JP2004023245A - System for distributing content information - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system for enabling a user of a communication terminal to easily access streaming contents on a network. <P>SOLUTION: This content information distribution system Bs is provided with a WWW transmitting and receiving part 10, a retrieval condition control part 11, a sequencer 12, a content retrieving part 13 and a database 14. The content retrieving part 13 retrieves the streaming contents distributed by content distribution stations C1 to Cn on the network NW and stores the retrieval information in the database 14. The sequencer 12 refers to the database 14 in response to a distribution request RQT issued from the communication terminal T1, acquires connection destination information AD of a plurality of types of streaming contents and transmits the connection destination information AD to the communication terminal T1. A content reproducing means 21 of the communication terminal T1 uses the connection destination information AD received from the sequencer 12 to access the content distribution stations C1 to Cn and receives and reproduces the plurality of types of streaming contents. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a content information distribution system that distributes information about streaming content such as moving images and audio via a network such as the Internet.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, in an IP (Internet Protocol) network such as the Internet or an intranet, a server distributes streaming contents such as video, music, audio, and CG (computer graphics) moving images in response to a distribution request from a communication terminal (client). However, the streaming distribution technology for reproducing the received streaming content in real time has become widespread in the communication terminals, and the number of servers that distribute the streaming content is also increasing. Accordingly, while the range of selection of streaming content by the user of the communication terminal is expanding, the labor for searching for a desired content from a huge number of streaming contents distributed on a network is increasing.
[0003]
In addition, the communication terminal is equipped with dedicated reproduction software for reproducing streaming content. The user starts and operates the playback software to download the desired streaming content, but if it is desired to continuously play a plurality of types of interested streaming content, each time the playback of each streaming content ends, A complicated and cumbersome operation of accessing the next streaming content, downloading and playing it, was required.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In view of the above situation, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a content information distribution system that allows a user of a communication terminal to easily access a plurality of types of streaming content on a network.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 is a content information distribution system that distributes information relating to streaming content on a network, wherein the database stores information relating to the streaming content, and a communication terminal on the network. And a sequencer for referring to the database, acquiring connection information of a plurality of types of streaming contents, and sending the acquired information to the communication terminal in response to a distribution request issued from the communication terminal. is there.
[0006]
The invention according to claim 2 is the content information distribution system according to claim 1, further comprising a content search unit that stores search information obtained by searching for the plurality of streaming contents on the network in the database. The sequencer refers to the search information, acquires the connection destination information, and sends it to the communication terminal.
[0007]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the content information distribution system according to the second aspect, the content search unit is controlled to search the streaming content in accordance with a search condition specified by the communication terminal that has issued the distribution request. The sequencer sends out the connection destination information of the streaming content by referring to the search information according to the search condition.
[0008]
The invention according to claim 4 is the content information distribution system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the sequencer transmits the connection destination information of the plurality of types of streaming contents in a predetermined order. Is to be sent.
[0009]
The invention according to claim 5 is the content information distribution system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the web page including the connection destination information in response to a distribution request issued from the communication terminal. And a WWW transmitting / receiving unit for transmitting
[0010]
The invention according to claim 6 is the content information distribution system according to claim 5, wherein a registration information database storing registration information of a user who uses the content information distribution system; A web page dynamic generation unit that dynamically generates the individual web page for each user with reference to the registration information according to the authentication result of the communication terminal.
[0011]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present invention will be described.
[0012]
First embodiment.
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram schematically showing a content information distribution system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. This content information distribution system Bs (hereinafter, simply referred to as “base station”) includes a plurality of content distribution stations C1, C2, C3,..., Cn via networks NW, NW constructed using the Internet technology. And the communication terminal T1.
[0013]
The base station Bs provides information on streaming content provided by the content distribution stations C1 to Cn to the communication terminal T1 and the like through a web page.
