CN1819591B - content delivery system - Google Patents

Abstract

In the content distribution system that distributes content from the edge server to the viewing terminal according to the user's request, the user can use all the content provided by the service provider and specify the user of the viewing terminal. From the viewing terminal, send the inherent device ID of the viewing terminal to the home server; the home server sends the device ID and the inherent server ID of the home server to the data center server; the data center server determines which living room according to the information sent by the home server (User) Which viewing terminal is being used. The edge server performs stream distribution when the user selects content that exists in the edge server, and when the user selects content that does not exist in the edge server, the service provider server sends the content to the edge according to the instruction from the data center server server, and stream distribution.

Description

content delivery system

technical field

The present invention relates to a content distribution system for distributing digital content to terminal devices in buildings such as apartments or buildings via a network.

Background technique

In recent years, with the deployment of ADSL or optical cable high-speed data communication network, the content distribution business of distributing digitized digital content such as movies, TV programs, and music (hereinafter referred to as "content") to the viewing terminals owned by users by using the Internet has become more and more popular. Attention. In the content distribution business, it can be roughly divided into two methods. One method is to continuously distribute content data to the viewing terminal, and the so-called streaming method that users watch on the spot; the other method is to distribute all content data at one time. In the viewing terminal, after the distribution is completed, the user adopts a so-called download type method to start viewing. The advantage of the streaming method is that it can be watched in real time, that is, it can be watched immediately after a viewing request is made, but its disadvantage is that it is difficult to guarantee the quality of the content when the Internet and other frequency bands are used to secure an unstable network. On the other hand, the download method has the advantage of being able to watch content with stable quality regardless of the network environment, but its disadvantage is that a lot of waiting time occurs because a large amount of content data must be downloaded for viewing.

Therefore, in order to compensate for the disadvantages of the above-mentioned two methods, in Patent Document 1, a system using a distribution server (hereinafter referred to as an "edge server") installed in a group house such as an apartment is constructed. The edge server is connected to the viewing terminal owned by the user through the internal network that can ensure a stable frequency band, and some content provided by the service provider is pre-stored in the edge server. Then, the edge server, according to the viewing request from the user, distributes the content stream in the edge server to the viewing terminal. Therefore, in the above-mentioned system, the quality of content distributed to users can be ensured, and a content distribution service that enables timely viewing can be realized.

[Patent Document 1] JP-A-2004-265397

In the content distribution system described above, since the edge server is installed in each group house, the disk capacity of the edge server must be limited in order to suppress costs, and the amount of content that can be stored in the edge server is limited. Therefore, the user can only use part of the content stored in the server of the service provider that should be available and distributed in advance to the edge server by the service provider.

In addition, in the conventional content distribution business such as Patent Document 1, when distributing content, authentication of the viewing terminal itself is performed to prevent use of services by unauthorized terminals. However, since the location and user of the viewing terminal cannot be specified, even an illegal third party other than the service contractor can use the service through the theft or loan of the legitimate viewing terminal, which cannot guarantee the basis of the service. Legitimacy of billing for utilization status. Therefore, for example, since the viewing terminal is shared among the occupants in the apartment, there is a problem that the service provider loses the opportunity of billing that should have been obtained.

Contents of the invention

The object of the present invention is to provide a content distribution system, in which in group houses such as apartments, users can not only use the content in the edge server but also use the full content provided by the service provider, and through the location of the specific viewing terminal and the user To prevent illegal use of the service.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned purpose, in the present invention, the content distribution system includes: a viewing terminal in the living room, an authentication server (hereinafter referred to as "home server") in the living room, and a home server located in the same building as the viewing terminal and the authentication server. The distribution server (hereinafter referred to as "edge server"), the content server owned by the service provider (hereinafter referred to as "service provider server"), and the management server (hereinafter referred to as "data center server") are connected in the building through the internal network, Buildings, service provider servers, and data center servers are connected via the Internet.

And, the viewing terminal has: a unit for storing terminal-specific authentication information for authenticating itself; a communication unit for communicating with a home server or a service provider server or an edge server; The playback unit of the content data.

In addition, the home server has a unit for storing home server-specific authentication information for authenticating itself, a unit for managing user entry and exit information, a unit for authenticating a viewing terminal in a living room, and a communication unit for communicating with a data center.

In addition, the data center server includes: a room management unit that manages room information of each living room, a service management unit that manages users who log in to the service and viewing terminals that users can use, and a content management unit that manages content in the edge server. .

Here, the home server sends the authentication information received from the viewing terminal and its own authentication information to the data center server, so that the data center server can specify the living room where the viewing terminal is used. Then, user confirmation is performed by both the room entry and exit management unit and the service management unit according to the specific terminal and living room, whereby it is possible to verify whether the user currently in the room is a user who can use the service.

In addition, the edge server includes means for managing content in the edge server that users can watch instantly, and means for downloading content data instructed by the data center from the service provider server.

In addition, the service provider server has: a unit for managing all content available to users, a unit for transmitting content data to the edge server according to a request from the edge server, and a unit for managing viewing licenses for viewing the managed content. unit.

Here, when the user selects the content he wants to watch, if the content does not exist in the edge server, the service provider sends the content to the edge server and registers it in the edge server. After the login is completed, the server of the service provider sends the viewing license to the viewing terminal, and the edge server performs streaming distribution of the content. Thus, the user can view arbitrary content.

