BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a method for providing broadcasting programs and
an apparatus for the same adapted to assure a minimum interval between broadcasts
of commercials and to a computer-readable storage medium storing programs or data
to implement the above method and a device in order to run programs and commercials
in a manner that broadcasting matches momentarily changing requirements in terms of
time, place and kind of information to be supplied on a user side in terrestrial digital
broadcasting and/or satellite digital broadcasting in which ordinary programs and/or
commercial programs are broadcast.
[0002] The present application claims the Convention Priority of Japanese Patent Application
No. Heill-314394 filed on November 4,1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Description of the Prior Art
[0003] In conventional television and/or radio broadcasting systems, there are two types
of methods for broadcasting; one being a subscriber-type (called a NHK (Japan Broadcasting
Corporation) type in Japan) broadcasting which provides programs by collecting fees
from subscribers and the other being sponsored-type broadcasting which provides programs
and, duringintervalsbetween broadcasts of ordinary programs, runs CMs (commercials),
by collecting advertisement fees from sponsors. It would be expected that, even if
digital broadcasting becomes widespread further in future, these two types of broadcasting
methods would be continued. When analog broadcasting is replaced with a digital one,
it would become possible to easily add character information and/or attribute information
to ordinary programs or CMs. If so, as shown in Fig. 5, there is a possibility that
a service of broadcasting is provided in which a CM is selected or run in a manner
that it can meet tastes of a user or be suitable to present/current conditions (time
and/or places) of the user, that is, when the user takes part in a sport, a CM related
to sports is run, when the user wants to have a meal, a CM related to meals such as
restaurant information is run and when going for shopping, a CM related to shopping
is run, or a like.
[0004] In a field of the Internet, this method is called PUSH-type information delivery
technology, which is widely used as an information delivery service in which information
can be selected or rejected depending on the tastes of the user of the Internet, though
it cannot yet provide the information to be able to meet such conditions designated
by the user as time and/or places. For example, POINTCAST is a typical company which
provides information service by using such PUSH-type information delivery technology
(refer to home page address: www.pointcast. com) . POINTCAST network system is so
devised that, the user who has registered, in advance, type of information that the
user wants to get, can access to a WWW (World Wide Web) server on the Internet with
proper timing (for example, every one hour, once a day or the like) to automatically
obtainlatest information from the WWW server and to display it on a screen of a PC
(Personal Computer) on the user side.
[0005] The PUSH technology allows the user to automatically and one after another, obtain
information that the user wants to get. Though a way of receiving the information
is seemingly the same as in the case of television which provides information one-sidedly
to a viewer, it differs greatly in that television provides information to many and
unspecified persons while the POINTCAST network provides only information that the
user wants to obtain. That is, the POINTCAST network allows the user to obtain, free
of charge, information including news, weather forecasts, stock prices or the like
which are customized to suit the user. However, this service is available only when
the user accesses to the WWW server on the Internet. If the user uses this service
by a portable cellular phone in a car or somewhere, he/she must bear phone charges
in addition to an Internet fee.
Description of the Related Art
[0006] A two-way communication is a prerequisite for a PUSH-type information delivery service.
Therefore, seemingly, such communication media as broadcasting which transmits information
one-sidedly from a broadcast station to a receiver is unable to provide the PUSH-type
information delivery service as described above. The present inventor has invented
a method for providing the PUSH-type information delivery service even through media
transmitting the information one-sidedly.
[0007] To transmit information required for the PUSH-type information service from the receiver
to the broadcast station, use of other media such as portable cellular phones seems
to be possible. However, use of such other media cannot assure reliability that required
information has been surely transmitted to the broadcast station. Instead of using
such other media, a receiver of broadcasts can be applied. That is, many CMs are fed,
in advance, to the receiver which then stores received CMs. When an appropriate time
comes or when a user comes in a proper place, the receiver takes out a proper CM and
inserts it into an ordinary broadcasting program and then regenerates the inserted
CM.
[0008] By configuring as above, even in one-way broadcasting media, a CM delivery that can
meet tastes of the user or that can be made at a time when the user wants or at a
place where the user wants is made possible. Service of this kind is not yet available
actually, however, technology related to this method is disclosed in Japanese Patent
Application No. Heill-263058 as "Device for transmitting and receiving on-demand type
radio broadcast for car user and method for the same" applied by the present inventor
and still pending. The device and method disclosed therein can be used in following
states: When an advertiser is, for example, a manager who runs a restaurant being
operated along a highway, the advertiser wants to run CMs related to the restaurant
to drivers of vehicles and trucks which are running on the highway and coming near
the restaurant. The manager thinks that, by doing this, excellent advertising effects
can be obtained and requests that a broadcaster delivers the CM in a PUSH-type service
manner to the driver. In response to the requirement, the broadcaster runs customized
programs including the CM for the driver through the device for transmitting and receiving
on-demand type radio broadcast in a state that the time, place and contents of required
information change every moment. However, if the CM is chosen or rejected depending
on tastes of the user or on conditions of time and/or places on the user side, there
may be cases where some CMs are not chosen and not broadcast at all. This situation
is favorable to the user of CMs because he/she can obtain only specified CMs at_the
time when he/she wants to get or at the place where he/she wants to get, however,
this situation is not acceptable to a sponsor who must pay an advertisement fee for
the CMs.
[0009] Therefore, even if the method for broadcasting is basically configured so that CMs
are chosen or rejected depending on tastes of users or on conditions of time and/or
places on the user side as described above, unless the CMs are run a minimum number
of times at a specified interval even when CMs are not fully suitable to the user,
the broadcasting method would be rejected by the sponsor. This problem has not been
solved in the above pending Japanese Patent Application No. Heill-263058.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device
and method for broadcasting a CM a minimum number of times at a specified interval,
which is guaranteed to a sponsor, even when the CM would not meet tastes of a user
or would not be fully suitable to conditions of time and/or places on a user side.
[0011] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a broadcasting
program providing apparatus for delivering a broadcasting program in a manner that
broadcasting matches momentarily changing requirements in terms of time, place and
kind of information to be supplied on a user side in a case of a driver operating
a moving automobile including:
a broadcasting program storing section to store a plurality of broadcasting programs
containing an attribute value storing section to store attribute values of the broadcasting
programs, a previous broadcast time storing section to store date and/or time when
the broadcasting program was last run, a broadcasting interval storing section to
store the interval between broadcasts of the broadcasting program ordinarily scheduled
to be run, a program content storing section to store contents of the broadcasting
programs and a matching degree storing section to store calculated matching degrees
fed from a broadcasting interval considering section for every broadcasting program;
a current/present attribute value storing section to store a current/present state
expressed by at least one kind of a pair of an attribute and its attribute value;
a matching degree rule storing section to store a method for calculation of a matching
degree used when the attribute value stored in the present attribute value storing
section is compared with the attribute value of each broadcasting program stored in
the attribute value storing section;
an attribute matching degree calculating section to calculate the matching degree
using a value output from the present attribute value storing section and a value
of each broadcasting program output from the attribute value storing section as input
values in accordance with method of calculation of matching degrees stored in the
matching degree rule storing section and to output a result;
a current/present date/time storing section to store current/present date and/or time;
a broadcasting interval considering rule storing section to store a method for calculating
a weight in which a difference between date and/or time for previous broadcasting
of a program and date and/or time for present broadcasting of the program is compared
with a value output from the broadcasting interval storing section for every broadcasting
program and, if the difference is smaller than the value from the broadcasting interval
storing section, a weight having a negative value corresponding to the difference
is assigned to the broadcasting program, while, if the difference is larger than the
value, a weight having a positive value corresponding to the difference is assigned
to the broadcasting program;
a broadcasting interval considering section to calculate a weight using a value output
from the previous broadcast time storing section, a value output from the present
date/time storing section and a value output from the broadcasting interval storing
section as input values in accordance with a calculation rule stored in the broadcasting
interval considering rule storing section and to output a value obtained by multiplying
calculated weight by an output from the attribute matching degree calculating section;
and
a program regenerating section to select a broadcasting program having a largest matching
degree out of values stored in the matching degree storing section contained in the
broadcasting program storing section and to regenerate the program.