[0014]
Each of the content distribution stations C1 to Cn distributes video (video) and audio (audio), or streaming content in which the video and audio are combined with characters and still images. “Streaming” refers to a processing mode in which data such as moving images and audio is reproduced in real time while being downloaded. These content distribution stations C1 to Cn provide one or more types of streaming contents such as news programs, sports programs, music programs, and the like, respectively. Connection destination information such as a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) indicating a location on the NW or an IP address is associated with the NW.
[0015]
Then, the communication terminal T1 has a function of designating the connection destination information of each streaming content, accessing the streaming content provided by the content distribution stations C1 to Cn, downloading the streaming content, and reproducing the streaming content using the content reproducing means 21. Have.
[0016]
The base station Bs includes a WWW transmission / reception unit (WWW server) 10, a search condition control unit 11, a sequencer 12, a content search unit 13, and a database 14. The WWW transmitting / receiving unit 10 mainly uses HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) to describe pages such as HTML (HyperText Markup Language; hypertext markup language) and XML (extensible Markup Language; extensible markup language). It has a function of transmitting a web page described in a language. Outgoing web pages may include information on the destination of still images, text, or streaming content, and instructions to download and execute executable files such as applets (small programs) and scripts. it can. The communication terminal T1 can access the WWW transmitting / receiving unit 10 of the base station Bs through the WWW browser 20 to establish a connection, issue a distribution request RQT, and acquire and display a web page WP. As a result, the user of the communication terminal T1 can browse the web page displayed by the WWW browser 20.
[0017]
The database 14 stores information (titles, contents, fields, connection destination information, etc .; hereinafter, referred to as “contents information”) on streaming contents distributed on the network NW. Further, the content search unit (search engine) 13 has a function of searching for streaming contents distributed on the network NW. The content search unit 13 stores search information obtained by searching for content information provided by a number of content distribution stations C1 to Cn in the database 14. Although the content search unit 13 can directly search the content information, it is also possible to obtain another type of search information by using another search engine on the network NW.
[0018]
Further, the sequencer 12 refers to the content information stored in the database 14 in response to a distribution request issued from the communication terminal T1, and acquires connection destination information AD of a plurality of types of streaming content according to a predetermined program. It has a function and a function of transmitting (pushing) the obtained connection destination information AD of each streaming content to the communication terminal T1 in a predetermined order. In the communication terminal T1, the content reproduction means 21 accesses the streaming content provided by the content distribution station Ck (k = 1 to n) using the connection destination information AD received from the sequencer 12, downloads and reproduces the streaming content. can do. The sequencer 12 has a function of sending the connection destination information AD of the next streaming content to the communication terminal T1 at the time when the reproduction of each streaming content in the communication terminal T1 ends. In this way, the connection destination information AD of each streaming content is sequentially transmitted to the communication terminal T1 according to the order determined by the base station Bs. The content reproducing means 21 has a function of downloading and reproducing the streaming content according to the received connection destination information AD. Therefore, the user can enjoy various streaming contents according to the program provided by the base station Bs without any special operation.
[0019]
An operation example of the base station (content information distribution system) Bs having the above configuration will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0020]
First, in step S1, the user of the communication terminal T1 accesses the base station Bs. Specifically, when the user of the communication terminal T1 starts the WWW browser 20 and specifies the URL, the WWW browser 20 establishes a connection with the WWW transmitting / receiving unit 10 of the base station Bs, and if necessary, After receiving the authentication, a web page distribution request RQT is issued. Next, in response to the distribution request RQT, the WWW transmitting / receiving unit 10 sends out a prepared web page WP to the WWW browser 20 (Step S2). Next, when the WWW browser 20 receives and displays the web page WP received from the WWW transmitting / receiving unit 10, the user of the communication terminal T1 browses the web page WP (step S3).
[0021]
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the display screen 30 of the WWW browser 20 displaying the web page WP. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 31 denotes an address input box for designating the URL (= "http://www.megafusion.co.jp/contents/c_index.html") of the WWW transmitting / receiving unit 10 in the step S1. ing. After viewing the web page WP in step S3, the user can input the distribution condition of the streaming content in the condition input box 34 and acquire the content information, but the user does not input the distribution condition in the condition input box 34. As described below, the content information is distributed according to a program prepared on the base station Bs side.