According to the present invention, when a user uses a content distribution service, the terminal, the user's room, and the user can be authenticated, so that the user and the service provider can be provided with a safe service environment that prevents illegal use of the service.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 is a functional block diagram of a content distribution system;

Fig. 2 is a block diagram of the hardware configuration of the home server 60 and the data center server 10 in the content distribution system;

Fig. 3 is an example diagram of the data structure of the entry and exit room information table 100;

FIG. 4 is an example diagram of the data structure of the personal authentication information table 110;

FIG. 5 is an example diagram of the data structure of the device login information table 120;

FIG. 6 is an example diagram of the data structure of the cache content table 130;

FIG. 7 is an example diagram of the data structure of the service registrant management information table 140;

Fig. 8 is an example figure of the data structure of content metafile 150;

Fig. 9 is an example diagram of a service entry screen;

Fig. 10 is an example of the detailed content screen;

Fig. 11 is a sequence diagram of the registration process of the user's room entry and exit information in the content distribution system;

FIG. 12 is a sequence diagram of processing from the activation of the viewing terminal 50 to the display of the service entry screen in the content distribution system;

Fig. 13 is a diagram for explaining the flow of the home server 60 receiving the device ID from the viewing terminal and returning the entry screen to the user;

FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining the flow of the data center server 10 receiving the HSID and the device ID from the home server 60 until returning the entry screen;

FIG. 15 is a sequence diagram when the service provider server 30 makes a service entry screen;

FIG. 16 is a sequence diagram of processing from when the user selects content on the service portal screen to when the content detailed screen is displayed in the content distribution system;

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating the flow of processing after the data center server 10 receives the HSID and the device ID from the home server 60 until the content detailed screen is returned;

18 is a sequence diagram of processing from when the user presses a viewing button on the content detail screen to viewing the content in the content distribution system;

FIG. 19 is a sequence diagram of processing from when the user presses the viewing reservation button on the content detailed screen until the viewing button on the content detailed screen is enabled in the content distribution system;

20 is a sequence diagram of processing in the content distribution system from when the user presses the purchase button on the content detail screen to when the viewing reservation button or viewing button becomes active on the content detail screen.

【Symbol Description】

10...data center server, 11...service screen generation unit, 12...metafile generation unit, 13...authentication unit, 14...room entry and exit management section, 15...cache content management section, 16...DB management section, 17...room entry and exit Management DB, 18...Service Management DB, 20...Apartment, 21...Apartment Room, 30...Service Provider Server, 40...Network, 50...Viewing Terminal, 60...Home Server, 61...Equipment Authentication Department, 62...Access Management Department , 70...edge server, 101...EPROM, 102...CPU, 103...main memory, 104...bus, 105...peripheral control device, 106...non-volatile storage device, 107...LANI/F, 601...EPROM, 602...CPU , 603 main memory, 604 "bus, 605... peripheral control device, 606... non-volatile storage device, 607... LANI/F, 608... card reader I/F, 609... electronic lock I/F, 610... card reader Device, 611...Electronic lock

Detailed ways

A content distribution system according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, although the application example to an apartment is demonstrated below, it is not limited to an apartment, For example, it can also apply to a restaurant or an office.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a content distribution system to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

As shown in the figure, the content distribution system includes: a data center server 10 , an apartment 20 , and a service provider server 30 , which are connected to each other through a network 40 . In the apartment 20 there are a living room 21 and an edge server 70 , and in the living room 21 are further provided a viewing terminal 50 and a home server 60 . In addition, the numbers of apartments 20, service provider servers 30, and residences 21 are not particularly limited.

The data center server 10 has: a service screen generation unit 11, a metafile generation unit 12, an authentication unit 13, a room entry and exit management unit 14, a cache content management unit 15, a database management unit (hereinafter referred to as “DB management unit”) 16, A room entry and exit management database (hereinafter referred to as “room entry and exit management DB”) 17 and a service management database (hereinafter referred to as “service management DB”) 18 .

The service screen generating unit 11 generates various display screens for content services, such as a service entry screen and a content detailed screen, which will be described later. When creating various screens, the DB management unit 16 acquires information stored in various databases as necessary.

When there is a content viewing request from the home server 60, the metafile generation unit 12 generates a content metafile (FIG. 8) to return to the home server 60. The content metafile will be described in detail later.

The authenticating unit 13 authenticates whether various requests from the home server 60 are legal based on the authentication information sent from the home server 60 when using the service and the room entry and exit information managed by the room entry and exit management unit 14 .

The room entry and exit management unit 14 manages the authentication information sent from the home server 60 and appropriately accesses various databases through the DB management unit 16 .

The high-speed storage content management unit 15 manages content in the edge server 70, and instructs the edge server to download content when a user requests content that is not in the edge server. In addition, various databases are appropriately accessed through the DB management unit 16 .

The DB management unit 16 controls input and output of data respectively stored in the room entry and exit management DB 17 and the service management DB 18 .

The room entry and exit management DB 17 stores information on entry and exit of the living rooms of each apartment, and has a room entry and exit information table 100 ( FIG. 3 ) and a personal authentication information table 110 ( FIG. 4 ). The data structure of each table will be explained in detail in the following paragraph.

The service management DB 18 stores information on content services, and has a device registration information table 120 (FIG. 5), a cache content table 130 (FIG. 6), and a service registrant table 140 (FIG. 7). The data configuration of each table will be described in detail later.

The service provider server 30 has: a unit for managing viewing licenses for viewing the entire content that can be provided to the user and each content, a unit for distributing the content requested by the edge server 70 to the edge server 70, and a unit for distributing the content requested by the viewing terminal 50 to the edge server 70. The viewing permit is sent to the viewing terminal 50 unit.

The viewing terminal 50 has a communication unit such as an HTTP client for sending and receiving data with the home server 60 or the service provider server 30 or the edge server 70, and a device for displaying various screens received from the home server 60 to the user. A display unit such as a browser, a playback unit for playing content data streamed from the edge server 70, and terminal-specific authentication information (hereinafter referred to as "device ID") for self-authentication.

The home server 60 has a device authentication unit 61 and a room entry and exit management unit 62 .

The device authentication unit 61 receives the device ID from the viewing terminal 50, and performs authentication processing for the viewing terminal. Also, the device authentication unit 61 transmits to the data center server 10 authentication information unique to the home server (hereinafter referred to as “home server ID”) for self authentication and the device ID received from the viewing terminal 50 .

The room entry and exit management unit 62 accepts the personal authentication information input by the occupant when entering and exiting the room, performs authentication on the occupant, and then sends the authentication result to the data center server 10 . An authentication device (such as a card reader) is connected to the room entry and exit management unit 62, and the authentication device is used to perform authentication of the resident.

The edge server 70 has: a unit for managing the content in the apartment that the occupants of the apartment 20 can watch in real time; A communication unit such as an HTTP client or an FTP client for downloading the contents instructed by the data center server 10 .

