Management device, management method, and management program

Abstract

To efficiently get to know program information of a plurality of distributors.SOLUTION: A management device 10 associates a distributor and a distribution date of each program distributed by using a predetermined medium and stores them in a storage part. The management device 10 retrieves from the storage part one or more distributors designated by a user and the distribution date of a program corresponding to the distributors. The management device 10 provides the user with information obtained by the retrieval.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a management device, a management method, and a management program. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, distributors who distribute programs via television or the Internet have sometimes announced their programs using social networking services (SNS) or the like. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2003-87666 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, conventional technology has a problem in that it can be difficult to efficiently find out program information from multiple distributors. In the method using SNS, distributors post their own program information on individual accounts. Therefore, viewers who want to watch programs from multiple distributors must check the posts from each of the multiple accounts. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the objective, the management device is characterized by having a storage unit that associates the distributor and distribution date and time for each program distributed using a specified medium and stores them in a memory unit, a search unit that searches the memory unit for one or more distributors specified by a user and the distribution dates and times of programs corresponding to the distributors, and a provision unit that provides the user with the distributors and information obtained by the search by the search unit. Effect of the Invention

[0006] According to the present invention, program information from a plurality of distributors can be efficiently obtained. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a management system according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a management device according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of distributor information. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of user information. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of program information. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the content posted by a distributor. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a distributor selection screen. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a distributor information screen. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the flow of the registration process according to the first embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of the output process according to the first embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a computer that executes a management program. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a management apparatus, a management method, and a management program according to the present application will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments described below.

[0009] [Configuration of the first embodiment] First, the configuration of a management system according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a management system according to the first embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, the management system 1 includes a management device 10 and a terminal 20.

[0010] The management device 10 receives input of distribution schedules of multiple distributors, generates a timetable, and outputs the generated timetable. In the example of Fig. 1, multiple distributors input distribution schedules via a network N.

[0011] The distribution schedule is an example of information associating a distributor and a distribution date and time for each program distributed using a specific medium. First, the medium distributes video to viewers using a specific communication means. The medium is, for example, television using terrestrial waves, video distribution services using the Internet, etc. For example, video distribution services using the Internet include Youtube (registered trademark), Niconico Video (registered trademark), Twitch (registered trademark), etc.

[0012] In this embodiment, the medium is capable of shooting and distributing video in real time (so-called live broadcast or live distribution). Here, video content provided by live broadcast or live distribution using the medium is called a program.

[0013] A distributor is an entity that distributes video using a medium. In this embodiment, the distributor may be an individual who actually appears in the video, or an organization including personnel who produce and distribute the video. The distributor may be a television talent, a streamer, a television station, etc.

[0014] In the example of FIG. 1, distributors A, B, C, and D register their distribution schedules in the management device 10 via the network N. Then, a user U1 requests the management device 10 to provide the distribution schedule via the terminal 20. The management device 10 provides the distribution schedule to the terminal 20 in the form of a timetable. The terminal 20 displays the provided timetable on the search result display screen 20a. The terminal 20 is, for example, a smartphone or a personal computer.

[0015] As shown in Figure 1, the timetable shows information about programs for each time period. For example, "ABC tube: Latest smartphone unboxing video (no archive)" in the cell for 18:00 for distributor A means that distributor A will distribute a program called "Latest smartphone unboxing video" from 18:00 on the medium "ABC tube," and that the program will not be archived.

[0016] Here, an archive refers to data of a distributed program that is stored in a specified storage area in a state in which the viewer can obtain the data after distribution. Archives may or may not be created, and created archives may be provided free of charge or for a fee.

[0017] By referring to the timetable displayed on the search result display screen 20a, the user U1 can cross-check the distribution schedules of the previously registered distributors A and C.

