JP2002330416A - Streaming advertisement distribution system and streaming advertisement distribution method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a streaming advertisement distribution system that can provide an advertisement medium with a high advertisement efficiency to a sponsor and allow a viewer to view/listen to items of interest as advertisement distribution accompanying a moving picture distribution service. SOLUTION: The streaming advertisement distribution system that uses a viewing/listening contents management server 30 to manage a viewing/listening state of moving picture contents 54 at a viewer terminal 10 to insert advertisement distribution contents 71 on the way of distribution of the moving picture contents 54 and distributes the resulting contents, is provided with an object viewer qualification module 72 which determines whether or not the viewer terminal 10 receiving the distributed moving picture contents 54 is a distribution object of the advertisement distribution contents 71 and with an advertisement insertion slot extract module 74 which extracts an inserted slot 58 placed on the way of distribution of the moving picture contents 54, and inserts the advertisement distribution contents 71 to the insertion slot 58 placed on the way of distribution of the moving picture contents 54 to distribute the result to the viewer terminal 10.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video distribution service using the Internet, which is suitable for use as a search site for mediating viewers and video content, a video distribution site for distributing video content to viewers, and the like. The present invention relates to a streaming advertisement distribution system and a streaming advertisement distribution method for performing advertisement distribution to a viewing terminal of a viewer in conjunction with video distribution.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a predecessor of a moving image distribution service using the Internet, a search service for searching a website having a still image or a text document is known. There are also multi-channel broadcasters such as satellite broadcasters. Among them, a search site such as Yahoo or a search site provided in cooperation with a search site provided on the homepage of an Internet provider is known as a search site for a website having a still image or a text document.
In such a search site, a banner advertisement column is provided in a part of the search screen, and a separately provided advertisement distribution server distributes the banner advertisement in the banner advertisement column, thereby collecting expenses related to business operation. ing.

[0003] Also, a multi-channel broadcasting company such as a satellite broadcaster broadcasts a program as moving image information according to a predetermined program table. In this case, the broadcaster selects one of a format in which the viewer directly pays for the viewing fee of the program and a format in which the advertiser pays, or uses both. In the viewer-paid format, a set-top box is connected to a television to be viewed by the viewer so that the viewer can view a channel or a pay-per-view program for which the broadcaster has paid a reception fee in advance. In the form that the advertiser pays, the broadcaster earns the advertisement fee revenue by having the viewer watch the advertisement program. For example,
For high-quality content such as the Grammy Awards ceremony broadcast and the soccer World Cup broadcast, the advertiser bears an advertisement fee of several hundred million yen for a 30-second spot advertisement. However, the rating of the excellent content may exceed 30%, and the number of viewers will be tens of millions to hundreds of millions. Therefore, the advertiser's per-viewer advertisement fee is substantially low, at around several yen.

On the other hand, with the recent development of broadband communication, high-speed communication of about 1.5 Mbps has become possible, and it has become possible to distribute a moving image such as a television screen as image information of 30 frames per second. In such a video distribution service using the Internet, how to distribute advertisement content equivalent to a conventional banner advertisement or spot advertisement to the video distribution service is a problem for the video distribution service provider. .

That is, in a moving image distribution service using the Internet, providing a banner advertisement section on a moving image display screen is not easy because the layout is not fixed in advance like a still image. Therefore, it is conceivable to provide a banner advertisement field in an area different from the video display screen, but this time the area of the video display screen will be narrowed, so it will be a problem whether the viewer can accept the video distribution service .

Therefore, there is a concept of securing a time frame in order to insert an advertisement screen into a moving image display screen in the same manner as an advertisement broadcast on a television. The time frame is, for example, 1
A frame is 30 seconds, and an advertisement broadcast of four frames is inserted in one advertisement broadcast. In the operation of the video distribution service, by delivering good content,
If the number of viewers can be secured to several hundred thousand to several million or more, the cost of the moving image distribution service can be covered by the revenue from the advertisement fee, so that the content with good contents can be distributed while the economic burden on the viewer is small.

[0007]

However, the effects of advertisements vary greatly depending on the attributes of viewers. For example, distributing an advertisement to promote the purchase of a car to a viewer who has just purchased a new car does not promote replacement of a car. For a viewer who has just purchased a new car, the information that the viewer wants to know may be car equipment, vehicle insurance, or a travel destination while driving a car. In television broadcasts, since it is not possible to judge viewers' preferences individually, products that may be indiscriminately advertised, such as automobiles that are expensive durable consumer goods and daily necessities, are manufactured by advertisements. Has become the Lord. On the other hand, even if the item is not of interest to the viewer, the user views the item along with the viewing of the broadcast program.

The present invention has solved the above-mentioned problems, and
The purpose of the present invention is to provide a streaming advertisement distribution system and a streaming advertisement distribution method in which an advertiser is provided with an advertising medium with high advertising efficiency, and a viewer can view matters of interest as advertisement distribution accompanying the video distribution service. And

[0009]

According to the streaming advertisement distribution system of the present invention which achieves the above object, as shown in FIG. 1, video content distributed from a streaming distribution server 50 is viewed on a viewer terminal 10. To
A streaming advertisement distribution system that inserts and distributes an advertisement distribution content 71 during distribution of the video content 54 using a viewing content management server 30 that manages a viewing state of the video content 54 on the viewer terminal 10, A target audience recognition module 72 that determines whether the viewer terminal 10 that receives the distribution of the content 54 is a distribution target of the advertisement distribution content 71, and is provided during distribution of the video content 54 for inserting the advertisement distribution content 71. And an advertisement insertion slot extraction module 74 for extracting the inserted insertion slot 58.
The advertisement distribution content 71 is inserted into the insertion slot 58 provided in the middle of the distribution and is distributed to the viewer terminal 10.

According to such a configuration, the target audience recognition module 72 selects the audience terminal 10 desired by the client of the advertisement distribution content 71. The advertisement insertion slot extraction module 74 extracts an insertion slot 58 provided during distribution of the moving image content 54 into which the advertisement distribution content 71 is inserted. Here, the viewing content management server 30 transmits the moving image content 5 from the streaming distribution server 50 to the viewer terminal 10.
4 as well as the distribution of the advertisement distribution content 71.

