CM section registration device

Abstract

The present invention provides a CM section registration device that suppresses bias in the registration locations of CM sections. [Solution] A commercial segment registration device comprising: a commercial segment detection unit that detects commercial segments as location information for commercials included in television broadcasts; a storage unit that stores at least one commercial segment; a determination unit that determines whether the number of commercial segments registered in the storage unit from a certain time period before the present time is equal to or greater than the maximum number of commercial segments that can be registered per certain time period; and a registration unit that registers the detected commercial segments in the storage unit based on the determination result of the determination unit.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a CM section registration device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a recording and playback device detects a commercial message (CM) from a silent section of an audio signal such as a television (TV) broadcast, and registers the detected CM section. Also, a technique capable of reducing the number of arithmetic operations related to the detection process of silent sections in audio data is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, when there is an upper limit to the number of registered CM sections for one program, if the number of registered CM sections reaches the upper limit at a certain point in the program, registration of CM sections cannot be performed after that point. In such a case, the positions of the registered CM sections are concentrated in the first half of the program, and there is a bias in the positions of the registered CM sections.

[0005] One aspect of the present invention aims to provide a CM section registration device that suppresses the bias in the registration positions of CM sections.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A commercial segment registration device according to one aspect of the present invention comprises: a commercial segment detection unit that detects commercial segments as location information for commercials included in television broadcasts; a storage unit that stores at least one commercial segment; a determination unit that determines whether the number of commercial segments registered in the storage unit from a certain period of time to the present time is equal to or greater than the maximum number of commercial segments that can be registered per certain period of time; and a registration unit that registers the detected commercial segments in the storage unit based on the determination result of the determination unit. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] This is a block diagram of the CM section registration device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] This figure illustrates the detection of the CM section according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] This is an example of a commercial break section list. [Figure 4] This is a flowchart of the CM section registration process according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] This is a block diagram of the CM section registration device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 6] This is a flowchart of the CM section registration process according to the second embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] The embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or equivalent elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations are omitted.

[0009] (First Embodiment) Figure 1 is a block diagram of a CM section registration device according to the first embodiment.

[0010] The commercial break registration device 101 includes a broadcast receiving unit 111, a descrambling unit 121, a demax unit 131, a silent break detection unit 141, a commercial break detection unit 151, a determination unit 161, a registration unit 171, a registration condition setting unit 181, and a storage unit 191. The commercial break registration device 101 is, for example, a television receiver, a video recording and playback device, or a computer such as a PC (Personal Computer).

[0011] The broadcast receiving unit 111 demodulates the television broadcast signal (e.g., terrestrial digital television broadcast) received by the antenna (not shown) and outputs the scrambled MPEG-2 TS (Moving Picture Experts Group phase 2 Transport Stream) TS packets to the descrambling unit 121. If the television broadcast is not scrambled, the broadcast receiving unit 111 may output the TS packets obtained by demodulation to the demax unit 131. Also, television broadcasts are broadcast with commercials interspersed between the main content. The broadcast receiving unit 111 is, for example, a tuner.

[0012] The descrambling unit 121 performs descrambling on the scrambled TS packets and outputs the descrambled TS packets to the demax unit 131. The TS packets include video packets containing compressed video data, which is compressed and encoded video data from television broadcasts, and audio packets containing compressed audio data, which is compressed and encoded audio data from television broadcasts.

[0013] The Demax unit 131 separates the TS packet into video packets and audio packets, outputs the video packets and audio packets to the storage unit 191, and stores the video packets and audio packets in the storage unit 191. Furthermore, the Demax unit 131 outputs the audio packets to the silence section detection unit 141. The audio packets are an example of an audio signal.

[0014] The silent section detection unit 141 detects a silent section where there is no sound in the TV broadcast based on the compressed audio data included in the audio packet, and outputs silent section information indicating the silent section to the CM section detection unit 151. The silent section information is, for example, the start time of the silent section. Further, the silent section information may be, for example, the end time of the silent section, or the start time and end time of the silent section. Note that the silent section detection unit 141 may detect the silent section based on the audio data obtained by decoding the compressed audio data.

[0015] The CM section detection unit 151 detects a section (CM section) where a CM is present in the television broadcast. Specifically, for example, the CM section detection unit 151 detects a CM section based on the previously received silent section information and the currently received silent section information, and outputs the detected CM section to the determination unit 161. The CM section includes the start time and end time of the section where the CM is present. The CM section is position information indicating the position of the CM included in the television broadcast. For example, when a CM section is detected, the previously received silent section information corresponds to the start time of the CM section, and the currently received silent section information corresponds to the end time of the CM section.

