株式会社インタラクティブ・プログラム・ガイド IPG

Interactive Program Guide, Inc. (Based in Chuo-ku, President: Keisuke Toji, "IPG") will be upgrading its main EPG system, "MINDS (Meta Information Distribution System)."

"MINDS" refers to the database for uniform consolidation of broadcasters' official program data ('SI'（※1）) collected from SI collectors'（※2） at broadcaster stations nationwide, and other TV-related information generated and collected by IPG.
Following several version updates since the release of "MINDS" in December 2006, Ver. 2.3 will be released with this upgrade. In addition, with the release of this upgrade, the "Yahoo! TV.G-GUIDE" portal service provided jointly by Yahoo Japan Corporation and IPG will completely link its system to the MINDS database, and from March 31, all TV information and relevant content will be utilizing "MINDS" data.

■MINDS Features

（１）Developed based on nationwide official program information (SI)

The only system in Japan that has the ability to collect eight days worth of future SI, real-time, and distribute updated SI as frequently as every five minutes.
The current program data handled by "MINDS" is as follows:

 

-Terrestrial broadcast data  

-BS broadcast data  

-CS 110 (Sky Perfect e2)

（２）Thorough ID management and linking of relevant data

The ID management of all data allows linking up SI with relevant data for various programs.

（３）Flexible Data Distribution

All data for 1. and 2. are distributed using Web-API XML. The API includes various parameters in taking into account usage scenes. In addition, there are other features that allow resizing and cropping of files, as well as specifying background color.

（４）Monitoring of Data Distribution

A monitoring scheme for "MINDS" data distribution is built-in within the "MINDS" system.
Especially with regard to SI, monitoring is carried out for accuracy of data for developing the TV listings, at both the collection and distributions points. In addition, an operational organization is in place to readily handle any revisions when data affecting development of the TV listings is discovered.

■"MINDS" Time-line

December 2006　System development

October 2008 　ver.2.0　Database renovated to improve convenience

June 2010 　　 ver.2.1 All infrastructure renovated to improve performance

January 2011　 ver.2.2 'Program master system' based on SI released.

March 2011 ver.2.3 'Name master system' released.

IPG will continue to generate and distribute data that contributes to program viewing, through the data mining of meta data of TV programs, as well as log data of various services deployed by IPG.
In addition, IPG will continue to work on improving the convenience of TV information services, by further strengthening its "MINDS" database.

G-GUIDE refers to the EPG service based on Rovi Corporation's technology. G-GUIDE products are deployed and promoted in Japan by Rovi and IPG.

（※1）SI (Service Information)

SI consists of information necessary for viewing digital broadcasting, and EIT (Event Information Table), which includes program titles, broadcast times, cast etc.

（※2）SI Collectors

SI collectors refer to the devices that SI on a real-time basis acquire from the OA broadcast waves of broadcasters and distribute them after transforming data into files. Nationwide SI collection is realized by setting collectors in broadcast stations in 55 regions (54 terrestrial digital stations, 1 BS Digital station).