[0018] Also, as shown in the timetable, in the time slots of 20:00 and 21:00, the programs of distributor A and distributor C overlap. In such a case, for example, user U1 can decide to watch the "Match Game Commentary" of distributor A, which provides a free archive, later in the archive, and to watch in real time the "Match Game Commentary" of distributor C, which only provides a paid archive, and the "Recommended Game Introduction" of distributor C, which does not provide an archive.

[0019] Here, the configuration of the management device 10 will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the management device according to the first embodiment. As shown in Fig. 2, the management device 10 includes a communication unit 11, an input / output unit 12, a storage unit 13, and a control unit 14.

[0020] The communication unit 11 performs data communication with other devices via a network. For example, the communication unit 11 is a network interface card (NIC). The input / output unit 12 is an interface for inputting and outputting data. The input / output unit 12 is connected to an input device such as a mouse or a keyboard, and an output device such as a display.

[0021] The storage unit 13 is a storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), an optical disk, etc. The storage unit 13 may be a semiconductor memory in which data can be rewritten, such as a random access memory (RAM), a flash memory, or a non-volatile static random access memory (NVSRAM). The storage unit 13 stores an operating system (OS) and various programs executed by the management device 10. The storage unit 13 stores distributor information 131, user information 132, and program information 133.

[0022] Distributor information 131 is information about a distributor. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of distributor information. As shown in Fig. 3, distributor information 131 includes classification items (major classification, medium classification, minor classification) and links for each distributor. The links are URLs (Uniform Resource Locators) for accessing the SNS, website, etc. of each distributor.

[0023] Classification items are items for classifying broadcasters, and are determined based on the attributes of the broadcaster and the organization to which the broadcaster belongs. In the example of FIG. 4, the "major category" is an item for classifying broadcasters into "streamer" or "television talent". The medium category is an item for classifying broadcasters by the agency to which the broadcaster belongs. The small category is an item for classifying broadcasters by the small group to which the broadcaster belongs. For example, FIG. 3 shows that broadcaster D's major category is "television talent", his medium category is "agency X", and his small category is "group Y". Processing using classification items will be described later.

[0024] User information 132 is information about a user who watches a program. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of user information. As shown in FIG. 4, the user information 132 includes broadcasters registered for each user. For example, FIG. 4 shows that user U1 has registered broadcasters A and C. As described in FIG. 1, the user is provided with the broadcast schedules of the registered broadcasters.

[0025] Program information 133 is a diagram showing an example of program information. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of program information. As shown in Fig. 5, program information 133 includes information on the start date and time, end date and time, distributor, medium, archive, and distribution content for each program.

[0026] For example, Figure 5 shows that broadcaster A will broadcast a program called "Latest Smartphone Unboxing Video" on a medium called "ABC tube" from "2020 / 11 / 19 18:00" to "2020 / 11 / 19 19:00", and that the program does not have an archive.

[0027] The program information 133 may include not only the presence or absence of an archive and whether the archive is free or not, but also more detailed information as information related to the archive. For example, the program information 133 may include a method for viewing the archive, a date and time when the archive can be viewed, a specific fee for viewing the archive, and other conditions for viewing the archive (channel registration, membership registration, etc.).

[0028] The control unit 14 controls the entire management device 10. The control unit 14 is, for example, an electronic circuit such as a central processing unit (CPU), a micro processing unit (MPU), or a graphics processing unit (GPU), or an integrated circuit such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a field programmable gate array (FPGA). The control unit 14 also has an internal memory for storing programs and control data that define various processing procedures, and executes each process using the internal memory. The control unit 14 also functions as various processing units by the operation of various programs. For example, the control unit 14 has a storage unit 141, a search unit 142, a generation unit 143, and a provision unit 144.

[0029] The storage unit 141 stores in the memory unit 13 the distributor and the distribution date and time for each program distributed using a predetermined medium in association with each other. The storage unit 141 also stores in the memory unit 13 the medium for distributing each program. Furthermore, the storage unit 141 further stores in the memory unit 13 the viewing availability and viewing mode of the recording for each program. The information for each program corresponds to the program information 133.