[0012] A preferable mode is one that includes a recent broadcasting average interval storing
section contained in the broadcasting program storing section, which is mounted instead
of the previously broadcast time storing section, to store an average interval date
and/or time between broadcasts of each program which has been run recently and a new
broadcasting interval considering rule storing section, which is mounted instead of
the broadcasting interval considering rule storing section, to store a method for
calculating a weight in which an average interval date and/or time between broadcasts
of a program which has been run recently is compared with an interval value output
from the broadcasting interval storing section and, if the average interval date and/or
time between broadcasts of the program which has been run recently is smaller than
the interval value output from the broadcasting interval storing section, a weight
having a negative value corresponding to the difference is assigned to the program,
while, if the average interval date and/or time between broadcasts of the program
which has been run recently is larger than the interval value output from the broadcasting
interval storing section, a weight having a positive value corresponding to the difference
is assigned to the program.
[0013] Another preferable mode is one that includes an addition-type broadcasting interval
considering section, which is mounted instead of the broadcasting interval considering
section, to calculate a weight using a value output from the previously broadcast
time storing section, a value output from the present date/time storing section and
a value output from the broadcasting interval storing section as input values in accordance
with rules stored in the broadcasting interval considering rule storing section and
to output a value obtained by adding calculated weight to an output from the attribute
matching degree calculating section.
[0014] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a broadcasting
program providing method for delivering a broadcasting program in a manner that broadcasting
matches momentarily changing requirements in terms of time, place and kind of information
to be supplied on a mobile body side including steps of:
storing a plurality of the broadcasting programs each being paired with an attribute
value stored in an attribute value storing section, with a date and/or time when a
corresponding broadcasting program was last run stored in a previously broadcast time
storing section, with the interval between broadcasts of the program ordinarily scheduled
to be run stored in a broadcasting interval storing section, with a content of the
broadcasting program stored in a program content storing section and with a matching
degree stored in a matching degree storing section;
storing a present state of a mobile body expressed by at least one kind of a pair
of an attribute of the broadcasting program and its attribute value in a present attribute
value storing section;
storing, in a matching degree rule storing section, a method for calculation of a
matching degree used when a value stored in the present attribute value storing section
is compared with a value of each broadcasting program stored in the attribute value
storing section contained in the broadcasting program storing section;
calculating, in an attribute matching degree calculating section, the matching degree
using a value output from the present attribute value storing section and a value
output from the attribute value storing section as input values in accordance with
the method of calculation of matching degrees stored in the matching degree rule storing
section and outputting a result;
storing a present date and/or present time in a present date/time storing section;
storing, in a broadcasting interval considering rule storing section, a method for
calculating a weight in which a difference between a date and/or time of previous
broadcasting of a broadcasting program and a present date and/or time is compared
with a value output from the broadcasting interval storing section for every broadcasting
program and, if the interval between broadcasts of the broadcasting program actually
run is larger than the interval between broadcasts of the broadcasting program ordinarily
scheduled to be run, a weight having a negative value corresponding to the difference
is assigned to the broadcasting program, while, if the interval between broadcasts
of the broadcasting program actually run is smaller than the interval between broadcasts
of the broadcasting program ordinarily scheduled to be run, a weight having a positive
value corresponding to the difference is assigned to the broadcasting program;
calculating, in a broadcasting interval considering section, a weight using a value
output from the previous broadcast time storing section, a value output from the present
date/time storing section and a value output from the broadcasting interval storing
section as input values in accordance with the calculation rule stored in the broadcasting
interval considering rule storing section and, outputting a value obtained by multiplying
the calculated weight by an output from the attribute matching degree calculating
section;
storing calculated results fed from the broadcasting interval considering section
for every broadcasting program in a matching degree storing section contained in the
broadcasting program storing section; and
selecting, in a program regenerating section, a broadcasting program having the largest
matching degree out of values stored in the matching degree storing section contained
in the broadcasting program storing section and regenerating the broadcasting program.
[0015] In this context a preferable mode is one that includes steps of storing an average
interval date and/or time between broadcasts of a broadcasting program which has run
recently by using a recent broadcasting average interval storing section contained
in the broadcasting program storing section, which is mounted instead of the previous
broadcast time storing section, and of storing, by using a new broadcasting interval
considering rule storing section, which is mounted instead of the broadcasting interval
considering rule storing section, a method for calculating a weight in which an average
interval date and/or time between broadcasts of a program which has run recently is
compared with a value output from the broadcasting interval storing section and, if
the average interval date and/or time between broadcasts of the broadcasting program
which has run recently is smaller than the value output from the broadcasting interval
storing section, a weight having a negative value corresponding to the difference
is assigned to the broadcasting program, while, if the average interval date and/or
time between broadcasts of the broadcasting program which has run recently is larger
than the value output from the broadcasting interval storing section, a weight having
a positive value corresponding to the difference is assigned to the broadcasting program.
[0016] Another preferable mode is one that includes steps of calculating, by an addition-type
broadcasting interval considering section, which is mounted instead of the broadcasting
interval considering section, a weight using a value output from the previously broadcast
time storing section, a value output from the present date/time storing section and
a value output from the broadcasting interval storing section as input values in accordance
with rules stored in the broadcasting interval considering rule storing section and
outputting a value obtained by adding calculated weight to an output from the attribute
matching degree calculating section.
