Broadcast system transmitting supplementary data with a broadcast programme

Claim 2

A broadcast system according to claim 1 in which the service content information and the service addition information of the broadcasting program transmitted from the service supply apparatus are received by a plurality of receiving terminal apparatuses of a plurality of viewers, the service supply apparatus further comprises viewer attribute information data base for storing a piece of viewer attribute information transmitted from the attribute information storing means of each of the receiving terminal apparatuses; and service processing means for producing overall viewer attribute information for the viewers from the pieces of viewer attribute information stored in the viewer attribute information data base and selecting a piece of particular service content information of a particular broadcasting program from among the pieces of service content information of the broadcasting programs stored in the broadcasting data storing means, on condition that an attribute of the particular service content information of the particular broadcasting program is most suitable to the overall viewer attribute information, so as to transmit the particular service content information of the particular broadcasting program and particular service addition information of the particular broadcasting program from the broadcasting data transmitting means to each of the receiving terminal apparatuses.

Claim 3

A broadcast system according to claim 1 or 2 in which the viewer attribute information stored in the attribute information storing means of the receiving terminal apparatus indicates an age of the viewer, the distinction between male and female, a resident district of the viewer, a taste of the viewer, an occupation of the viewer or a life style of the viewer.

Claim 4

A broadcast system according to claim 1, 2 or 3 in which the service addition information prepared by the service addition information preparing means of the service supply apparatus further includes an age range for the viewer, the distinction between male and female, a resident district of the viewer, tastes of the viewer, an occupation of the viewer or a life style of the viewer.

Claim 5

A broadcast system according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 in which a keyword is attached to each of the broadcasting programs stored in the broadcasting data storing means of the service supply apparatus as the service addition information prepared by the service addition information preparing means to identify a type of each broadcasting program, and the viewer attribute information stored in the attribute information storing means of each receiving terminal apparatus is composed of one keyword and a using number indicating how many times the viewer views one type of broadcasting program to which the keyword is attached.

Claim 6

A broadcast system according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 in which the service addition information prepared by the service addition information preparing means of the service supply apparatus is a coded keyword, and the service content information of the broadcasting program and the coded keyword attached to the broadcasting program are transmitted from the broadcasting data transmitting means.

Claim 7

A broadcast system according to claim 5, the service supply apparatus further comprising code table storing means for storing a code table in which a set of a keyword, a code corresponding to the keyword and a using number corresponding to the keyword is registered for each keyword; and keyword coding means for coding the keyword attached to each broadcasting program transmitted by the broadcasting data transmitting means according to the code table stored in the code table storing means by changing the keyword to the code corresponding to the keyword, one using number registered in the code table being incremented each time the keyword corresponding to the using number is coded by the keyword coding means.

Claim 8

A broadcast system according to claim 5, the service supply apparatus further comprising code table storing means for storing a code table in which a set of a keyword, a coded keyword corresponding to the keyword and a using number corresponding to the keyword is registered for each keyword; keyword coding means for inquiring of the code table storing means a particular coded keyword corresponding to a particular keyword which is attached to a particular broadcasting program stored in the broadcasting data storing means of the service supply apparatus and coding the particular keyword to change the particular keyword to the particular coded keyword in cases where the particular coded keyword is registered in the code table, a particular using number corresponding to the particular keyword in the code table being incremented; and code table renewing means for adding a set of the particular keyword, the particular coded keyword and the particular using number set to one to the code table stored in the code table storing means in cases where the particular keyword is not registered in the code table.

Claim 9

A broadcast system according to claim 5, the service supply apparatus further comprising code table storing means for storing a code table in which a set of a keyword, a coded keyword corresponding to the keyword and a using number corresponding to the keyword is registered for each keyword; keyword coding means for coding the keywords attached to the broadcasting programs according to the code table stored in the code table storing means to change the keywords to a plurality of coded keywords, one using number in the code table being incremented each time the keyword corresponding to the using number is coded by the keyword coding means; and code table renewing means for detecting a predetermined number of particular keywords corresponding to particular using numbers, which are smaller than the other using numbers in the code table, from the code table stored in the code table storing means and deleting a plurality of sets corresponding to the particular keywords from the code table.

Claim 10

A broadcast system according to any one of claims 1 to 9 in which a communication line for the service content information of the broadcasting program transmitted from the broadcasting data transmitting means differs from a communication line for the service addition information transmitted from the broadcasting data transmitting means.

Claim 11

A broadcast system according to any one of claims 1 to 10 in which the service content information of the broadcasting program transmitted from the broadcasting data transmitting means is sent to the receiving terminal apparatus on an image channel broadcast, and the service addition information transmitted from the broadcasting data transmitting means is sent to the receiving terminal apparatus through a two-way data communication line.

Claim 12

A broadcast system according to any one of claims 1 to 9 in which the service addition information prepared by the service addition information preparing means is superimposed on the service content information of the broadcasting program digitalized by the broadcasting data transmitting means and is sent with the service content information of the broadcasting program through the same communication path.