Next, the hardware configuration of this embodiment will be described.

FIG. 2 shows the hardware configuration of the home server 60 and the data center server 10 in the content distribution system of this embodiment.

First, the hardware configuration of the home server 60 will be described.

Home server 60 has: EPROM601, CPU602, main memory 603, bus 604, peripheral control device 605, non-volatile storage device 606, LAN interface (hereinafter referred to as "LANI/F") 607, card reader interface (hereinafter referred to as " Card reader I/F") 608, electronic lock interface (hereinafter referred to as "electronic lock I/F") 609. LANI/F607 controls the sending and receiving of data via the network 40; EPROM601, CPU602, main memory 603, and peripheral control device 605 are connected to each other via bus 604; non-volatile storage device 606, LAN I/F607, card reader The I/F 608 and the electronic lock I/F 609 are respectively connected to the peripheral control device 605; in addition, the non-volatile storage device 606 is composed of a magnetic disk device, a flash ROM, and the like.

The card reader I/F608 and the electronic lock I/F609 are connected to the card reader 610 and the electronic lock 611 respectively.

A boot program is stored in EPROM601. Various programs for realizing the functions of the device authentication unit 61 and the room entry and exit management unit 62 described above are stored in the non-volatile storage device 606 . Then, when the home server 60 starts up, the CPU 602 operates according to its boot program. The CPU 602 loads the various programs described above from the non-volatile storage device 606 to the main memory 603 by a boot program. The CPU 602 executes various programs loaded in the main memory 603, thereby transmitting and receiving signals to the LANI/F 607, the card reader I/F 608, and the electronic lock I/F 609 through the peripheral control device 605, and performing communication with data. The communication of the central server 10 or the viewing terminal 50 and the control of the card reader 610 or the electronic lock 611 .

In addition, here, although a card reader is assumed as an authentication device, it is not limited thereto. For example, a biometric authentication device such as a fingerprint authentication device or a vein authentication device may be used. In addition, a card reader I/F 608 and an electronic lock I/F 609 are described as interfaces, but other interfaces may be appropriately added or deleted depending on the authentication device or the device to be controlled.

Next, the hardware configuration of the data center server 10 will be described.

The data center server 10 has an EPROM 101 , a CPU 102 , a main memory 103 , a bus 104 , a peripheral control device 105 , a nonvolatile storage device 106 , and a LAN interface (hereinafter referred to as "LANI/F") 107 .

LANI/F107 controls data transmission and reception via network 40; EPROM101, CPU102, main memory 103, and peripheral control device 105 are connected to each other via bus 104; non-volatile storage device 106 and LAN I/F107 are respectively connected to the peripheral on the control device 105; and the non-volatile storage device 106 is composed of a magnetic disk device, a flash ROM, and the like.

The boot program is saved in the EPROM 101; the functions for realizing the above-mentioned service screen generation part 11, metafile generation part 12, authentication part 13, room entry and exit management part 14 and DB management part 16 are saved in the non-volatile storage device 106 various programs. Then, when the data center server 10 starts up, the CPU 102 operates according to its boot program. The CPU 102 loads the various programs described above from the non-volatile storage device 106 to the main memory 103 by a boot program. The CPU 102 executes various programs loaded in the main memory 103, thereby realizing the functions of the above-mentioned service screen generation unit 11, metafile generation unit 12, authentication unit 13, room entry and exit management unit 14, and DB management unit 16. . In addition, the above-mentioned room entry and exit management DB 17 and service management DB 18 are stored in the main memory 103 and the nonvolatile storage device 106 .

Next, the data structure of the table stored in each database of the data center server 10 of this embodiment is demonstrated using FIGS. 3-7.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of the room entry and exit information table 100 according to the present embodiment. The room entry and exit information table 100 is a table showing which user is present in each living room.

As shown in the figure, the entry and exit room information table 100 has a field 101 for registering "home server ID" and a field 102 for registering "personal ID", and constitutes one record. The "home server ID" is a character string uniquely determined for the home server installed in each apartment, and the "personal ID" is a character string uniquely determined for each user to identify the user.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of the personal authentication information table 110 according to this embodiment. The personal authentication information table 110 is a table for managing users in association with authentication information used to authenticate the users.

As shown in the figure, the personal authentication information table 110 has a field 111 for registering "personal ID" and a field 112 for registering "authentication information", and constitutes one record. The "personal ID" is the same as the personal ID of the above-mentioned room entry and exit information table 100 . "Authentication information" is data for authenticating a user, for example, a card ID of an IC card or biometric information such as fingerprints and veins. In addition, although the number of authentication information fields in the figure is one, when there are multiple authentication units for card authentication or biometric authentication, a field for authentication information corresponding to each authentication unit may be added.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of the device registration information table 120 according to this embodiment. The device registration information table 120 is a table used to manage each living room and the viewing terminal usable in the living room. A list of IDs (hereinafter referred to as "device ID list") is registered in each home server.

As shown in the figure, the device registration information table 120 has a field 121 for registering "home server ID" and a field 122 for registering "device ID", and constitutes one record. The "home server ID" is the same as the home server ID in the room entry and exit information table 100 described above. "Device ID" is a character string uniquely determined for each viewing terminal to identify the viewing terminal.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of the high-speed memory content table 130 according to this embodiment. The cache content table 130 is a table for managing the content stored in the edge server of each apartment. Here, one type of content distribution service is assumed, but in the case of providing multiple services, a cache content table is created for each service.

As shown in the figure, the cache content table 130 has a field 131 for registering "edge server ID" and a field 132 for registering "content ID" ("CID"), and constitutes one record. The "edge server ID" is a character string uniquely determined for each edge server in order to identify the edge server installed in each apartment. "Content ID" is a character string uniquely determined for each content in order to identify each content.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of the service registrant management table 140 according to this embodiment. The service registrant management table 140 is a table for managing users who can use the service in association with viewing terminals that the users can use. Here, it is assumed that there is only one type of content distribution service, but when providing multiple types of services, a cache content table is created for each type of service.