[0022]
If it is determined in step S4 that the distribution condition has not been input, the process proceeds to step S7. In step S7, the sequencer 12 receives communication information (IP address, port number, etc.) related to the communication terminal T1 from the WWW transmitting / receiving section 10, and refers to the content information stored in the database 14 using the communication information as a trigger. Then, a plurality of types of streaming contents according to a predetermined program are selected. For example, in the case of a sports program, a plurality of types of streaming contents that provide a sports program are selected, and in the case of a current affair program, such types of streaming contents are selected.
[0023]
In the next step S8, the sequencer 12 sequentially sends out (push) the connection destination information AD of the streaming contents to the destination of the communication terminal T1 specified by the communication information, and communicates the thumbnail information of the selected streaming contents. It is sent to the terminal T1.
[0024]
In the next step S9, the WWW browser 20 of the communication terminal T1 fetches the received connection destination information AD and transfers it to the content reproducing means 21, and displays the received thumbnail information in a thumbnail format. As illustrated in FIG. 3, thumbnail images (still images) 32A, 32B, 32C,... Included in the thumbnail information and titles “soccer”, “ "Baseball", "judo", ... are displayed. The thumbnail images 32A, 32B, 32C,... Are obtained by extracting one scene of the streaming content selected by the base station Bs.
[0025]
Then, the content reproduction unit 21 accesses the content distribution station Ck (k = 1 to n) specified by the connection destination information AD received from the sequencer 12, issues a distribution request RQT, and streams from the content distribution station Ck. The content SD is downloaded and played (step S10). As illustrated in FIG. 3, in the content display section 33 of the web page, the corresponding streaming moving images are sequentially reproduced on the content display section 33 in the order in which the thumbnail images 32A, 32B, 32C,. Through the GUI (Graphical User Interface), it is possible to appropriately stop playback of the streaming content, increase the playback speed (fast forward playback), and rewind the playback position. In this way, the user can enjoy the streaming contents in the order according to the program of the base station Bs without any special operation.
[0026]
Next, when the user desires to change the content information, the user can instruct the base station Bs on the distribution condition desired by the user. In such a case, the user only has to input distribution conditions in step S4. In the example shown in FIG. 3, “documentary” is input as the distribution condition. As shown in FIG. 1, the distribution condition CI is output from the communication terminal T1 to the sequencer 12 and the search condition control unit 11 after being received by the WWW transmitting / receiving unit 10.
[0027]
In the next step S5, the search condition control unit 11 generates a search condition based on the distribution condition CI and gives the search condition to the content search unit 13 to search for streaming content that meets the search condition. The search condition control unit 11 stores the obtained search information in the database 14 (Step S6).
[0028]
In the next step S7, the sequencer 12 refers to the content information stored in the database 14 and selects a plurality of types of streaming content along a program that meets the distribution condition CI. Thereafter, as described above, the connection destination information AD of each streaming content is sequentially transmitted from the sequencer 12 (step S8), and the content reproduction unit 21 of the communication terminal T1 accesses the content distribution station Ck to acquire and reproduce the streaming content. (Steps S9 and S10).
[0029]
As described above, according to the content information distribution system according to the present embodiment, the user of the communication terminal T1 needs labor to search for a desired content from a huge number of streaming contents distributed on the network NW. Instead, it is possible to easily and easily acquire a plurality of types of streaming contents according to the program of the base station Bs and enjoy them in order.
[0030]
Second embodiment.
Next, a content information distribution system according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram schematically showing the content information distribution system Bs according to the present embodiment.
[0031]
This content information distribution system Bs (hereinafter simply referred to as “base station”) further includes a web page dynamic generation unit 41 and a registration information database in addition to the configuration of the base station Bs according to the first embodiment. 42 and an authentication and billing processing unit 43.
