Patent Publication Number: US-2015088908-A1

Title: Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application JP 2012-087979 filed in the Japan Patent Office on Apr. 6, 2012, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program configured to extract content, which relates to a program that a user is watching by using a terminal such as a television receiver. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     For example, there is known a technology of calculating relation degree between users by using preference information of a plurality of users, and of determining content information to be provided to a user by using the relation degree. As a result, information, which a user prefers, is efficiently provided out of large amounts of information. Further, there is known a technology of calculating similarity between pieces of content information, and of providing other content information to the user. The other content information provided to the user has a high degree of similarity to information on content selected by a user (see PTL 1). 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     [PTL 1] 
     
         
         Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2007-241888 
       
    
     SUMMARY 
     Technical Problem 
     Meanwhile, the following scheme has not been considered well until now. That is, the scheme is one in which social networking service (SNS), such as FACEBOOK, is effectively used to extract content, which relates to a program that a user is watching by using a terminal such as a television receiver. 
     In view of the above-mentioned circumstances, it is desirable to provide an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program capable of extracting related content effectively by using SNS. 
     Solution to Problem 
     According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, an information processing apparatus may include a control unit to control providing a related content in relation to a content for a first user based on a relation degree, wherein the relation degree is determined based on relationship between the first user and another user. 
     According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, an information processing method may include controlling, by a processor, of providing a related content in relation to a content for a first user based on a relation degree, wherein the relation degree is determined based on relationship between the first user and another user. 
     According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a non-transitory recording medium may be recorded with a program executable by a computer, where the program may include controlling of providing a related content in relation to a content for a first user based on a relation degree, wherein the relation degree is determined based on relationship between the first user and another user. 
     Advantageous Effects of Invention 
     As described above, according to the present technology, it is possible to extract related content effectively by using SNS. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram showing the configuration of an ECG/SNS link system. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram showing an example of displaying an ECG menu by a user terminal. 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram showing an example of displaying a news feed on a user terminal. 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram showing an example of displaying a list of information on related content on a user terminal. 
         FIG. 5  is a sequential diagram showing overall process by the ECG/SNS link system. 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart showing a procedure of generating an ECG unit by an ECG unit generating server. 
         FIG. 7  is a diagram showing a specific example of adding a social-graph score to a temporary relation degree. 
         FIG. 8  is a flowchart showing how to calculate a social-graph score. 
         FIG. 9  is a flowchart showing an example of how to adjust relation degree based on preference information. 
         FIG. 10  is a diagram showing a first related-content extracting method, which uses preference information of users. 
         FIG. 11  is a flowchart showing a procedure of the first related-content extracting method. 
         FIG. 12  is a diagram showing a second related-content extracting method, which uses preference information of users. 
         FIG. 13  is a diagram showing a third related-content extracting method. 
         FIG. 14  is a diagram for explaining that related content is changed depending on timing. 
         FIG. 15  is a diagram for explaining setting of information on a program displayed on a news feed. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present technology will be described with reference to the drawings. 
     First Embodiment 
     This embodiment relates to an ECG (Electronic Content Guide)/SNS link system capable of effectively extracting content, which relates to a program that a user is watching by using a user terminal, based on linkage between an ECG system and an SNS system. 
     Note that, in this description, a “program” includes a broadcast program, a VOD (Video On Demand) program, and the like. “Content” includes, in addition to a program, advertisement information, product information, and the like. That is, “content” is used to indicate a “program”. 