As shown in the figure, the service registrant management table 140 has a field 141 for registering "equipment ID", a field 142 for registering "personal ID", and a field 143 for registering "age", forming one record. The "device ID" is the same as the device ID in the device registration information table 120 described above, and the "personal ID" is the same as the personal ID in the room entering and leaving information table 100 described above. "Age" is the user's age, and is necessary when there is an age restriction on content. . In addition, the user information displayed here is only age, and fields such as "gender" can also be added according to the utilization conditions of the content. In addition, other tables can also be used to manage user information.

Next, details of content metafile 150 acquired by viewing terminal 50 from data center server 10 via home server 60 when viewing content in the content distribution system according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. 8 . In the content metafile 150, information necessary for the user to view the content is described.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of the content metafile 150 according to this embodiment.

As shown in the figure, the content metafile 150 consists of "CONTENT-ID" 151, "ENCODE-ID" 152, "LICENSE-URL" 153, "LICENSE-ID" 154, "SERVER-URL" 155, "SERVER-ID "156 constituted. "CONTENT-ID" 151 is a content ID for identifying each content, and is the same as the content ID of the above-mentioned cache content table 130 (FIG. 6). "ENCODE-ID" 152 is an ID in cryptographic form for identifying encrypted content data to be distributed. "LICENSE-URL" 153 indicates the URL of a license server that the viewing terminal 50 accesses when obtaining a viewing license including a decryption key for encrypted content data, viewing conditions, and the like. "LICENSE-ID" 154 is an ID for identifying a viewing license. "SERVER-URL" 155 indicates the URL of the edge server that distributes content data to the viewing terminal 50 . "SERVER-ID" 156 indicates whether the content distribution form of the edge server is streaming or downloading. This data configuration is merely an example, and items may be increased or decreased as necessary.

Next, the service entry screen and content detail screen generated by the service screen generating unit 11 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 10 .

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a service entry screen in this embodiment. The service entry screen is a screen displayed when the user activates the viewing terminal, and displays a list of contents that the user can view.

As shown in the figure, the service entry screen is composed of a list of all contents 201 , a list of contents in an apartment 202 , and a list 203 of purchased contents. In the full content list 201, a list of all content that the service provider can provide to the user is displayed; in the apartment content list 202, a list of contents that can be watched immediately stored in the edge server 70 of the apartment is displayed; In the purchased contents list 203, a list of contents purchased by the user is displayed. For example, when the user wants to purchase content that can be viewed immediately, he only needs to select the content from the content list 202 in the apartment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a content detail screen in this embodiment. The content detail screen is a screen displayed when the user selects a content on the service entry screen in FIG. 9 , and displays detailed information on each content.

As shown in the figure, the content detail screen is composed of title 211 , broadcast time 212 , price 213 , content introduction 214 , purchase button 215 , viewing reservation button 216 and viewing button 217 . Title 211 is the title of content; Play time 212 is the play time of content; Price 213 is the price of content; Content introduction 214 is the introduction of content; The content purchase process is carried out when it is pressed down; the viewing reservation button 216 is a button displayed when the content purchase is completed and is not stored in the edge server 70, and when pressed, the content data from the service provider server 30 to the edge server 70 is started. The viewing button 217 is a button displayed when the purchase of the content is completed and stored in the edge server 70, and the viewing process starts when it is pressed. Each button may be displayed or not displayed depending on circumstances, and all buttons may be displayed to be enabled or disabled for each button.

Next, the flow of a series of processes from when the user enters the house to when the user watches the content on the viewing terminal in the content distribution system according to the present embodiment will be described. The following is roughly divided into four stages to illustrate, namely: from the user entering the living room to logging in and out of the room information, from the user starting the viewing terminal to displaying the service entrance screen, from the user selecting content on the service entrance screen to displaying the content detailed screen, from the user in Press the button on the content detail screen to start playing the content. In addition, here, a home server ID (hereinafter referred to as "HSID") is assumed as home server-specific authentication information for authentication of the home server, and a device ID is assumed as device-specific authentication information for device authentication.

First, the flow of registration processing of room entry and exit information performed when a user enters a living room in the content distribution system according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 11 .

FIG. 11 is a sequence of registration processing of user entry and exit room information in the content distribution system according to this embodiment. 80 in the figure represents a user.

First, when the user 80 enters the living room, personal authentication information such as a card ID is sent to the home server via an authentication device such as a card reader (S1001).

Next, the home server 60 specifies an individual using the received individual authentication information (S1002). Here, in the home server 60, a table (hereinafter referred to as "personal ID table") in which personal IDs of users who can enter the living room are associated with personal authentication information such as card IDs is registered. The home server 60 refers to the personal ID table to specify the personal ID corresponding to the received personal authentication information, and then the home server 60 transmits the specified personal ID and the HSID unique to the home server 60 to the data center server 10 (S1003).

Next, the data center server 10 adds the received personal ID and HSID to the room entry and exit information table 100 (S1004); returns a normal end message to the home server 60 (S1005).

Then, the data center server 10 performs the unlocking process of the electronic lock 611 (S1006); and presents a normal completion message to the user 80 (S1007).

Next, the process from the user 80 activating the viewing terminal 50 to the display of the service entry screen in the content distribution system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 12 to 14 .

FIG. 12 is a sequence diagram of processing from when the user 80 activates the viewing terminal 50 to when the service entry screen is displayed in the content distribution system according to the present embodiment.

First, it is assumed that the viewing terminal 50 describes the device ID unique to the viewing terminal 50 in the HTTP header or HTTP body, and transmits it to the home server 60 (S1101).

Next, the home server 60 refers to the device ID registered in the home server 60, and performs authentication of whether the received device ID is a valid device ID that can be used in the living room (S1102); The device ID and the HSID unique to the home server 60 are sent to the data center server 10 (S1103).

Next, the data center server 10 refers to the service registrant table 140 to obtain a user ID that can use the viewing terminal 50 using the received device ID. Then, the data center server 10 refers to the room entry and exit information table 100, and uses the acquired user ID and the received HSID to authenticate whether the user 80 in the living room can use the viewing terminal 50 (S1104).

