Information processing apparatus and information processing method

Abstract

To guide viewing of the latest content that a user would like to view among a content group composed of a plurality of contents related to the contents.SOLUTION: An estimation part 32 estimates, for each user, a content group that is likely to be viewed by a user. Specifically, the estimation part 32 analyzes, for each category to which a content belongs, a period from the date and time when a delivery of the latest content is started by each user to the date and time when the latest content is viewed, and estimates a content group whose period is within a certain period as a content group having a high possibility of being viewed by the user. When the delivery of the latest content added to the content group estimated for a certain user is started, a delivery part 33 delivers the latest content to the user terminal of the certain user and immediately displays the content.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a technique for assisting users in viewing content. [Background technology]

[0002] Distribution services that distribute content such as videos to user terminals such as smartphones have become widely used. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a mechanism that enables users to easily search for videos they want to watch. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-39211 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] For example, in the case of drama series or other series content that is released every week or every other week, users look forward to the release of the latest content and often want to watch it as soon as it is released.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide guidance for viewing the latest content that a user is likely to want to view from a content group consisting of a plurality of content items related to each other. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problem, the present invention provides an information processing device that includes an estimation unit that estimates, for each user, a content group that is composed of multiple content items related in content and that is likely to be viewed by the user, and a distribution unit that, when distribution of the latest content item to be added to the estimated content group for a certain user begins, distributes the latest content item to the user terminal of the certain user and displays the content item immediately. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to guide a user to view the latest content that the user is likely to want to view from a content group made up of a plurality of content items related to each other. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of an information processing system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a content distribution device 30 according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a user terminal 10 according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of a content distribution device 30 according to an embodiment. FIG. [Figure 5] 3 is a diagram showing an example of data stored in a storage unit 34 of the content distribution device 30 according to the embodiment. FIG. [Figure 6] 3 is a diagram showing an example of data stored in a storage unit 34 of the content distribution device 30 according to the embodiment. FIG. [Figure 7] 3 is a diagram showing an example of data stored in a storage unit 34 of the content distribution device 30 according to the embodiment. FIG. [Figure 8] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the content distribution device 30. [Figure 9] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the content distribution device 30. [Figure 10]FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an image displayed on a user terminal 10 according to an embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an image displayed on a user terminal 10 according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] [Embodiment] [composition] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an information processing system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The information processing system 1 is a system for providing users with a content distribution service that distributes content such as videos. As shown in FIG. 1, the information processing system 1 includes a plurality of user terminals 10 used by a plurality of users, a content distribution device 30 that distributes content to each of the user terminals 10, and a communication network 2 that includes a wireless communication network or a wired communication network that communicatively connects these terminals. In this embodiment, the content distribution method is such that the content distribution device 30 distributes content in a stream format to the user terminal 10 and plays it back. This content distribution device 30 functions as the information processing device of the present invention and may be configured as a single computer or multiple computers.

[0010] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the hardware configuration of the content distribution device 30. The content distribution device 30 is physically configured as a computer including a processor 3001, a memory 3002, a storage 3003, a communication device 3004, an input device 3005, an output device 3006, and a bus connecting these devices. Each of these devices operates using power supplied from a battery (not shown). In the following description, the term "device" can be interpreted as a circuit, a device, a unit, or the like. The hardware configuration of the content distribution device 30 may be configured to include one or more of the devices shown in FIG. 2, or may be configured without including some of the devices. Furthermore, the content distribution device 30 may be configured by communicating and connecting multiple devices each having a different housing.

[0011] Each function in the content distribution device 30 is realized by loading predetermined software (programs) onto hardware such as the processor 3001 and memory 3002, causing the processor 3001 to perform calculations, control communication via the communication device 3004, and control at least one of reading and writing data in the memory 3002 and storage 3003.

[0012] The processor 3001 controls the entire computer by running, for example, an operating system. The processor 3001 may be configured by a central processing unit (CPU) including an interface with peripheral devices, an information processing unit, an arithmetic unit, a register, etc. Furthermore, for example, a baseband signal processing unit, a call processing unit, etc. may be realized by the processor 3001.