As shown in FIG. 5, the streaming advertisement distribution system according to the present invention, which achieves the above-described object, has a structure in which moving image content distributed from a streaming distribution server 50 is viewed by the viewer terminal 10. A streaming advertisement distribution system that inserts and distributes the advertisement distribution content 71 during the distribution of the video content 54 using the viewing content management server 30 that manages the viewing state of the video content 54 in The target audience recognition module 72 that determines whether the viewer terminal 10 that receives the advertisement distribution target 71 is the distribution target of the advertisement distribution content 71, and the viewer terminal 10 that distributes the advertisement distribution content 71 to the advertisement distribution server 70
And an advertisement insertion slot extraction instruction module 76 for indicating an insertion slot 58 provided in the middle of the distribution of the moving image content 54. The advertisement distribution server 70 inserts the advertisement distribution content 71 into the insertion slot 58 and sends it to the viewer terminal 10. It is configured to be distributed.

According to such a configuration, the target audience recognition module 72 selects the viewer terminal 10 desired by the client of the advertisement distribution content 71, and the moving picture content designated by the advertisement insertion slot extraction designation module 76. The advertisement distribution content 71 is inserted by the advertisement distribution server 70 into the insertion slot 58 provided in the middle of the distribution of 54. In this case, the viewing content management server 30 manages the distribution of the moving image content from the streaming distribution server 50 to the viewer terminal, and the advertisement distribution content 71 from the advertisement distribution server 70 to the viewer terminal.
In charge of delivery management. On the other hand, the advertisement distribution server 70
Is responsible for the distribution of the advertisement distribution content 71.

As shown in FIG. 7, the streaming advertisement distribution system according to the present invention, which achieves the above-mentioned object, has a structure in which the moving image content 54 distributed from the streaming distribution server 50 is viewed by the viewer terminal 10. 1
0 using the viewing content management server 30 that manages the viewing state of the video content 54
4 is a streaming advertisement distribution system that inserts and distributes the advertisement distribution content 71 during the distribution of the advertisement distribution content 7 belonging to the preference category specified by the viewer terminal 10 that receives the distribution of the moving image content 54.
Advertisement delivery content selection module 78 for selecting 1
And an advertisement insertion slot extraction module 74 that extracts an insertion slot 58 provided in the middle of distribution of the moving image content 54 for inserting the advertisement distribution content 71,
The advertisement distribution content 71 is inserted into the insertion slot 58 provided in the middle of the distribution of the moving image content 54 and distributed to the viewer terminal 10.

According to such a configuration, the advertisement distribution content selection module 78 selects the advertisement distribution content 71 with emphasis on the viewer's preference. The advertisement insertion slot extraction module 74 extracts an insertion slot 58 provided during distribution of the moving image content 54 into which the advertisement distribution content 71 is inserted. Here, the viewing content management server 30 is in charge of not only the management of the distribution of the moving image content from the streaming distribution server 50 to the viewer terminal 10, but also the distribution of the advertisement distribution content 71.

As shown in FIG. 9, the streaming advertisement distribution system according to the present invention, which achieves the above-mentioned object, uses the viewer terminal 10 when viewing the moving image content distributed from the streaming distribution server 50. A streaming advertisement distribution system that inserts and distributes the advertisement distribution content 71 during the distribution of the video content 54 using the viewing content management server 30 that manages the viewing state of the video content 54 in Distribution content 71 belonging to the preference category specified by the viewer terminal 10 receiving the
An advertisement distribution content selection module 78 for selecting
For the advertisement distribution server 70, the advertisement distribution content 7
1 and the moving image content 54 for delivering the content 1
And an advertisement insertion slot extraction instruction module 76 for instructing the insertion slot 58 provided in the middle of the distribution of the advertisement distribution content 71. The advertisement distribution server 70 inserts the advertisement distribution content 71 into the insertion slot 58 and distributes it to the viewer terminal 10. I have.

According to such a configuration, the advertisement distribution content selection module 78 selects the advertisement distribution content 71 with emphasis on the viewer's preference, and the moving image content 5 specified by the advertisement insertion slot extraction instruction module 76.
The advertisement distribution server 71 causes the advertisement distribution server 70 to insert the advertisement distribution content 71 into the insertion slot 58 provided in the middle of the distribution of No. 4. In this case, the viewing content management server 3
0 is the streaming distribution server 50 to the viewer terminal 1
0, and also manages the distribution management of the advertisement distribution content 71 from the advertisement distribution server 70 to the viewer terminal 10. On the other hand, the advertisement distribution server 70 is in charge of distributing the advertisement distribution content 71.

Preferably, means for receiving, via the streaming distribution server 50, a control command transmitted from the viewer terminal 10 to the streaming distribution server 50 and including a designation of moving image content to be distributed to the viewer terminal 10 In this configuration, the viewing condition of the moving image content of the viewer terminal 10 can be grasped in real time by the control command, and the time at which the advertisement distribution content 71 should be inserted can be accurately determined by the viewer content management server 30 or the advertisement distribution server 70. The distribution timing of the advertisement distribution content 71 to the terminal can be accurately determined.

The streaming advertisement distribution method of the present invention that achieves the above-mentioned object is, as shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. 6, when the moving image content 54 distributed from the streaming distribution server 50 is viewed on the viewer terminal 10. A streaming advertisement distribution method for inserting and distributing an advertisement distribution content 71 during distribution of the video content 54 using a viewing content management server 30 that manages a viewing state of the video content 54 on the viewer terminal 10, It has a process of. First, the viewer terminal 10 receiving the distribution of the moving image content 54 determines whether or not the viewer terminal 10 is the distribution target of the advertisement distribution content 71 (S43). The insertion slot 58 provided during the distribution of the content 54 is extracted (S44), and the advertisement distribution content 71 is inserted into the extracted insertion slot 58, and the viewer terminal 1
0 (S45), or distributed (S4).
9). Preferably, a control command transmitted from the viewer terminal 10 to the streaming distribution server 50 and including a designation of moving image content to be distributed to the viewer terminal 10 is received via the streaming distribution server 50, and the content is viewed in advance. The viewing state of the moving image content 54 of the user terminal 10 may be managed.