Then, the data center server 10 sends a request for the full content list to the service provider server 30 (81105); then, the service provider server 30 returns the full content list that the data center server 10 requires to the data center server 10 (S1106).

Then, the data center server 10 sends the device ID of the viewing terminal 50 to the service provider server 30 (S1107); then, the service provider server 30 obtains the content list (S1108) that the viewing terminal 50 has purchased with the received device ID; then Then, the service provider server 30 sends back the acquired purchased content list to the data center server 10 (S1109).

Then, the data center server 10 refers to the high-speed memory content table 130 to obtain a list of contents stored in the edge server 70 in the apartment (S1110); then, the data center server 10 uses the above-mentioned list of various contents to create a service entry screen (S1111 ); and sent back to the home server 60 (S1112).

Next, the home server 60 returns the service entry screen received from the data center server 10 to the viewing terminal 50 .

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the flow of processing for the home server 60 of this embodiment to return the service entry screen to the user after receiving the device ID from the data center server 10 .

First, the home server 60 receives the device ID from the viewing terminal 50 (S1201); then, the home server 60 refers to the device ID list registered in the home server 60 to verify whether the received device ID is registered (S1202). In the case of an unregistered device ID, the home server 60 returns an error page to the viewing terminal 50 (S1203), and ends the process. If it is a registered device ID, the home server 60 acquires the HSID unique to the home server 60 (S1204). Next, the home server 60 sends the received device ID and HSID to the data center server 10 (S1205); and receives the entry screen sent back from the data center server 10 (S1206); Return to the viewing terminal (S1207), and the processing ends.

FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining the flow of processing after the data center server 10 of this embodiment receives the HSID and the device ID from the home server 60 and returns the entry screen to the home server.

First, the data center server 10 receives the HSID and device ID from the home server 60 (S1301); then, the data center server 10 refers to the service registrant management table 140, and obtains the user who can use the service using the device from the received device ID. ID (S1302); then, the data center server 10, with reference to the room information table 100, obtains the user ID (S1303) of the user in the living room from the received HSID; then, the data center server 10 confirms the user ID obtained in step S1302. Whether the user ID of the user is included in the user ID obtained in step S1303, thus, whether the user who can use the service is in the home is authenticated (S1304); if not in the room, the data center server 10, the The error page is sent back to the home server 60 (S1305), and the processing ends; in the case of a living room, the data center server 10 obtains a list of all contents that the user can watch from the service provider server 30 (S1306).

Then, the data center server 10 sends the device ID received from the home server 60 to the service provider server 30 to obtain a list of purchased contents (S1307); then, the data center server 10 refers to the high-speed memory content table 130, Obtain a list of contents stored in the edge server 70 in the apartment (S1308); then, the data center server 10 uses the various content lists obtained in S1306-S1307 to create a service entry screen for displaying to the user (S1309) ; Finally, the data center server 10 returns the created service entry screen to the home server 60 (S1310), and ends the process.

In addition, here, the data center server 10 created the service entrance screen, but the service provider server 30 may also create the service entrance screen. The procedure in the case of creating the service entry screen by the service provider server 30 is shown in FIG. 15 and will be described below. Steps S1401 to S1404 are the same as steps S1101 to S1104 in FIG. 12 , and the description thereof will be omitted, and the description will start from step S1405 .

The data center server 10 refers to the high-speed memory content table 130 to obtain a list of contents stored in the edge server 70 in the apartment (S1405); then, the data center server 10 sends the device ID and the content ID list of the contents in the apartment To the service provider server 30 (S1406).

Next, the service provider server 30 obtains the purchased content list from the received device ID, and creates a service entry screen from the received apartment content ID list, all content list, and purchased content list (S1407); then, The service provider server 30 returns the service entry screen to the data center server 10 (S1408).

Then, the data center server 10 returns the service entry screen received from the service provider server 30 to the home server 60 (S1409).

Next, the home server 60 sends back the service entry screen received from the data center server 10 to the viewing terminal 50 (S1410).

Next, the processing from the selection of content by the user on the service entry screen to the display of the content detail screen in the content distribution system according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 16 to 17 .

FIG. 16 is a flow chart of processing from the user selecting content on the service entry screen to displaying the content detail screen in the content distribution system according to the present embodiment.

First, when the user selects content on the service entry screen (S1501), the viewing terminal 50 transmits the device ID and the content ID of the selected content to the home server 60 (S1502).

Next, the home server 60 authenticates the received device ID (S1503); then, the home server 60 sends the received device ID, content ID, and HSID unique to the home server 60 to the data center server 10 (S1504).

Then, the data center server 10 refers to the service registrant management table 140 to obtain the user ID that can use the viewing terminal from the received device ID; The received HSID is used to verify whether the user 80 in the living room can use the viewing terminal 50 (S1505); then, the data center server 10 sends the content ID received from the home server 60 to the service provider server 30 (S1506).

Then, the service provider server 30 returns the content information of the content to the data center server 10 based on the content ID received from the data center server 10 (S1507). Here, the content information includes detailed content information such as content titles and content introductions, content usage conditions such as age restrictions, and the like.

Next, the data center server 10 checks the usage conditions of the content included in the received content information (S1508). Specifically, for example, when the usage condition of the content is "the age of the user is over 18 years old", a list of users and their ages in the living room is obtained from the room entry and exit information table 100 and the service registrant management table 140; Then, when there are users over 18 years old in the obtained list, the distribution of the content is permitted, and only when the user is under the age of 18, the distribution of the content is not permitted. Then, the data center server 10 creates a detailed content screen from the received content information (S1509), and returns the created detailed content screen to the home server 60 (S1510). Note that details of the creation process of the content detail screen will be described later.

Next, the home server 60 returns the content detail screen received from the data center server 10 to the viewing terminal 50 (S1511).

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating the flow of processing after the data center server 10 of this embodiment receives the device ID, HSID, and content ID from the home server 60 until returning the content detailed screen to the home server 60 .