[0013] The processor 3001 reads programs (program codes), software modules, data, etc. from at least one of the storage 3003 and the communication device 3004 into the memory 3002, and executes various processes in accordance with these. The programs used are those that cause a computer to execute at least some of the operations described below. The functional blocks of the content distribution device 30 may be implemented by a control program stored in the memory 3002 and running on the processor 3001. Various processes may be executed by one processor 3001, or may be executed simultaneously or sequentially by two or more processors 3001. The processor 3001 may be implemented by one or more chips. The programs may be transmitted to the content distribution device 30 via a telecommunications line.

[0014] The memory 3002 is a computer-readable recording medium and may be configured by, for example, at least one of a ROM (Read Only Memory), an EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM), an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM), a RAM (Random Access Memory), etc. The memory 3002 may also be called a register, a cache, a main memory (primary storage device), etc. The memory 3002 can store an executable program (program code), a software module, etc. for implementing the method according to this embodiment.

[0015] Storage 3003 is a computer-readable recording medium, and may be composed of at least one of an optical disk such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disc ROM), a hard disk drive, a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk (e.g., a compact disk, a digital versatile disk, a Blu-ray (registered trademark) disk), a smart card, a flash memory (e.g., a card, a stick, a key drive), a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a magnetic strip, etc. Storage 3003 may also be called an auxiliary storage device. The storage stores an application program for playing content such as video and outputting sound or images.

[0016] The communication device 3004 is hardware (transmission / reception device) for communicating between computers via at least one of a wired network and a wireless network, and is also called, for example, a network device, a network controller, a network card, or a communication module.

[0017] Each device, such as the processor 3001 and the memory 3002, is connected by a bus for communicating information. The bus may be configured using a single bus, or may be configured using different buses between each device.

[0018] The content distribution device 30 may be configured to include hardware such as a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD), or a field programmable gate array (FPGA), and some or all of the functional blocks may be realized by the hardware. For example, the processor 3001 may be implemented using at least one of these pieces of hardware.

[0019] 3 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a user terminal 10. The user terminal 10 is a computer such as a smartphone, mobile phone, tablet, or wearable device, and has at least the function of playing content distributed from the content distribution device 30. The user terminal 10 is physically configured as a computer device including a processor 1001, memory 1002, storage 1003, communication device 1004, input device 1005, output device 1006, and buses connecting these. The processor 1001, memory 1002, and storage 1003 are the same hardware as the processor 3001, memory 3002, and storage 3003 of the content distribution device 30.

[0020] The communication device 1004 may be configured to include a high-frequency switch, a duplexer, a filter, a frequency synthesizer, etc., to realize at least one of Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) and Time Division Duplex (TDD). For example, a transmitting / receiving antenna, an amplifier unit, a transmitting / receiving unit, a transmission path interface, etc. may be realized by the communication device 1004. The transmitting / receiving unit may be implemented as a transmitting unit and a receiving unit that are physically or logically separated.

[0021] The input device 1005 is an input device (for example, a key, a microphone, a switch, a button, a sensor, etc.) that accepts input from the outside. The output device 1006 is an output device (for example, a display, a speaker, an LED light, etc.) that outputs to the outside. Note that the input device 1005 and the output device 1006 may be integrated into one device (for example, a touch screen).

[0022] 4 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of content distribution device 30. In content distribution device 30, processor 3001 reads programs and the like from storage 3003 into memory 3002 and executes them, thereby realizing the functions of content acquisition unit 31, estimation unit 32, distribution unit 33, and storage unit 34.

[0023] The content acquisition unit 31 acquires various contents from a device of a content provider (not shown), for example, via the communication network 2. These contents include a content group (hereinafter referred to as "series content") made up of multiple pieces of content related to each other, such as a drama series or content from a series that is released every week or every other week, as well as one-off content other than such series content. In the present invention, a content group made up of multiple pieces of content related to each other means a content group in which there is some kind of relationship between past content and the latest content, and therefore there are users who are looking forward to the start of distribution of the latest content.

[0024] The storage unit 34 stores a plurality of contents acquired by the content acquisition unit 31. These contents are distributed to the user terminal 10 from the content distribution device 30 as so-called stream data. The user's viewing history for each content is stored in the storage unit 24. This viewing history includes information such as which user viewed (played) which content and when.

[0025] 5, the storage unit 34 stores, for each content in a series, a series content ID for identifying that content in the series and the date and time when distribution of the latest content in that content series began (referred to as the latest distribution date and time), in association with each other. This information is notified from a content provider device (not shown), for example, via the communication network 2, and is stored in the storage unit 34.