     (ECG/SNS Link System) 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram showing the configuration of an ECG/SNS link system  100 . The ECG/SNS link system  100  includes plurality of user terminals  200 , an SNS system  300 , an ECG system  400 , and a content provider system  500 . 
     Specifically, the user terminal  200  is, for example, a digital television receiver, a smartphone, a mobile phone, a game machine, a personal computer, or the like. The user terminal  200  obtains ECG data from the ECG system  400 , and displays an ECG menu on a screen based on the ECG data. 
       FIG. 2  is a diagram showing an example of displaying the ECG menu by the user terminal  200 . The ECG menu includes a still image  11  of a representative scene of a program, partial information (thumbnail image, program title, synopsis)  12  on a selected program, and activity buttons  13 . The activity buttons  13  include a “Watch” button  13 A and a “Like” button  13 B. The “Watch” button  13 A is used to receive indication of intention to watch a selected program. The “Like” button  13 B is used to receive indication of intention that a selected program is a favorite program. The “Watch” or “Like” is called “activity” in SNS, which means an action by a user with respect to a program. 
     A user A operates the “Like” button  13 B on the ECG menu. As a result, the fact that a program that the user A is watching by using the user terminal  200  ( 200 A) is his favorite program is transmitted to a user (user A&#39;s friend) via the SNS system  300 . The user A operates the “Watch” button  13 A on the ECG menu to watch a selected program. 
       FIG. 5  is a sequential diagram showing process of extracting related content by the ECG/SNS link system  100 . The user A operates the “Like” button  13 B when the user A is watching a program by using the user terminal  200  ( 200 A). Then, the user terminal  200  ( 200 A) sends a program-identifying request to an ECG management server  402  via an ECG delivery server  403 . The program-identifying request includes information on present date/time, the kind of broadcast medium (terrestrial wave, BS, CS, VOD, or the like), channel number, and the like. 
     The ECG management server  402  receives the program-identifying request from the user terminal  200  ( 200 A) of the user A. Then, the ECG management server  402  determines a program ID based on the information in the program-identifying request. The program ID identifies a program that the user A is watching by using the user terminal  200  ( 200 A). The information in the program-identifying request is information on present date/time, the kind of broadcast medium, channel number, and the like. The ECG management server  402  sends a “Like”-activity request to the SNS system  300 . The “Like”-activity request includes the determined program ID, information on the program, and a user ID of the user A in SNS. 
     The SNS system  300  is a server configured to provide SNS (Social Networking Service) or social media. The SNS system  300  includes a social-graph management server  301 , a user-profile management server  302 , and an activity management server  303 . The social-graph management server  301  manages a social graph. The social graph is information on relation between people. Specifically, the social graph shows friendship between users, and relationship between users. The user-profile management server  302  manages information on a user&#39;s name registered in SNS, sex, age, preference information, an image, and the like, as a user profile. The activity management server  303  manages an activity of each user for each program. That is, the social-graph management server  301  and the activity management server  303  function as a server configured to manage information on users having a friendship in SNS and relationship between the users, in relation to an activity executed by each of the users in SNS and to the activity-target content. Note that relationship between the users is a variable value depending on, for example, frequency of communication between users in SNS. 
     The SNS system  300  determines another user B, who has a friendship with the user A, based on a user ID of the user A and on a social graph. The user ID of the user A is in the “Like”-activity request sent from the user terminal  200  via the ECG delivery server  403 . The social graph is obtained by the SNS system  300 . In addition, the SNS system  300  adds information on a program in the “Like”-activity request and “Like” activity of the user A to the SNS news feed of the other user B. Note that the “news feed” includes a communication information list display area and an operation menu of SNS. 
     The other user B (first user) may browse a list of information on programs, to each of which “Like” activity is set by the user A, on the news feed on the user terminal  200  ( 200 B) when the user B logs in to SNS. 
       FIG. 3  is a diagram showing an example of displaying a news feed on the user terminal  200  ( 200 B) of the user B. Information  14  on a program is displayed on the news feed for each program, to which an activity is executed. 
     The user B (first user) specifies one program from the news feed. In this case, the user terminal  200  ( 200 B) sends an ECG-unit obtaining request to an ECG unit generating server  401  via the SNS system  300 . The ECG-unit obtaining request includes a program ID of a specified program. 