First, the data center server 10 receives the device ID, HSID, and content ID from the home server 60 (S1601); then, the data center server 10 refers to the service registrant management table 140 to obtain users who can use the service with the device from the received device ID. ID (S1602); then, the data center server 10, with reference to the room information table 100, obtains the user ID (S1603) of the user in the living room from the received HSID; then, the data center server 10 confirms the user ID obtained in step S1602. Whether or not the user ID is included in the user ID acquired in step S1603 is used to verify whether or not the user who can use the service is in the house (S1604).

When not in the living room, the data center server 10 returns the error page to the home server 60 (S1605), and ends the processing; It is sent to the service provider server 30, and content information including detailed information of the content, usage conditions, etc. is acquired (S1606). Then, the data center server 10 checks whether or not content usage conditions such as age restrictions are satisfied (S1607). If not, proceed to step S1605, and if satisfied, create a content detail screen from the received content detail information (S1608). Next, the data center server 10 checks whether the received content ID has been purchased with reference to the purchase completion list obtained when the service entry screen is created (S1609); Make the purchase button 215 (Fig. 10) of the detailed content screen valid (S1610), and send back the detailed content screen to the home server 60 (S1614); Whether the received content ID has been stored in the edge server (S1611) is checked in the content list table obtained when making; Fig. 10) is valid (S1612), and proceeds to step S1614, under the situation of having stored, data center server 10 only makes the watching button 217 (Fig. 10) of content detail screen effective (S1612), and proceeds to step S1614.

Next, the process from when the user presses a button on the content detail screen to viewing the content in the content distribution system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 18 to 20 . As described above, the buttons displayed on the content detail screen include the purchase button, viewing reservation button, and viewing button according to the purchase status or storage status of the content. The respective cases will be described below. In addition, as will be described later, during the period from when the viewing reservation button is pressed until the viewing button becomes effective, a message "Content registration" is displayed instead of the button.

First, the case where only the viewing button is enabled will be described with reference to FIG. 18 .

FIG. 18 is a flow chart of processing from when the user presses a viewing button on the content detail screen to viewing the content in the content distribution system according to the present embodiment.

First, when the user presses the viewing button on the content detail screen (S1701), the viewing terminal 50 transmits the device ID and the content ID of the selected content to the home server 60 (S1702).

Next, the home server 60 authenticates the received device ID (S1703); then, the home server 60 sends the received device ID, content ID and HSID unique to the home server 60 to the data center server 10 (S1704).

Next, the data center server 10 refers to the service registrant management table 140, and obtains the user ID that can use the viewing terminal 50 from the received device ID; ID and the received HSID carry out whether the user 80 in the living room can utilize the authentication of the viewing terminal 50 (S1705); then, the data center server 10 sends the content ID and the device ID received from the home server 60 to the service provider server 30 (S1706).

Then, the service provider server 30 creates a content metafile 150 (FIG. 8) including license information necessary for viewing the content from the received content ID and device ID, and sends it back to the data center server 10 (S1707).

Next, the data center server 10 updates the content of the received content metafile 150, if necessary (S1708). Specifically, for example, since the location information of the viewing terminal 50 is managed by the data center server 10, the service provider server 30 may not know in which apartment the viewing terminal 50 is installed. In this case, since the service provider server cannot include the URL of the edge server 70 as the distribution server in the content metafile 150, the data center server 10 writes the URL of the edge server 70 into the content metafile 150. After the content metafile 150 is updated, the data center server 10 returns the content metafile 150 to the home server 60 (S1709).

Next, the home server 60 sends back the content metafile 150 received from the data center server 10 to the viewing terminal 50 (S1710); The viewing license (S1711) of the key etc. of the key.

Next, the service provider server 30 returns the viewing license of the content to the viewing terminal according to the request from the viewing terminal 50 (S1712). Here, since the service provider server 30 manages the license ID in association with the device ID, even if the viewing terminal 50 illegally requests a viewing license by referring to the content metafile distributed to other viewing terminals, the license ID Since the combination with the device ID is incorrect, the viewing terminal 50 cannot obtain a viewing license.

Next, the viewing terminal 50, with reference to the content metafile 150, sends a content distribution request to the edge server 70 (S1713); then, decrypts the content data distributed from the edge server 70 with the decryption key included in the viewing license, to watch (S1714).

Next, the case where only the viewing reservation button is enabled will be described with reference to FIG. 19 .

19 is a processing sequence diagram from when the user presses the viewing reservation button on the content detail screen until the viewing button on the content detail screen is enabled after the content data is stored in the edge server in the content distribution system according to this embodiment. Steps S1801 to S1805 are the same as steps S1701 to S1705 in FIG. 18 , and the description thereof will be omitted, and the description will start from step S1806 .

After step S1805, the data center server 10 transmits the content ID to the edge server 70 (S1806).

Next, the edge server 70 downloads the content of the content ID received from the data center server 10 from the service provider server 30, and starts the registration process; then returns a registration start message to the data center server 10 (S1807).

Next, the data center server 10 sets the logging in sign of the content to ON (S1808); then, the data center server 10 displays the logging in message on the content detailed screen (S1809), and sends back the updated content detailed screen to the home server 60 (S1810).

Next, the home server 60 returns the content detail screen received from the data center server 10 to the viewing terminal 50 (S1811).

On the other hand, edge server 70, after step S1807, requests content data (S1812) to service provider server 30 with HTTP agreement or FTP agreement etc.; As soon as the downloading of content data ends (S1813), just the message of log-in end is sent to The data center server 10 (S1814).

Next, the data center server 10 sets the login completion flag to ON (S1815); and sends back a message of completion of the flag processing to the data center server 10 (S1816).

Next, after step S1811, the viewing terminal 50 requests the data center server 10 to check the registration status of the content via the home server 60 (S1817, S1818).

Next, the data center server 10 checks whether the login completion flag is ON (S1819); then, the data center server 10 only enables the viewing button of the detailed content screen (S1820); Send back to the viewing terminal 50 (S1821, S1822).

Next, the case where only the purchase button is enabled will be described with reference to FIG. 20 .

20 is a sequence diagram of processing from when the user presses the purchase button on the content detail screen to when the viewing reservation button or viewing button on the content detail screen is enabled in the content distribution system according to this embodiment. Steps S1901 to S1905 are the same as steps S1701 to S1705 in FIG. 18 , and the description thereof will be omitted, and the description will start from step S1906 .