[0017] According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a broadcasting
program providing apparatus for delivering a broadcasting program in a manner that
broadcasting matches momentarily changing requirements in terms of receiving conditions
on a user side including:
a broadcasting program storing section to store a plurality of broadcasting programs
each being handled as a set with an attribute value, a date and/or time when the broadcasting
program was run last run, an interval between broadcasts of the broadcasting programs
ordinarily scheduled to be run, a content of the broadcasting program and with a matching
degree to an attribute;
a present attribute value storing section to store a present attribute value expressing
a present attribute of the broadcasting program;
a matching degree rule storing section to store a method for calculation of the matching
degree used when a value output from the present attribute value storing section is
compared with an attribute value stored in the broadcasting program storing section;
an attribute matching degree calculating section to calculate the matching degree
using a value output from the present attribute value storing section and a value
output from the broadcasting program storing section as input values in accordance
with rules stored in the matching degree rule storing section;
a broadcasting interval considering rule storing section to store a method for calculating
a weight in which a difference between a date and/or time of previous broadcasting
of a broadcasting program and a present date and/or time is compared with a value
output from the broadcasting interval storing section for every broadcasting program
and, if the difference is smaller than the value from the broadcasting interval storing
section, a weight having a negative value corresponding to the difference is assigned
to the broadcasting program, while, if the difference is larger than the value, a
weight having a positive value corresponding to the difference is assigned to the
broadcasting program;
a broadcasting interval considering section to calculate a weight using a value output
from the previously broadcast time storing section, a value output from the present
date/time storing section and a value output from the broadcasting interval storing
section as input values in accordance with the calculation rule stored in the broadcasting
interval considering rule storing section and to output a value obtained by multiplying
calculated weight by an output from the attribute matching degree calculating section;
a matching degree storing section contained in the broadcasting program storing section
to store calculated results fed from the broadcasting interval considering section
for every broadcasting program; and
a program regenerating section to select the broadcasting program having the largest
matching degree out of values stored in the matching degree storing section contained
in the broadcasting program storing section and to regenerate the program.
[0018] According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a broadcasting
program providing apparatus for delivering a broadcasting program in a manner that
broadcasting matches momentarily changing requirements in terms of receiving conditions
on a user side including:
a broadcasting program storing section to store a plurality of broadcasting programs
each being handled as a set with an attribute value, a date and/or time when the broadcasting
program was last run, the interval between broadcasts of the broadcasting programs
ordinarily scheduled to be run, contents of the broadcasting program and with a matching
degree to the attribute;
an attribute matching degree calculating section to calculate a weight of the attribute
value of a present program by comparing the difference between the date and/or time
when the broadcasting program was broadcast last time and a present date and/or time;
a broadcasting interval considering section to output avalue obtained by multiplying
the matching degree between the attribute value of the present broadcasting program
and the attribute value of the broadcasting program run the last time by the weight.
[0019] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer-readable
storage medium to store programs and data used to implement broadcasting program providing
methods described above.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] The above and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will
be more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing configurations of a regenerating device
to implement a broadcasting interval guaranteed-type broadcast selecting method according
to a first embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2 shows examples of matching degree rules stored in a matching degree rule storing
section according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 3 shows a graph representing the relationship between time and weights in operations
performed by an attribute matching degree calculating section according to the first
embodiment of the present invention;
Figs. 4A and 4B show graphs representing, in a different manner, the relationship
between time and weights in operations performed by the attribute matching degree
calculating section according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing states of advertisement requirements to a
mobile body according to the present invention;
Fig. 6 is a schematic block diagram showing configurations of a regenerating device
to implement a broadcasting interval guaranteed-type broadcast selecting method according
to a second embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 7 shows a graph representing the relationship between time and weights in operations
performed by an attribute matching degree calculating section according to the second
embodiment of the present invention;
Figs. 8A and 8B show graphs representing, in a different manner, the relationship
between time and weights in operations performed by the attribute matching degree
calculating section according to the second embodiment of the present invention; and
Fig. 9 is a schematic block diagram showing configurations of a regenerating device
to implement a broadcasting interval guaranteed-type broadcast selecting method according
to a third embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0021] Best modes of carrying out the present invention will be described in further detail
using various embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.
First Embodiment
[0022] Figure 1 shows configurations of a broadcasting program regenerating device 15,
[0023] First, an overall configuration of the broadcasting program regenerating device 15
is described. The broadcasting program regenerating device 15 is composed of a broadcasting
program storing section 1 (in description, a term "section" represents a "unified
whole to implement a function"), a present attribute value storing section 7, a matching
degree rule storing section 8, an attribute matching degree calculating section 9,
a broadcasting interval considering rule storing section 10, a broadcasting interval
considering section 11, a program regenerating section 12 and a present date/time
storing section 13.
[0024] Next, each component of the broadcast program regenerating device 15 will be briefly
described. The broadcasting program storing section 1, as shown in Fig. 1, is composed
of an attribute value storing section 2, a previous broadcast time storing section
3, a broadcasting interval storing section 4, a program content storing section 5
and a matching degree storing section 6. Each of contents stored in the sections 2,
3, 4, 5 and 6 constitutes one record as a set of a unit element which corresponds
to one CMprogram. One example of a CM contained in the broadcasting program storing
section 1 will be explained referring to Fig. 1. A type of a first CM is sports as
listed in the attribute value storing section 2. The previously broadcast time storing
section 3 shows that the day of broadcasting the sports CM last time was September
15. The broadcasting interval storing section 4 shows that a broadcaster has contracted
with a sponsor to run the sports CM everyday. The program content storing section
5 shows that contents of the sports CM has been stored as a broadcasting file. The
matching degree storing section 6 shows that the present matching degree of the sports
CM is "1".
[0025] Similarly, the broadcasting program storing section 1 shows that a type of the second
CM is shopping as listed in the attribute value storing section 2 which was run on
September 18 as shown in the previous broadcast time storing section 3. The broadcasting
interval storing section 4 shows that the broadcaster has contracted with the sponsor
to run the shopping CM every other day, which has been stored as a broadcasting file
as shown in the program content storing section 5 having a matching degree being as
high as "2". Other types of CMs including gasoline and meals as listed in the attribute
value storing section 2 are shown in a table format and in an associated manner at
each of the above sections 2 to 6.
[0026] The present attribute value storing section 7 is a section adapted to store an attribute
value of a CM being presently broadcast. The matching degree rule storing section
8 is a section in which rules (that is, judgement standards of matching degrees) used
to judge whether each of attribute values is suitable to broadcasting are stored.
The attribute matching degree calculating section 9 is a section adapted to read the
judgement standards of matching degrees from the matching degree rule storing section
8 and calculates the matching degree of each attribute value based on the read judgement
standards of matching degrees. The broadcasting interval considering rule storing
section 10 is a section adapted to store rules to be used when an interval between
broadcasts is decided. The broadcasting interval considering section 11 is a section
adapted to decide an interval between broadcasts based on results (matching degrees)
given by the attribute matching degree calculating section 9 in accordance with rules
stored in the broadcasting interval considering rule storing section 10. The program
regenerating section 12 is a section adapted to regenerate a program based on calculation
results fed by the broadcasting interval considering rule storing section 10. The
present date/time storing section 13 is a section adapted to store dates and/or time
elapsed ordinarily.
[0027] Each component of the broadcasting program regenerating device 15 will be further
described in detail. The attribute value storing section 2, previous broadcast time
storing section 3, broadcasting interval storing section 4, program content storing
section 5 and matching degree storing section 6 contained in the broadcasting program
storing section 1 can be implemented by using related databases or spreadsheets. Moreover,
in Fig. 1, only types of the CMs including sports, shopping, gasoline andmeals are
stored in the attribute value storing section 2, however, by defining contents to
be stored in this section in a more detailed manner, the CMs can be accepted or rejected
with flexibly depending on tastes of a user or at a time when he/she wants or at a
place where he/she wants.
