JP2002328855A - Device and method for processing information, recording medium and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a user to quickly receive the distribution of contents. SOLUTION: A list distribution server 11 periodically accesses content distribution servers 1-1 to 1-3 through a network 2 and checks respective distribution channel conditions and distribution rates. The list distribution server 11 prepares the list of the content distribution servers on the basis of checked results. A terminal 3 accesses the list distribution server 11 and requests the distribution of the list through the network 2. The list distribution server 11 acquires the domain of the terminal 3 and distributes the list of a region corresponding to the domain to the terminal 3.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and method, a recording medium, and a program, and more particularly, to an information processing apparatus and method that enable a user to reliably receive a desired service via a network. The present invention relates to a method, a recording medium, and a program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a conventional content distribution system. In this configuration example, three content distribution servers 1-1 to 1-3 are connected to a network 2 represented by the Internet. A terminal 3 is connected to the network 2.

[0003] A user of the terminal 3 accesses a predetermined content distribution server among the content distribution servers 1-1 to 1-3 via the network 2, requests distribution of the content, and receives distribution of the content. Can be. The terminal 3 stores, reproduces, and uses the delivered content in a built-in storage medium or the like.

FIG. 2 shows another example of a conventional content distribution system. In this example, a list distribution server 11 is further connected to the network 2.
Other configurations are the same as those in FIG.

[0005] The list distribution server 11 is connected to the network 2
Is connected to the content distribution servers 1-1 to 1-
3 is stored in a list in advance as to what kind of content is distributed. Therefore, the user of the terminal 3
Via the network 2, each content distribution server 1-
1 to 1-3, the user directly accesses the list distribution server 11 via the network 2 instead of confirming what kind of content each content distribution server is providing. And receives the list via the network 2.

[0008] The user of the terminal 3 uses the list distributed from the list distribution server 11 to check what content each content distribution server provides. Then, the user selects a content distribution server that distributes the content desired by the user from the list.

Further, the user of the terminal 3 accesses the selected content distribution server via the network 2 and requests distribution of the content. The content distribution server requested to distribute the content distributes the content to the terminal 3 via the network 2 in response to the request. The user of the terminal 3 registers and uses this content as needed.

[0008]

The system shown in FIG. 2 does not require the user to directly access each content distribution server as compared with the system shown in FIG. 1, so that the desired content can be received more efficiently. It is.

However, the list distributed by the list distribution server 11 in the system shown in FIG. 2 is a list created mainly by the list distribution server 11 on the basis of the content. There was a problem that could not be received.

[0010] The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and is intended to allow a user of a terminal to more quickly receive a desired service.

[0011]

According to the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus comprising: holding means for holding information relating to a second other information processing apparatus; and access from a first other information processing apparatus via a network. Accepting means for accepting, receiving means for acquiring the address information on the network address of the first other information processing apparatus accepted by the accepting means, and second information held by the holding means
Searching means for searching for information corresponding to the address information obtained by the obtaining means from information on the other information processing apparatuses, and information on the second other information processing apparatus searched by the searching means. Transmission means for transmitting the information to the first other information processing apparatus via the communication device.

[0012] The information processing apparatus may further include a detecting means for detecting a connection status or a distribution rate when the second other information processing apparatus is accessed via a network, and the holding means may store information relating to the second other information processing apparatus. In addition, information including the connection status or the distribution rate detected by the detection means can be held.

[0013] The holding means may hold the information on the connection status or the distribution rate in order.

An information processing method according to the present invention includes a holding step of holding information on a second other information processing apparatus;
A receiving step of receiving access from another information processing apparatus via the network, and an obtaining step of obtaining address information on an address on the network of the first other information processing apparatus received by the processing of the receiving step. A search step of searching for information corresponding to the address information obtained by the processing of the obtaining step from among the information on the second other information processing apparatus held by the processing of the holding step, Transmitting the searched information on the second other information processing apparatus to the first other information processing apparatus via the network.

[0015] The program of the recording medium of the present invention comprises: a holding step of holding information on a second other information processing apparatus; and a receiving step of receiving an access from the first other information processing apparatus via a network. An acquisition step of acquiring address information on an address on the network of the first other information processing apparatus accepted by the processing of the accepting step; and a second other information processing apparatus held by the processing of the holding step. A search step of searching for information corresponding to the address information obtained by the processing of the obtaining step from the information, and information on the second other information processing apparatus searched by the processing of the search step, via a network. Transmitting to the first other information processing apparatus.