     The ECG system  400  (information processing apparatus) includes the ECG unit generating server  401 , the ECG management server  402 , and the ECG delivery server  403 . The ECG management server  402  obtains information on content (i.e., program, advertisement information, product information, and the like) as metadata from the content provider system  500 . The ECG management server  402  manages the obtained information. 
     The ECG unit generating server  401  receives an ECG-unit creating request from the user terminal  200  ( 200 B) of the user B (first user). Then, the ECG unit generating server  401  obtains information on each related content from the ECG management server  402 . The related content includes a predetermined number of pieces of content, each of which relates to a program corresponding to a program ID in the ECG-unit creating request. 
     The ECG unit generating server  401  determines a predetermined number of pieces of related content based on a social graph. The social graph shows relationship between the user B (first user) and one or more other users (second users), who have a friendship with the user B. The social graph is in relation to temporary relation degree, which is obtained by comparing information on each metadata item (title, keyword, genre, cast&#39;s name, broadcast date/time, broadcast length) between pieces of related content. The social graph is further in relation to a program (content) that the user B is watching, and in relation to an action to the program (content). Here, “in relation to an action to the program (content)” means that any activity is executed with respect to the program. 
     The ECG unit generating server  401  creates a unit of information on the predetermined number of determined pieces of related content to thereby create an ECG unit. The ECG delivery server  403  sends the created ECG unit to the user terminal  200  ( 200 B) of the user B. 
     The user terminal  200  ( 200 B) of the user B receives the ECG unit. Then, the user terminal  200  ( 200 B) displays information  15  on a program on a screen as shown in  FIG. 4 , for example. The information  15  on a program includes a still image of a program specified by the user B, the title of the program, the synopsis of the program, and the like. In addition, the user terminal  200  ( 200 B) displays a list  16  of information on related content based on the received ECG unit. The user B selects one piece of related content from the thus-displayed list  16  of information on related content. Then, for example, the content is downloaded and watched, or a web page for purchasing or renting a medium is displayed, based on a URL previously allocated to the related content. 
     (Procedure of Generating ECG Unit) 
     Next, a procedure of generating an ECG unit by the ECG unit generating server  401  will be described. 
     The ECG unit generating server  401  includes a controller unit  410  and a storage device  420 . The controller unit  410  includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a main memory, and the like. The storage device  420  stores a program for generating an ECG unit. The program for generating an ECG unit stored in the storage device  420  is loaded in the main memory of the controller unit  410 . Then, the CPU of the controller unit  410  executes a program loaded in the main memory, and executes arithmetic process to generate an ECG unit, for example. 
       FIG. 6  is a flowchart showing a procedure of generating an ECG unit. First, the controller unit  410  determines related content based on comparison between information on each metadata item and a program (hereinafter, referred to as “program A”) specified by the user B on the SNS news feed, for example. The related content includes a predetermined number of pieces of content in relation to the program A. The controller unit  410  stores the related content and temporary relation degree for each related content calculated based on the comparison (Step S 101 ). Here, the “predetermined number” is larger than the number of pieces of content to be presented to a user finally. For example, in a case where the number of pieces of content to be presented to a user finally is “10”, the “predetermined number” is “100”. 
     Next, the controller unit  410  determines if there is an activity such as “Watch” or “Like” with respect to the program A (Step S 102 ). If there is an activity, the controller unit  410  retrieves an activity registered for the content determined in Step S 101 . 
     Next, the controller unit  410  obtains a social graph from the SNS system  300  (Step S 103 , Step S 104 ). The social graph is in relation to a retrieved individual activity and to the program A. The social graph includes information on relationship between the user B and one or more users, who have a friendship with the user B. That is, in a case where the activity is “Watch”, the obtained social graph includes information on relationship between the user B (first user) and users (second users) other than the user B, who executed an activity of watching the program A. Further, in a case where the activity is “Like”, the obtained social graph includes information on relationship between the user B and users (second users) other than the user B, who prefer the program A. 
     Next, the controller unit  410  calculates a social-graph score (Step S 105 ). 