Claim 13

A broadcast system according to any one of claims 1 to 10 and 12 in which the service content information of the broadcasting program transmitted from the broadcasting data transmitting means is sent on analog-broadcast, and the service addition information transmitted from the broadcasting data transmitting means is sent on digital-broadcast.

Claim 14

A broadcast system according to any one of claims 1 to 13 in which a keyword is attached to each of a plurality of broadcasting programs stored in the broadcasting data storing means of the service supply apparatus as the service addition information prepared by the service addition information preparing means to identify a type of each broadcasting program, a set of one keyword and a using number indicating how many times the current viewer views one type of broadcasting program to which the keyword is attached is listed for each keyword as the viewer attribute information stored in the attribute information storing means, the receiving terminal apparatus further comprises: operation record storing means for detecting the reproduction of one broadcasting program performed by the broadcasting program reproducing means and storing an operation record composed of one particular keyword attached to the broadcasting program and one using number set to one, a particular using number corresponding to the particular keyword listed as the viewer attribute information of the attribute information storing means being incremented according to the operation record.

Claim 15

A broadcast system according to any one of claims 1 to 13 in which a keyword is attached to each of a plurality of broadcasting programs stored in the broadcasting data storing means of the service supply apparatus as the service addition information prepared by the service addition information preparing means to identify a type of each broadcasting program, a set of one keyword and a using number indicating how many times the current viewer views one type of broadcasting program to which the keyword is attached is listed for each keyword as the viewer attribute information stored in the attribute information storing means, the receiving terminal apparatus further comprises: operation record storing means for detecting the reproduction of one broadcasting program performed by the broadcasting program reproducing means and storing an operation record composed of one particular keyword attached to the broadcasting program and one using number set to one each time the reproduction of one broadcasting program is detected, and the attribute information storing means of the receiving terminal apparatus comprises: a fixed attribute holding unit for holding one or more fixed attributes of the viewer: a short-term attribute holding unit for holding the operation records stored in the operation record storing means as a plurality of short-term attributes; a long-term attribute holding unit for holding one or more long-term attributes of the viewer: a long-term attribute renewing unit for changing the short-term attributes held in the short-term attribute holding unit to a plurality of new long-term attributes at prescribed time intervals and adding the new long-term attributes to the long-term attributes stored in the long-term attribute holding unit to renew the long-term attributes stored in the long-term attribute holding unit; and a synthetic attribute outputting unit for generating a synthetic attribute from one fixed attribute stored in the fixed attribute holding unit, one short-term attribute stored in the short-term attribute holding unit and one long-term attribute stored in the long-term attribute holding unit for each keyword while weighting the short-term attribute with a weighting factor, the synthetic attributes being output to the attribute information collating means as the viewer attribute information.

Claim 16

A broadcast system according to any one of claims 1 to 15 in which a plurality of receiving terminal apparatuses of a plurality of viewers receive the service content information of the broadcasting program and the service addition information of the broadcasting program from the service supply apparatus, the service addition information of the broadcasting program prepared in the service addition information preparing means includes examined viewer condition information indicating a group of viewers from which viewing records are collected, each receiving terminal apparatus further comprises: viewer recognizing means for recognizing a personal attribute of the corresponding viewer according to the viewer attribute information stored in the attribute information storing means; viewer applicability estimating means for estimating a viewer applicability for the broadcasting program received by the broadcasting data receiving means by collating the personal attribute of the corresponding viewer recognized by the viewer recognizing means with a viewer condition indicated by the examined viewer condition information of the service addition information of the broadcasting program; information utilization judging means for judging according to the viewer applicability estimated by the viewer applicability estimating means whether or not the collection of a viewing record for the reproduction of the broadcasting program in the broadcasting program reproducing means is performed; and viewing record collecting means for collecting the viewing record for the reproduction of the broadcasting program in cases where it is judged by the information utilization judging means that the collection of the viewing record is performed, and the service supply apparatus further comprises: viewing record receiving means for receiving a plurality of viewing records transmitted from the viewing record collecting means of the receiving terminal apparatuses; viewer attribute information data base for storing pieces of viewer attribute information transmitted from the attribute information storing means of the receiving terminal apparatuses; and viewer applicability estimating means for estimating an overall viewer applicability for the broadcasting program by collating the pieces of viewer attribute information of the viewers stored in the viewer attribute information data base with the viewing records received in the viewing record storing means.