[0030] The storage unit 141 can read information related to the program from the post on the SNS. For example, the storage unit 141 reads information related to the program from the post content as shown in Fig. 6, and stores the read content in the memory unit 13. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the post content by a distributor. The storage unit 141 can read the post content using existing natural language analysis technology.

[0031] 6, the storage unit 141 reads that the distributor is "Distributor A", the distribution date and time is "tomorrow" from the posting date of "2020 / 11 / 18", that is, from "18:00" to "19:00" on "2020 / 11 / 19", the medium is "ABC tube", the distribution content is "latest smartphone unboxing video", and there is no archive.The storage unit 141 then stores the read information in the memory unit 13.

[0032] The storage unit 141 may be configured to read the contents of posts with a specific hashtag such as "#ScheduledDistribution" in FIG. 6, or may be configured to read messages sent to a specific account (management account) such as "@Haishin_Kanri."

[0033] Here, the "destination" in Fig. 6 represents the destination of a so-called mention or reply. A mention is a message to a specific post. A reply is a message equivalent to a reply to a specific message.

[0034] For example, the storage unit 141 reads messages posted as mentions to the managed account or replies to posts from the managed account. The storage unit 141 may also read the titles and text of emails sent to email addresses to be managed, in addition to posts to SNS.

[0035] Also, the distributor may input program information in a predetermined format and transmit it to the management device 10. In this case, the information input in the storage unit 141 format can be read by RPA (Robotic Process Automation).

[0036] Here, the viewing availability and viewing mode of the recording stored in storage unit 141 correspond to the information in the archive item of program information 133. For example, recordings of programs for which archive is "not available" in program information 133 are not provided. Recordings of programs for which archive is "available (free)" in program information 133 are provided free of charge. Recordings of programs for which archive is "available (paid)" in program information 133 are provided for a fee. Recordings are provided by, for example, download or streaming.

[0037] The search unit 142 searches the storage unit 13 for one or more distributors specified by the user U1 and distribution dates and times of programs corresponding to the distributors. The search unit 142 also searches for media corresponding to the programs. The search unit 142 also searches for viewing availability and viewing modes of recordings corresponding to the programs.

[0038] The search unit 142 searches the program information 133 according to the conditions specified by the user U1. When performing the search, the search unit 142 also refers to the distributor information 131 and the user information 132 as necessary.

[0039] For example, the search unit 142 accepts search conditions related to the distributor, distribution date and time (start date and time or end date and time), medium, whether archived, whether the archive is free or not, and distribution contents.

[0040] The search unit 142 may also accept the classification items (major classification, medium classification, minor classification) of the distributors as search conditions. In this case, the management device 10 provides the user U1 with a distributor selection screen 20b as shown in Fig. 7 via the terminal 20. Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the distributor selection screen.

[0041] User U1 can specify each classification item or individual distributor as a search condition by operating a check box displayed on the distributor selection screen 20b. Furthermore, the distributor selection screen 20b displays an input field for search conditions using free words. In addition, the storage unit 141 may add the distributor selected on the distributor selection screen 20b to the registered distributors of the user information 132.

[0042] The generation unit 143 generates a timetable that arranges the distributors and the distribution dates and times obtained by the search by the search unit 142. The generation unit 143 generates a timetable such as that displayed on the search result display screen 20a in FIG.

[0043] The providing unit 144 provides the user U1 with information obtained through the search by the searching unit 142. For example, the providing unit 144 provides the timetable generated by the generating unit 143 to the user U1.

[0044] Furthermore, the management device 10 may provide the user U1 via the terminal 20 with a distributor information screen 20c that displays individual information for each distributor, as shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the distributor information screen.

[0045] The broadcaster information screen 20c displays a link to the broadcaster's SNS and a link for sending a message. When the link for sending a message is pressed, a form for sending a message to the broadcaster is displayed.