[0026] The estimation unit 32 estimates, for each user, a series of content that is likely to be viewed by the user. Specifically, for each content in the series, the estimation unit 32 analyzes the period from the latest distribution date and time of the latest content in the series to the date and time each user viewed the latest content, and calculates a representative value of the period. The representative value here may be, for example, an average period, a mode period, or a median period, but in this embodiment, the average period is used. As a result, the storage unit 34 stores the average period from the latest distribution date and time of the latest content in each content in the series to the viewing date and time each user viewed the latest content, in association with a user ID for identifying each user, as shown in FIG. 6.

[0027] The estimation unit 32 then estimates that a series of content whose average period is within a certain period is likely to be viewed by the user. The certain period may be, for example, a predetermined threshold value, or the shortest period among the average periods calculated for each user. As a result, the storage unit 34 stores the series content IDs of the series of content estimated to be likely to be viewed by the user in association with the user ID of each user, as shown in FIG. 7 .

[0028] When distribution of the latest content to be added to the series content estimated for a certain user starts, the distribution unit 33 distributes the latest content to the user terminal 10 of the certain user and displays it immediately. Specifically, the distribution unit 33 reads the content from the storage unit 34, distributes it as stream data to the user terminal 10 via the communication network 2, and instructs the user terminal 10 to play it, thereby realizing immediate playback of the content.

[0029] [Operation] Next, the operation of the information processing system 1 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 8 and 9. In the following description, for example, when the content distribution device 30 is described as the subject of processing, this specifically means that the processing is executed by loading predetermined software (programs) onto hardware such as the processor 3001 and memory 3002, causing the processor 3001 to perform calculations and control communication via the communication device 3004 and reading and / or writing of data from and to the memory 3002 and storage 3003. The same applies to the user terminal 10.

[0030] 8, the estimation unit 32 of the content distribution device 30 periodically reads out the viewing history of each user stored in the storage unit 34 (step S11), and estimates, for each user, the series content that is likely to be viewed by that user (step S12). As a result, the storage unit 34 stores the series content IDs of the series content that is estimated to be likely to be viewed by each user in association with the user ID of that user, as shown in FIG. 6 (step S13).

[0031] Next, in FIG. 9, the distribution unit 33 of the content distribution device 30, referring to the latest distribution date and time of the latest content in each content series shown in FIG. 5, determines that distribution of the latest content added to the content series has begun (step S21; YES). Then, if it determines that the content belongs to a content series that is likely to be viewed by any user (step S22; YES), the distribution unit 33 reads the latest content of the content series from the storage unit 34, distributes it as stream data to the user terminal 10 via the communication network 2, and instructs the user terminal 10 to play it (step S23). As a result, for example, as shown in FIG. 10, the distributed content is immediately displayed in the display area d on the display screen D of the display of the user terminal 10. At this time, it is desirable for the user terminal 10 to generate a predetermined alarm sound or vibration to notify the user that content playback has begun. This allows users who have been looking forward to the release of the latest content to view the latest content almost immediately after the start of distribution.

[0032] According to the embodiment described above, it is possible to guide a user to view the latest content that the user is likely to want to view from a content series made up of a plurality of content items related to each other.

[0033] [Variations] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. The above-described embodiment may be modified as follows. Furthermore, two or more of the following modifications may be combined and implemented.

[0034] [Variation 1] In the above embodiment, the series of content likely to be viewed by each user was estimated based on the period from the latest distribution date and time of the latest content in the series to the viewing date and time of the user's viewing of the latest content. In a variation of this, for example, the distribution unit 33 may distribute and display content that a user regularly views immediately after the start of distribution at approximately the same time as the latest distribution date and time, as shown in FIG. 10 , while for content that a user views a short time after the start of distribution, only a pop-up notification of related information related to the latest content may be displayed at the latest distribution date and time, as shown in FIG. 11 . The related information in FIG. 11 includes a text message indicating that distribution of the latest content has started and a soft button SB for instructing playback of the content. In this way, the distribution unit 33 may distribute the latest content to the user terminal 10 of the user and display it immediately, depending on the period from the date and time distribution of the latest content to the user terminal 10 and the viewing date and time of the latest content. Alternatively, the distribution unit 33 may distribute related information related to the latest content to the user terminal 10 without distributing the latest content to the user terminal 10. In this way, the information presented to the user can be appropriately changed depending on the period from the date and time when distribution of the latest content started to the date and time when the latest content was viewed.