Claim 17

A broadcast system according any one of to claims 1 to 16 in which the pieces of service addition information of the broadcasting programs and the pieces of service content information of the broadcasting programs are transmitted to each of a plurality of receiving terminal apparatuses one after another, each piece of service addition information includes broadcasting program identification information identifying a specific broadcasting program for which a viewing record is planned to be collected, each receiving terminal apparatus of the current viewer further comprises: information utilization judging means for judging according to the broadcasting program identification information whether or not the collection of a viewing record for the reproduction of a particular broadcasting program received by the broadcasting program receiving means is performed; and viewing record collecting means for collecting the viewing record for the reproduction of the particular broadcasting program in cases where the particular broadcasting program agrees with the specific broadcasting program identified by the broadcasting program identification information and it is judged by the information utilization judging means that the collection of the viewing record is performed, and the service supply apparatus further comprises: viewing record receiving means for receiving a plurality of viewing records for the specific broadcasting program transmitted from the viewing record collecting means of the receiving terminal apparatuses; viewer attribute information data base for storing pieces of viewer attribute information transmitted from the attribute information storing means of the receiving terminal apparatuses; and viewer applicability estimating means for estimating an overall viewer applicability for the specific broadcasting program by collating the pieces of viewer attribute information of the viewers stored in the viewer attribute information data base with the viewing records received in the viewing record storing means.

Claim 18

A broadcast system according to any one of claims 1 to 17 in which each of a plurality of receiving terminal apparatuses of a plurality of viewers receives the service content information of a particular broadcasting program and the pieces of service addition information of the broadcasting program from the service supply apparatus, and the service supply apparatus further comprises: viewer attribute information receiving means for receiving pieces of viewer attribute information transmitted from the attribute information storing means of the receiving terminal apparatuses; and viewer applicability simulating means for simulating a viewer applicability of each viewer for the particular broadcasting program according to the pieces of viewer attribute information of the viewers received by the viewer attribute information receiving means and estimating a viewer condition for the particular broadcasting program according to the viewer applicabilities.

Claim 19

A broadcast system according to claim 16 in which the service addition information of each broadcasting program prepared in the service addition information preparing means further includes viewing record collection schedule information indicating a collecting time of the viewing record collected by the viewing record collecting means of each receiving terminal apparatus, and the viewing record of one receiving terminal apparatus of a particular viewer is transmitted to the service supply apparatus during a particular time period determined by the viewing record collection schedule information and terminal identification information included in the viewer attribute information of the particular viewer.

Claim 20

A broadcast system according to claim 17 in which the service addition information of each broadcasting program prepared in the service addition information preparing means further includes viewing record collection schedule information indicating a collecting time of the viewing record collected by the viewing record collecting means of each receiving terminal apparatus, and the viewing record of one receiving terminal apparatus of a particular viewer for each broadcasting program is transmitted to the service supply apparatus during a particular time period determined by the viewing record collection schedule information and terminal identification information included in the viewer attribute information of the particular viewer.

Claim 21

A broadcast system according to claim 16 in which a group of receiving terminal apparatuses receive the service content information of one broadcasting program and the service addition information of the broadcasting program from one of a plurality of service supply apparatuses respectively identified by an access point, the service addition information of the broadcasting program prepared in the service addition information preparing means further includes access point information indicating a particular access point, the service addition information including the access point information is received by the broadcasting data receiving means of a particular group of receiving terminal apparatuses, and the viewing records of the particular group of receiving terminal apparatuses is transmitted to a particular service supply apparatus identified by the particular access point.

Claim 22

A broadcast system according to claim 17 in which each of a plurality of receiving terminal apparatuses receive the pieces of service content information of the broadcasting programs and the pieces of service addition information of the broadcasting programs one after another from one of a plurality of service supply apparatuses respectively identified by an access point, the service addition information of the specific broadcasting program prepared in the service addition information preparing means further includes access point information indicating a particular access point, the service addition information including the access point information is received by the broadcasting data receiving means of a particular group of receiving terminal apparatuses, and the viewing records of the particular group of receiving terminal apparatuses is transmitted to a particular service supply apparatus identified by the particular access point.

Claim 23

A broadcast system according to claim 16 or 17 in which information indicating that the collection of the viewing record is performed is displayed by the broadcasting program reproducing means in cases where it is judged by the information utilization judging means that the collection of the viewing record is performed.

Claim 24

A broadcast system according to claim 16 or 17 in which the service supply apparatus further comprises assessed charge managing means for managing an assessed charge for the viewing of the broadcasting program according to the viewing records received by the viewing record receiving means.

Claim 25

A broadcast system according to claim 16 in which the examined viewer condition information included in the service addition information is changed by the service addition information according to the overall viewer applicability estimated by the viewer applicability estimating means.

Claim 26

A broadcast system according to claim 17 in which the service supply apparatus further comprises viewing record analyzing means for analyzing the viewing records received by the viewing record receiving means; and broadcasting program schedule managing means for changing a schedule of the broadcasting programs transmitted from the service supply apparatus to each receiving terminal apparatus according to the viewing records analyzed by the viewing record analyzing means.

Claim 27

A broadcast system according to claim 17 in which the service supply apparatus further comprises viewing record analyzing means for analyzing the viewing records received by the viewing record receiving means to find out an unpopular broadcasting program for which a program rating is low; and broadcasting program schedule managing means for automatically put a particular advertising broadcast for the unpopular broadcasting program found out by the viewing record analyzing means in a schedule of advertising broadcasts.