The streaming advertisement distribution method of the present invention that achieves the above-mentioned object is, as shown in FIG. 8 or FIG. 10, when the moving image content 54 distributed from the streaming distribution server 50 is viewed on the viewer terminal 10. A streaming advertisement distribution method for inserting and distributing an advertisement distribution content 71 during distribution of the video content 54 using a viewing content management server 30 that manages a viewing state of the video content 54 on the viewer terminal 10, It has a process of. First, the video content 54
The advertisement distribution content 71 belonging to the preference category designated by the viewer terminal 10 that receives the distribution of the video distribution is selected (S51, S53), and the advertisement distribution content 7 is inserted into the insertion slot 58 provided during the distribution of the moving image content 54.
1 is inserted (S54) and distributed to the viewer terminal 10 (S54).
55) or distribution (S59). Preferably,
A control command, which is transmitted from the viewer terminal 10 to the streaming distribution server 50 and includes a designation of moving image content to be distributed to the viewer terminal 10, is received via the streaming distribution server 50. The viewing state of the moving image content 54 may be managed.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In each of the drawings, the same or corresponding members are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a streaming advertisement distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the viewer terminal 10
Is connected to the viewing content management server 30 and the streaming distribution server 50 via the Internet 20. The viewer terminal 10 includes a personal computer, a mobile phone that can be connected to the Internet, a portable information terminal such as a palm terminal that can be connected to the Internet, a game machine terminal, a set-top box that is connected to a television receiver, and the like. The viewer terminal 10 has a function of transmitting a control command for the streaming distribution state of the moving image content 54 in the streaming distribution server 50.

The Internet 20 uses HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) or WAP (WAP) as a communication protocol.
communication information is H
TML (Hyper Text Markup Language), XML (eXtensi
ble Markup Language), WML (Wireless Markup Langu)
age), and transmits web page information written in a language such as age). Examples of communication lines include an optical fiber communication line, a wired line using copper wire, and a wireless line for mobile communication. When the communication information is a file of moving image content, the file is compressed by, for example, an MPEG (Moving Picture Expert Group) method. For communication for the Internet for mobile communication, IMT (International Mobile Telecommun
ication) 2000, CDMA (Code Division Multiple Acce
The viewer terminal 10 is provided with a transmission / reception function conforming to digital communication standards such as ss).

The viewing content management server 30 includes a video content distribution database 32, a viewer management database 34, a viewing history database 343, an advertisement management database 37, an advertisement distribution history database 372, a target audience recognition module 72, and an advertisement insertion slot. An extraction module 74 is provided. The target audience recognition module 72 determines whether the audience terminal 10 that receives the distribution of the moving image content 54 is a distribution target of the advertisement distribution content 71, for example, the viewing history database 34.
3 based on the viewing history of the viewer accumulated in the viewer management database 34 and the attributes of the viewer registered in the viewer management database 34, for example, age group and gender.
The advertisement insertion slot extraction module 74 extracts an insertion slot 58 provided during the distribution of the moving image content 54 for inserting the advertisement distribution content 71.

In the moving image content distribution database 32, the program identification symbol of the moving image content 54 and the program URL (U
niform Resource Locator) address, title, shooting date, total distribution time, performers, outline of video content, viewing fee, and the like. The video content distribution database 32 manages the video content 54 by classifying the video content 54 into categories. For example, the major category is sports, movies, theater and the like, and the middle category is the major category “sports”.
For example, the soccer, golf, skiing, etc. are classified into small tournaments of the Japan Women's Professional Golf Championship, for example, "Japan Women's Professional Golf Open", for the medium category "Golf". Further, the position of an insertion slot provided in the moving image content 54 is recorded.

The viewer management database 34 records a viewer's name, date of birth, address, settlement account number, credit card number, telephone number, e-mail address, viewing history, and the like. In the viewing history database 343,
The viewer name, the name of the moving image content 54 being distributed, the type of control command, the reception time of the control command, and the like are recorded. It is preferable that the advertisement management database 37 manages the advertisement distribution content 71 by dividing the advertisement distribution content 71 by advertisement requester or category. The advertisement distribution history database 372 includes a viewer name, an identification code of the distributed advertisement distribution content 71, a distribution time, and a moving image content 5 related to the inserted insertion slot.
4 are recorded.

When the advertisement management database 37 is classified and managed by category, for example, the major categories are consumption-related services, non-durable consumer goods, durable consumer goods, capital goods, etc., and the middle category is the large category " Consumer services include sports, music, theater, etc., and the minor category is the middle category “sports”
There are, for example, soccer, skiing, golf, etc., and the sub-classification "golf" is classified into, for example, the name of the next golf course holding the next tournament of the Japan Women's Professional Championship, for example, "@ Country Club". An advertisement distribution content 71 such as providing an item list of golf equipment to golf lovers or introducing golf course membership is stored.

The streaming distribution server 50 is provided for each user and has a moving image content database 52, a moving image distribution processing module 510, and a viewing event processing module 520. The video content database 52 stores movies, news images,
Video contents 5 such as landscape images, people images, street images, etc.
4 is recorded in accordance with a standard such as MPEG.
The viewing event processing module 520 includes the viewer terminal 10
When the control instruction 14 for streaming distribution of the moving image content 54 to the streaming distribution server 50 is received from the server, the control instruction 14 is transferred to the viewing content management server 30. In accordance with the control command, the video distribution processing module 510 performs streaming distribution of the video content 54 to the viewer terminal 10.

