interactive service center server 7 is inserted into a data broadcast content, and a data broadcast transmission system 10 for broadcasting 2 and a data broadcast transmission system 10 , A broadcast that is a digital broadcast via a broadcast radio wave as a downlink 2
And a plurality of broadcast receivers 30 (30-1, 30-n) of the viewer 3 that receives the broadcast 2 and the viewer 3 who has watched the data broadcast is provided with a remote control or the like attached to the broadcast receiver 30. The interactive service center server 7 sends out an answer to the data broadcast via the telephone line 4 or the Internet 5 as an up line by operation, and tallies up the answer to the sent data broadcast. The interactive service center server 7 generates and supplies a script to the data broadcast transmission system 10.

The interactive service center server 7
After totalizing the responses to the data broadcast transmitted from the viewer 3, the responses are combined to calculate a usage fee for the interactive broadcasting service, and the usage fee is transmitted to the broadcasting station accounting system 19 provided in the broadcasting station 1. Broadcaster accounting system 19
After determining whether the usage fee is an appropriate amount, the usage fee is paid to the interactive service center server 7.

By adopting such an interactive broadcasting service usage fee collection system, the broadcasting station 1 can provide an independent data broadcasting company with a fee for an interactive broadcasting service that is not actually used as a usage fee. There is no danger of paying, and the viewer 3 can pay only for the interactive service actually used. Therefore, for the broadcast station 1, a clear beneficiary burden system is provided.

Next, referring to FIG. 1 again, an outline operation after the viewer 3 receives the broadcast 2 will be described.

The viewer 3 performs a broadcast 2 as a digital broadcast.
Is received and viewed by the broadcast receiver 30 which is the television of the user. FIG. 1 shows an example of a television screen viewed by the viewer 3 as a television screen example 100.

The example television screen 100 displays a baseball broadcast program 101 as a digital broadcast. Then, an advertisement 102 broadcasted as data accompanying the baseball broadcast program 101 is displayed on the upper left of the example television screen 100,
Alternatively, a questionnaire 103 broadcasted as data as a questionnaire accompanying the baseball broadcast program 101 is displayed on the upper right of the example television screen 100. The questionnaire 103 is, for example, a questionnaire as to which of the two teams playing baseball will win the game with what number. Questionnaire 103
The viewer 3 who has watched the program operates the remote control 110 or the like attached to the broadcast receiver 30 to input a response to the questionnaire such as which team will win with a score of ○ vs. △. The answer input by the viewer 3 is transmitted to the interactive service center server 7 via the telephone line 4 or the Internet 5 as data.

Also, a viewer watching the baseball broadcast program 101 can operate the remote controller 110 or the like to transmit a support message to the favorite team.
The support message is also transmitted as data to the interactive service center server 7 via the telephone line 4 or the Internet 5. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the support message is also referred to as “answer” to the data broadcast. The data such as the support message is stored in the baseball broadcast program 10
It can also be said that the response of the viewer to 1 is. Alternatively, when the viewer 3 who has watched the advertisement 102 wants to obtain detailed information of the advertisement 102, he / she also transmits a request to obtain detailed information by operating the remote controller 110 or the like. Since the request is sent to the center server, a request for transmitting detailed information can be regarded as a response to the advertisement 102, and such a transmission request is referred to as an "answer" to the data broadcast. That is, in the present embodiment, information transmitted by the viewer is regarded as data, and all of them are referred to as "answers" to the data broadcast.

Next, the details of the interactive service center server 7 shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 2 is a detailed block diagram showing an example of the interactive service center server. In FIG. 2, components corresponding to the components shown in FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals or symbols, and description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 2, the interactive service center server 7 includes a script library 71 for storing and holding script source data as a library and a viewer 3 who has watched the data broadcast in order to generate a script for the data broadcast transmission system 10. I of a group of servers that collect responses
Answer destination IP address DB (Data) that stores and holds a plurality of P (Internet Protocol) addresses
Base: database 72 and the source data of the script library 71 with the corresponding IP address in the answer destination IP address DB 72 inserted into the data broadcast transmission system 10.
Generation unit 73 that generates a script for
And a script transmission unit 7 for transmitting the script generated by the script generation unit 73 to the data broadcast transmission system 10.
4 is provided.

The script library 71 stores and holds a plurality of questionnaire source data as a library, for example.
Also, a plurality of advertisement source data are stored and held as a library. Alternatively, source data of a broadcast program as data broadcast content is stored and held as a library. As the source data stored and held in the script library 71, one source data is selected when the script generation unit 73 generates one script.

The reply destination IP address DB 72 stores and holds a plurality of IP addresses, and the script generation unit 73
Generates one script, one IP address is selected and inserted.