Claim 28

A broadcast system according to claim 17 in which the service supply apparatus further comprises viewing record analyzing means for analyzing the viewing records received by the viewing record receiving means to find out a high-rated viewer who frequently views the broadcasting programs, wherein a coupon indicating a discount on services of the broadcasting programs for the high-rated viewer found out by the viewing record analyzing means is included in particular service addition information in the service addition information preparing means and the particular service addition information is transmitted to a particular receiving terminal apparatus of the high-rated viewer.

Claim 29

A broadcast system according to claim 17 in which the service supply apparatus further comprises viewing record analyzing means for analyzing the viewing records received by the viewing record receiving means to find out a new specific broadcasting program for which a viewing record is planned to be collected, wherein new broadcasting program identification information identifying the new specific broadcasting program for which a viewing record is planned to be collected is included in particular service addition information of the new specific broadcasting program by the service addition information preparing means and the particular service addition information is transmitted to the receiving terminal apparatuses.

Claim 30

A broadcast system according to any one of claims 1 to 29 in which the receiving terminal apparatus further comprises: operation record storing means for detecting the reproduction of one broadcasting program performed by the broadcasting program reproducing means and storing the reproduction of the broadcasting program as an operation record, and the service supply apparatus further comprises: viewer attribute information storing means for storing the viewer attribute information of the current viewer; viewer attribute information renewing means for renewing the viewer attribute information of the current viewer stored in the operation record storing means to renewed viewer attribute information according to the operation record stored in the operation record storing means of the receiving terminal apparatus; and viewer attribute information transmitting means for transmitting the renewed viewer attribute information obtained in the viewer attribute information renewing means to the attribute information storing means of the receiving terminal apparatus to replace the viewer attribute information of the current viewer stored in the attribute information storing means with the renewed viewer attribute information.

Claim 31

A broadcast system according to claim 30 in which a keyword is attached to each of the broadcasting programs stored in the broadcasting data storing means of the service supply apparatus as the service addition information prepared by the service addition information preparing means to identify a type of each broadcasting program, and the viewer attribute information stored in the attribute information storing means of each receiving terminal apparatus is composed of one keyword and a using number indicating how many times the viewer views one type of broadcasting program to which the keyword is attached.

Claim 32

A broadcast system according to any one of claims 1 to 31 in which each of a plurality of receiving terminal apparatuses of a plurality of viewers receive the pieces of service content information of the broadcasting programs and the pieces of service addition information of the broadcasting programs one after another from the service supply apparatus, each receiving terminal apparatus further comprises: operation record storing means for detecting the reproduction of one broadcasting program performed by the broadcasting program reproducing means and storing the reproduction of the broadcasting program as an operation record, and the service supply apparatus further comprises: operation record receiving means for receiving the operation record from the operation record storing means of each receiving terminal apparatus; viewer type information preparing means for generating an attribute distribution of the viewers from the operation records received by the operation record receiving means as viewer type information indicating attribute types of the viewers; viewer attribute information preparing means for determining a taste position indicated by the operation record of one viewer in the taste distribution for each viewer and preparing new viewer attribute information indicating an attribute type of one viewer according to the taste position of the viewer for each viewer; and viewer attribute information transmitting means for transmitting the new viewer attribute information of one viewer prepared by the viewer attribute information preparing means to the viewer attribute information storing unit of one receiving terminal apparatus of the viewer for each viewer to replace the viewer attribute information stored in the viewer attribute information storing unit with the new viewer attribute information.

Claim 33

A broadcast system according to claim 34 in which the pieces of service addition information of the broadcasting programs are prepared according to the viewer type information generated by the viewer type information preparing means to reflect the attributes of the viewers on the pieces of service addition information.

Claim 34

A broadcast system comprising a service supply apparatus for supplying an electronic direct mail and a receiving terminal apparatus for receiving the electronic direct mail supplied by the service supply apparatus, the service supply apparatus comprising: broadcasting data storing means for storing contents of the electronic direct mail as broadcasting data; service addition information preparing means for preparing service addition information indicating an attribute of the electronic direct mail stored in the broadcasting program storing means as broadcasting data while adding mail receiving viewer condition information indicating an attribute condition required of a viewer planned to receive the electronic direct mail to the service addition information; and broadcasting data transmitting means for transmitting the electronic direct mail stored in the broadcasting program storing means and the service addition information prepared by the service addition information preparing means, and the receiving terminal apparatus of a current viewer comprising: attribute information storing means for storing viewer attribute information indicating a personal attribute of the viewer; broadcasting data receiving means for receiving the electronic direct mail and the service addition information transmitted from the broadcasting data transmitting means of the service supply apparatus; attribute information collating means for collating the attribute condition indicated by the mail receiving viewer condition information of the service addition information received by the broadcasting data receiving means with the personal attribute indicated by the viewer attribute information stored in the attribute information storing means and judging whether or not the electronic direct mail is suitable for the current viewer; and mail reproducing means for reproducing the electronic direct mail received by the broadcasting data receiving means in cases where the attribute information collating means judges that the electronic direct mail is suitable for the current viewer.