A program according to the present invention stores information on a second other information processing apparatus that provides a service to a first other information processing apparatus via a network, and transmits the first other information via the network to the first other information processing apparatus. A holding step of holding information about the second other information processing apparatus in a computer that controls the information processing apparatus to be provided to the processing apparatus, and a reception of receiving an access from the first other information processing apparatus via a network Step, an obtaining step of obtaining address information on an address on the network of the first other information processing apparatus received by the processing of the receiving step, and a second other information processing held by the processing of the holding step A search is made for information corresponding to the address information obtained by the processing of the obtaining step from the information on the device. A search step, the second other information about the information processing apparatus searched by the search process steps, to execute a transmission step of transmitting to the first other information processing apparatus via a network.

In the information processing apparatus and method, the recording medium, and the program according to the present invention, address information relating to an address of the first other information processing apparatus on the network is obtained, and the second other information corresponding to the address information is obtained. The information about the information processing device is searched.

[0018]

FIG. 3 shows an example of the configuration of a content distribution system to which the present invention is applied. Parts corresponding to those in FIG. 2 are denoted by corresponding reference numerals.
Its basic configuration is the same as that in FIG. 2, but the processing in the list distribution server 11 is different from that in FIG.

FIG. 4 shows a configuration example of the terminal 3. In FIG. 4, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 21
Is a program stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 22 or a RAM (Random Acces
s Memory) 23 to execute various processes according to the program loaded. The RAM 23 also appropriately stores data necessary for the CPU 21 to execute various processes.

The CPU 21, the ROM 22, and the RAM 23 are interconnected via a bus 24. The bus 24 is also connected to an input / output interface 25.

The input / output interface 25 includes an input unit 26 including a keyboard and a mouse, a display including a CRT and an LCD, an output unit 27 including a speaker, a storage unit 28 including a hard disk, and the like.
A communication unit 29 including a modem, a terminal adapter, and the like is connected. The communication unit 29 is connected to the network 2
The communication process via is performed.

A drive 30 is connected to the input / output interface 25 as needed, and a magnetic disk 41,
An optical disk 42, a magneto-optical disk 43, a semiconductor memory 44, or the like is appropriately mounted, and a computer program read therefrom is installed in the storage unit 28 as needed.

FIG. 5 shows a configuration example of the list distribution server 11. The basic configuration including the CPU 121 to the semiconductor memory 144 is the same as the configuration including the CPU 21 to the semiconductor memory 44 of the terminal 3 in FIG.

FIG. 6 shows a content distribution server 1-.
1 (the content distribution servers 1-2 and 1-3 have the same configuration). The basic configuration including the CPU 221 to the semiconductor memory 244 is the same as the terminal 3 in FIG.
This is the same as the configuration including the CPU 21 to the semiconductor memory 44. Each part in FIGS. 5 and 6 has a function corresponding to each part with the same name in FIG. 4, and thus description thereof will be omitted because it is repeated.

Next, referring to the flowchart of FIG.
A list creation process performed by the list distribution server 11 will be described.

First, in step S1, the CPU 121 of the list distribution server 11 selects one content distribution server from the content distribution servers 1-1 to 1-3 connected to the network 2. Next, the process proceeds to step S2, where the CPU 121 controls the communication unit 129 to send the network 2 to the content distribution server (for example, the content distribution server 1-1) selected in the process of step S1.
Access via

In step S3, the CPU 121 checks the status of the distribution line. Specifically, the packet loss is checked. For example, when the packet loss is 0% and there is no re-buffering, the distribution line status is set to “good”. When the packet loss is 10% and there is no rebuffering, the distribution line status is determined to be "somewhat difficult",
If the packet loss is 50% and the rebuffering is twice per minute, the distribution line status is "hard". Furthermore, if no connection can be made to the content distribution server, or if there is no distribution information even if the connection can be made, "no distribution" is set.

Next, proceeding to step S4, the CPU 121
Get the delivery rate. The distribution rates are classified into three, for example, "high speed", "normal", and "slow" according to the speed.

In step S5, the CPU 121 determines whether or not all content distribution servers have been selected.
If there is any unselected content distribution server, the process returns to step S1, and the subsequent processing is repeatedly executed. Thereby, all of the content distribution servers 1-1, 1-2, and 1-3 in FIG. 3 are selected,
A similar process will be executed.

If it is determined in step S5 that all the content distribution servers have been selected, the process proceeds to step S5.
Then, the CPU 121 proceeds to step 6 for each content distribution server 1-
The lists 1 to 1-3 are created. If the list has already been created, the list is updated.

The list includes countries, and in the case of Japan, prefectures and cities (areas to which the terminal 3 can be accessed most quickly). The list in the proper order is created.

The above processing is periodically performed, for example, every week or every month.

FIG. 8 schematically shows the above processing. The list distribution server 11 sequentially accesses the distribution servers 1-1 to 1-3 via the network 2 and executes processing for inspecting distribution line conditions and acquiring a distribution rate.

Next, a process in which the terminal 3 acquires a list of content distribution servers from the list distribution server 11 will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG.