Here, streaming is one of the methods for transferring audio and video data over a network such as the Internet 20. The viewer terminal 10 plays back the video data during reception and plays the video data. The saved moving image data cannot be stored in the viewer terminal 10. Then, the viewer terminal 10 is switched to the streaming distribution server 5
Only when the video content 54 is connected to the Internet via the Internet 20, the movie terminal 54 can be displayed and viewed on the viewer terminal 10, thereby substantially limiting the range of duplication and the number of performances.

The advertisement requester terminal 80 is a terminal for a distribution requester of the advertisement distribution content 71. The advertisement requester can grasp the distribution state of the advertisement distribution content 71 by referring to the advertisement distribution history database 372. For example, when the advertisement fee is paid in conjunction with the distribution result, the advertisement requester uses the advertisement requester terminal 80 to execute the advertisement distribution history database 3
The viewing data of the 72 is statistically processed, and the box office revenue based on the streaming distribution of the advertisement distribution content 71 can be easily grasped.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the moving image content distributed by streaming and the insertion slot. For example, when the streaming distribution time of the entire moving image content is 30 minutes in total, the moving image content 54 is divided into three scenes, and 8 minutes is allocated to each division as the streaming distribution time. A one-minute insertion slot 58 is added to the beginning of the moving image content 54, and a two-minute insertion slot 58 is provided between sections of the moving image content 54.
Is added to the end of the slot. These insertion slots 58 are used as a streaming distribution time of the advertisement distribution content 71. The advertisement distribution content 71 is distributed by streaming, for example, as one frame of 30 seconds. Therefore, if the insertion slot 58 is one minute, the advertisement distribution contents 71 for two frames are distributed by streaming.

Data transmission and reception in the streaming advertisement distribution system thus configured will be described below. FIG. 3 is a flowchart in the case where the moving image content is streamed from the streaming distribution server to the viewer terminal. First, the viewer concludes a viewing contract for the moving image content 54 with the operator of the viewing content management server 30 by the viewer terminal 10, mail, telephone, or the like. When the viewing contract is concluded, the viewing content management server 30
The authentication ID and password of the viewer and other unique information that can confirm that the viewer is a contracting party are registered in the viewer management database 34 from the operator of the management company.

On the other hand, the business operator of the streaming distribution server 50 concludes a distribution management consignment contract for the moving image content 54 with the business operator of the viewing content management server 30 by visiting, mailing, calling, or the like. In addition, for the moving image content 54 existing in the moving image content database 52 of the streaming distribution server 50, a program ID,
The program URL, the outline, and the like are registered in the moving image content distribution database 32. The details of the viewing content management server 30 will be described later.

[0032] Such a viewing content management server 3
When the pre-registration procedure between 0, the viewer terminal 10 and the streaming distribution server 50 is completed, the viewer shifts to a state where the video distribution 54 can be streamed from the streaming distribution server 50 to the viewer terminal 10. First, the viewer is connected to the viewer terminal 10.
To log in to the viewing content management server 30 using the URL, and request distribution of the moving image content 54 represented by the title 11 (step 1). In selecting the title 11, a search engine for the moving image content 54 provided from the viewing content management server 30 to the viewer terminal 10 may be used.

Then, the viewing content management server 30
Acquires the program ID, the program URL, the outline, the viewing fee, and the like of the moving image content 54 with reference to the moving image content distribution database 32, and displays the input screen information of the obtained information on the viewer terminal 10 (step 2).
Then, the viewer's authentication ID and password are input to the input screen information, and transmitted from the viewer terminal 10 to the viewing content management server 30 (step 3). On the other hand, the viewing content management server 30 checks whether the viewer of the viewer terminal 10 is registered as a member by referring to the received viewer authentication ID and password in the viewer management database 34 (step 4). Also processes settlement information if necessary.

When it is confirmed that the member registration has been completed, the viewing content management server 30 distributes the viewing authentication ID and the viewing authentication password as the viewing approval key 39 to the viewer terminal 10 (step 6). The viewing approval key 39 is created so that the combination of the viewer terminal 10 and the moving image content 54 to be viewed can be specified, and the viewing approval key 39 is transmitted from the viewing content management server 30 to the viewer terminal 10 by known encryption. It is distributed by online distribution. Step 5 is missing.

The viewer is a streaming distribution server 50
Video content 54 specified for the viewer terminal 10
Request for streaming distribution (step 7).
At this time, the viewer transfers the viewing approval key 13 distributed from the viewing content management server 30 to the viewing content management server 30 (step 8). In the viewing content management server 30, the transferred viewing approval key 13
Is matched with the viewing approval key 39 distributed on the input screen of the viewer terminal 10, and the matching result is transmitted to the viewing content management server 30 (step 9).

In the streaming distribution server 50, the viewing approval key 13 is set to True using the received collation result.
Is confirmed, the designated moving image content 54 is streamed to the viewer terminal 10 (step 10). Subsequently, the control command 14 for controlling the viewing state of the moving image content 54 is transmitted from the viewer terminal 10 to the streaming distribution server 50 (step 11). Here, the control command 14 includes designation of the moving image content 54 to be distributed to the viewer terminal 10, such as connection / disconnection of the viewer terminal 10 to the streaming distribution server 50, access to the moving image content 54, and access. , Reproducing the moving image content 54, stopping the reproduction, and the like. The streaming distribution server 50 transmits the control command 14
And controls the streaming distribution of the moving image content 54, and transfers the transmitted control command 14 to the viewing content management server 30 (step 12). The viewing content management server 30 uses the received control command 14 to store the viewing history of the viewer in the viewing history database 34.
3 (step 13).

Next, a case will be described in which the advertisement distribution content is streamed to the viewer terminal in the time frame of the insertion slot provided in the moving image content. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a case where the advertisement distribution content is distributed by streaming to the viewer terminal. The advertiser concludes a delivery management consignment contract for the advertisement delivery content 71 with the operator of the viewing content management server 30 by visiting, mailing, calling, or the like. The advertisement client uses the advertisement client terminal 80 or the like to register the advertisement distribution content 71 in the advertisement management database 37 (step 41). Further, for the advertisement distribution content 71 existing in the advertisement management database 37, the advertiser, the advertisement distribution ID, the advertisement distribution URL, the outline, and the like are previously stored in the advertisement management database 37 so that the individual advertisement distribution content 71 can be easily searched. It is good to register.