After step S1905, the data center server 10 transmits the device ID and content ID to the service provider server 30 (S1906).

Next, the service provider server 30 carries out the content purchase processing (S1907) of the received content ID to the viewing terminal 50 that has received the device ID; then, the purchase processing end message is sent back to the data center server 10 (S1908) .

Next, the data center server 10 checks whether the purchased content is stored in the edge server by referring to the content list in the apartment obtained when the service entry screen is created (S1909); then, the data center server 10 updates the content detailed screen (S1910). Specifically, when the purchased content is already stored in the edge server, only the viewing button is enabled; when it is not yet stored in the edge server, only the viewing reservation button is enabled. After updating the detailed content screen, the data center server 10 returns the detailed content screen to the home server 60 (S1911).

Next, the home server 60 returns the content detail screen received from the data center server 10 to the viewing terminal 50 (S1912).

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the authentication of the device is performed on the home server, but as another embodiment, it is conceivable that all authentications are performed on the data center server without performing authentication on the home server. Specifically, if the home server receives the device ID from the viewing terminal, it immediately sends the device ID and HSID to the data center server. Then, the data center server refers to the device registration information table, and verifies whether the received device ID and HSID are in the correct correspondence. In this way, since only the data center manages the device registration information, there is an advantage that information can be easily updated.

In addition, the above-mentioned embodiment assumes the content distribution service, but for the system related to "specific terminal usage places and users" in the present invention, the applicable object is not limited to the content distribution service, as long as the user in the home has It is applicable to the situation where the terminal utilizes the service. Hereinafter, as an example of an embodiment of the above-mentioned system, in the case of using one's own PC in an office room, a system for specifying the usage place of the PC and the user will be briefly described.

This system includes: a PC in the living room, a home server in the living room, and a data center server. The PC has a unit that transmits the device ID unique to the PC to the home server when the user uses it; the home server has a unit that authenticates the user when the user enters or leaves the room, and sends the room entry and exit information together with the home server ID unique to the home server. The unit that sends to the data center server, the unit that authenticates after receiving the device ID when the user uses the PC, and the unit that sends the authentication information of the PC and the authentication information of the home server to the data center server; A room entry and exit management unit for room entry and exit management, and a service management unit for managing users in correspondence with PCs.

First, when the user enters the living room, user authentication is performed in the home server; after the authentication, the home server sends the user ID and home server ID of the user entering the room to the data center server, which is managed by the room entry and exit of the data center server A unit manages the home server ID and user ID.

Then, when the user uses the PC, the PC sends the device ID to the home server, and the home server performs device authentication. After the authentication, the home server sends the device ID and the home server ID to the data center server; the data center server specifies the user ID corresponding to the device ID received by the room entry and exit management unit, and receives the user ID from the room entry and exit management unit. The home server ID of the specified user ID is in the living room where the PC is being used. By confirming whether the user ID corresponding to the device ID is included in the user ID in the room, the data center server can determine whether the user who can use the PC is in the room.

In addition, according to the above-mentioned embodiment, since it is possible to grasp the person in the living room, it is possible to set more detailed content viewing conditions than the original service, such as content that cannot be viewed without being physically present.

In addition, in the existing system, the user can only watch the content that is limited to the edge server, and other contents cannot be watched until the service provider updates the content in the edge server, but according to the present invention, the existing With the limited capacity of the edge server, without increasing the cost, users can select the content they want to watch from all the content except the content in the edge server.

Claims (9)

1. content delivering system is characterized in that:

Have:

Network system in the residence, its have server in terminal equipment, the residence and in residence network be connected to content distributing server in the residence of server in this terminal equipment and this residence;

Management server, it is connected with network system in the residence through network; With

Content distributing server;

Described management server has: comprise the intrinsic ID of server in the residence, be in the residence server ID and for the intrinsic ID of the user of described terminal equipment, be user ID turnover room information table, comprise as for service login person's table of the device id of the intrinsic ID of described terminal equipment and described user ID, comprise the device logs information table of server ID and described device id in the described residence;

Described terminal equipment sends to server in the described residence to described device id;

Server in the described residence, according to described device logs information table, judge whether the device id that receives is included in the described device logs information table, under situation about comprising, described device id with corresponding to server ID in the residence of this device id, send to described management server;

Described management server, with reference to described service login person's table, obtain first user ID corresponding to the device id that receives, refer again to described turnover room information table, obtain second user ID corresponding to server ID in the residence that receives, under the situation of the described first and second user ID unanimities, will be stored in content in content distributing server in the described residence or the described content distributing server as being available.

2. content delivering system as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that:

Server in the described residence has: the user sent to the unit that the unit of described management server, the unit that receives the intrinsic device id of described terminal equipment send to server ID in the intrinsic residence of server in described device id and the residence of self described management server to the turnover room information in the residence;

Described management server has: according to described turnover room information determine the unit of the user in the inherent room of residence, according to server ID in described device id and the described residence, determine to utilize the unit in the room of described terminal equipment.

3. content delivering system as claimed in claim 2 is characterized in that:

Described management server, the unit that also has the content in the content distributing server in the described residence of management, and when requiring to be stored in this residence the content beyond the content in the content distributing server from described terminal equipment content distributing server in described residence, content distributing server in this residence is carried out the download indication of this content.

4. content delivering system as claimed in claim 2 is characterized in that:

Content distributing server in the described residence has: management can be distributed to the content of described terminal equipment the unit, obtain the unit that is not stored in the content in the content distributing server in this residence from described content distributing server according to the indication of described management server.