Claim 35

A broadcast system according to claim 34 in which the attribute information collating means comprises viewer applicability estimating means for estimating a viewer applicability for the electronic direct mail by collating the attribute condition indicated by the mail receiving viewer condition information with the personal attribute of the current viewer, and information utilization judging means for judging that the electronic direct mail is suitable for the current viewer in cases where the viewer applicability exceeds a prescribed value.

Claim 36

A broadcast system according to claim 34 in which a plurality of receiving terminal apparatuses of a plurality of viewers receive the electronic direct mail and the service addition information of the electronic direct mail from the service supply apparatus, and the service supply apparatus further comprises: viewer attribute information receiving means for receiving pieces of viewer attribute information transmitted from the attribute information storing means of the receiving terminal apparatuses; and viewer applicability simulating means for preparing provisional mail receiving viewer condition information indicating a provisional attribute condition required of viewers planned to receive the electronic direct mail, simulating a viewer applicability of each viewer for the electronic direct mail by collating the provisional attribute condition with the viewer attribute information of the viewers received by the viewer attribute information receiving means, specifying provisional viewers on condition that the viewer applicability of each provisional viewer for the electronic direct mail exceeds a prescribed value, and finally preparing the mail receiving viewer condition information indicating the attribute condition required of particular viewers planned to receive the electronic direct mail on condition that the viewer applicability of each particular viewer for the electronic direct mail exceeds the prescribed value and a group of the particular viewers is appropriate for the transmission of the electronic direct mail.

Claim 37

A broadcast system comprising a service supply apparatus for supplying a questionnaire and a receiving terminal apparatus for receiving the questionnaire supplied by the service supply apparatus, the service supply apparatus comprising: broadcasting data storing means for storing contents of the questionnaire as broadcasting data; service addition information preparing means for preparing service addition information indicating an attribute of the questionnaire stored in the broadcasting program storing means as broadcasting data while adding questionnaire receiving viewer condition information indicating an attribute condition required of a viewer planned to receive the questionnaire to the service addition information; and broadcasting data transmitting means for transmitting the questionnaire stored in the broadcasting program storing means and the service addition information prepared by the service addition information preparing means, and the receiving terminal apparatus of a current viewer comprising: attribute information storing means for storing viewer attribute information indicating a personal attribute of the viewer; broadcasting data receiving means for receiving the questionnaire and the service addition information transmitted from the broadcasting data transmitting means of the service supply apparatus; attribute information collating means for collating the attribute condition indicated by the questionnaire receiving viewer condition information of the service addition information received by the broadcasting data receiving means with the personal attribute indicated by the viewer attribute information stored in the attribute information storing means and judging whether or not the questionnaire is suitable for the current viewer; and questionnaire reproducing means for reproducing the questionnaire received by the broadcasting data receiving means in cases where the attribute information collating means judges that the questionnaire is suitable for the current viewer.

Claim 38

A broadcast system according to claim 37 in which the attribute information collating means comprises viewer applicability estimating means for estimating a viewer applicability for the questionnaire by collating the attribute condition indicated by the questionnaire receiving viewer condition information with the personal attribute of the current viewer, and information utilization judging means for judging that the questionnaire is suitable for the current viewer in cases where the viewer applicability exceeds a prescribed value.

Claim 39

A broadcast system according to claim 37 or 38 in which a plurality of receiving terminal apparatuses of a plurality of viewers receive the questionnaire and the service addition information of the questionnaire from the service supply apparatus, and the service supply apparatus further comprises: viewer attribute information receiving means for receiving pieces of viewer attribute information transmitted from the attribute information storing means of the receiving terminal apparatuses; and viewer applicability simulating means for preparing provisional questionnaire receiving viewer condition information indicating a provisional attribute condition required of viewers planned to receive the questionnaire, simulating a viewer applicability of each viewer for the questionnaire by collating the provisional attribute condition with the viewer attribute information of the viewers received by the viewer attribute information receiving means, specifying provisional viewers on condition that the viewer applicability of each provisional viewer for the questionnaire exceeds a prescribed value, and finally preparing the questionnaire receiving viewer condition information indicating the attribute condition required of particular viewers planned to receive the questionnaire on condition that the viewer applicability of each particular viewer for the questionnaire exceeds the prescribed value and a group of the particular viewers is appropriate for the transmission of the questionnaire.

Claim 40

A broadcast system according to claim 37, 38 or 39 in which reply-to-questionnaire collection schedule information indicating a data collection time is added to the service addition information by the service addition information preparing means, the receiving terminal apparatus further comprising: reply-to-questionnaire data receiving means for receiving a reply to the questionnaire reproduced by the questionnaire reproducing means as reply-to-questionnaire data; reply-to-questionnaire data storing means for storing the reply-to-questionnaire data received by the reply-to-questionnaire data receiving means; and reply-to-questionnaire data transmitting means for transmitting the reply-to-questionnaire data stored in the reply-to-questionnaire data storing means at the data collection time which is indicated by the reply-to-questionnai re collection schedule information of the service addition information received by the broadcasting data receiving means, and the service supply apparatus further comprising: data receiving means for receiving the reply-to-questionnaire data transmitted from the reply-to-questionnaire data transmitting means of the receiving terminal apparatus; and reply-to-questionnaire data analyzing means for analyzing the reply-to-questionnaire data received by the data receiving means to obtain a result of the questionnaire.