The viewing content management server 30 controls the control command 1 transferred from the streaming distribution server 50.
4, the moving image content 54 being viewed on the viewer terminal 10 is grasped. The viewing content management server 30 extracts the advertisement distribution content 71 from the advertisement management database 37 (Step 42). Then, the target audience recognition module 72 determines that the viewer terminal 10 receiving the distribution of the moving image content 54
Then, it is determined whether the distribution target is the first distribution target (step 43). If the viewer terminal 10 matches the distribution target of the advertisement distribution content 71, the advertisement insertion slot extraction module 74 extracts the insertion slot 58 for inserting the advertisement distribution content 71 provided during the distribution of the moving image content 54. (Step 44). The extraction of the insertion slot 58 is performed based on the distribution elapsed time of the moving image content 54 of the streaming distribution server 50 with reference to the moving image content distribution database 32 and the control command 14. Then, using the streaming distribution function provided in the viewing content management server 30, the advertisement distribution content 71 is transmitted to the viewer terminal 1.
0 (step 45).

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the entire configuration of a streaming advertisement distribution system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The difference between the system of FIG. 5 and the system of FIG. 1 is as follows. Inserting the advertisement distribution content 71 into the insertion slot 58 provided in the middle of the distribution of the moving image content 54 and distributing it, the system of FIG. While the management server 30 performed the processing, the advertisement distribution server 70 is in charge of the system in FIG.

In the figure, the viewing content management server 30 is provided with a target audience recognition module 72 and an advertisement insertion slot extraction instruction module 76. The advertisement insertion slot extraction instruction module 76 instructs the advertisement distribution server 70 about the viewer terminal 10 that distributes the advertisement distribution content 71 and the insertion slot 58 provided during distribution of the moving image content 54. The advertisement distribution server 70 includes an advertisement distribution module 75 that distributes the advertisement distribution content 71 according to the advertisement distribution specification instructed by the advertisement insertion slot extraction instruction module 76.

The operation of the system configured as described above will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a case where the advertisement distribution content is distributed by streaming to the viewer terminal. First, the advertisement client uses the advertisement client terminal 80 or the like to register the advertisement distribution content 71 in the advertisement management database 37 of the viewing content management server 30 (step 41). Viewing content management server 30
Registers the advertisement distribution content 71 in the advertisement distribution server 70 (step 46).

Next, by transmitting and receiving data as described with reference to FIG. 3, the moving image content 54 is distributed from the streaming distribution server 50 to the viewer terminal 10 by streaming. In the viewing content management server 30, the advertisement distribution content 71 is extracted from the advertisement management database 37, and the target audience recognition module 72 determines whether the viewer terminal 10 is the distribution target of the advertisement distribution content 71 (step 43). If the viewer terminal 10 matches the distribution target of the advertisement distribution content 71, the insertion slot 58 provided during distribution of the moving image content 54 is extracted by the advertisement insertion slot extraction instruction module 76 (step 44). Next, the viewing content management server 30 notifies the advertisement distribution server 70 of the extracted insertion slot 58 (step 48). Then, the advertisement distribution module 75 of the advertisement distribution server 70 distributes the advertisement distribution content 71 to the viewer terminal 10 at the timing of the extracted insertion slot 58 (Step 49).

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the entire configuration of a streaming advertisement distribution system for explaining a third embodiment of the present invention. Explaining the difference between the system in FIG. 7 and the system in FIG. 1, an advertisement distribution content selection module 78 is provided in the viewing content management server 30 instead of the target audience recognition module 72. The advertisement distribution content selection module 78 selects the advertisement distribution content 71 belonging to the preference category specified by the viewer terminal 10 that receives the distribution of the moving image content 54.

The operation of the system configured as described above will be described. FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a case where the advertisement distribution content is distributed to the viewer terminal by streaming. First, the viewer registers his or her favorite category, for example, a category that matches the category used in the video content distribution database 32 or the advertisement management database 37 in the viewing content management server 30 using the viewer terminal 10 ( Step 51). The category may be one that can be divided into segments of a small classification or a sub-classification. The viewing content management server 30 registers the declared preference category in the viewer management database 34. On the other hand, the advertisement client uses the advertisement client terminal 80 or the like to register the advertisement distribution content 71 in the advertisement management database 37 (step 52). Further, the advertisement management database 37
In order to easily search for the individual advertisement distribution content 71, the advertiser,
It is preferable to register an advertisement distribution ID, an advertisement distribution URL, an outline, and the like in advance.

Then, by transmitting and receiving data as described with reference to FIG. 3, the moving image content 54 is distributed from the streaming distribution server 50 to the viewer terminal 10 by streaming. Then, the control command 14 transmitted from the viewer terminal 10 viewing the moving image content 54 is transferred to the viewing content management server 30 via the streaming distribution server 50 (step 1).
2). The advertisement distribution content selection module 78 reads the preference category of the viewer registered in the viewer management database 34, and selects the advertisement distribution content 71 of the corresponding preference category from the advertisement management database 37 (step 53).

Next, the advertisement insertion slot extraction module 7
4 to insert the advertisement distribution content 71,
An insertion slot 58 provided during distribution of the moving image content 54 is extracted (step 54). Insert slot 58
Is extracted based on the distribution elapsed time of the moving image content 54 of the streaming distribution server 50 with reference to the moving image content distribution database 32 and the control command 14. Then, the advertisement distribution content 71 is distributed to the viewer terminal 10 using the streaming distribution function provided in the viewing content management server 30 (step 55).

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the overall configuration of a streaming advertisement distribution system for explaining a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The difference between the system in FIG. 9 and the system in FIG. 7 is as follows. Inserting the advertisement distribution content 71 into the insertion slot 58 provided in the middle of the distribution of the moving image content 54 and distributing the content. While the management server 30 performs the processing, the advertisement distribution server 70 is in charge of the system in FIG.