[0016] Here, the detection of the CM section will be described using FIG. 2.

[0017] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the detection of a CM section according to the first embodiment.

[0018] FIG. 2 shows the temporal configuration of the content of the TV broadcast, and shows a mode in which three 15 - second CM advertisements are broadcast between the main parts of the content. Also, in FIG. 2, the times of the silent section information indicating the silent section are indicated by black circles (●).

[0019] Normally, in a TV broadcast CM, there are silent sections of 0.5 seconds of no sound at each of the start and end parts of the CM. This is based on the "TV CM Material Import Standard" which describes the precautions when CM materials are carried into a TV station by an advertising company or the like.

[0020] In FIG. 2, silent intervals are detected at the start and end of the first CM between the main text, the end of the second CM, and the end of the third CM. Note that since the start of the second CM is continuous with the end of the first CM, the silent interval corresponding to the start of the second CM is detected together with the silent interval corresponding to the end of the first CM. The same applies to the silent interval corresponding to the start of the third CM.

[0021] Generally, the length of one CM is a predetermined integral multiple of 15 seconds (e.g., 1 - 6 times), such as 15 seconds or 30 seconds. That is, generally, the length of one CM is, for example, 15 seconds, 30 seconds, 45 seconds, 60 seconds, 75 seconds, or 90 seconds. The above - mentioned predetermined integer is just an example, and if there is a CM longer than 90 seconds, it may be changed as appropriate.

[0022] The CM section detection unit 151 determines whether the time interval between the first silent interval detected by the silent interval detection unit 141 and the second silent interval detected next to the first silent interval is a predetermined number of seconds (e.g., 15 seconds, 30 seconds, 45 seconds, 60 seconds, 75 seconds, or 90 seconds) that is a predetermined integral multiple of 15 seconds. If the time interval is the predetermined number of seconds, it determines that the section between the first silent interval and the second silent interval is a CM section.

[0023] Specifically, for example, the silence interval detection unit 141 outputs the times t1, t2, t3, and t4 sequentially to the CM interval detection unit 151 as silence interval information in Figure 2. In Figure 2, the time intervals between times t1 and t2, between times t2 and t3, and between times t3 and t4 are 15 seconds. When the CM interval detection unit 151 receives the silence interval information for time t2, it determines that the interval between the first silence interval at time t1 (the previously received silence interval information) and the second silence interval at time t2 (the currently received silence interval information) (the first interval) is a CM interval. When the CM interval detection unit 151 receives the silence interval information for time t3, it determines that the interval between the second silence interval at time t2 (the previously received silence interval information) and the third silence interval at time t3 (the currently received silence interval information) (the second interval) is a CM interval. When the CM section detection unit 151 receives silent section information at time t4, it determines that the section between the third silent section at time t3 (which is the previously received silent section information) and the fourth silent section at time t4 (which is the currently received silent section information) (the third section) is a CM section.

[0024] Returning to Figure 1, we continue the explanation.

[0025] The determination unit 161 receives a commercial interval (CM interval) and determines whether the number of CM intervals registered in the storage unit 191 from a certain time period to the present time is equal to or greater than the maximum number of CM intervals that can be registered per certain time period. The determination unit 161 may further determine whether to register the received CM interval if the number of CM intervals registered in the storage unit 191 from a certain time period to the present time is equal to or greater than the maximum number of CM intervals that can be registered per certain time period. The determination unit 161 outputs the determination result indicating whether the number of CM intervals registered in the storage unit 191 from a certain time period to the present time is equal to or greater than the maximum number of CM intervals that can be registered per certain time period, and the received CM interval, to the registration unit 171. The maximum number of CM intervals that can be registered per certain time period is stored in the storage unit 191.

[0026] The registration unit 171 receives the determination result and the CM section, and based on the determination result, stores the received CM section in the storage unit 191. If it is determined that the number of CM sections registered in the storage unit 191 from a certain time ago to the present time is less than the maximum number of CM sections that can be registered per certain time period, the registration unit 171 stores the received CM section in the storage unit 191. In detail, the registration unit 171 registers the received CM section in the CM section list stored in the storage unit 191. Alternatively, if it is determined that the received CM section should be registered, the registration unit 171 may store the received CM section in the storage unit 191.