Claim 41

A broadcast system according to claim 37, 38, 39 or 40 in which a group of receiving terminal apparatuses receive the questionnaire and the service addition information of the questionnaire from one of a plurality of service supply apparatuses respectively identified by an access point, access point information indicating a particular access point is added to the service addition information in the service addition information preparing means of one service supply apparatus, the service addition information including the access point information is received by the broadcasting data receiving means of each of a plurality of particular receiving terminal apparatuses, each of the particular receiving terminal apparatuses further comprising: reply-to-questionnaire data receiving means for receiving a reply to the questionnaire reproduced by the questionnaire reproducing means as reply-to-questionnaire data; reply-to-questionnaire data storing means for storing the reply-to-questionnaire data received by the reply-to-questionnaire data receiving means; and reply-to-questionnaire data transmitting means for transmitting a set of the reply-to-questionnaire data stored in the reply-to-questionnaire data storing means and the access point information of the service addition information received by the broadcasting data receiving means, and one service supply apparatus identified by a specific access point further comprising: data receiving means for receiving the set of the reply-to-questionnaire data and the access point information transmitted from the reply-to-questionnaire data transmitting means of one particular receiving terminal apparatus on condition that the particular access point indicated by the access point information agrees with the specific access point; and reply-to-questionnaire data analyzing means for analyzing the reply-to-questionnaire data received by the data receiving means to obtain a result of the questionnaire.

Claim 42

A broadcast system according to claim 37, 38, 39, 40 or 41 in which a plurality of questionnaires are stored in the broadcasting data storing means of the service supply apparatus, and the service supply apparatus further comprises viewer attribute information data base for storing a piece of viewer attribute information transmitted from the attribute information storing means of each of a plurality of receiving terminal apparatuses of a plurality of viewers; and service processing means for producing overall viewer attribute information for the viewers from the pieces of viewer attribute information stored in the viewer attribute information data base and selecting a particular questionnaire from among the questionnaires, on condition that an attribute of the particular questionnaire is most suitable to the overall viewer attribute information, so as to transmit the particular questionnaire and service addition information indicating the attribute of the particular questionnaire from the broadcasting data transmitting means to each of the receiving terminal apparatuses.

Claim 43

A service supply apparatus, comprising: broadcasting data storing means for storing service content information indicating contents of a broadcasting program as broadcasting data; service addition information preparing means for preparing service addition information indicating an attribute of the service content information of the broadcasting program stored in the broadcasting program storing means as broadcasting data; and broadcasting data transmitting means for transmitting the service content information of the broadcasting program stored in the broadcasting program storing means and the service addition information prepared by the service addition information preparing means to one or more receiving terminal apparatuses of one or more viewers.

Claim 44

A service supply apparatus according to claim 43 in which a plurality of pieces of service content information of a plurality of broadcasting programs are stored in the broadcasting data storing means of the service supply apparatus, and the service supply apparatus further comprises: data receiving means for receiving pieces of viewer attribute information transmitted from the receiving terminal apparatuses of the viewers; viewer attribute information data base for storing the pieces of viewer attribute information received by the data receiving means; and service processing means for producing overall viewer attribute information for the viewers from the pieces of viewer attribute information stored in the viewer attribute information data base and selecting a piece of particular service content information of a particular broadcasting program from among the pieces of service content information of the broadcasting programs, on condition that an attribute of the particular service content information of the particular broadcasting program is most suitable to the overall viewer attribute information, so as to transmit the particular service content information of the particular broadcasting program and service addition information indicating the attribute of the particular service content information of the particular broadcasting program from the broadcasting data transmitting means to each of the receiving terminal apparatuses.

Claim 45

A service supply apparatus according to claim 43 or 44, further comprising code table storing means for storing a code table in which a set of a keyword, a code corresponding to the keyword and a using number corresponding to the keyword is registered for each keyword; and keyword coding means for coding one keyword attached to each broadcasting program stored in the broadcasting data storing means as the service addition information prepared by the service addition information preparing means according to the code table stored in the code table storing means by changing the keyword to the code corresponding to the keyword.

Claim 46

A service supply apparatus according to claim 43, 44 or 45, further comprising viewing record receiving means for receiving a viewing record of the broadcasting program from each of the receiving terminal apparatuses; and viewing record analyzing means for analyzing the viewing records received by the viewing record receiving means to find out a high-rated viewer who frequently views the broadcasting program.