In step S21, the CPU 2 of the terminal 3
1 controls the communication unit 29 to access the list distribution server 11 via the network 2. The user operates the input unit 26 to input the conditions of the list to be obtained. This condition can be, for example, a condition in which the distribution rate is high and the connection status is good. Alternatively, a condition such as a list having a distribution rate of “high speed” or a list of only content distribution servers having a connection state of “good” may be used.

When acquiring the conditions of these lists based on the input from the input unit 26 in step S22, the CPU 21 controls the communication unit 29 to transmit the conditions to the list distribution server 11. In response to the transmission of this condition, a list corresponding to this condition is transmitted from the list distribution server 11 as described later (step S45 in FIG. 10). Therefore, in step S23, the CPU 1
21 receives the list transmitted from the list distribution server 11 via the communication unit 29 and supplies the list to the storage unit 28;
Remember.

Next, referring to the flowchart of FIG.
The list distribution processing of the list distribution server 11 executed in correspondence with the processing of the terminal 3 in FIG. 9 will be described.

In step S41, the CPU 121 of the list distribution server 11 receives access from the terminal 3, and in step S42, the network 121 of the terminal 3
Get the domain as the address above. Further, in step S43, the CPU 121 acquires the conditions of the list transmitted from the terminal 3 in the process of step S22 in FIG.

In step S44, the CPU 121
The area of the terminal 3 is checked from the domain of the terminal 3 acquired in step S42, and a list of content distribution servers in the area of the terminal 3 or the area closest to the area is selected. Further, the CPU 121 selects a list that satisfies the condition acquired in step S43 from the selected list. Thereby, for example, as described above,
A list in which the distribution rate is high, a list in which the connection status is good, a list of content distribution servers with a "high speed" distribution rate, a list of content distribution servers with a "good" connection status, and the like are selected.

At step S45, the CPU 121
The list selected in step S44 is stored in the communication unit 12
9 to the terminal 3 via the network 2. As described above, the distributed list is acquired by the terminal 3 in the process of step S23 in FIG.

Next, in step S46, the CPU 121
Executes a process of charging the user of the terminal 3 for the price of the list distributed in the process of step S45.

As described above, when the user of the terminal 3 obtains the list of the content distribution servers, the user accesses the predetermined content distribution server using the list to obtain the content.

Next, referring to the flowchart of FIG.
The processing of the terminal 3 in this case will be described.

In step S61, the CPU 2 of the terminal 3
1 reads out a list of content distribution servers stored in the storage unit 28 based on a user command from the input unit 26, and displays the list on a display constituting the output unit 27. The user selects a desired content distribution server from the displayed list of content distribution servers. Then, the user operates the input unit 26 to input information designating the selected content distribution server.

The list displayed in this processing is a list of the content distribution servers in the area closest to the area to which the domain of the terminal 3 belongs or the area which is most accessible. Therefore, the user of the terminal 3 can quickly and efficiently
Furthermore, a content distribution server that can be accessed with a smaller communication amount can be selected.

When the CPU 21 obtains the designation information of the content distribution server to be accessed in step S62, the CPU 21 controls the communication unit 29 in step S63,
Access the specified content distribution server.

In step S64, the CPU 21 acquires designation information for designating the content to be acquired from the content distribution server that has just been accessed, based on the user's instruction from the input unit 26, and transmits the acquired designation information to the communication unit 29
From the server to the content distribution server. Since the content data is distributed from the content distribution server based on the transmission of the designation information (step S84 in FIG. 12 described later), the CPU 21 in step S65.
Receives the distributed content data, supplies it to the storage unit 28, and stores it. Then, the CPU 21 appropriately reproduces the content data stored in the storage unit 28 based on a user command from the input unit 26, and
Output from

Next, referring to the flowchart of FIG.
A content distribution process of the content distribution server executed in response to the content reception process of the terminal 3 in FIG. 11 will be described. For convenience of explanation, the following description is based on the assumption that the content distribution server 1-1 distributes content.

In step S81, when the CPU 221 of the content distribution server 1-1 receives access from the terminal 3, in step S82, the CPU 221 acquires specification information of the content to be distributed. This designation information has been transmitted from the terminal 3 by the process of step S64 in FIG. 11 described above.

At step S83, the CPU 221
The content data corresponding to the designated information acquired in step S82 is read out from the storage unit 228, and step S8 is performed.
In 4, the read content data is transmitted from the communication unit 229 to the terminal 3 via the network 2. As described above, this content data is stored in FIG.
Is received by the terminal 3 by the processing in step S65.

Next, in step S85, the CPU 221
Executes a charging process corresponding to the value of the content data transmitted in the process of step S84 to the user of the terminal 3.