[0027] The registration condition setting unit 181 sets registration conditions, including the maximum number of CM intervals that can be registered per certain period of time (for example, 1 hour), and stores these registration conditions in the storage unit 191. The maximum number of CM intervals that can be registered per certain period of time can be set by the user, for example. Alternatively, the maximum number of CM intervals that can be registered per certain period of time may be set in advance. The registration condition setting unit 181 may also set the length of the certain period of time and include it in the registration conditions. Furthermore, the registration conditions may include the maximum number of CM intervals that can be registered in a single CM interval list.

[0028] The memory unit 191 is a storage device that stores data, programs, etc., used by the CM section registration device 101. The memory unit 191 is, for example, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an SSD (Solid State Drive). The memory unit 191 stores video packets and audio packets input from the Demax unit 131. The memory unit 191 also stores a CM section list that includes CM sections indicating sections in which commercials exist. In addition, a CM section list corresponding to each recorded program (title) is created. The memory unit 191 also stores registration conditions, including the maximum number of CM sections that can be registered per certain period of time (maximum number of registrations per period of time).

[0029] Figure 3 shows an example of a CM section list.

[0030] The CM interval list 301 contains one or more CM intervals, each containing a start time and an end time. Specifically, for example, the CM interval list 301 shown in Figure 3 contains the three CM intervals shown in Figure 2. For example, the CM interval list 301 shown in Figure 3 includes a CM interval with start time = t1 and end time = t2, a CM interval with start time = t2 and end time = t3, and a CM interval with start time = t3 and end time = t4.

[0031] Figure 4 is a flowchart of the CM section registration process according to the first embodiment.

[0032] First, the commercial break registration device 101 starts recording the television broadcast program, and the demax unit 131 outputs audio packets to the silent section detection unit 141.

[0033] In step S401, the silent section detection unit 141 detects silent sections in the television broadcast and outputs silent section information indicating the silent section to the commercial section detection unit 151.

[0034] In step S402, the CM section detection unit 151 detects a CM section based on the previously received silent section information and the currently received silent section information. Specifically, for example, it determines whether the time interval between the silent section indicated by the previously received silent section information (first silent section) and the silent section indicated by the currently received silent section information (second silent section) is a predetermined number of seconds that is a predetermined integer multiple of 15 seconds. If the time interval is the predetermined number of seconds, it determines that the section between the first silent section and the second silent section is a CM section and detects that section as a CM section. If a CM section is detected, control proceeds to step S403; if no CM section is detected, control returns to step S401.

[0035] In step S403, the determination unit 161 refers to the registration conditions, including the upper limit of the number of registered CM sections per fixed time period (maximum number of registrations per fixed time period) stored in the storage unit 191, and the CM section list 301, and determines whether the number of CM sections registered in the CM section list 301 from before the fixed time period to the present time is equal to or greater than the maximum number of registrations per fixed time period. The time at which each CM section was registered is, for example, the end time of each CM section in the CM section list 301. If it is determined that the number of CM sections registered in the CM section list 301 from before the fixed time period to the present time is equal to or greater than the maximum number of registrations per fixed time period, the control proceeds to step S405. If it is determined that the number of CM sections registered in the CM section list 301 from before the fixed time period to the present time is less than the maximum number of registrations per fixed time period, the control proceeds to step S404.

[0036] In step S404, the registration unit 171 registers the CM section detected in step S402 into the CM section list 301. However, if the number of CM sections registered in the CM section list 301 reaches the upper limit of the number of CM sections that can be registered in one CM section list 301, the registration unit 171 does not register the CM section detected in step S402 into the CM section list 301, and control proceeds to step S405.

[0037] In step S405, the commercial break registration device 101 terminates the commercial break registration process if the program recording is finished, and returns control to step S401 if the program recording is not finished.

[0038] According to the CM section device of the first embodiment, by suppressing the number of CM sections registered within a certain period of time, it is possible to prevent the number of registered CM sections from reaching the upper limit of the number of CM sections that can be registered for a single program. This prevents the registration of CM sections from ceasing at a certain point in time and suppresses bias in the location of the registered CM sections.

[0039] (Second Embodiment) Figure 5 is a block diagram of the CM section registration device according to the second embodiment.

[0040] The commercial break registration device 501 includes a broadcast receiving unit 111, a descramble unit 121, a demax unit 131, a silent section detection unit 141, a commercial break detection unit 151, a determination unit 162, a registration unit 172, a registration condition setting unit 181, a storage unit 191, and a deletion unit 195. The commercial break registration device 101 is, for example, a television receiver, a video recording and playback device, or a computer such as a PC (Personal Computer).