Claim 47

A service supply apparatus according to claim 43, 44, 45 or 46, further comprising viewer attribute information receiving means for receiving pieces of viewer attribute information indicating attributes of the viewers from the receiving terminal apparatuses; and viewer applicability simulating means for simulating a viewer applicability of each viewer for the broadcasting program according to the pieces of viewer attribute information of the viewers received by the viewer attribute information receiving means and estimating a viewer condition for the broadcasting program according to the viewer applicabilities.

Claim 48

A service supply apparatus, comprising: broadcasting data storing means for storing contents of an electronic direct mail as broadcasting data; service addition information preparing means for preparing service addition information indicating an attribute of the electronic direct mail stored in the broadcasting program storing means as broadcasting data while adding mail receiving viewer condition information indicating an attribute condition required of a plurality of particular viewers planned to receive the electronic direct mail to the service addition information; and broadcasting data transmitting means for transmitting the electronic direct mail stored in the broadcasting program storing means and the service addition information prepared by the service addition information preparing means to a plurality of receiving terminal apparatuses of a plurality of viewers including the particular viewers.

Claim 49

A service supply apparatus according to claim 48, further comprising viewer attribute information receiving means for receiving pieces of viewer attribute information indicating attributes of the viewers from the receiving terminal apparatuses; and viewer applicability simulating means for preparing provisional mail receiving viewer condition information indicating a provisional attribute condition required of viewers planned to receive the electronic direct mail, simulating a viewer applicability of each viewer for the electronic direct mail by collating the provisional attribute condition with the viewer attribute information of the viewers received by the viewer attribute information receiving means, specifying provisional viewers on condition that the viewer applicability of each provisional viewer for the electronic direct mail exceeds a prescribed value, and finally preparing the mail receiving viewer condition information indicating the attribute condition required of the particular viewers planned to receive the electronic direct mail on condition that the viewer applicability of each particular viewer for the electronic direct mail exceeds the prescribed value and a group of the particular viewers is appropriate for the transmission of the electronic direct mail.

Claim 50

A service supply apparatus, comprising: broadcasting data storing means for storing contents of a questionnaire as broadcasting data; service addition information preparing means for preparing service addition information indicating an attribute of the questionnaire stored in the broadcasting program storing means as broadcasting data while adding questionnaire receiving viewer condition information indicating an attribute condition required of a plurality of particular viewers planned to receive the questionnaire to the service addition information; and broadcasting data transmitting means for transmitting the questionnaire stored in the broadcasting program storing means and the service addition information prepared by the service addition information preparing means to a plurality of receiving terminal apparatuses of a plurality of viewers including the particular viewers.

Claim 51

A service supply apparatus according to claim 50, further comprising viewer attribute information receiving means for receiving pieces of viewer attribute information indicating attributes of the viewers from the receiving terminal apparatuses; and viewer applicability simulating means for preparing provisional questionnaire receiving viewer condition information indicating a provisional attribute condition required of viewers planned to receive the questionnaire, simulating a viewer applicability of each viewer for the questionnaire by collating the provisional attribute condition with the viewer attribute information of the viewers received by the viewer attribute information receiving means, specifying provisional viewers on condition that the viewer applicability of each provisional viewer for the questionnaire exceeds a prescribed value, and finally preparing the questionnaire receiving viewer condition information indicating the attribute condition required of the particular viewers planned to receive the questionnaire on condition that the viewer applicability of each particular viewer for the questionnaire exceeds the prescribed value and a group of the particular viewers is appropriate for the transmission of the questionnaire.

Claim 52

A service supply apparatus according to claim 50 or 51, further comprising data receiving means for receiving a reply to the questionnaire from each of the receiving terminal apparatuses as reply-to-questionnaire data; and reply-to-questionnaire data analyzing means for analyzing the pieces of reply-to-questionnaire data received by the data receiving means to obtain a result of the questionnaire.

Claim 53

A receiving terminal apparatus of a current viewer comprising: attribute information storing means for storing viewer attribute information indicating a personal attribute of the current viewer; broadcasting data receiving means for receiving service content information indicating contents of a broadcasting program and service addition information indicating an attribute of the broadcasting program transmitted from a service supply apparatus; attribute information collating means for collating the service addition information received by the broadcasting data receiving means with the viewer attribute information stored in the attribute information storing means and judging whether or not the attribute of the service content information of the broadcasting program suits the personal attribute of the viewer; and broadcasting program reproducing means for reproducing the service content information of the broadcasting program received by the broadcasting data receiving means in cases where it is judged by the attribute information collating means that the attribute of the service content information of the broadcasting program suits the personal attribute of the viewer.

Claim 54

A receiving terminal apparatus according to claim 53, further comprising: operation record storing means for detecting the reproduction of the broadcasting program performed by the broadcasting program reproducing means and storing the reproduction of the broadcasting program as an operation record; and data transmitting means for transmitting the operation record stored in the operation record storing means to the service supplying apparatus.

