Market Context — Why This Technology, Why Now

The convergence of traditional broadcasting and internet-based communication is accelerating, creating a global imperative for media companies to offer more interactive and personalized viewing experiences. Consumers now expect to control their content across multiple screens. This technology provides a crucial framework for integrating external device control with broadcast applications, enabling new revenue streams through enhanced engagement and dynamic content delivery, essential for retaining audiences in a fragmented media environment.

Key Competitive Advantages
01

Enables seamless application launch from external devices, significantly enhancing viewer convenience and engagement.

02

Dynamically determines application launch priority from broadcast signals or external sources, supporting flexible service deployment.

03

Establishes a robust IP foundation, with patentability confirmed after considering five prior art documents and expedited examination, ensuring business stability.

Market Opportunity
Smart TV and STB Manufacturers
$0.5B–$1.5B globally (AI est.)
To differentiate their products by offering enhanced user experiences through external device integration, boosting product value and market competitiveness.
Major consumer electronics brands Set-top box hardware developers Smart TV OS providers
Telecom Operators and Platform Providers
$1.0B–$2.0B globally (AI est.)
To offer new interactive services linked to broadcast content, which could enhance customer retention and increase Average Revenue Per User (ARPU).
Global telecom service providers IPTV/OTT platform operators Digital content aggregators
Content Providers
$0.3B–$0.8B globally (AI est.)
To develop and distribute highly engaging interactive content, potentially securing new revenue streams through increased viewer participation.
Major broadcast networks Streaming service content creators Interactive media studios
IP Defensibility — Why Competitors Can't Replicate This
What This Patent Covers

This patent successfully clarified its scope and secured patentability through precise amendments and logical arguments in response to examiner objections. It specifically defines the collaboration among the receiver's functional units for application launch control in a broadcast-communication converged environment, establishing a robust and stable right with low invalidation risk.

Competitive White Space

This patent focuses on the core logic for application launch and control. White space exists in developing advanced analytics for user interaction data, novel user interfaces for external device control, or integrating this system with emerging IoT devices for broader smart home applications.

Economic Impact
~$200K/year estimated new service development cost reduction per facility (est.)
estimated ROI · USD · AI analysis
ROI Calculation Logic

In interactive service development with an annual investment of ~$2.0M (AI est.), this technology could reduce development costs by ~10%, leading to an estimated annual saving of ~$200K (AI est.). This represents a significant improvement in investment efficiency compared to building a proprietary system from scratch.

Speed to Market
6× faster than in-house development
This technology's receiver functional configuration and application launch control algorithm are already established as patented. This could reduce development time by approximately 2.5 years compared to developing a similar system from scratch. Technical validation during the examination process, overcoming rejection reasons, lowers implementation risk and enables rapid integration into existing broadcast receiving systems and smart device platforms.
Competitive Positioning

X: Seamless User Experience
Y: Service Delivery Flexibility

Business Models & Applications
📝 Licensing Model
Provide the core logic of this patented technology as a software module for Smart TV manufacturers and STB vendors to integrate into their products, with royalty income as the primary revenue source.
🔗 Platform Integration Model
Offer API integration services based on this technology to telecom operators and content distribution platforms, supporting the efficient delivery of interactive content.
🤝 Joint Development and Customization Model
Collaborate with specific media companies or advertising agencies to develop interactive advertising or event-linked content distribution systems utilizing this technology.
Adjacent Application Opportunities
📺 メディア・エンタメ
Live Event Interactive Engagement System
Develop a system enabling viewers to participate in real-time polls, quizzes, or product purchases from their smartphones during TV programs or live streams. This could significantly boost viewer participation and create new revenue opportunities for media companies.
🏫 教育・研修
Broadcast-Linked Educational Support App
Provide a learning support app that displays supplementary materials, conducts comprehension tests, or directs users to related videos via smartphones/tablets during educational broadcasts. This could enhance educational effectiveness through interactive learning experiences.
🛍️ 小売・広告
TV Commercial Direct Marketing Integration
Create a mechanism allowing viewers to directly access product information, obtain coupons, or be directed to purchase sites via their smartphones while watching TV commercials. This could maximize advertising effectiveness and directly drive purchasing behavior.
Integration Roadmap — Estimated 18-Month Deployment
Phase 1: Proof of Concept (PoC) and Requirements Definition
Duration: 3 months
Verify the core functionalities of this technology and its potential integration with the licensee's existing systems. Define specific use cases and system requirements.
Phase 2: Prototype Development and Validation
Duration: 6 months
Develop a prototype system incorporating this technology based on defined requirements. Conduct functional verification and performance evaluation in an environment close to actual operation.
Phase 3: System Integration and Market Launch
Duration: 9 months
Integrate the validated prototype into the production environment and perform final adjustments. Coordinate with marketing strategies to prepare for full market introduction.
Technical Feasibility
This patent precisely defines the collaboration among the receiver's functional units (receiver function unit, application information table management function unit, application execution function unit, priority determination function unit), enabling modular development. It is anticipated that the technology's logic can be integrated as a software layer into existing Smart TV or STB operating systems without significant hardware modifications. Crucially, obtaining application information tables from outside the broadcast signal allows for implementation using generic communication protocols, demonstrating high compatibility with existing cloud services.
Success Scenario
By adopting this technology, companies could offer a new viewing experience where audiences seamlessly control interactive content on their TV from external devices like smartphones. This is estimated to boost viewer engagement by 20%, potentially increasing advertising revenue and promoting paid content usage. Furthermore, it could enable personalized information delivery linked to broadcast content, significantly enhancing customer satisfaction.
Patent Record
APPLICATION NO.
特願2020-197314
REGISTRATION NO.
6872662
FILING DATE
2020/11/27
GRANT DATE
2021/04/21
EXPIRATION DATE
2040/11/27
PATENT HOLDER
日本放送協会
Examination History
2020年11月27日
早期審査に関する事情説明書
2020年11月27日
出願審査請求書
2021年02月04日
早期審査に関する報告書
2021年02月24日
拒絶理由通知書
2021年03月10日
意見書
2021年03月10日
手続補正書(自発・内容)
2021年03月23日
特許査定