[0041] The functions of the broadcast receiving unit 111, descrambling unit 121, demaxing unit 131, silent section detection unit 141, commercial section detection unit 151, registration condition setting unit 181, and storage unit 191 in the second embodiment are the same as those of the broadcast receiving unit 111, descrambling unit 121, demaxing unit 131, silent section detection unit 141, commercial section detection unit 151, registration condition setting unit 181, and storage unit 191 in the first embodiment, so their descriptions are omitted.

[0042] The determination unit 162 receives the CM section and determines whether the number of CM sections registered in the storage unit 191 from a certain time ago to the present time is greater than or equal to the maximum number of CM sections that can be registered per certain time period (maximum registration limit per certain time period). The determination unit 162 outputs the determination result indicating whether the number of CM sections registered in the storage unit 191 from a certain time ago to the present time is greater than or equal to the maximum registration limit per certain time period, along with the received CM section, to the registration unit 171. The determination unit 162 also outputs the determination result indicating whether the number of CM sections registered in the storage unit 191 from a certain time ago to the present time is greater than or equal to the maximum registration limit per certain time period to the deletion unit 195.

[0043] The registration unit 172 receives the determination result and the CM section, and based on the determination result, stores the received CM section in the storage unit 191 (CM section list 301). Specifically, for example, if it is determined that the number of CM sections registered in the storage unit 191 from a certain time ago to the present time is equal to or greater than the maximum number of CM sections that can be registered for a certain period of time, the registration unit 172 deletes the CM section from the CM section list 301 by the deletion unit 195, and then registers the received CM section in the CM section list 301. If it is determined that the number of CM sections registered in the storage unit 191 from a certain time ago to the present time is less than the maximum number of CM sections that can be registered for a certain period of time, the registration unit 172 registers the received CM section in the CM section list 301.

[0044] The deletion unit 195 deletes one CM interval from the CM interval list 301 based on the determination result. Specifically, for example, if the deletion unit 195 determines that the number of CM intervals registered in the storage unit 191 from a certain time ago to the present time is equal to or greater than the maximum number of CM intervals that can be registered for a certain time, it deletes the last registered CM interval from the CM intervals included in the CM interval list 301. The deletion unit 195 may also delete the first registered CM interval from the CM intervals included in the CM interval list 301. The deletion unit 195 may also delete one of the CM intervals registered in the storage unit 191 from a certain time ago to the present time. The deletion unit 195 may also delete the shortest CM interval from the CM intervals included in the CM interval list 301.

[0045] Figure 6 is a flowchart of the CM section registration process according to the second embodiment.

[0046] First, the commercial segment registration device 501 starts recording the television broadcast program, and the demax unit 131 outputs audio packets to the silent segment detection unit 141.

[0047] The processes in steps S601 to S602 are the same as those in steps S401 to S402, so their explanation will be omitted. In step S603, the determination unit 161 refers to the registration conditions, including the upper limit of the number of registered CM intervals per fixed time period (maximum number of registrations per fixed time period), and the CM interval list 301 stored in the storage unit 191, and determines whether the number of CM intervals registered in the CM interval list 301 from before the fixed time period to the present time is equal to or greater than the maximum number of registrations per fixed time period. If it is determined that the number of CM intervals registered in the CM interval list 301 from before the fixed time period to the present time is equal to or greater than the maximum number of registrations per fixed time period, the control proceeds to step S604. If it is determined that the number of CM intervals registered in the CM interval list 301 from before the fixed time period to the present time is less than the maximum number of registrations per fixed time period, the control proceeds to step S605.

[0048] In step S604, based on the determination result of the determination unit 162, one CM interval is deleted from the CM interval list 301. Specifically, for example, if the deletion unit 195 determines that the number of CM intervals registered in the storage unit 191 from a certain time ago to the present time is equal to or greater than the maximum number of CM intervals that can be registered for a certain time, it deletes the last registered CM interval from the CM intervals included in the CM interval list 301. Alternatively, the deletion unit 195 may delete the first registered CM interval from the CM intervals included in the CM interval list 301. Furthermore, the deletion unit 195 may delete one of the CM intervals registered in the storage unit 191 from a certain time ago to the present time. Additionally, the deletion unit 195 may delete the shortest CM interval from the CM intervals included in the CM interval list 301.