When there is a generation request for generating one script, the script generation unit 73 extracts one source data of the requested script from the script library 71, and an IP address corresponding to the extracted source data. Is extracted from the answer destination IP address DB 72 and inserted,
Generate one requested script. The script is
This is a special-purpose program written in a script language used for the production of data broadcasting contents, and is a simple description of the program in text. In the present embodiment, a questionnaire, an advertisement, or a broadcast program to be inserted into the data broadcast content is described in a script language.

The script generated by the script generation unit 73 is basically an ECMA script. This principle is applied to the data broadcast transmission system 10 which receives a script from the script generation unit 73 via the script transmission unit 74. If the data broadcasting transmission system 10 requests an ECMA script, it is possible to satisfy the request of the data broadcasting transmission system 10 by generating an ECMA script.
If the data broadcast transmission system 10 requests another form of script, it can be another form of script. For example, the data broadcast transmission system 10
Has requested a Java script, the script generation unit 73 generates a Java script.
It is also possible to use a script of another form other than Java.

The script transmitting section 74 transmits the script generated by the script generating section 73 to the data broadcast transmitting system 10.

In FIG. 2, the interactive service center server 7 further includes an answer transmitted through the telephone line 4 or the Internet 5 so that the interactive service center server 7 compiles the answers sent from the viewer 3. , An answer collection DB 76 that sorts and organizes the answers collected by the answer collection section 75 as answers to a questionnaire, an advertisement, or a broadcast program, and stores and stores the answers. A response analysis / charge calculation unit 77 for calculating a charge for the interactive broadcast service,
The usage fee request sending unit 78 for sending out the usage fee calculated by the answer analysis / usage calculation unit 77 to the broadcasting station accounting system 19 as a request, and the broadcasting station accounting system 19 receives the usage fee. A payment unit 79 is provided as a receiving port for paying the usage fee to the interactive service center server 7 after determining whether the usage fee is appropriate.

The answer collection unit 75 sorts and arranges the answers sent from the viewer 3 into answers to individual questionnaires, answers to individual advertisements, answers to individual broadcast programs, and the like, and stores them in the answer aggregation DB 76. . Viewer 3
The reply destination of the reply sent from is the reply destination IP address D
The server is any one of the servers for collecting answers having the corresponding IP address in B72. However, IP
The address does not need to be recognized by the viewer 3, and the response input by the viewer 3 is automatically sent to the server having the corresponding IP address only by being inserted into the script. . The answer collection unit 75 has the above-described server group, and can identify which questionnaire, which advertisement, or which broadcast program is an answer, based on which server the answer is sent to. ing.

The answer totaling DB 76 stores and stores data, which is information answered to one questionnaire, advertisement, or broadcast program, one by one by classifying and sorting them.

The answer analysis / usage calculation unit 77 calculates one questionnaire (or 1 questionnaire) stored in the answer totaling DB 76.
Analyzes the responses to one advertisement or one broadcast program, and analyzes the one questionnaire (or one advertisement,
Alternatively, the number of responses to one broadcast program) is totaled, and the usage fee for the interactive broadcast service is calculated according to the number of responses. By setting the usage fee according to the number of answers, the usage fee is generated only when the viewer 3 actually accesses the data broadcast, and the viewer 3 does not actually use the data broadcast. In this case, there is no risk of paying the usage fee of the interactive broadcasting service, and the usage fee can be set according to the used service.

The usage fee request sending unit 78 sends the usage fee calculated by the answer analysis / usage calculation unit 77 to the broadcasting station accounting system 19 as a request.

The broadcast station accounting system 19 receives the usage fee request sent by the usage fee sending unit 78, determines whether the usage fee is an appropriate amount, and then applies the usage fee to the interactive service center. Payment is made to the depositing unit 79 of the server 7.

The depositing section 79 performs a depositing process for the usage fee paid by the broadcasting station accounting system 19.

[0044]

As described above, the system and method for collecting a bidirectional broadcasting service usage fee according to the present invention performs processing of various data transmitted from a viewer who has watched a data broadcast to a broadcasting station by a bidirectional service center. The service is provided by a two-way service center equipped with a server, and the usage fee of the two-way broadcasting service can be collected according to the number of processed data. There is no danger of paying for the broadcasting service, and there is an effect that a clear beneficiary burden system can be provided, in which payment for the used service is paid.

Also, since means for analyzing responses to individual data broadcasts are provided, requests for broadcast programs,
Utilize data sent from viewers to the interactive service center server, such as responses related to questionnaires and advertisements, to the broadcast station side, and reflect them in program planning and production.
Alternatively, it has the effect of using it for marketing.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a bidirectional broadcasting service usage fee collection system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a detailed block diagram illustrating an example of an interactive service center server.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Broadcasting station 10 Data broadcasting sending system 19 Broadcasting station accounting system 2 Broadcasting 3 Viewer 30 Broadcast receiver 4 Telephone line 5 Internet 6 Two-way service center 7 Two-way service center server 71 Script library 72 Response destination IP address DB 73 Script generation Unit 74 script sending unit 75 answer collecting unit 76 answer totaling DB 77 answer analysis / usage calculation unit 78 usage fee sending unit 79 payment unit 100 TV screen example 110 remote control