[0028] In Fig. 2, three attributes of a program to be stored are prepared, as examples,
which include "content", "time" and "place".
[0029] The attribute matching degree calculating section 9 reads a content attribute rule
81, a time attribute rule 82 and a place attribute rule 83 from the matching degree
rule storing section 8 and compares stored contents in the present attribute value
storing section 7 with those in the attribute value storing section 2 to calculate
the matching degree and then outputs calculated results to the broadcasting interval
considering section 11.
[0030] A format to express attributes is the same in between the present attribute value
storing section 7 and the attribute value storing section 2. If attribute values are
to be stored in a simple manner to include only types of the CMs as shown in Fig.
1, additional storage area is not required. If, however, attribute values are to be
stored in more detailed manner as shown in Fig. 2, a storage area that can store detailed
attribute values including the "content", "time" and "place" is required. In this
situation, the attribute value "content" is designated directly by the user who is
to receive the CM, in many cases. For example, when a driver now operating a vehicle
wants to see or hear the CM related to meals because it is about time to take lunch,
"meals" constituting the attribute value "content" is designated. If the user wants
to go out to play, an "amusement facility" is designated. The attribute value "time"
can be set by reading present time from an ordinary watch. Moreover, when the user
wants to get information at a time and/or on a day designated by the user, the time
and/or day designated by the user is set. The attribute value "place" can be obtained
by mounting a device that provides a present latitude and longitute such as a GPS
(Global Positioning System) . A general commercial car navigation system uses the
GPS, which can be applicable to the present device described above.
[0031] The matching degree rule storing section 8 stores rules used to judge a matching
degree between attribute values stored in the attribute value storing section 2 and
the present attribute value storing section 7. Figure 2 shows examples of the matching
degree rules stored in the matching degree rule storing section 8. In Fig. 2, three
kinds of rules including the content attribute rule 81, time attribute rule 82 and
place attribute rule 83 are shown. The definitions of the three matching degree rules
are provided therein. The content attribute rule 81 defines that, if the attribute
value "content" stored in the attribute value storing section 2 conforms to that stored
in the present attribute value storing section 7, both of the attribute values are
considered to be matched to each other. If there is no conformity between them, both
attribute values are not considered to be matched to each other. The time attribute
rule 82 defines that, if a difference in time span between the attribute value "time"
stored in the attribute value storing section 2 and that stored in the present attribute
value storing section 7 is within one hour, both of the attribute values are considered
to match with each other. If the difference is out of the range of one hour, both
attribute values are not considered to match with to each other. The place attribute
rule 83 defines that, if the difference in distance between attribute value "place"
stored in the attribute value storing section 2 and that stored in the present attribute
value storing section 7 is within five kilometers, both of the attribute values are
considered to match with each other. If the difference is out of a range of five kilometers,
both attribute values are not considered to match with each other. Since the attribute
values "time" and "place" stored in the attribute value storing section 2 and in the
present attribute value storing section 7 seldom conform completely with each other,
some difference in them is allowable in a definition. A total matching degree can
be calculated by assigning a weight to each element attribute and by obtaining a weighted
average, or if the weight assigned to each element attribute is equal, the sum of
matching degrees of each element attribute may be used as the total matching degree.
When the total matching degree is calculated, not only such contents, time and places
as described above but also other attributes derived from various conditions surrounding
the user can be incorporated. For example, elements showing a rising boom in business
or diversified tastes in society or the like may be incorporated into the calculation
of the matching degree as well.
[0032] The attribute matching degree calculating section 9 calculates the matching degree
by comparing the attribute value stored in the present attribute value storing section
7 with that stored in the attribute value storing section 2 contained in the broadcasting
program storing section 1 in accordance with rules stored in the matching degree rule
storing section 8 and feeds the calculated result to the broadcasting interval considering
rule storing section 11.
[0033] The broadcasting interval considering rule storing section 10, if date and/or time
when a broadcasting program was run last , a present date and/or time, and an average
interval between broadcasts of the broadcasting program are fed, compares the difference
between the date and/or time when the broadcasting program was last run and the present
date and/or time with an interval between broadcasts ordinarily scheduled to be run.
If the resulting difference is smaller than the interval value between broadcasts,
for example, as in a case where the difference is "two days" and the interval is "every
two days", that is, when the interval between broadcasts actually performed is larger
than the interval between broadcasts ordinarily scheduled to be run, a weight of a
negative value corresponding to the difference is output. If the above difference
is larger than the interval between broadcasts, for example, as in a case where the
difference is "three days" and the interval value is "every two days", that is, when
the interval between broadcasts actually performed is smaller than the interval between
broadcasts scheduled to be run, a weight of a positive value corresponding to the
difference is output. In the broadcasting interval considering rule storing section
10, rules defining a method for calculation of a weight having a negative value or
a positive value are stored.
[0034] Figure 3 shows the relationship between a difference in a date and/or time (T) and
a weight (W). In Fig. 3, the difference of the date and/or time (T) is plotted as
abscissa and the weight (W) as ordinate. The origin in the graph shows that, when
the difference is zero (0), the weight is zero (0). If the difference increases in
a positive direction, the weight also increases linearly in the positive direction.
Generally, if the difference increases in the negative direction, the weight increases
linearly in the negative direction.
[0035] The definition of the weight will be described below. The attribute matching degree
calculating section 9 calculates a matching degree of each broadcasting file stored
in the program content storing section 5 constituting the broadcast program storing
section 1; that is, it judges whichbroadcasting file stored in the program content
storing section 5 matches a present situation given in the present attribute value
storing_section 7. Even when the matching degree of the broadcasting program is high,
it is not always run and whether the broadcasting program is run or not depends on
how often the broadcasting program is to be run. For example, even if the broadcasting
program matches the present situation given in the present attribute value storing
section 7, when the user has to hear or see the same broadcasting program three or
four times a day, he/she may grow tired Therefore, if the broadcasting program has
been run many times recently, it should be handled as the broadcasting program having
a lowmatching degree even if it actually has a high matching degree.
[0036] In the case of a broadcasting program which has not been run recently due to its
low matching degree, if the interval between broadcasts of the broadcasting program
is too large compared with its interval between broadcasts ordinarily scheduled to
be run, in order to show consideration for the sponsor of the broadcasting program,
it should be handled as the broadcasting program having a high matching degree even
if it actually has a low matching degree. The broadcasting interval considering section
11 provides a weight to relatively increase or decrease the matching degree. The weight
could be simply assigned if any broadcasting program is allowed to have a uniform
interval between broadcasts; however, an average interval between broadcasts differs
actually for every broadcasting program. For example, if a broadcaster makes a contract
with a sponsor that a CM is to be run in exchange for high advertisement fees, the
interval between broadcasts of the CM is shorter compared with those of other CMs
which are contracted to be run in exchange for low advertisement fees. Also, in this
case, a high weight may be assigned to such a program to handle it as an important
broadcasting program when the interval between broadcasts of programs is decided.