[0035] [Variation 2] A single user may use multiple user terminals 10 to view content. Therefore, if one of the multiple user terminals 10 (e.g., a smartphone and a tablet) that the user frequently uses while viewing a series of content is located near the user, the distribution unit 33 may distribute and display the content to that user terminal 10. Specifically, each of the multiple user terminals 10 used by the user includes a detection unit that detects the user's presence using a known method, and periodically notifies the content distribution device 30 of the detection results. This allows the distribution unit 33 of the content distribution device 30 to estimate which user terminals 10 are within a range where the user can view the content. Meanwhile, the viewing history stored in the storage unit 34 includes a terminal ID for identifying the user terminal 10 that each user used when viewing the content. As a result, the distribution unit 33 of the content distribution device 30 estimates, among the multiple user terminals 10 used by each user, the user terminal 10 that the user frequently uses when watching the series of content (for example, the user terminal 10 that is used most frequently), and specifies this as the user terminal 10 to which the content will be distributed. In this way, the distribution unit 33 of the content distribution device 30 specifies the user terminal 10 on which each user is watching the latest content, and if the user terminal 10 specified by the specification unit is within a viewing range for a certain user, the latest content is distributed to that user terminal 10 and displayed immediately. In this way, the user can watch the latest content on the user terminal 10 that the user frequently uses when watching the series of content.

[0036] [Variation 3] In the above embodiment, when the distribution unit 33 starts distribution of the latest content added to a content series estimated for a certain user, the distribution unit 33 distributes the latest content to the user terminal of the certain user and displays it immediately. The timing of distribution and display of such content may be determined based on the time period during which each user frequently views the latest content. Because the viewing history stored in the storage unit 34 includes the date and time when each user viewed the content, the distribution unit 33 of the content distribution device 30 analyzes this viewing history to estimate, for each content series, the time period during which each user is likely to view the latest content. Specifically, the time period during which each user most frequently viewed the latest content (e.g., 11:00-13:00 every day, or 20:00-21:00 on holidays) is estimated as the time period during which each user is likely to view the latest content. Then, the distribution unit 33 distributes the latest content of the series during the estimated time period for each content series and plays it immediately. In this way, the distribution unit 33 analyzes the tendency of the day or time when each user views the latest content, and distributes the latest content to the user terminal 10 of the user on the day or time according to the analysis result, and displays it immediately. In this way, each user can conveniently view the latest content during the time period when they usually view it.

[0037] [Variation 4] Furthermore, if the latest distribution date and time of the latest content in a series of content estimated by the estimation unit 32 for a certain user differs from the viewing period during which the user often views the latest content in the series of content, the latest content may not be distributed to the user terminal 10, and a pop-up notification such as that illustrated in FIG. 11 may be displayed. For example, if the latest distribution date and time of the latest content in the series of content estimated by the estimation unit 32 for a certain user is 10:00 on April 15, 2024, but the viewing period during which the user often views the latest content in the series of content is 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM on holidays, then at 10:00 AM on April 15, 2024, only a pop-up notification such as that illustrated in FIG. 11 will be displayed. In this way, if the start time of distribution of the latest content to be added to the series of content estimated for a certain user does not match the date or time corresponding to the analysis result for the certain user, the distribution unit 33 does not distribute the latest content to the user terminal 10, but distributes related information related to the latest content to the user terminal 10. The related information here includes, for example, a text message indicating that distribution of the latest content has begun and a soft button SB for instructing playback of that content, as shown in Fig. 11. This is convenient because each user can view the latest content at a time of their choice.