       FIG. 8  is a flowchart showing how to calculate a social-graph score. The controller unit  410  multiplies an addition result of a social graph of each activity by a predetermined “ratio coefficient between content and social” to thereby obtain a value as a social-graph score, where social in the “ratio coefficient between content and social” corresponds to SNS or social media activity or relationship between users. The “ratio coefficient between content and social” is used in a case of adding a value, which is obtained by adding a temporary relation degree for each related content to a social graph of each activity, to a temporary relation degree for each related content. Specifically, the “ratio coefficient between content and social” is a coefficient for controlling ratio between the former and the latter. 
     The “ratio coefficient between content and social” may be used to specify weight of a social-graph score for each SNS, in a case where there are a plurality of SNSs. Further, the “ratio coefficient between content and social” may be used to change an addition ratio of a social graph of each activity, depending on importance of each activity. For example, weight of “Like” may be “1.0”, and weight of “Watch” may be “1.2”. 
     Next, the controller unit  410  adds the social-graph score to a temporary relation degree of a related content for each related content (Step S 106 , Step S 107 ). 
       FIG. 7  is a diagram showing a specific example of adding a social-graph score to a temporary relation degree.  FIG. 7  shows the following situation. That is, relationship of a social-graph score is added to a temporary relation degree of each of content B to content G in relation to the program A. As a result, the original ranking (in the order of B, C, D, E, F, G) of the content B to the content G in relation to the program A is changed to the new ranking (in the order of G, B, C, F, D, E). Here, relationship with a friend “aaa” is “8”, relationship with a friend “bbb” is “4”, and relationship with a friend “ccc” is “1”. The relationship with each friend corresponds to an addition result of a social graph of each activity. That is, the relationship “8” with the friend “aaa” is, for example, obtained by adding the relationship with the friend “aaa” in a social graph of “Like” activity to the relationship with the friend “aaa” in a social graph of “Watch” activity. 
     Next, the controller unit  410  adjusts the added value based on preference information of each user to thereby generate a result as a final relation degree (Step S 108 , Step S 109 ). In this case, it is predetermined that preference information of a user is used for a program. 
     Next, the controller unit  410  determines a predetermined number of higher-order pieces of related content, each of which has a higher final relation degree, as related content in relation to the program A. The controller unit  410  stores the order of each related content and the final relation degree in relation to each other in the main memory or the like (Step S 110 ). 
     (Details of Adjustment Based on Preference Information) 
       FIG. 9  is a flowchart showing an example of how to adjust relation degree based on preference information. First, the controller unit  410  obtains preference information of each user from the SNS system  300  and the like (Step S 201 , Step S 202 ). 
     The controller unit  410  compares preference information between users. The controller unit  410  counts the number of common metadata items (Step S 203 , Step S 204 ). Then, the controller unit  410  multiplies the number of common metadata items by relationship between users. The controller unit  410  then multiplies the obtained value by the ratio coefficient between content and social. The controller unit  410  adds the obtained value to a social-graph score (Step S 205 , Step S 206 ). 
     (First Related-Content Extracting Method) 
     Preference information of users registered in SNS is used to extract related content.  FIG. 10  is a diagram showing a first related-content extracting method, which uses preference information of users. Here, the users A, B, C have a friendship. “Tennis” is registered for sport, and “AAA” is registered for artist in the user profile of the user A. 
     “Tennis” is registered for sport in the user profile of the user B. In this case, information on a program that the user A watched by operating the “Watch” button and, in addition, one or more pieces of related content in relation to tennis are displayed on the news feed. Further, “AAA” is registered for artist in the user profile of the user C. In this case, information on a program that the user A watched by operating the “Watch” button and, in addition, one or more pieces of related content in relation to “AAA” are displayed on the news feed. In this manner, related content is extracted based on preference information common to the users. 
       FIG. 11  is a flowchart showing a procedure of the first related-content extracting method. When the user B is browsing the news feed on the user terminal  200  ( 200 B), the user B selects an activity such as “Watch” posted by the user A, and executes the activity (Step S 301 ). 
     The controller unit  410  of the ECG unit generating server  401  determines that the user terminal  200  of the user B executes this operation. Then, the controller unit  410  obtains preference information of the user A and preference information of the user B from the SNS system  300  (Step S 302 , Step S 303 ). 