[0037] In the graph showing the relationship between weights and time as shown in Fig. 3,
the relationship can be expressed by an equation "W=aT", where "a" is agradient. However,
the relationship may be expressed by formats other than a straight line. For example,
the graph in Fig. 4A shows that, as an average interval between broadcasts increases,
a weight rapidly increases, or graphs in Fig. 4B show that, as the interval between
broadcasts increases or decreases, the weight increases or decreases stepwise. Selection
of these graphs depends on applications and operations of broadcasting to be performed.
[0038] Thus, according to the first embodiment, the difference between the date and/or time
when a broadcasting program was run the last time and the present date and/or time
is compared with the interval between broadcasts scheduled to be run. If the above
difference is smaller than the interval value, the weight having a negative value
corresponding to the difference is output and if the difference is larger than the
interval value, the weight having a positive value corresponding to the difference
is output.
[0039] The present date/time storing section 13 shown in Fig. 1 can be implemented by a
clock ordinarily used. The time to be stored in the present date/time storing section
13 can be counted based on a clock from a clock oscillator mounted in a program processor
composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit) used to run the broadcasting program.
To exactly count the current date and/or time, a cesium oscillator can be used in
the clock oscillator.
[0040] The broadcasting interval considering section 11 shown in Fig. 1, by using values
fed from the previously broadcast time storing section 3, from the present date/time
storing section 13 and from the broadcasting interval storing section 4 as input values,
calculates the weight of each attribute value (that is, each program) stored in the
broadcasting program storing section 1 in accordance with rules stored in the broadcasting
interval considering rule storing section 10 and multiplies the obtained weight by
values fed from the attribute matching degree calculating section 9 and then stores
the result in the matching degree storing section 6.
[0041] The programregenerating section 12 compares all the matching degrees of broadcasting
programs corresponding to all attribute values stored in the matching degree storing
section 6 and takes out one of the broadcasting programs stored in the program content
storing section 5 which has the highest matching degree in the matching degree storing
section 6 and then regenerates it. The program content storing section 5 has various
types of files including an image file, voice file or the like.
[0042] By configuring as above, a CM can be run a minimum number of times at a specified
interval, which is guaranteed to the sponsor, even when the CM would not meet tastes
of the users or would not be fully suitable to conditions of time and/or places on
the user side. That is, according to the embodiment, the CM is stored in advance in
a database. The attribute value assigned to the CM is read from the present attribute
value storing section 7. The above attribute value is compared with the attribute
value read from the attribute value storing section 2 to calculate the matching degree
of the CM in the attribute matching degree calculating section 9 in accordance with
matching degree rules. The broadcasting interval considering section 11 having received
the calculated matching degree of the CM calculates the weight of the CM based on
data fed from the previously broadcast time storing section 3 and from the broadcasting
interval storing section 4 in accordance with broadcasting interval considering rules
stored in the broadcasting interval considering rule storing section 10. A value obtained
by integrating the matching degree fed by the attribute matching degree calculating
section 9 and the weight calculated in the broadcasting interval considering section
11 re input to the program regenerating section 12 as the matching degree of a present
commercial film and also stored into the matching degree storing section 6. The program
regenerating section 12, the input matching degree exceeds a predetermined threshold
value, regenerates a broadcasting program so that data on the commercial film can
be incorporated into an ordinary broadcasting program. The CM is run in a manner that
it is inserted into the broadcasting program by a time sharing method or, that the
CM, by changing frequency bands, is incorporated into image data or voice data of
the broadcasting program. By this method, the commercial film satisfies requirements
of both the user and the sponsor.
[0043] According to the device and method of the embodiment, a CM can be run a number of
times that a broadcaster has contracted with a sponsor to run and an interval between
broadcasts which has been guaranteed to the sponsor can be assured. This allows the
broadcaster to guarantee broadcasting of the CM at an individual audience level to
the sponsor. In the case of televisions or radios, only a method presently available
to know how the CM is recognized by an audience is to use an audience rating calculated
using a sample population.
[0044] According to the present invention, since WWW, satellite digital broadcasting, ITS
(Intelligent Transportation System) broadcasting or the like are used, the device
and method assure that a CM reaches one hundred percent of an individual audience,
which can provide a great benefit to a sponsor.
[0045] While programs with CMs are broadcast through satellite digital broadcasting systems,
terrestrial digital broadcasting systems, the Internet or other broadcasting media,
regardless of wired or wireless systems, as illustrated in Fig. 5, by delivering a
CM related to sports when a user is practicing a sport, a CM related to shopping when
a user is going for shopping by a car, a CM related to a restaurant when a user is
going to take a meal by a car, great effects of the CM can be obtained. Moreover,
by delivering CMs, not randomly, but in accordance with TPO (Time, Place and Occasion)
conditions on a user side, CMs being beneficial and useful to an individual user can
be possibly run, which provides advantages not only to users but also to sponsors.
Second Embodiment
[0046] Configurations of a broadcasting program regenerating device 25 shown in Fig. 6 are
same as those shown in Fig. 1 except a new broadcasting interval considering rule
storing section 20 and a recent broadcasting average interval storing section 23.
[0047] The recent broadcasting average interval storing section 23 is a section adapted
to store an average interval between broadcasts of broadcasting programs which have
been run recently. A recent date/time includes, for example, "past one week" and the
recent broadcasting average interval storing section 23 stores a number of times of
broadcasting a broadcasting program for the past one week. Then "one week" is divided
by a number of times to calculate the average interval between broadcasts of the broadcasting
program. The average interval between broadcasts of each broadcasting program is stored
in the recent broadcasting average interval storing section 23.
[0048] The new broadcasting interval considering rule storing section 20 compares a value
output from the recent broadcasting average interval storing section 23 with a value
output from broadcasting interval storing section 4. According to rules of calculation
stored in the new broadcasting interval considering rule storing section 20, if the
value from the recent broadcasting average interval storing section 23 is smaller
that that from the broadcasting interval storing section 4; for example, when the
value fromthe recent broadcasting average interval storing section 23 is "every two
days" and the value from the broadcasting interval storing section 4 is "every three
days", that is, if a frequency of recent actual broadcasting is higher than that of
intervals between broadcasts scheduled to be run, a weight having a negative value
corresponding to a difference is assigned to a broadcasting program, while if the
value from the recent broadcasting average interval storing section 23 is larger than
that from the broadcasting interval storing section 4; for example, when the value
fromthe recentbroadcasting average interval storing section 23 is "every three days"
and the value from the broadcasting interval storing section 4 is "every two days",
that is, if a frequency of recent actual broadcasting is lower than that of intervals
between broadcasts ordinarily scheduled to be run, a weight having a positive value
corresponding to the difference is assigned to a broadcasting program.