5. content delivering system as claimed in claim 2 is characterized in that:

Content distributing server in the described residence, have: but described user is not visited the described content distributing server that connects through described network and the unit that the content of rating manages, downloads content-data by described management server indication from described content distributing server, and finish the back downloading the unit that end sends to described management server downloading;

Described content distributing server has: the content management units of the available content of management service merchant, the content directory of obtaining from described content management units is sent to the unit of management server and according to the unit that content-data is sent to content distributing server in the residence from the requirement of content distributing server in the described residence according to the requirement of described management server;

Described management server has: the cache content administrative unit of managing the content in the content distributing server in the described residence, obtain the unit of content directory from described content distributing server, the unit of the service entrance picture of the content directory that makes in the residence that demonstration obtains from described cache content administrative unit content directory in the content distributing server and obtain from described content distributing server, when described terminal equipment starts, described service entrance picture is sent to the unit of described terminal equipment, the content meta file of having recorded and narrated this content of rating necessary information is sent to when described service entrance picture has been selected in the residence content in the content distributing server unit of terminal equipment the user, when the user has selected in the residence content beyond the content in the content distributing server from described service entrance picture to described residence in the content distributing server unit that carries out the download indication of this content, content distributing server receives and downloads the unit that the content meta file of this content is sent to behind the end terminal equipment in the described residence.

6. content delivering system as claimed in claim 2 is characterized in that:

Content distributing server in the described residence, have: but described user is not visited the described content distributing server that connects through described network and the unit that the content of rating manages, downloads content-data by described management server indication from described content distributing server, and finish the back downloading the unit that end sends to described management server downloading;

Described content distributing server, have: the content management units of the available content of management service merchant, receive from described management server and to be stored in the described residence in the residence in the content distributing server content directory in the content distributing server, and make in content directory that demonstration obtains from described content management units and the described residence service entrance picture of content directory in the content distributing server, again the service entrance picture that is made is sent to the unit of described management server, and according to the unit that content-data is sent to content distributing server in the residence from the requirement of content distributing server in the described residence;

Described management server has: the cache content administrative unit of managing the content in the content distributing server in the described residence, when described terminating machine starts, content directory in the content distributing server in the residence of obtaining from described high-speed cache is sent to described content distributing server also the unit that sends to described terminal equipment from the service entrance picture that described content distributing server receives, the content meta file of having recorded and narrated this content of rating necessary information is sent to when described service entrance picture has been selected in the residence content in the content distributing server unit of terminal equipment the user, the user from described service entrance picture and selecting in the residence in the content distributing server during content beyond the content to described residence in the content distributing server unit that carries out the download indication of this content, content distributing server receives and downloads the unit that the content meta file of this content is sent to behind the end terminal equipment in the described residence.

7. the system of the terminal in network offers service in room in the residence is characterized in that:

Have: the terminal in the room, the interior server of the residence in the room and the management server on the server in network is connected this terminal and this residence;

Server in the described residence, have: storage is used for authenticating the unit of the intrinsic authentication information of server in self the residence, accept and authenticate the unit of user's authentication information, the authentication information of server in described user's authentication information and the described residence is sent to the unit of described management server, accept and authenticate the unit of the authentication information of described terminal equipment, device logs information table according to the authentication information that comprises intrinsic authentication information of server in the residence and terminal equipment, whether the authentication information of judging the terminal equipment that receives is included in the described device logs information table, under situation about comprising, the authentication information of server in the authentication information of described terminal equipment and the described residence is sent to the unit of described management server;

Described management server, have: the turnover room administrative unit that the authentication information of server is mapped and manages in the user's that server in described residence is received authentication information and the residence, the Service Management unit that the authentication information of the user's of login service authentication information and the available terminal of user is mapped and manages, the authentication information of server in the residence that receives with server in described residence authenticates the user unit in the room whether that can utilize terminal according to the user's who confirmed turnover room administrative unit and service administrative unit both sides authentication information.

8. management server is characterized in that:

This management server, the content distributing server that content distributing server, service provider have in the residence in the terminal equipment in network and room, the residence in the room in server, the building couples together,

Have:

The turnover room administrative unit that the authentication information of server is mapped and manages in the user's that server in described residence is received authentication information and the residence;

Login in the authentication information of user's authentication information in the service and the available terminal equipment of the user Service Management unit that is mapped and manages;

The authentication information of server in the residence that receives with server in described residence authenticates the user unit in the room whether that can utilize terminal equipment according to the user's who confirmed turnover room administrative unit and service administrative unit both sides authentication information;

Manage the administrative unit of the cache content of the content in the content distributing server in the described residence;

Obtain the unit of full content directory from described content distributing server;

Make in the residence that demonstration obtains from described cache content administrative unit the unit of the service entrance picture of content directory and described full content directory in the content distributing server;

When terminal equipment starts, described service entrance picture is sent to the unit of described terminal equipment;

When described service entrance picture has been selected in the residence in the content distributing server content, the content meta file of having recorded and narrated the necessary information of this content of rating is sent to the unit of terminal equipment the user;

The user from described service entrance picture and selecting in the residence in the content distributing server during content beyond the content, the unit that content distributing server in the described residence is carried out the download indication of this content; With

Content distributing server receives and downloads the unit that the content meta file of this content is sent to behind the end terminal equipment in the described residence.

9. management server is characterized in that:

This management server, the content distributing server that content distributing server, service provider have in the residence in the terminal equipment in network and room, the residence in the room in server, the building couples together,

Have:

The turnover room administrative unit that the authentication information of server is mapped and manages in the user's that server in described residence is received authentication information and the residence;

Login in the authentication information of user's authentication information in the service and the available terminal equipment of the user Service Management unit that is mapped and manages;

The authentication information of server in the residence that receives with server in described residence authenticates the user unit in the room whether that can utilize terminal equipment according to the user's who confirmed turnover room administrative unit and service administrative unit both sides authentication information;

Manage the cache content administrative unit of the content in the content distributing server in the described residence;

When terminal equipment starts, content directory in the content distributing server in the residence of obtaining from described cache content administrative unit is sent to described content distributing server also the unit that sends to described terminal equipment from the service entrance picture that described content distributing server receives;

When described service entrance picture has been selected in the residence in the content distributing server content, the content meta file of having recorded and narrated the necessary information of this content of rating is sent to the unit of terminal equipment the user;

The user from described service entrance picture and selecting in the residence in the content distributing server during content beyond the content, the unit that content distributing server in the described residence is carried out the download indication of this content; With

Content distributing server receives and downloads the unit that the content meta file of this content is sent to behind the end terminal equipment in the described residence.

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