[0046] [Processing of the first embodiment] Fig. 9 is a flowchart showing the flow of the registration process according to the first embodiment. First, as shown in Fig. 1, the management device 10 accepts input of program information from a distributor (step S101). Next, the management device 10 registers the input program information (step S102). Specifically, the management device 10 stores the information input from the distributor in the storage unit 13 as program information 133.

[0047] Fig. 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of the output process according to the first embodiment. As shown in Fig. 9, first, the management device 10 receives a schedule viewing request from a user (step S201). Next, the management device 10 identifies broadcasters that the user has registered (step S202). Here, the management device 10 can identify broadcasters that each user has registered by referring to the user information 132.

[0048] Next, the management device 10 searches the program information 133 of the specified distributor (step S203). Then, the management device 10 generates a timetable based on the search result (step S204). Furthermore, the management device 10 outputs the timetable (step S205). The management device 10 transmits the timetable to the terminal 20.

[0049] [Advantages of the first embodiment] As described above, the storage unit 141 associates the distributor and distribution date and time for each program distributed using a specified medium and stores them in the memory unit 13. The search unit 142 searches the memory unit 13 for one or more distributors specified by the user and the distribution dates and times of programs corresponding to the distributors. The provision unit 144 provides the user with information obtained by the search by the search unit 142. In this way, the management device 10 can search for program information of multiple distributors and provide it collectively. As a result, according to this embodiment, program information of multiple distributors can be efficiently known.

[0050] The generating unit 143 generates a timetable that arranges the distributors and the distribution dates and times obtained by the search by the searching unit 142. The providing unit 144 provides the user with the timetable generated by the generating unit 143. This allows the viewer to get an overview of the information of each distributor.

[0051] The storage unit 141 further stores the medium on which each program is distributed in the memory unit 13. The search unit 142 further searches for the medium corresponding to the program. This allows the viewer to efficiently collect information across media even when the viewer or the distributor uses multiple media.

[0052] The storage unit 141 further stores the viewing availability and viewing style of the recording for each program in the memory unit 13. The search unit 142 further searches for the viewing availability and viewing style of the recording corresponding to the program. This allows the viewer to efficiently collect information regarding the recording (archive) of the distributed program.

[0053] [System configuration, etc.] In addition, each component of each device shown in the figure is a functional concept, and does not necessarily have to be physically configured as shown in the figure. In other words, the specific form of distribution and integration of each device is not limited to that shown in the figure, and all or a part of it can be functionally or physically distributed or integrated in any unit according to various loads, usage conditions, etc. Furthermore, each processing function performed by each device can be realized in whole or in any part by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a program analyzed and executed by the CPU, or can be realized as hardware by wired logic. Note that the program may be executed not only by the CPU but also by other processors such as a GPU.

[0054] Furthermore, among the processes described in this embodiment, all or part of the processes described as being performed automatically can be performed manually, or all or part of the processes described as being performed manually can be performed automatically by a known method. In addition, the information including the processing procedures, control procedures, specific names, various data and parameters shown in the above documents and drawings can be changed arbitrarily unless otherwise specified.

[0055] [program] In one embodiment, the management device 10 can be implemented by installing a management program that executes the above management processing as package software or online software on a desired computer. For example, the above management program can be executed by an information processing device, causing the information processing device to function as the management device 10. The information processing device here includes desktop or notebook personal computers. In addition, the information processing device also includes mobile communication terminals such as smartphones, mobile phones, and PHS (Personal Handyphone System), and even slate terminals such as PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), etc.

[0056] The management device 10 can also be implemented as a management server device that provides services related to the above management process to a client, the client being a terminal device used by a user. For example, the management server device is implemented as a server device that provides a management service that receives the distribution schedules of multiple distributors as input and outputs a timetable. In this case, the management server device may be implemented as a Web server, or may be implemented as a cloud that provides services related to the above management process by outsourcing.