[0049] Figure 7 is a graph showing a relationship between a difference in a date/time TT
between a value in the recent broadcasting average interval storing section 23 and
a value in the broadcasting interval storing section 4 and weights WW. The difference
in the date/time TT is plotted as abscissa and the weight WW as ordinate. An original
point in the graph shows that the value in the recent broadcasting average interval
storing section 23 is equal to a value in the broadcasting interval storing section
4, when the weight WW is zero (0). If the value in the recent broadcasting average
interval storing section 23 increases more in a positive direction compared with the
value in the broadcasting interval storing section 4, that is, when the frequency
of actual broadcasting is lower than that of scheduled broadcasting; for example,
the value in the recent broadcasting average interval storing section 23 is "three
days" and the value in the broadcasting interval storing section 4 is "once every
two days", the weight WW increases in a positive direction. If the value in the recent
broadcasting average interval storing section 23 increases more in a negative direction
compared with the value in the broadcasting interval storing section 4, that is, when
the frequency of actual broadcasting is higher than that of scheduled broadcasting;
for example, the value in the recent broadcasting average interval storing section
23 is "two days" and the value in the broadcasting interval storing section 4 is "every
three days", the weight WW increases in a negative direction.
[0050] The meaning of the weight WW will be described below. As in the case of the first
embodiment, if an average interval between broadcasts of a recent program is larger
than that between broadcasts scheduled in advance to be run, a weight WW is assigned
in a positive direction so that the number of times of broadcasting the broadcasting
program is increased, while, if the average interval between recent broadcasts of
the broadcasting program is smaller than that between broadcasts scheduled in advance
to be run, the weight WW is assigned in a negative direction so that the number of
times of broadcasting the broadcasting program is decreased.
[0051] This causes a matching degree of the broadcasting program being broadcast frequently
more than designated to be made lower and the matching degree of the broadcasting
program being broadcast less frequently than designated to be made higher. Thus, the
broadcasting program is selected so that number of times of broadcasting is matched
to a designated level as a whole.
[0052] As shown in Fig. 7, the relationship between weights WW and date/time TT can be expressed
by an equation "WW = bTT", where "b" is a gradient. However, as in the case of the
first embodiment, the relationship may be expressed by formats other than a straight
line. For example, the graph in Fig. 8A shows that, as the average interval between
broadcasts increases, weight WW rapidly increases or the graph in Fig. 8B shows that,
as the interval between broadcasts increases or decreases, weight WW increases or
decreases stepwise. The selection of these graphs depends on applications and operations
of the broadcasting programs to be performed.
Third Embodiment
[0053] Configurations of a broadcasting program regenerating device 35 shown in Fig. 9 are
same as those shown in Fig. 1 except an addition-type broadcasting interval considering
section 31. The addition-type broadcasting interval considering section 31 calculates
weights using an output value from a previously broadcast time storing section 3 and
an output value from the broadcasting interval storing section 4 as input values in
accordance with rules stored in a broadcasting interval considering rule storing section
10 and outputs a value obtaining by adding a resulting weight to an output value from
an attribute matching degree calculating section 9. Unlike in the case of the first
embodiment, in the third embodiment, an obtained weight value is added to the output
value output from the attribute matching degree calculating section 9. If the weight
value is multiplied as in a case of the first embodiment, since a positive value is
given to the weight value to a program which has not been run with a frequency exceeding
scheduled interval between broadcasts depending on states of intervals, the weight
broadcasting value obtained by multiplication becomes positive. However, a weight
having a negative value is always assigned to a broadcasting program which has not
been run with the frequency exceeding scheduled intervals between broadcasts. For
example, even when a program is highly matched to states of a user and is surely beneficial
to the user, if a date/time of the broadcasting program broadcast the last time is
smaller than designated broadcasting interval, a weight having a negative value is
assigned to the broadcasting program and an overall matching degree of the broadcasting
program becomes smaller than that of a broadcasting program which has not been broadcast
recently and which has a low matching degree. If this relationship is expressed by
an equation, a final matching degree equals an output from the attribute matching
degree calculating section 9 multipled by weight value. An aim of the third embodiment
is to solve this problem. In the third embodiment, the relationship can be expressed
as follows:
[0054] Final matching degree equals output from the attribute matching degree calculating
section 9 plus weight value.
[0055] As is apparent from the equation, even if the weight value is negative, so long as
the weight value is smaller than the output value from the attribute matching degree
calculating section 9, the final matching degree does not become negative. Thus, the
above problem can be solved.
[0056] In Fig. 9, a system is shown which is composed of an input section 32 having a control
board, a CPU 34 to control selection of broadcasting interval guaranteed-type programs,
operations of broadcasting program regenerating device 35 and others, a storage mediumdriver
33 to drive a storige medium 37 used to store a database base for the selection of
broadcasting interval guaranteed-type programs and for the broadcasting program regenerating
device 35 and related broadcasting programs and a display 36 to display data, characters
and images under the control of the CPU 34. By mounting such the storage medium 3
as above, amounts of CMs to be stored can be increased. By storing the database or
programs for the selection of the broadcasting interval guaranteed-type program and
for the broadcasting program regenerating device 35, the CMs can be run effectively.
To implement operations described above, related software is read from the storage
medium 37 and read into the CPU 34. Necessary data read from the storage medium 37
is fed to a broadcasting program storing section 1 when the broadcasting programs
and CMs are broadcast. Data or programs stored in the storage medium 37 may be installed
into other personal computers having similar CPUs to achieve a broadcasting system
of the present invention. A program used for selection of the broadcasting interval
guaranteed-type program and for operations of the broadcasting program regenerating
device 35 can be stored into the storage medium 37 through control of the CPU 34.
A similar system as shown in Fig. 9 can be mounted to a device of Figs. 1 and 6 in
a same manner.
[0057] As described above, according to the present invention, CMs can be run a number of
times that a broadcaster has contracted with a sponsor to run and an interval between
broadcasts which has been guaranteed to the sponsor can be assured. This enables the
broadcaster to guarantee broadcasting of CMs at an individual audience level to the
sponsor. In a case of present televisions or radios, only a method presently available
to know how CMs are recognized by an individual audience is to use an audience rating
calculation based on a sample population. Since WWW, satellite digital broadcasting,
ITS broadcasting or the like are used, the device and method of the present invention
assure that CMs reach 100% of an individual audience, which can provide great advantages
to the sponsor.
[0058] Moreover, by delivering CMs, not randomly, but inaccordance with TPO conditions on
a user side, CMs being beneficial and useful to an individual user can possibly be
run, which can provide benefit not only to users but also to sponsors.
[0059] It is apparent that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments
but may be changed and modified without departing from the scope and spirit of the
invention.