In the above, the present invention has been described as providing a list of servers for distributing contents to a terminal. However, the present invention is also applicable to a case where a list of servers for providing other services other than contents is provided. It is possible to apply.

The series of processes described above can be executed by hardware, but can also be executed by software. When a series of processing is executed by software, a program constituting the software executes various functions by installing a computer built in dedicated hardware or installing various programs. Network 2 to a general-purpose personal computer
Or from a recording medium.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, this recording medium is provided separately from the main body of the apparatus, and is distributed to provide the user with the program. Floppy disks), optical disks 42, 142, 242 (CD-ROM (Compa
ct Disk-Read Only Memory), DVD (Digital Versatile Di
sk)), magneto-optical disks 43, 143, 243
(Including an MD (Mini-Disk)) or a package medium including semiconductor memories 44, 144, 244, etc., as well as a program which is provided to the user in a state of being incorporated in the apparatus body in advance. ROMs 22, 122 and 222, and storage units 28 and 12
8 and 228.

In this specification, the step of describing a program recorded on a recording medium may be performed not only in chronological order but also in chronological order in the order described. This also includes processing executed in parallel or individually.

In this specification, the system is
It represents the entire device composed of a plurality of devices.

[0057]

As described above, according to the information processing apparatus and method, the recording medium, and the program of the present invention, the information on the first other information processing apparatus is selected from the information on the second other information processing apparatus. Since the information corresponding to the address information is searched and transmitted, the service can be promptly provided to the user.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional content distribution system.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of another conventional content distribution system.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a content distribution system to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a terminal in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a list distribution server in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a content distribution server in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a list creation process of the list distribution server in FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a view for explaining the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a list receiving process of the terminal 3 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a list distribution process of the list distribution server in FIG. 3;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a content receiving process of the terminal in FIG. 3;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a content distribution process of the content distribution server of FIG. 3;

[Explanation of symbols]

1-1 to 1-3 content distribution server, 2 networks, 3 terminals, 11 list distribution servers

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G06F 17/60 ZEC G06F 17/60 ZEC

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus that provides a service to a first other information processing apparatus via a network, the information about a second other information processing apparatus being provided via the network. An information processing apparatus provided to: a holding unit that holds information about the second other information processing device; a receiving unit that receives access from the first other information processing device via the network; Acquisition means for acquiring address information relating to the address on the network of the first other information processing device accepted by the acceptance means, and the second other information processing device held by the holding means Searching means for searching for information corresponding to the address information obtained by the obtaining means, Retrieved information relating to the second other information processing device Ri, the information processing apparatus comprising: a transmitting means for transmitting to said first other information processing device via the network. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a detecting unit configured to detect a connection status or a distribution rate when the second other information processing apparatus is accessed via the network. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein information including the connection status or the distribution rate detected by the detection unit is held as information about the processing apparatus. 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the holding unit ranks and holds the information on the connection status or the distribution rate. 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second information processing apparatus that provides a service to the first other information processing apparatus via a network. In the information processing method of the information processing apparatus provided to the information processing apparatus, a holding step of holding information on the second other information processing apparatus; and receiving an access from the first other information processing apparatus via the network. A receiving step; an obtaining step of obtaining address information on the address on the network of the first other information processing apparatus received by the processing of the receiving step; 2
A search step of searching for information corresponding to the address information obtained by the processing of the obtaining step from among information on other information processing apparatuses; and the second other information searched by the processing of the search step. Transmitting the information on the information processing apparatus to the first other information processing apparatus via the network. 5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a second information processing apparatus that provides a service to the first other information processing apparatus via a network; A storage step of storing information about the second other information processing apparatus; and a receiving step of receiving an access from the first other information processing apparatus via the network. An acquiring step of acquiring address information on an address on the network of the first other information processing apparatus accepted by the processing of the accepting step; and the second information held by the processing of the holding step.
A search step of searching for information corresponding to the address information obtained by the processing of the obtaining step from among information on the other information processing apparatuses; and a second other search performed by the processing of the search step. A transmitting step of transmitting information on the information processing device to the first other information processing device via the network, wherein a computer-readable program is recorded. 6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: transmitting information regarding a second other information processing apparatus that provides a service to the first other information processing apparatus via the network, to the first other information processing apparatus via the network. A computer that controls the information processing apparatus provided to the user, a holding step of holding information about the second other information processing apparatus, and receiving an access from the first other information processing apparatus via the network. A receiving step; an obtaining step of obtaining address information regarding the address on the network of the first other information processing apparatus received by the processing of the receiving step; 2
A search step of searching for information corresponding to the address information obtained by the processing of the obtaining step from among information on the other information processing apparatuses; and a second other search performed by the processing of the search step. Transmitting the information on the information processing device to the first other information processing device via the network.