Claim 55

A receiving terminal apparatus according to claim 53 or 54, further comprising: operation record storing means for detecting the reproduction of the broadcasting program performed by the broadcasting program reproducing means and storing the reproduction of the broadcasting program as an operation record each time the reproduction of the broadcasting program is reproduced, and the attribute information storing means comprises: a fixed attribute holding unit for holding one or more fixed attributes of the viewer: a short-term attribute holding unit for holding the operation records stored in the operation record storing means as a plurality of short-term attributes of the current viewer; a long-term attribute holding unit for holding one or more long-term attributes of the current viewer; a long-term attribute renewing unit for changing each short-term attribute held in the short-term attribute holding unit to a new long-term attribute when a holding time period of the short-term attribute reaches a prescribed value and adding the new long-term attribute to the long-term attributes stored in the long-term attribute holding unit to renew the long-term attributes stored in the long-term attribute holding unit; and a synthetic attribute outputting unit for generating a plurality of synthetic attributes from the fixed attributes stored in the fixed attribute holding unit, the short-term attributes stored in the short-term attribute holding unit and the long-term attribute stored in the long-term attribute holding unit while weighting the short-term attributes with a weighting factor, the synthetic attributes being output to the attribute information collating means as the viewer attribute information.

Claim 56

A receiving terminal apparatus according to claim 53, 54 or 55, further comprising: viewer recognizing means for recognizing a personal attribute of the current viewer according to the viewer attribute information stored in the attribute information storing means; viewer applicability estimating means for estimating a viewer applicability for the broadcasting program received by the broadcasting data receiving means by collating the personal attribute of the current viewer recognized by the viewer recognizing means with a viewer condition indicated by examined viewer condition information included in the service addition information; information utilization judging means for judging according to the viewer applicability estimated by the viewer applicability estimating means whether or not the collection of a viewing record for the reproduction of the broadcasting program performed in the broadcasting program reproducing means is performed; viewing record collecting means for collecting the viewing record for the reproduction of the broadcasting program in cases where it is judged by the information utilization judging means that the collection of the viewing record is performed; and data transmitting means for transmitting the viewing record collected by the viewing record collecting means to the service supply apparatus.

Claim 57

A receiving terminal apparatus of a current viewer comprising: attribute information storing means for storing viewer attribute information indicating a personal attribute of the current viewer; broadcasting data receiving means for receiving an electronic direct mail and service addition information indicating an attribute of the electronic direct mail from a service supply apparatus, mail receiving viewer condition information indicating an attribute condition for a viewer planned to receive the electronic direct mail being included in the service addition information; attribute information collating means for collating the attribute condition indicated by the mail receiving viewer condition information of the service addition information received by the broadcasting data receiving means with the personal attribute indicated by the viewer attribute information stored in the attribute information storing means and judging whether or not the electronic direct mail is suitable for the current viewer; and mail reproducing means for reproducing the electronic direct mail received by the broadcasting data receiving means in cases where the attribute information collating means judges that the electronic direct mail is suitable for the current viewer.

Claim 58

A receiving terminal apparatus according to claim 57 in which the attribute information collating means comprises viewer applicability estimating means for estimating a viewer applicability for the electronic direct mail by collating the attribute condition indicated by the mail receiving viewer condition information with the personal attribute of the current viewer, and information utilization judging means for judging that the electronic direct mail is suitable for the current viewer in cases where the viewer applicability exceeds a prescribed value.

Claim 59

A receiving terminal apparatus of a current viewer comprising: attribute information storing means for storing viewer attribute information indicating a personal attribute of the current viewer; broadcasting data receiving means for receiving a questionnaire and service addition information indicating an attribute of the questionnaire from a service supply apparatus, questionnaire receiving viewer condition information indicating an attribute condition for a viewer planned to receive the questionnaire being included in the service addition information; attribute information collating means for collating the attribute condition indicated by the questionnaire receiving viewer condition information of the service addition information received by the broadcasting data receiving means with the personal attribute indicated by the viewer attribute information stored in the attribute information storing means and judging whether or not the questionnaire is suitable for the current viewer; and questionnaire reproducing means for reproducing the questionnaire received by the broadcasting data receiving means in cases where the attribute information collating means judges that the questionnaire is suitable for the current viewer.

Claim 60

A receiving terminal apparatus according to claim 59 in which the attribute information collating means comprises viewer applicability estimating means for estimating a viewer applicability for the questionnaire by collating the attribute condition indicated by the questionnaire receiving viewer condition information with the personal attribute of the current viewer, and information utilization judging means for judging that the questionnaire is suitable for the current viewer in cases where the viewer applicability exceeds a prescribed value.

Claim 61

A receiving terminal apparatus according to claim 59 or 60, further comprising: reply-to-questionnaire data receiving means for receiving a reply to the questionnaire reproduced by the questionnaire reproducing means as reply-to-questionnaire data; reply-to-questionnaire data storing means for storing the reply-to-questionnaire data received by the reply-to-questionnaire data receiving means; and reply-to-questionnaire data transmitting means for transmitting the reply-to-questionnaire data stored in the reply-to-questionnaire data storing means.