[0032]
The registration information database 42 stores registration information of users who use the content information distribution system. In response to a request from the WWW transmitting / receiving unit 10, the web page dynamic generating unit 41 refers to the registration information in the registration information database 42, dynamically generates an individual web page for each user, and It has the function of outputting to The web page generated by the web page dynamic generation unit 41 is described in a page description language such as HTML or XML.
[0033]
The authentication and billing processing unit 43 is a system that authenticates a user who uses the present content information distribution system and bills the user according to the use situation.
[0034]
An operation example of the base station (content information distribution system) Bs having the above configuration will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0035]
First, in step S20, the user of the communication terminal T1 accesses the base station Bs and receives authentication. Specifically, when the user of the communication terminal T1 activates the WWW browser 20 and specifies the URL, the WWW browser 20 establishes a connection with the WWW transmitting / receiving unit 10 and transmits a web page distribution request RQT. Emit. Next, the authentication and billing processing unit 43 of the base station Bs uses the cryptographic authentication protocol via the WWW transmitting / receiving unit 10 to authenticate that the user is a permitted user. Execute Here, the authentication / billing processing unit 43 may request the user of the communication terminal T1 to input an ID and a password, or reads out registration information stored in advance in the communication terminal T1 to automatically recognize the user. Authentication processing may be performed. If the authentication and billing processing unit 43 fails in the authentication, it notifies the communication terminal T1 of the fact and terminates the process. If the authentication is successful, the process proceeds to the next step S21.
[0036]
Next, the WWW transmitting / receiving unit 10 issues a web page generation request to the web page dynamic generation unit 41, and transfers the authentication information of the authenticated user. Thereby, the web page dynamic generation unit 41 refers to the registration information in the registration information database 42 (step S21), reads out the registration information matching the authentication information, and dynamically generates the user-specific web page WP. Then, it returns to the WWW transmitting / receiving unit 10 (step S22). Next, the WWW transmitting / receiving unit 10 sends the web page WP to the WWW browser 20 of the communication terminal T1 (Step S23). Then, when the WWW browser 20 receives and displays the web page WP received from the WWW transmitting / receiving unit 10, the user of the communication terminal T1 browses the web page WP whose layout is further customized as shown in FIG. (Step S24).
[0037]
As described above, in the present embodiment, since an individual web page can be dynamically generated and transmitted for each user, it is possible to provide a highly convenient information distribution service tailored to each user's hobbies and preferences.
[0038]
In the next step S25, similarly to step S4 in the case of the first embodiment, it is determined whether or not the user has input a distribution condition. If the distribution condition has not been input, the processing shifts to step S28 and subsequent steps. If the distribution condition has been input, the processing shifts to step S26 and subsequent steps. If there is no input of the distribution condition, in step S28, the sequencer 12 receives the communication information (IP address, port number) regarding the communication terminal T1 from the WWW transmitting / receiving unit 10 and converts the content information stored in the database 14 By referring to the information (step S28) and referring to the registration information in the registration information database 42 (step S29), a plurality of types of streaming contents along a predetermined program dedicated to the user are selected. Then, the sequencer 12 sequentially transmits (pushes) the connection destination information AD of each selected streaming content to the communication terminal T1, and transmits the thumbnail information of the selected streaming content to the communication terminal T1 ( Step S30).
[0039]
In the next step S31, the WWW browser 20 of the communication terminal T1 fetches the received connection destination information AD, passes it to the content reproduction means 21, and displays the received thumbnail information in a thumbnail format. Then, the content reproduction means 21 accesses the content distribution station Ck (k = 1 to n) specified by the connection destination information AD, issues a distribution request RQT, and downloads the streaming content SD from this content distribution station Ck. To reproduce (step S32).
[0040]
Further, when the user desires to change the content information, the user only has to input the distribution condition, similarly to step S4 in the case of the first embodiment. When it is determined that the distribution condition has been input (step S25), the distribution condition CI transmitted from the communication terminal T1 is searched by the sequencer 12 after being received by the WWW transmitting / receiving unit 10, as shown in FIG. Output to the condition control unit 11.