[0038] [Variation 5] The location where a user frequently views the latest content may be estimated. If the user is not in such a location on the latest distribution date and time of the latest content, the latest content may not be delivered to the user terminal 10, and a pop-up notification such as that shown in FIG. 11 may be displayed instead. Specifically, the user terminal 10 used by the user may include a positioning unit that performs positioning using a known method and periodically notifies the content distribution device 30 of the positioning results. This allows the distribution unit 33 of the content distribution device 30 to estimate the location where each user frequently resides when viewing content (e.g., the location where the user resides most frequently). If the user is not in the estimated location on the latest distribution date and time of the latest content, the distribution unit 33 does not deliver the latest content to the user terminal 10, but delivers related information related to the latest content to the user terminal 10. In this way, the distribution unit 33 analyzes the tendency of the locations where each user views the latest content, and if a certain user is not in a location corresponding to the analysis results for that user, the distribution unit 33 does not deliver the latest content to the user terminal 10, but delivers related information related to the latest content to the user terminal 10. Furthermore, after delivering related information relating to the latest content to the user terminal 10, if the certain user moves to a location according to the result of the analysis, the delivery unit 33 may deliver the latest content to the user terminal 10. This is convenient because each user can view the latest content at a location of their choice.

[0039] [Other variations] The block diagrams used to explain the above embodiments show functional blocks. These functional blocks (components) are realized by any combination of at least one of hardware and software. Furthermore, the method for realizing each functional block is not particularly limited. That is, each functional block may be realized using a single device that is physically or logically coupled, or may be realized using two or more physically or logically separated devices that are directly or indirectly connected (for example, using wires, wirelessly, etc.) and these multiple devices. The functional block may also be realized by combining the single device or multiple devices with software.

[0040] Functions include, but are not limited to, judgment, determination, assessment, calculation, computation, processing, derivation, investigation, search, confirmation, reception, transmission, output, access, resolution, selection, election, establishment, comparison, assumption, expectation, consideration, broadcasting, notifying, communicating, forwarding, configuring, reconfiguring, allocating, mapping, and assignment. For example, a functional block (component) that performs transmission is called a transmitting unit or transmitter. As mentioned above, there are no particular limitations on how these functions are implemented.

[0041] For example, the content distribution device 30 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may function as a computer that performs the processing of the present disclosure.

[0042] Each aspect / embodiment described in the present disclosure may be applied to at least one of systems using LTE (Long Term Evolution), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), SUPER 3G, IMT-Advanced, 4G (4th generation mobile communication system), 5G (5th generation mobile communication system), FRA (Future Radio Access), NR (New Radio), W-CDMA (registered trademark), GSM (registered trademark), CDMA2000, UMB (Ultra Mobile Broadband), IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX (registered trademark), IEEE 802.20, UWB (Ultra-Wideband), Bluetooth (registered trademark), or other appropriate systems, and next-generation systems extended based on these. Furthermore, a combination of multiple systems (e.g., a combination of at least one of LTE and LTE-A with 5G, etc.) may also be applied.

[0043] The present invention may also be an information processing method including: an estimation step of estimating, for each user, a content group that is likely to be viewed by the user and that is composed of multiple pieces of content related to each other; and a distribution step of, when distribution of a new piece of content added to the estimated content group for a certain user begins, distributing the newest piece of content to the user's user terminal and displaying the newest piece of content immediately. The order of the processing procedures, sequences, flowcharts, etc., of each aspect / embodiment described in this disclosure may be changed as long as there is no contradiction. For example, the method described in this disclosure presents various step elements in an exemplary order and is not limited to the specific order presented.

[0044] Input and output information may be stored in a specific location (for example, memory) or may be managed using a management table. Input and output information may be overwritten, updated, or added to. Output information may be deleted. Input information may be sent to another device.

[0045] The determination may be made based on a value represented by one bit (0 or 1), a Boolean value (true or false), or a numerical comparison (e.g., comparison with a predetermined value).

[0046] Although the present disclosure has been described in detail above, it is clear to those skilled in the art that the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described herein. The present disclosure can be implemented in modified and altered forms without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the claims. Therefore, the description of the present disclosure is intended to be illustrative and does not have any limiting meaning on the present disclosure.

[0047] Software, whether referred to as software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description language, or otherwise, shall be construed broadly to mean instructions, instruction sets, code, code segments, program code, programs, subprograms, software modules, applications, software applications, software packages, routines, subroutines, objects, executable files, threads of execution, procedures, functions, etc. Additionally, software, instructions, information, etc. may be transmitted or received over a transmission medium. For example, if software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using wired technologies (such as coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)), and / or wireless technologies (such as infrared, microwave), then such wired and / or wireless technologies are included within the definition of a transmission medium.