[0049] In step S605, the determination result and the CM section are received, and based on the determination result of the determination unit 162, the received CM section is stored in the CM section list 301. Specifically, for example, if it is determined that the number of CM sections registered in the storage unit 191 from a certain time ago to the present time is equal to or greater than the maximum number of CM sections that can be registered for a certain time, the received CM section is registered in the CM section list 301 from which one CM section was deleted in step S604. If it is determined that the number of CM sections registered in the storage unit 191 from a certain time ago to the present time is less than the maximum number of CM sections that can be registered for a certain time, the registration unit 172 registers the received CM section in the CM section list 301. If the number of CM sections registered in the CM section list 301 has reached the maximum number of CM sections that can be registered in one CM section list 301, the registration unit 171 does not register the CM section detected in step S602 in the CM section list 301, and control proceeds to step S606.

[0050] The process in step S606 is the same as the process in step S405, so its explanation will be omitted.

[0051] According to the CM section device of the second embodiment, by suppressing the number of CM sections registered within a certain period of time, it is possible to prevent the number of registered CM sections from reaching the upper limit of the number of CM sections that can be registered for a single program. This prevents the registration of CM sections from ceasing at a certain point in time and suppresses bias in the location of the registered CM sections.

[0052] (Example of implementation using software) The control blocks of the CM section registration devices 101 and 501 (in particular, the descramble unit 121, the demax unit 131, the silent section detection unit 141, the CM section detection unit 151, the determination units 161 and 162, the registration units 171 and 172, the registration condition setting unit 181, and the deletion unit 195) can be implemented by logic circuits (hardware) formed on an integrated circuit chip (IC (Integrated Circuit) chip), or they may be implemented by software using a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit). In the latter case, for example, the CM section registration devices 101 and 501, which are computers, include a CPU that executes instructions for a program which is software that realizes each function, a ROM or storage device (referred to as a "recording medium") on which the program and various data are recorded in a way that can be read by the computer (or CPU), and RAM for loading the program. Then, when the computer (or CPU) reads the above program from the recording medium and executes it, it operates as a descramble unit 121, a demax unit 131, a silent section detection unit 141, a CM section detection unit 151, a determination unit 161, 162, a registration unit 171, 172, a registration condition setting unit 181, and a deletion unit 195, thereby achieving the objective of the present invention. As the above recording medium, a "non-temporary tangible medium" such as tape, disk, card, semiconductor memory, programmable logic circuit, etc. can be used. Furthermore, the above program may be supplied to the computer via any transmission medium capable of transmission.

[0053] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and is modifiable, and the above configurations can be replaced with substantially the same configuration, a configuration that produces the same effect, or a configuration that can achieve the same purpose. [Explanation of symbols]

[0054] 101, 501 CM section registration device 111 Broadcast receiving unit 121 Desk Scramble Department 131 Demax Department 141 Silent section detection unit 151 CM section detection unit 161, 162 Judgment section 171, 172 Registration Department 181 Registration Condition Setting Section 191 Memory section 195 Deleted section

Claims

1. A commercial segment detection unit that detects commercial segments as location information of commercials included in television broadcasts, A storage unit that stores at least one CM section, and a determination unit that determines whether the number of CM sections registered in the storage unit from a certain time period to the present time is equal to or greater than the maximum number of CM sections that can be registered per certain time period, A registration unit registers the detected CM section in the storage unit based on the determination result of the determination unit, A CM section registration device equipped with [the following features].

2. The determination unit determines that if the number of CM intervals registered in the storage unit from a certain period of time up to the present time is less than the maximum number of registrations, it will register the detected CM interval in the storage unit. The CM section registration device according to claim 1, wherein the registration unit registers the detected CM section in the storage unit.

3. It also includes a deletion section, The determination unit determines whether the number of CM intervals registered in the storage unit from a certain time period to the present time is equal to or greater than the registration limit. The CM section registration device according to claim 1, wherein if it is determined that the number of CM sections registered in the storage unit from a certain period of time prior to the present time is equal to or greater than the registration limit, the deletion unit deletes one of the at least one CM sections stored in the storage unit, and the registration unit registers the detected CM section in the storage unit.

4. The CM section registration device according to claim 3, wherein the deletion unit deletes the last registered CM section among the at least one CM section stored in the storage unit.

5. The CM section registration device according to claim 3, wherein the deletion unit deletes the first registered CM section from the at least one CM section stored in the storage unit.

6. The CM section registration device according to claim 3, wherein the deletion unit deletes one of the CM sections registered from the time before a certain period of time to the present time, among the at least one CM section stored in the storage unit.

7. The CM section registration device according to claim 3, wherein the deletion unit deletes the shortest CM section from the at least one CM section stored in the storage unit.

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