     Subsequently, the controller unit  410  compares the obtained preference information of the user A to the obtained preference information of the user B. The controller unit  410  counts the number of common metadata items. The controller unit  410  calculates a social-graph score in which the comparison result of the preference information is reflected (Step S 304 ). For example, the controller unit  410  multiplies the number of common metadata items by relationship between the users. The controller unit  410  then multiplies the obtained value by the ratio coefficient between content and social. The controller unit  410  then adds the obtained value to a social-graph score. The above-mentioned process is repeated until a predetermined number of pieces of related content are obtained (Step S 305 ). 
     (Second Related-Content Extracting Method) 
       FIG. 12  is a diagram showing a second related-content extracting method, which uses preference information of users. In this example, the user terminal  200  ( 200 C) of the user C specifies a friend (user B) to which the “Watch” activity is registered in the list of friends on SNS. Then, the user terminal  200  of the user C displays content of a wall of the user B on the news feed. The user C specifies a program on the news feed. Then, content corresponding to preference information common to the user C and the user B is determined as related content, out of pieces of content in relation to the program. The user terminal  200  ( 200 C) of the user C displays information on the related content. 
     That is, in the example of  FIG. 12 , “BBB” is registered as preference information common to the user C and the user B. As a result, the user terminal  200  of the user C displays information on content in relation to “BBB”. 
     (Third Related-Content Extracting Method) 
       FIG. 13  is a diagram showing a third related-content extracting method. According to the third related-content extracting method, related content is narrowed down based on an attribute of the user terminal  200 . The attribute of the user terminal  200  is, for example, PVR (Personal video recorder), electronic book, game machine, audio player, or the like. For example, in a case where the user terminal  200  is an electronic book, content in relation to an electronic book is extracted as related content, and information on the related content is displayed. In a case where the user terminal  200  is a game machine, content in relation to a game is extracted as related content. 
     (Change of Related Content Depending on Timing) 
     Next, how to change related content at a timing of browsing a news feed will be described.  FIG. 14  is a diagram for explaining that related content is changed depending on timing. Long time has passed since the user terminal  200  posts “Like” about a program. In this case, content in relation to the program may be expired. 
     For example, a user specifies a program  3 - 1  on a news feed, which is browsed at 18:30. A program  4 - 1 , which is broadcasted at 19:00, is extracted as related content in relation to the program  3 - 1 . However, in a case where the news feed is browsed at 20:30, the program  4 - 1  is not extracted as content to be browsed. The reason is that the program  4 - 1 , which is broadcasted at 19:00, is expired. Here, in a case where the program  4 - 1  is broadcasted every week, a program  4 - 2 , which is broadcasted on the next week, is extracted as related content. In this manner, an expired program is excluded from related content. 
     (Setting of Information on Program Displayed on News Feed) 
       FIG. 15  is a diagram for explaining setting of information on a program displayed on a news feed. Here, operated by a user, the user terminal  200  is capable of setting, for the SNS system  300 , information on a program displayed on a news feed for each metadata item. A news feed creating section of the SNS system  300  selects information on a corresponding metadata item out of information on a program based on the setting information. The news feed creating section adds the selected information to a news feed. The news feed creating section sends the news feed to the user terminal  200 . 
     For example, the user A sets person as a metadata item. In this case, the news feed creating section of the SNS system  300  only adds information on persons to the news feed, out of information on a program. Alternatively, the user A sets synopsis as a metadata item. In this case, the news feed creating section of the SNS system  300  only adds information on synopses to the news feed, out of information on a program. As a result, it is possible to provide the following news feed to a user. That is, the news feed only includes narrowed-down information on a metadata item being an index of selecting a program by a user. 
     As described above, according to the present technology, the controller unit  410  of the ECG unit generating server  401  determines related content, which relates to a program that a user is watching by using the user terminal, in view of relationship between users. As a result, it is possible to extract related content effectively by using SNS. Further, the controller unit  410  compares preference information between users, and adjusts relation degree based on the comparison result. As a result, it is possible to extract related content more effectively. 
     Note that the present technology may employ the following configurations. 
     (1) An information processing apparatus, including:
         a controller unit configured
 