[0048] The information, signals, etc. described in this disclosure may be represented using any of a variety of different technologies. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, chips, etc. that may be referred to throughout the above description may be represented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or magnetic particles, optical fields or photons, or any combination thereof. In addition, terms explained in this disclosure and terms necessary for understanding this disclosure may be replaced with terms having the same or similar meanings.

[0049] Furthermore, the information, parameters, etc. described in this disclosure may be expressed using absolute values, may be expressed using relative values ​​from a predetermined value, or may be expressed using other corresponding information.

[0050] As used in this disclosure, the phrase "based on" does not mean "based only on," unless expressly stated otherwise. In other words, the phrase "based on" means both "based only on" and "based at least on."

[0051] As used in this disclosure, any reference to an element using a designation such as "first," "second," etc. does not generally limit the quantity or order of those elements. These designations may be used in this disclosure as a convenient method of distinguishing between two or more elements. Thus, a reference to a first and a second element does not imply that only two elements may be employed or that the first element must in some way precede the second element.

[0052] The "unit" in the configuration of each of the above devices may be replaced with "means," "circuit," "device," etc.

[0053] When used in this disclosure, the terms "include," "including," and variations thereof are intended to be inclusive, similar to the term "comprising." Furthermore, when used in this disclosure, the term "or" is not intended to be an exclusive or.

[0054] In this disclosure, where articles are added by translation, such as a, an, and the in English, the disclosure may include that the nouns following these articles are in the plural form.

[0055] In the present disclosure, the term "A and B are different" may mean "A and B are different from each other." The term may also mean "A and B are each different from C." Terms such as "separate" and "coupled" may also be interpreted in the same way as "different." [Explanation of symbols]

[0056] 1: Information processing system, 2: Communication network, 10: User terminal, 1001: Processor, 1002: Memory, 1003: Storage, 1004: Communication device, 1005: Input device, 1006: Output device, 30: Content distribution device, 31: Content acquisition unit, 32: Estimation unit, 33: Distribution unit, 34: Memory unit, 3001: Processor, 3002: Memory, 3003: Storage, 3004: Communication device, D: Display screen, d: Display area.

Claims

1. an estimation unit that estimates, for each user, a content group that is likely to be viewed by the user, the content group being composed of a plurality of content items related to each other; a distribution unit that, when distribution of the latest content to be added to the content group estimated for a certain user is started, distributes the latest content to the user terminal of the certain user and displays the content immediately; An information processing device comprising:

2. When distribution of a latest content to be added to a content group in which the time period from the start date and time of distribution of the latest content to the certain user is within a certain period of time, the distribution unit distributes the latest content to the user terminal of the certain user and displays the content immediately.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

3. The distribution unit distributes the latest content to the user terminal of the certain user and displays it immediately, depending on the period from the date and time when distribution of the latest content started to the date and time when the latest content was viewed, or distributes related information relating to the latest content to the user terminal without distributing the latest content to the user terminal.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2.

4. the distribution unit identifies a user terminal on which each of the users is viewing the latest content; If the specified user terminal is within a viewable range of the certain user, the latest content is delivered to the user terminal and displayed immediately.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

5. The distribution unit analyzes the tendency of the day or time when each of the users is viewing the latest content, and distributes the latest content to the user terminal of the certain user on a day or time according to the result of the analysis, and displays the content immediately.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

6. When the time when distribution of the latest content to be added to the content group estimated for the certain user started does not match the date or time according to the result of the analysis for the certain user, the distribution unit does not distribute the latest content to the user terminal, but distributes related information related to the latest content to the user terminal.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5,

7. The distribution unit analyzes the tendency of the location where each of the users is viewing the latest content, and if the certain user is not present in a location corresponding to the result of the analysis, the distribution unit does not distribute the latest content to the user terminal, but distributes related information relating to the latest content to the user terminal.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

8. The distribution unit distributes the related information related to the latest content to the user terminal, and then distributes the latest content to the user terminal when the certain user moves to a location according to the result of the analysis.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7,

9. an estimation step of estimating, for each user, a content group that is composed of a plurality of content items related to each other and that is likely to be viewed by the user; a delivery step of delivering, when delivery of the latest content to be added to the content group estimated for a certain user is started, the latest content to the user terminal of the certain user and displaying the content immediately; An information processing method comprising:

Images