In the figure, the viewing content management server 30 is provided with an advertisement distribution content selection module 78 and an advertisement insertion slot extraction instruction module 76. The advertisement distribution content selection module 78 and the advertisement insertion slot extraction instruction module 76 are the same as those already described.

The operation of the system configured as described above will be described. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a case where the advertisement distribution content is distributed to the viewer terminal by streaming. First, the viewer registers his or her favorite category, for example, a category that matches the category used in the video content distribution database 32 or the advertisement management database 37 in the viewing content management server 30 using the viewer terminal 10 ( Step 51). On the other hand, the advertisement client registers the advertisement distribution content 71 in the advertisement management database 37 of the viewing content management server 30 using the advertisement client terminal 80 or the like (step 56). The viewing content management server 30 includes an advertisement distribution content 71.
Is registered in the advertisement distribution server 70 (step 5).
7).

Then, by transmitting and receiving data as described with reference to FIG. 3, the moving image content 54 is distributed from the streaming distribution server 50 to the viewer terminal 10 by streaming. Then, the control command 14 transmitted from the viewer terminal 10 viewing the moving image content 54 is transferred to the viewing content management server 30 via the streaming distribution server 50 (step 1).
2). The advertisement distribution content selection module 78 reads the preference category of the viewer registered in the viewer management database 34, and selects the advertisement distribution content 71 of the corresponding preference category from the advertisement management database 37 (step 53).

Next, the insertion slot 58 provided during the distribution of the moving image content 54 for inserting the advertisement distribution content 71 is extracted by the advertisement insertion slot extraction instruction module 76 (step 54). Next, the viewing content management server 30 transmits the extracted insertion slot 58.
Is notified to the advertisement distribution server 70 (step 58).
Then, the advertisement distribution module 7 of the advertisement distribution server 70
5 distributes the advertisement distribution content 71 to the viewer terminal 10 at the timing of the extracted insertion slot 58 (step 59).

Next, the software configuration mounted on the viewing content management server 30 and the streaming distribution server 50 used in the present invention will be specifically described. FIG.
1 is a functional block diagram illustrating a software configuration mounted on the viewing content management server and the streaming distribution server. The streaming distribution server 50 includes a viewing event processing module 520 and a viewer authentication module 530. The viewing event processing module 520 has a function of executing steps 8 to 12 described above. The viewer authentication module 530 has a function of authenticating the viewer terminal 10 connected to the streaming distribution server 50.

The viewing content management server 30 uses We
The functions are distributed by a b server 31, an application server 33, and a database server 35. The Web server 31 is equipped with, for example, a software called Jetty, which is provided by Mort Bay Consulting. Web
The server 31 has, for example, a SOAP (Simple Object Acceses) whose specifications are disclosed by the WWW Consortium.
s Protocol)
0, an XML parser 312, and an advertisement distribution content distribution processing unit 318.

The XML parser 312 understands the object described in XML received by the object activation module 310 and
Is transferred to a program for activating each object of the object activating module 310 mounted on the server. The advertisement distribution content distribution processing unit 318 distributes the advertisement distribution content 71 extracted by the application server 33 to the viewer terminal 10 at the timing of the insertion slot 58 provided in the moving image content 54.

The application server 33 is equipped with, for example, software called the trademark Jboss provided by Jboss Group Inc.
Log recording processing test object 331, operation approval processing test object 332, viewer authentication processing test object 333, target viewer authentication processing object 33
7. An insertion slot extraction processing object 338 and an advertisement distribution content selection processing object 339 are mounted. Also, the database connection module 335
Are a log recording processing test object 331, an operation approval processing test object 332, a viewer authentication processing test object 333, a target audience recognition processing object 337, an insertion slot extraction processing object 338, an advertisement distribution content selection processing object 339, and a database server. The transfer of data with 35 is managed. Note that the target viewer certification processing object 337,
The insertion slot extraction processing object 338 and the advertisement distribution content selection processing object 339 correspond to the target audience recognition module 72, the advertisement insertion slot extraction module 74, and the advertisement distribution content selection module 78, respectively.

The database server 35 has, for example, the trademark MySQ provided by MySQL AB.
Software, which is a derivative of SQL (Structured Query Language) called L, is installed, and has a viewing management table 352, a user management table 354, a moving image content distribution table 355, and an advertisement distribution content table 358. Here, the viewing management table 352
The user management table 354 is an element constituting the viewer management database 34 described above. The moving image content distribution table 355 corresponds to the moving image content distribution database 32 described above. The advertisement distribution content table 358 corresponds to the advertisement management database 37 described above.

FIG. 12 is a functional block diagram illustrating viewing management software installed in the viewing content management server and the streaming distribution server. The streaming distribution server 50 includes a moving image distribution processing module 5
10, viewing event processing module 520, viewer authentication module 530, remote object management module 5
40 are mounted. Video distribution processing module 510
Is a program for streaming distribution of video contents to the viewer terminal 10, such as "Windows Media Service" by Micro Soft, "Quick Time" for Apple by "Macintosh", and Real by The product name "Real Media" is used.

The viewing event processing module 520 includes a viewing event handler 522, a log recording thread 524,
An operation approval thread 526 is provided. The viewing event handler 522 generates a log recording request queue 523 and an operation approval request queue 525 in response to an event notification and a viewer authentication request from the moving image distribution processing module 510. The log recording thread 524 reads the request queue 523 for log recording, and
To the log recording processing test object 331.
The operation approval thread 526 is a request queue 52 for operation approval.
5 is read and transmitted to the operation approval processing test object 332 of the viewing content management server 30.
The approval result notification from the operation approval processing test object 332 is transferred to the moving image distribution processing module 510.

The viewer authentication module 530 includes a viewer authentication request handler 532 and a viewer authentication thread 534. The viewer authentication request handler 532 generates a request queue 533 in response to a viewer authentication request from the moving image distribution processing module 510. Viewer authentication thread 534
Reads the request queue 533, and executes the viewer authentication processing test object 333 of the viewing content management server 30.
And the notification of the authentication result from the viewer authentication processing test object 333 to the moving image distribution processing module 5
Transfer to 10.