1. A broadcasting program providing apparatus for delivering a broadcasting program in
a manner that broadcasting matches momentarily changing requirements in terms of time,
place and kind of information to be supplied on a user side in
a case of a driver operating a moving automobile, said broadcasting program providing
apparatus characterized by comprising:
a broadcasting program storing section (1) to store a plurality of broadcasting programs
containing an attribute value storing sectionn (2) to store attribute values of said
broadcasting programs, a previous broadcast time storing section (3) to store a date
and/or time when said broadcasting program was last run, a broadcasting interval storing
section (4) to store the interval between broadcasts of said broadcasting program
ordinarily scheduled to be run, a broadcasting interval storing section (5) to store
contents of said broadcasting programs and a matching degree storing section (6) to
store calculated matching degrees fed from a broadcasting interval considering section
(11) for every said broadcasting program;
a present/current attribute value storing section (7) to store a current/present state
expressed by at least one attribute value;
a matching degree rule storing section (8) to store a method for calculation of a
matching degree used when an attribute value stored in said present attribute value
storing section (7) is compared with an attribute value of each broadcasting program
stored in said attribute value storing section (2);
an attribute matching degree calculating section (9) to calculate said matching degree
using a value output from said present attribute value storing section (7) and a value
of each broadcasting program output from said attribute value storing section (2)
as input values in accordance with said method of calculation of matching degrees
stored in said matching degree rule storing section (8) and to output a result;
a current/present date/time storing section (13) to store a current/present date and/or
time;
a broadcasting interval considering rule storing section (10) to store a method for
calculating a weight in which a difference between a date and/or time for previous
broadcasting of a broadcasting program and a date and/or time for present broadcasting
of said broadcasting program is compared with a value output from said broadcasting
interval storing section (4) for every broadcasting program and, if said difference
is smaller than said value from said broadcasting interval storing section (4), a
weight having a negative value corresponding to said difference is assigned to said
broadcasting program, while, if said difference is larger than said value, a weight
having a positive value corresponding to said difference is assigned to said broadcasting
program;
a broadcasting interval considering section (11) to calculate a weight using a value
output from said previous broadcast time storing section (3), a value output from
said present date/time storing section (13) and a value output from said broadcasting
interval storing section (4) as input values in accordance with a calculation rule
stored in said broadcasting interval considering rule storing section (10) and to
output a value obtained by multiplying said calculated weight by an output from said
attribute matching degree calculating section (9); and
a program regenerating section (12) to select a broadcasting program having the largest
matching degree out of values stored in said matching degree storing section (6) contained
in said broadcasting program storing section (1) and to regenerate said broadcasting
program.
2. The broadcasting program providing apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in
that a format to express said attribute value is the same in between said present
attribute value storing section (7) and said attribute value storing section (2).
3. The broadcasting program providing apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in
that said attribute value storing sectionn (2) stores said attribute values which
express types of commercials and/or content, time and place.
4. The broadcasting program providing apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in
that said present attribute value storing section (7) stores a present state expressed
by at least one kind of a pair of an attribute and its attribute value.
5. The broadcasting program providing apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized by
comprising a recent broadcasting average interval storing section (23) contained in
said broadcasting program storing section (1), which is mounted instead of said previous
broadcast time storing section (3), to store an average interval date and/or time
between broadcasts of each said broadcasting program which has been run recently and
a new broadcasting interval considering rule storing section (20), which is mounted
instead of said broadcasting interval considering rule storing section (10), to store
a method for calculating a weight in which an average interval date and/or time between
broadcasts of a broadcasting program which has run recently is compared with an interval
value output from said broadcasting interval storing section (4) and, if said average
interval date and/or time between broadcasts of said broadcasting program which has
run recently is smaller than said interval value output from said broadcasting interval
storing section (4), a weight having a negative value corresponding to said difference
is assigned to said broadcasting program, while, if said average interval date and/or
time between broadcasts of said broadcasting program which has run recently is larger
than said interval value output from said broadcasting interval storing section (4),
a weight having a positive value corresponding to said difference is assigned to said
broadcasting program.
6. The broadcasting program providing apparatus according to Claim 1, characterizedbycomprisinganaddition-type
broadcasting interval considering section (31), which is mounted instead of said broadcasting
interval considering section (11), to calculate a weight using a value output from
said previously broadcast time storing section (3), a value output from said present
date/time storing section (13) and a value output from said broadcasting interval
storing section (4) as input values in accordance with rules stored in said broadcasting
interval considering rule storing section (10) and to output a value obtained by adding
said calculated weight to an output from said attribute matching degree calculating
section (9).
7. A broadcasting program providing method for delivering a broadcasting program in a
manner that broadcasting is matched to momentarily changing requirements in terms
of time, place and kind of information to be supplied on a mobile body side, said
broadcasting program providing method characterized by comprising steps of:
storing a plurality of said broadcasting programs each being handled as a set with
an attribute value stored in an attribute value storing sectionn (2), with a date
and/or time when a corresponding broadcasting program was last run stored inaprevious
broadcast time storing section (3), with an interval between broadcasts of said broadcasting
program ordinarily scheduled to be run stored in a broadcasting interval storing section
(4), with a content of said broadcasting program stored in a broadcasting interval
storing section (5) and with a matching degree stored in a matching degree storing
section (6);
storing a current/present state of said mobile body expressed by at least one kind
of a pair of an attribute of said broadcasting program and its attribute value in
a present attribute value storing section (7);
storing, in a matching degree rule storing section (8), a method for calculation of
a matching degree used when a value stored in said present attribute value storing
section (7) is compared with a value of each broadcasting program stored in said attribute
value storing section (2) contained in said broadcasting program storing section (1);
calculating, in an attribute matching degree calculating section (9), said matching
degree using a value output from said present attribute value storing section (7)
and a value output from said attribute value storing section (2) as input values in
accordance with said method of calculation of matching degrees stored in said matching
degree rule storing section (8) and outputting the result;
storing a current/present date and/or time in a present/current date/time storing
section (13);
storing, in a broadcasting interval considering rule storing section (10), a method
for calculating a weight in which the difference between a date and/or time of previous
broadcasting of a broadcasting program and a present date and/or time is compared
with a value output from said broadcasting interval storing section (4) for every
broadcasting program and, if the interval between broadcasts of said broadcasting
program actually run is larger than the interval between broadcasts of said broadcasting
program ordinarily scheduled to be run, a weight having a negative value corresponding
to said difference is assigned to said broadcasting program, while, if said interval
between broadcasts of said broadcasting program actually run is smaller than said
interval between broadcasts of said broadcasting program ordinarily scheduled to be
run, a weight having a positive value corresponding to said difference is assigned
to said broadcasting program;
calculating, in a broadcasting interval considering section (11), a weight using a
value output from said previous broadcast time storing section (3), a value output
from said present date/time storing section (13) and a value output from said broadcasting
interval storing section (4) as input values in accordance with said calculation rule
stored in said broadcasting interval considering rule storing section (10) and, outputting
a value obtained by multiplying said calculated weight by an output from said attribute
matching degree calculating section (9);
storing calculated results fed from said broadcasting interval considering section
(11) for every broadcasting program in a matching degree storing section (6) contained
in said broadcasting program storing section (1); and
selecting, in a program regenerating section (12), a broadcasting program having the
largest matching degree out of values stored in said matching degree storing section
(6) contained in said broadcasting program storing section (1) and regenerating said
broadcasting program.
8. The broadcasting program providing method according to Claim 7, characterized by comprising
steps of storing an average interval date and/or time between broadcasts of a broadcasting
program which has run recently by using a recent broadcasting average interval storing
section (23) contained in said broadcasting program storing section (1), which is
mounted instead of said previous broadcast time storing section (3), and of storing,
by using a new broadcasting interval considering rule storing section (20), which
is mounted instead of said broadcasting interval considering rule storing section
(10), a method for calculating a weight in which an average interval date and/or time
between broadcasts of a broadcasting program which has run recently is compared with
a value output from said broadcasting interval storing section (4) and, if said average
interval date and/or time between broadcasts of said program which has run recently
is smaller than said value output from said broadcasting interval storing section
(4), a weight having a negative value corresponding to said difference is assigned
to said broadcasting program, while, if said average interval date and/or time between
broadcasts of saidbroadcasting programwhich has run recently is larger than said value
output from said broadcasting interval storing section (4), a weight having a positive
value corresponding to said difference is assigned to said broadcasting program.