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A system for collecting usage fees for an interactive broadcast service, comprising: inserting a script supplied by an interactive service center server into data broadcast content;
A data broadcast transmission system for performing broadcasting, the data broadcast transmission system performing the broadcast which is a digital broadcast via broadcast radio waves as a downlink, and a plurality of broadcast receivers for receiving the broadcast; and the broadcast receiver. A viewer who has watched the data broadcast via the terminal transmits an answer to the data broadcast via a telephone line or the Internet as an up line by operating a remote controller or the like attached to the broadcast receiver, and the transmitted The interactive service center server that aggregates answers to data broadcasting, and the interactive service center server summarizes the aggregated answers to the data broadcasting, calculates a usage fee for the interactive broadcasting service, and charges the usage fee. Transmitting and receiving the bill for the usage fee, and providing the usage fee to the interactive service center server. Interactive broadcast service charge collection system, characterized in that it comprises cormorants broadcast station accounting system, the. 2. A script library for storing and maintaining script source data as a library and a response of a viewer who has watched a data broadcast for generating a script for the data broadcast transmission system. IP address DB for storing and holding a plurality of IP addresses of a group of servers to be executed, and the IP address DB for the answer destination in the source data of the script library
A script generation unit that generates a script for the data broadcast transmission system by inserting the corresponding IP address in the above, and a script transmission unit that transmits the script generated by the script generation unit to the data broadcast transmission system. The interactive broadcasting service usage fee collection system according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The interactive broadcasting service usage fee collection system according to claim 2, wherein the script generated by the script generation unit is an ECMA script. 4. The interactive broadcasting service usage fee collection system according to claim 2, wherein the script generated by the script generation unit is a Java script. 5. The interactive service center server further collects answers sent out through the telephone line or the Internet so that the interactive service center server counts answers sent from viewers. An answer collecting unit that analyzes and collects the answers collected by the answer collecting unit as a response to a questionnaire, an advertisement, or a broadcast program, and stores and holds the answer totals of the answer totaling DB. A response analysis / usage calculation unit for calculating a usage fee for the broadcast service, a usage fee request sending unit for sending the usage fee calculated by the response analysis / usage calculation unit to the broadcast station accounting system as a bill, After the broadcast station accounting system receives the usage fee and determines whether the usage fee is a reasonable amount, the broadcasting fee is transmitted to the interactive service center server. The two-way broadcasting service usage fee collection system according to any one of claims 2 to 4, further comprising a depositing unit as a payout port. 6. A method for collecting a usage fee for an interactive broadcast service, wherein the interactive service center server supplies a script to a data broadcast transmission system, and the data broadcast transmission system transmits the script to the data broadcast system. Inserting into the broadcast content and broadcasting; receiving the broadcast by a plurality of broadcast receivers; and a viewer who has watched the data broadcast via the broadcast receiver is attached to the broadcast receiver. Sending an answer to the data broadcast by an operation of a remote controller or the like; counting the sent answer to the data broadcast by the interactive service center server; and sending the answer to the data broadcast by the interactive service center server Summarizing the answer to the data broadcast and summarizing the answer to the data broadcast Calculating a usage fee for the interactive broadcasting service according to the number of processed data and transmitting the usage fee bill; and a broadcast station accounting system receiving the usage fee bill converts the usage fee to the interactive service. Paying to a center server. 7. The method according to claim 7, wherein the interactive service center server supplies a script to the data broadcasting transmission system, wherein the interactive service center server generates a script for the data broadcasting transmission system. A script requested by the script generation unit from a script library that stores and holds data as a library and an answer destination IP address DB that stores and holds a plurality of IP addresses of a server group that collects answers of viewers who have watched the data broadcast. 7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising: generating a script and transmitting the script generated by the script generation unit to the data broadcast transmission system. 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the script generating section generates an ECMA script in the step of generating the requested script. 9. The method according to claim 7, wherein in the step of generating the requested script, the script generating unit generates a Java script. 10. The interactive service center server,
Further, the interactive service center server counts the answers sent from the viewers in an answer collection unit,
The answers collected by the answer collection unit can be used for questionnaires, advertisements,
Alternatively, a step of classifying and organizing the answers as to the broadcast program and storing and storing the answers in the answer totaling DB, and a step of analyzing the answer totals of the answer totaling DB and calculating the usage fee for the interactive broadcast service by the answer analysis / charge calculating unit Sending the usage fee calculated by the answer analysis / usage calculation unit to the broadcasting station accounting system as a charge in a usage fee sending unit; and the broadcast station accounting system receives the usage fee. Determining whether the usage fee is a reasonable amount, and then paying the usage fee to the interactive service center server. The method for collecting the usage fee for the interactive broadcasting service described.