The remote object management module 540
Is a log recording thread 524 and an operation approval thread 526
ROPE connected to the viewer authentication thread 534
(Remote Object Proxy Engine) 542, 544, 546
It has. The ROPE 542 manages the operation of the log recording process test object 331 via the object activation module 310. ROPE5
44 manages the operation of the object of the operation approval processing test object 332 via the object activation module 310. The ROPE 546 manages the operation of the object of the viewer authentication processing test object 333 via the object activation module 310. Here, the object is not a conventional method in which a program is separated into an algorithm and data, but a group of data, a message for processing the data, and a process, and a program language is C ++.
And Java are used.

The object activation module 310 uses, for example, SOAP, and generates a log recording processing test object 331, an operation approval processing test object 332, and a viewer authentication processing test object 333 mounted on the viewing content management server 30. ,
Invokes a piece of code that describes the actual function of each object. The XML parser 312 understands the object described in the XML received by the object activation module 310, and
Hand over to each program that starts each object. The object definition unit 316 is a specification that describes a method for defining an object, for example, an SDL (Service
Description Language) is used. The remote object management module 540 refers to the object definition unit 316 when describing each object in XML.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of data items notified from the log recording thread to the log recording processing test object. From the log recording thread 524 of the viewing event processing module 520, the viewing content management server 30
The data item transmitted to the log recording processing test object 331 is included in the event notification from the moving image distribution processing module 510 to the viewing event handler 522. Data items include N for viewers
o. No. 1 from the event type. No. 7 viewer GUID, and No. No. 8 from live. Up to 19 total playback times are included, but not all items are set in each event.

No. One event type is the viewer terminal 10
Status of connection / disconnection to the viewing content management server 30, start / end of viewing of video content, playback / stop when viewing video content, permission /
This includes skipping. As data items relating to the viewer, the data items No. 2 viewer agent, no. 3 viewer IP address (Internet Protocol address), no.
4 protocol, no. 5 viewer ID (IDentification),
No. No. 6 viewer name, No. There are 7 viewer GUIDs.

No. No. 8 live indicates whether or not the moving image content is live (live broadcast). No. 9 broadcast indicates whether or not the moving image content is broadcast (recorded broadcast). No. 10 seek indicates whether or not fast-forwarding and rewinding of moving image content can be performed at high speed to move the recording head. Numeral 11 indicates that jumping is possible. No. No. 12 physical name indicates a file name to be stream-distributed. 13 The request name indicates a name used to request video content from the viewer terminal. No. The 14 bit rate is the bit rate of stream distribution, No. 15 is the duration of the moving image content. 16 playback rate is the playback rate of the moving image content; 17 start position on the moving image content; 18 is the total number of bytes of the stream transmitted to the viewer terminal. 19
The total playback time refers to the total playback time for stream distribution to the viewer terminal.

The data items notified from the operation approval thread 526 to the operation approval processing test object 332 are the same as the data items notified from the log recording thread to the log recording processing test object. The data item notified from the viewer authentication thread 534 to the viewer authentication processing test object 333 is No. 6 Viewer name, password, No. 12 physical name, No. 13 is the request name.

Although the above description does not refer to the configuration of the advertisement distribution server, the streaming distribution server 50
The system can be constructed with a similar software configuration based on the moving image distribution processing module 510 provided in.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a screen on which a viewer registers a preference category. The notification of the preference category shown in step 51 of FIGS. 8 and 10 is performed using a preference category input screen 770 displayed on the viewer terminal 10, for example. On the preference category input screen 770, the category column 771 for individual products and the manufacturer / seller column 77 for each individual product are displayed.
2, a transmission section 773 and a cancel section 774 are provided.
The category column 771 for individual products includes, for example, cars, computers, fashion, sports, and the like. Company A, Company B, Company C, Company D, etc. can be selected in the manufacturer / seller column 772 of each individual product.

When the selection of the category column 771 and the manufacturer / seller column 772 of the individual product is completed on the preference category input screen 770 thus configured, the viewer enters the transmission column 77.
Operate 3 Then, the preference category input on the preference category input screen 770 is transmitted from the viewer terminal 10 to the viewing content management server 30. When the viewer receives distribution of the moving image content 54 at the viewer terminal 10, the insertion slot 58 provided in the middle is used.
Then, the advertisement distribution content 71 from the company selected in the manufacturer / seller column 772 is distributed. Since the viewer views the advertisement of the category of the field having a high preference selected by the viewer together with the moving image content 54 being viewed, the viewer can receive the advertisement distribution content 71 without discomfort.

[0069]

As described above, according to the streaming advertisement distribution system of the present invention, when the video content distributed from the streaming distribution server is viewed at the viewer terminal, the video content at the viewer terminal is displayed. A streaming advertisement distribution system that inserts and distributes advertisement distribution content during distribution of the moving image content using a viewing content management server that manages a viewing state of the video content, wherein the viewer terminal receives the distribution of the moving image content Comprises means for determining whether or not the advertisement distribution content is to be distributed, and means for extracting the insertion slot provided during distribution of the video content for inserting the advertisement distribution content, Inserting the advertisement distribution content into the insertion slot provided during distribution It was configured to be delivered to the viewer terminal. Therefore, by setting a viewer who has a high advertising effect to the advertisement client as a distribution target of the advertisement distribution content, the distribution of the advertisement distribution content accompanying the streaming distribution of the moving image content can be efficiently performed.

