Broadcast receiver and method and apparatus for computing viewing/listening information

A viewing and listening information computing apparatus, comprising:

• reception state management means for obtaining a reception log and a receiver ID of at least one broadcast receiver;
• a database in which the obtained reception log, receiver ID, and program information concerning a broadcast program are recorded, the program information including a program label indicating a type of program and unit portions of the program separated based on different content specific to the type of program;
• viewing and listening information management means for computing viewing and listening information which is information concerning viewing and listening based on the reception log, the receiver ID, and the program information read from the database,
• wherein the viewing and listening information includes viewer preferences for each unit portion of the program,
• wherein the viewing and listening information includes a rating for each unit portion of the program computed using a total number of receivers that received the unit portion of the program, and
• wherein a reception is recorded in the reception log of said at least one broadcast receiver only when said at least one broadcast receiver continuously receives a channel and/or a program for a predetermined period and a reception is not recorded in the reception log of said at least one broadcast receiver when said least one broadcast receiver does not continuously receive a channel and/or a program for at least the predetermined period.

A system comprising:

• a receiver, including:
• a receiving unit for selecting a channel and for receiving a broadcast;
• a controller for controlling channel selection and for detecting a reception log;
• and
• a memory for storing the reception log and a receiver ID;
• a viewing and listening information computing apparatus communicatively coupled to the receiver, the viewing and listening information computing apparatus including:
• a reception state management computer for obtaining a reception log and the receiver ID from the receiver;
• a database in which the obtained reception log and receiver ID are recorded;
• a program management computer for receiving program information including a program ID, a program label indicating a type of program, and unit portions of a program separated based on different content specific to the type of program;
• and
• a viewing and listening information management computer for computing viewing and listening information including a rating concerning viewing and listening for each unit portion of the program based on the reception log, the receiver ID, and the program information, and for transmitting the computed viewing and listening information to a program producer;
• wherein the rating is computed using a total number of receivers that received the unit portion of the program.

A method of obtaining viewing and listening information, comprising:

• selecting a channel and receiving a broadcast via a receiving unit having a receiver ID;
• detecting a reception log;
• storing the reception log and the receiver ID in a database;
• obtaining, using a program management computer, program information including a program ID, a program label indicating a type of program, and unit portions of a program separated based on different content specific to the type of program;
• computing, using a viewing and listening management computer, viewing and listening information concerning viewing and listening for each unit portion of the program based on the reception log, the receiver ID, and the program information;
• and
• transmitting the computed viewing and listening information to a program producer;
• wherein the viewing and listening information includes a rating for each unit portion of the program computed using a total number of receivers that received the unit portion of the program.