9. The broadcasting program providing method according to Claim 7, characterized by comprising
steps of calculating, by an addition-type broadcasting interval considering section
(31), which is mounted instead of said broadcasting interval considering section (11),
a weight using a value output from said previous broadcast time storing section (3),
a value output from saidpresent date/time storing section (13) and a value output
from said broadcasting interval storing section (4) as input values in accordance
with rules stored in said broadcasting interval considering rule storing section (10)
and outputting a value obtained by adding said calculated weight to an output from
said attribute matching degree calculating section (9).
10. A broadcasting program providing apparatus for delivering a broadcasting program in
a manner that broadcasting matches momentarily changing requirements in terms of receiving
conditions on a user side, said broadcasting program providing apparatus characterized
by comprising:
a broadcasting program storing section (1) to store a plurality of broadcasting programs
each being handled as a set with an attribute value, a date and/or time when said
broadcasting program was last run, the interval between broadcasts of broadcasting
said programs ordinarily scheduled to be run, a content of said broadcasting program
and with a matching degree to said attribute;
a present attribute value storing section (7) to store a present attribute value expressing
a current/present attribute of said broadcasting program;
a matching degree rule storing section (8) to store a method for calculation of said
matching degree used when a value output from said present attribute value storing
section (7) is compared with an attribute value stored in said broadcasting program
storing section (1);
an attribute matching degree calculating section (9) to calculate said matching degree
using a value output from said present attribute value storing section (7) and a value
output from said broadcasting program storing section (1) as input values in accordance
with rules stored in said matching degree rule storing section (8);
a broadcasting interval considering rule storing section (10) to store a method for
calculating a weight in which the difference between a date and/or time of previous
broadcasting of a broadcasting program and a current/present date and/or time is compared
with a value output from said broadcasting interval storing section (4) for every
broadcasting program and, if said difference is smaller than said value from said
broadcasting interval storing section (4), a weight having a negative value corresponding
to said difference is assigned to said broadcasting program, while, if said difference
is larger than said value, a weight having a positive value corresponding to said
difference is assigned to said broadcasting program;
a broadcasting interval considering section (11) to calculate a weight using a value
output from said previous broadcast time storing section (3), a value output from
saidpresent date/time storing section (13) and a value output from said broadcasting
interval storing section (4) as input values in accordance with said calculation rule
stored in said broadcasting interval considering rule storing section (10) and to
output a value obtained by multiplying said calculated weight by an output from said
attribute matching degree calculating section (9);
a matching degree storing section (6) contained in said broadcasting program storing
section (1) to store calculated results fed from said broadcasting interval considering
section (11) for every broadcasting program; and
a program regenerating section (12) to select a broadcasting program having the largest
matching degree out of values stored in said matching degree storing section (6) contained
in said broadcasting program storing section (1) and to regenerate said broadcasting
program.
11. A broadcasting program providing apparatus for delivering a broadcasting program in
a manner that broadcasting matches momentarily changing requirements in terms of receiving
conditions on a user side, said broadcasting program providing apparatus characterized
by comprising:
a broadcasting program storing section (1) to store a plurality of broadcasting programs
each being paired with an attribute value, a date and/or time when said broadcasting
program was run last, an interval between broadcasts of said broadcasting programs
ordinarily scheduled to be run, contents of said broadcasting program and with a matching
degree to said attribute;
an attribute matching degree calculating section (9) to calculate a weight of an attribute
value of a present broadcasting program by comparing the difference between a date
and/or time when said broadcasting program was broadcast last time and a present/current
date and/or time;
a broadcasting interval considering section (11) to output a value obtained by multiplying
the matching degree between said attribute value of said present broadcasting program
and said attribute value of said broadcasting program run last by said weight.
12. The computer-readable storage medium storing programs and data used to implement a
broadcasting program providing method for delivering a broadcasting program in a manner
that broadcasting matche s momentarily changing requirements in terms of time, place
and kind of information to be supplied on a mobile body side, said broadcasting program
providing method comprising steps of:
storing a plurality of said broadcasting programs each being handled as a set with
an attribute value stored in an attribute value storing sectionn (2), with a date
and/or time when a corresponding broadcasting program was run last time stored in
a previous broadcast time storing section (3), with an interval between broadcasts
of said broadcasting program ordinarily scheduled to be run stored in a broadcasting
interval storing section (4), with a content of said broadcasting program stored in
a broadcasting interval storing section (5) and with a matching degree stored in a
matching degree storing section (6);
storing a present state of said mobile body expressed by at least one kind of a pair
of an attribute of said broadcasting program and its attribute value in a present
attribute value storing section (7);
storing, in a matching degree rule storing section (8), a method for calculation of
a matching degree used when a value stored in said present attribute value storing
section (7) is compared with a value of each broadcasting program stored in said attribute
value storing sectionn (2) contained in said broadcasting program storing section
(1);
calculating, in an attribute matching degree calculating section (9), said matching
degree using a value output from said present attribute value storing section (7)
and a value output from said attribute value storing sectionn (2) as input values
in accordance with said method of calculation of matching degrees stored in said matching
degree rule storing section (8) and outputting the result;
storing a present date and/or present time in a present date/time storing section
(13);
storing, in abroadcasting interval considering rule storing section (10), a method
for calculating a weight in which a difference between a date and/or time of previous
broadcasting of a broadcasting program and a present date and/or time is compared
with a value output from said broadcasting interval storing section (4) for every
broadcasting program and, if the interval between broadcasts of said broadcasting
program actually run is larger than the interval between broadcasts of said broadcasting
program ordinarily scheduled to be run, a weight having a negative value corresponding
to said difference is assigned to said broadcasting program, while, if said interval
between broadcasts of said broadcasting program actually run is smaller than said
interval between broadcasts of said broadcasting program ordinarily scheduled to be
run, a weight having a positive value corresponding to said difference is assigned
to said broadcasting program;
calculating, in a broadcasting interval considering section (11), a weight using a
value output from said previous broadcast time storing section (3), a value output
from said present date/time storing section (13) and a value output from said broadcasting
interval storing section (4) as input values in accordance with said calculation rule
stored in said broadcasting interval considering rule storing section (10) and, outputting
a value obtained by multiplying said calculated weight by an output from said attribute
matching degree calculating section (9);
storing calculated results fed from said broadcasting interval considering section
(11) for every broadcasting program in a matching degree storing section (6) contained
in said broadcasting program storing section (1); and
selecting, in a program regenerating section (12), a broadcasting program having the
largest matching degree out of values stored in saidmatching degree storing section
(6) contained in said broadcasting program storing section (1) and regenerating said
broadcasting program.