According to the streaming advertisement distribution system of the present invention, means for selecting advertisement distribution contents belonging to a preference category designated by a viewer terminal receiving distribution of moving image contents, and means for inserting the advertisement distribution contents Means for extracting an insertion slot provided during the distribution of the moving image content, wherein the advertisement distribution content is inserted into the insertion slot provided during the distribution of the moving image content and distributed to the viewer terminal. And Therefore, since the viewing content management server has registered the preference category from the viewer in advance,
Even if the distribution of the advertisement distribution content is performed along with the streaming distribution of the moving image content, the viewer has a favorable impression because the viewer views the advertisement distribution content belonging to his / her favorite category. In addition, since the advertisement requester can have a good impression on the viewer, the distribution effect of the advertisement distribution content can be always obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram of an entire streaming advertisement distribution system illustrating an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between moving image content distributed by streaming and insertion slots.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a case where moving image content is streamed from a streaming distribution server to a viewer terminal.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a case where advertisement distribution content is distributed by streaming to a viewer terminal.

FIG. 5 is a configuration block diagram of an entire streaming advertisement distribution system for explaining a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a case where an advertisement distribution server distributes an advertisement distribution content to a viewer terminal by streaming.

FIG. 7 is a configuration block diagram of an entire streaming advertisement distribution system for explaining a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a case where advertisement distribution content is distributed by streaming to a viewer terminal.

FIG. 9 is a configuration block diagram of an entire streaming advertisement distribution system for explaining a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a case where an advertisement distribution server distributes an advertisement distribution content to a viewer terminal by streaming.

FIG. 11 is a functional block diagram illustrating a software configuration mounted on the viewing content management server and the streaming distribution server.

FIG. 12 is a functional block diagram illustrating viewing management software installed in the viewing content management server and the streaming distribution server.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of data items notified from a log recording thread to a log recording processing test object.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a screen on which a viewer registers a preference category.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 viewer terminal 20 Internet 30 viewing content management server 32 video content distribution database 34 viewer management database 37 advertisement management database 372 advertisement distribution history database 50 streaming distribution server 60 content holder terminal 70 advertisement distribution server 71 advertisement distribution content 72 target Viewer recognition module 74 Ad insertion slot extraction module 76 Ad insertion slot extraction instruction module 78 Ad distribution content selection module 80 Ad requester terminal

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification FI FI Theme Court ゛ (Reference) G06F 17/60 ZEC G06F 17/60 ZEC (72) Inventor Hiroki Omae 2--24 Kami-Osaki, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo No. 9 IK Building F-term in Webstream Co., Ltd. (Reference) 5C064 BA01 BA07 BB05 BC04 BC10 BC18 BC20

Claims (7)

[Claims] When viewing video content distributed from a streaming distribution server on a viewer terminal, using the viewing content management server that manages a viewing state of the video content on the viewer terminal, A streaming advertisement distribution system that inserts and distributes advertisement distribution content during the distribution of the video content; means for determining whether or not the viewer terminal that receives the distribution of the video content is a distribution target of the advertisement distribution content;
Means for extracting an insertion slot provided in the middle of the distribution of the moving image content for inserting the advertisement distribution content; and inserting the advertisement distribution content into the insertion slot provided in the middle of the distribution of the moving image content And a streaming advertisement distribution system for distributing the advertisement to the viewer terminal. 2. When viewing moving image content distributed from a streaming distribution server on a viewer terminal, using the viewing content management server for managing a viewing state of the moving image content on the viewer terminal, A streaming advertisement distribution system that inserts and distributes advertisement distribution content during distribution of the video content; wherein the viewer terminal that receives the distribution of the moving image content includes:
Means for determining whether or not the advertisement distribution content is to be distributed; means for instructing an advertisement distribution server on the viewer terminal for distributing the advertisement distribution content and an insertion slot provided in the middle of distributing the video content. A streaming advertisement distribution system, wherein the advertisement distribution server inserts the advertisement distribution content into the insertion slot and distributes the content to the viewer terminal. 3. When viewing moving image content distributed from a streaming distribution server on a viewer terminal, using the viewing content management server for managing a viewing state of the moving image content on the viewer terminal, Means for selecting an advertisement distribution content belonging to a preference category specified by the viewer terminal receiving the distribution of the moving image content; Means for extracting an insertion slot provided in the middle of the distribution of the moving image content for inserting the advertisement distribution content; and inserting the advertisement distribution content into the insertion slot provided in the middle of the distribution of the moving image content Streaming advertisement distribution system to distribute to the viewer terminal Stem. 4. When viewing video content distributed from a streaming distribution server at a viewer terminal, the video content is managed using a viewing content management server that manages a viewing state of the video content at the viewer terminal. Means for selecting an advertisement distribution content belonging to a preference category designated by the viewer terminal receiving the distribution of the moving image content; Means for instructing the advertisement distribution server on an insertion slot provided in the middle of distribution of the advertisement distribution content and the moving image content to be distributed to the viewer terminal. Inserting an advertisement distribution content into the viewer terminal Streaming advertisement distribution system to distribute to. 5. A means for receiving, via the streaming distribution server, a control command transmitted from the viewer terminal to the streaming distribution server, the control instruction including designation of moving image content to be distributed to the viewer terminal. The streaming advertisement distribution system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising: 6. When viewing video content distributed from a streaming distribution server at a viewer terminal, the video content is managed using a viewing content management server that manages a viewing state of the video content at the viewer terminal. A streaming advertisement distribution method for inserting and distributing advertisement distribution content during the distribution of the video content; determining whether the audience terminal receiving the distribution of the moving image content is a distribution target of the advertisement distribution content; If the terminal matches the distribution target of the advertisement distribution content, the advertisement distribution content is inserted into an insertion slot provided in the middle of the distribution of the moving image content and distributed to the viewer terminal or distributed; Delivery method. 7. When viewing video content distributed from a streaming distribution server at a viewer terminal, the video content is managed using a viewing content management server that manages a viewing state of the video content at the viewer terminal. A streaming advertisement distribution method for inserting and distributing advertisement distribution content during the distribution of the video content; selecting an advertisement distribution content belonging to a preference category designated by the viewer terminal receiving the distribution of the video content; A method of inserting the advertisement distribution content into an insertion slot provided during distribution of the content and distributing or distributing the content to the viewer terminal; a streaming advertisement distribution method.