[0057] 11 is a diagram showing an example of a computer that executes a management program. The computer 1000 has, for example, a memory 1010 and a CPU 1020. The computer 1000 also has a hard disk drive interface 1030, a disk drive interface 1040, a serial port interface 1050, a video adapter 1060, and a network interface 1070. These components are connected by a bus 1080.

[0058] The memory 1010 includes a read only memory (ROM) 1011 and a random access memory (RAM) 1012. The ROM 1011 stores a boot program such as a basic input output system (BIOS). The hard disk drive interface 1030 is connected to a hard disk drive 1090. The disk drive interface 1040 is connected to a disk drive 1100. A removable storage medium such as a magnetic disk or an optical disk is inserted into the disk drive 1100. The serial port interface 1050 is connected to a mouse 1110 and a keyboard 1120, for example. The video adapter 1060 is connected to a display 1130, for example.

[0059] The hard disk drive 1090 stores, for example, an OS 1091, an application program 1092, a program module 1093, and program data 1094. That is, a program that defines each process of the management device 10 is implemented as a program module 1093 in which computer-executable code is written. The program module 1093 is stored, for example, in the hard disk drive 1090. For example, a program module 1093 for executing the same process as the functional configuration of the management device 10 is stored in the hard disk drive 1090. The hard disk drive 1090 may be replaced by an SSD (Solid State Drive).

[0060] Furthermore, setting data used in the processing of the above-described embodiment is stored as program data 1094, for example, in the memory 1010 or the hard disk drive 1090. Then, the CPU 1020 reads out the program module 1093 or the program data 1094 stored in the memory 1010 or the hard disk drive 1090 into the RAM 1012 as necessary, and executes the processing of the above-described embodiment.

[0061] Note that the program module 1093 and the program data 1094 are not limited to being stored in the hard disk drive 1090, but may be stored in, for example, a removable storage medium and read by the CPU 1020 via the disk drive 1100 or the like. Alternatively, the program module 1093 and the program data 1094 may be stored in another computer connected via a network (such as a local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN)). The program module 1093 and the program data 1094 may then be read by the CPU 1020 from the other computer via the network interface 1070. [Explanation of symbols]

[0062] Network N User U1 1 Management System 10 Management device 11 Communications Department 12 Input / output section 13 Storage section 14 Control section 20 Terminals 20a Search results display screen 20b Streamer selection screen 20c Streamer Information Screen 131 Distributor Information 132 User Information 133 Program Information 141 Storage area 142 Search Department 143 Generation part

Claims

1. A storage unit that acquires a distributor, a distribution date and time, a medium, and a distribution content from a post content on a social networking site, and stores the distributor, the distribution date and time, the medium, and the distribution content in a memory unit in association with a program; a search unit that searches the storage unit for one or more distributors designated by a user and distribution dates, media, and distribution contents of programs corresponding to the distributors; a providing unit that provides information obtained by the search by the search unit to the user; A management device comprising:

2. A generation unit that generates a timetable in which the distributors and the distribution dates and times are arranged, The management device according to claim 1 , wherein the providing unit provides the user with the timetable generated by the generating unit.

3. The storage unit further stores a medium to be distributed for each program in the storage unit; 3. The management device according to claim 1, wherein the search section further searches for the medium corresponding to the program.

4. The storage unit further stores in the memory unit information on whether the recording of each program is viewable and a viewing state of the program, 4. The management device according to claim 1, wherein the search unit further searches for viewing availability and viewing state of the recording corresponding to the program.

5. A management method executed by a management device, comprising: a storage step of acquiring a distributor, a distribution date and time, a medium, and a distribution content from the content posted on the SNS, and storing the distributor, the distribution date and time, the medium, and the distribution content in a storage unit in association with a program; a search step of searching the storage unit for one or more distributors designated by a user and distribution dates and times, media, and distribution contents of programs corresponding to the distributors; a providing step of providing the user with information obtained by the search step; A management method comprising:

6. A management program for causing a computer to function as the management device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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