[0041]
In the next step S26, the search condition control unit 11 generates a search condition based on the distribution condition CI, and provides the search condition to the content search unit 13 to search for streaming content that meets the search condition. The search condition control unit 11 stores the obtained search information in the database 14 (Step S27).
[0042]
Next, the sequencer 12 refers to the content information stored in the database 14 (step S28), refers to the registration information (step S29), and selects a plurality of types of streaming content along a program that meets the distribution condition CI. I do. Thereafter, as described above, the connection destination information AD is sequentially transmitted from the sequencer 12 (step S30), and the content reproduction means 21 of the communication terminal T1 accesses the content distribution station Ck to acquire and reproduce the streaming content (step S31, S32).
[0043]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the content information distribution system according to claim 1 of the present invention, the communication terminal accesses the content distribution station using the connection destination information received from the sequencer, and receives a plurality of types of streaming content. And can be played. Therefore, the user of the communication terminal can easily and easily access the streaming content.
[0044]
According to the second aspect, the streaming contents can be easily and easily accessed without the need to search for a desired one from a huge number of streaming contents distributed on the network.
[0045]
According to the third aspect, since the content information distribution system can distribute the connection destination information of the streaming content reflecting the search condition specified by the communication terminal, the user can easily access the desired streaming content without labor for searching. it can.
[0046]
According to the fourth aspect, the communication terminal can sequentially access the streaming content in accordance with the order of the received connection destination information, and can automatically download and play the streaming content, so that the user does not need any special operation, Various streaming contents can be easily enjoyed in that order.
[0047]
According to the fifth aspect, the communication terminal can operate the WWW client (WWW browser) to access the content information distribution system, acquire the web page including the connection destination information, and easily access the streaming content.
[0048]
According to the sixth aspect, since an individual web page can be dynamically generated and transmitted for each user, it is possible to provide a highly convenient information distribution service tailored to each user's taste.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram schematically showing a content information distribution system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the content information distribution system according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a display screen of a WWW browser.
FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram schematically showing a content information distribution system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the content information distribution system according to the second embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
Bs content information distribution system (base station)
T1 Communication terminals C1 to Cn Content distribution station 10 WWW transmission / reception unit 11 Search condition control unit 12 Sequencer 13 Content search unit 14 Database 20 WWW browser 21 Content reproduction unit 41 Web page dynamic generation unit 42 Registration information database 43 Authentication and billing processing unit

Claims (6)

A content information distribution system that distributes information about streaming content on a network,
A database for storing information about the streaming content;
In response to a distribution request issued from a communication terminal on the network, a sequencer that refers to the database, obtains connection destination information of a plurality of types of streaming content, and sends the obtained information to the communication terminal.
A content information distribution system comprising: The content information distribution system according to claim 1,
A content search unit that stores search information obtained by searching the plurality of streaming contents on the network in the database,
The content information distribution system, wherein the sequencer refers to the search information, acquires the connection destination information, and sends the acquired information to the communication terminal. 3. The content information distribution system according to claim 2, further comprising: a search condition control unit that controls the content search unit to search for the streaming content according to a search condition specified by the communication terminal that has issued the distribution request. Prepare,
The sequencer sends the connection destination information of the streaming content by referring to the search information according to the search condition;
Content information distribution system. 4. The content information distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the sequencer transmits the connection destination information of the plurality of types of streaming content in a predetermined order. 5. The content information distribution system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising: a WWW transmission / reception unit that transmits a web page including the connection destination information in response to a distribution request issued from the communication terminal. Content information distribution system. The content information distribution system according to claim 5, wherein
A registration information database that stores registration information of users who use the content information distribution system,
A web page dynamic generation unit that dynamically refers to the registration information according to an authentication result of the communication terminal that has issued the distribution request and dynamically generates the web page for each user;
A content information distribution system further comprising:

Images