to obtain, when action information with respect to content displayed by a terminal of a first user is input, relationship between the first user and another second user from a server, the server managing relationship between a plurality of users including the first user in relation to action information input with respect to displayed content by each of the users and in relation to the displayed content, the relationship between the first user and the other second user being in relation to the displayed content and in relation to action information with respect to the content, and
 
to calculate relation degree of related content in relation to the displayed content in view of the obtained relationship.
 
(2) The information processing apparatus according to (1), wherein the controller unit is configured
 
to calculate a temporary relation degree between the displayed content and the related content based on comparison between the displayed content and the related content, and
 
to add the relationship to the temporary relation degree to thereby calculate the relation degree.
 
(3) The information processing apparatus according to (1) or (2), wherein the controller unit is capable of changing ratio of adding the temporary relation degree to the relationship.
 
(4) The information processing apparatus according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the controller unit is configured
 
to compare preference information of the first user to preference information of the second user, and
 
to adjust the relation degree based on the comparison result.
 
(5) The information processing apparatus according to any one of (1) to (4), further including
 
a delivery section configured to deliver information on a predetermined number of higher-order pieces of related content each having the higher relation degree to the terminal of the first user.
 
(6) The information processing apparatus according to any one of (1) to (5), wherein an action with respect to the displayed content is an action on SNS (Social Networking Service).
       

     Note that the present technology may employ the following configurations. 
     (1) An information processing apparatus including:
 
a control unit to control providing a related content in relation to a content for a first user based on a relation degree, wherein the relation degree is determined based on relationship between the first user and another user.
 
(2) The apparatus according to (1), wherein the related content includes at least one content determined using information on the content for the first user and information on the at least one content.
 
(3) The apparatus according to (2), wherein the at least one content is associated with information of a temporary relation degree of the at least one content determined based on a comparison of information on the content for the first user and information on the at least one content.
 
(4) The apparatus according to (1), wherein the relationship is in relation to an individual activity.
 
(5) The apparatus according to (4), wherein the individual activity includes at least one of an activity executed on the content for the first user or an activity that indicates a preference for the content for the first user.
 
(6) The apparatus according to (4), wherein the control unit determines a content as the related content based on whether the individual activity is registered for the content for the first user.
 
(7) The apparatus according to (1), wherein the relationship is determined based on predetermined activity information for the another user.
 
(8) The apparatus according to (7), wherein the predetermined activity information is preference information.
 
(9) The apparatus according to (1), wherein the relation degree of the related content exceeds a relation degree of another related content related to the content for the first user determined based on relationship between the first user and a second user.
 
(10) The apparatus according to (1), wherein the relation degree is determined by weighting an activity associated with the relationship by a predetermined amount.
 
(11) The apparatus of according to (10), wherein the weighting an activity associated with the relationship by the predetermined amount includes multiplying a predetermined coefficient with a value indicated for an individual activity of the another user associated with the content for the first user.
 
(12) The apparatus according to (11), wherein the predetermined coefficient is a ratio between content and social.
 
(13) The apparatus according to (1), wherein the relationship is determined based on preference information of the first user and the another user.
 
(14) The apparatus according to (1), wherein the relationship is determined using preference information that is common between the first user and the another user.
 
(15) The apparatus according to (1), wherein the related content is provided based on timing.
 
(16) The apparatus according to (15), wherein the timing is of the related content in relation to the content for the first user.
 
(17) The apparatus according to (15), wherein the related content is a program broadcasted at a predetermined time interval.
 
(18) The apparatus according to (1), wherein the related content is determined based on information set by the first user.
 
(19) An information processing method including:
 
controlling, by a processor, of providing a related content in relation to a content for a first user based on a relation degree, wherein the relation degree is determined based on relationship between the first user and another user.
 
(20) A non-transitory recording medium recorded with a program executable by a computer, the program including:
 
controlling of providing a related content in relation to a content for a first user based on a relation degree, wherein the relation degree is determined based on relationship between the first user and another user.
 
     It should be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occur depending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they are within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
     
         
           100  SNS link system 
           200  user terminal 
           300  SNS system 
           301  social-graph management server 
           302  user-profile management server 
           303  activity management server 
           400  ECG system 
           401  ECG unit generating server 
           402  ECG management server 
           403  ECG delivery server 
           410  controller unit 
           420  storage device 
           500  content provider system