JP2009089034A - Client device and server access method - Google Patents

Abstract

A server load is reduced by preventing unnecessary server access.
A client device connected to a server that stores related information only in specific content and manages a table representing the presence or absence of related information for each content downloads the table from the server (# 4) Then, it is determined whether or not the server stores the related information of the reproduced content with reference to the downloaded table during the reproduction of the content (# 12). Means (# 14) for transmitting a related information acquisition request.
[Selection] Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a client device connected to a server and accessing the server to download information and a server access method.

  In recent years, a television broadcast signal has been received, television broadcast images and sound are converted into predetermined digital data, recorded on a recording medium such as a hard disk or DVD (digital versatile disk), and reproduced as necessary. Recording / reproducing devices have been developed. With the spread of this device, it is assumed that the advertisement between each program is skipped and reproduced, so that it becomes difficult for the viewer to forcibly view the advertisement and the value of the advertisement is lowered. .

In order to cope with this, a technique has been developed in which a television broadcast program is recorded, and a viewer who views and reproduces the program is forced to view the advertisement (see Patent Document 1). Here, the playback title is detected as one of the user usage statuses of the title of the recorded broadcast program and / or the distributed content title (title recorded on DVD, CD, etc.). When information processing is performed according to the specific information (broadcast channel code at the time of recording, broadcast date and time, etc.) that can specify the detected reproduction title, when a certain reproduction title is selected, the specific information is transmitted to the server via the communication line. Sent. Then, the client device on the user side acquires advertisement information related to or accompanying the transmitted specific information from the server and displays it. As a result, the latest and appropriate information can be appropriately displayed or selected for individual users. The specific information is always transmitted to the server whenever a playback title is selected. However, the advertisement information related to or associated with the specific information does not always exist in the server, and there is a case where there is no advertisement information for a certain title. For such titles, it is useless to send specific information from the client device to the server.
JP 2007-104313 A (summary)

  As described above, in the conventional advertisement viewing system, there is unnecessary server access from the client device, which increases the load on the server and may reduce the processing efficiency on the client device side.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a client device and a server access method that prevent unnecessary server access, reduce the load on the server, and increase the efficiency of processing on the client device side.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a client device connected to a server that stores related information for specific content and manages a table that indicates the presence or absence of the related information for each content,
Means for downloading the table from the server;
It is determined whether or not the server stores the related information of the reproduced content with reference to the downloaded table during the reproduction of the content, and if it is stored, the server requests the server to acquire the related information of the reproduced content. Means for transmitting;
It is comprised so that it may comprise.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a server access method in a client device connected to a server that stores related information for specific content and manages a table that indicates the presence or absence of related information for each content,
Download the table from the server,
It is determined whether or not the server stores the related information of the reproduced content with reference to the downloaded table during the reproduction of the content, and if it is stored, the server requests the server to acquire the related information of the reproduced content. Configured to transmit.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the related information acquisition request is transmitted to the server only when it is determined that the related information related to the playback content is stored in the server. Is prevented, the frequency of access to the server is reduced, the load on the server is reduced, and the processing efficiency on the client device side is also increased.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, an outline of a recording / reproducing apparatus to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 1, recording media (or information storage media) such as DVD-RAM, DVD ± RW, DVD ± R, DVD-ROM (DVD video), CD-RW, CD-R, CD-ROM (music CD), etc. Although shown as an apparatus capable of handling both optical disks and hard disks, these hard disks and optical disks may be replaced (or used together) with other recording media such as semiconductor memory.

  In the configuration of FIG. 1, when each block is roughly divided, the left side shows the main block configuration of the recording system, and the right side shows the main block configuration of the reproduction system. The recording / reproducing apparatus of FIG. 1 has two types of disk drive units, a disk drive unit 1002 and a hard disk drive unit 2001. The disk drive unit 1002 rotationally drives an optical disk 1001 as a first medium that can construct a video file, and reads and writes information. The disk drive unit 1002 includes a rotation control system, a laser drive system, an optical system, and the like for the optical disk 1001. The hard disk drive unit 2001 drives a hard disk as a second medium.

  The data processor unit 1003 can supply recording data to the disk drive unit 1002 and the hard disk drive unit 2001, and can receive a reproduced signal. The data processor unit 1003 handles recording or reproduction unit data, and includes a buffer circuit, a modulation / demodulation circuit, an error correction unit, and the like.

  The recording / reproducing apparatus in FIG. 1 includes an encoder unit 50 constituting the recording side, a decoder unit 60 constituting the reproducing side, and a microcomputer block 30 for controlling the operation of the apparatus main body as main components. The encoder unit 50 includes a transport stream processing unit and a plurality of MPEG encoders.

  The encoder unit 50 basically includes an analog-to-digital converter for video and audio that digitizes an input analog video signal or analog audio signal, a video encoder, and an audio encoder. Furthermore, a sub-picture encoder that represents subtitles and pictures as bitmap data can be included as appropriate.

  The encoded output from the encoder unit 50 is converted into a predetermined DVD-RAM format by a formatter 51 including a buffer memory (when a digital broadcast transport stream (MPEG2-TS) is recorded as a stream, the format is not converted). This is supplied to the previous data processor unit 1003. Note that the packet elementary stream extracted from the transport stream may be recorded directly on the hard disk of the hard disk drive unit 2001 from the encoder unit 50.

  An external analog video signal and an external analog audio signal from the AV input unit 41 a can be input to the encoder unit 50 via a switch (signal selector) 53. In addition, the encoder unit 50 can selectively receive received signal (s) from the terrestrial analog tuner 41b, the terrestrial digital tuner 41c, the satellite BS / CS tuner 41d, and the satellite analog tuner 41e. .

  Here, when the encoder unit 50 includes, for example, two MPEG encoders, a program received by the terrestrial analog tuner 41b is DVD-VR recorded by the hard disk drive unit 2001, and at the same time, a program received by the satellite analog tuner 41e is recorded on the hard disk drive. DVD-VR recording is possible with the unit 2001 or the optical disc 1001. Even when the encoder unit 50 has only one MPEG encoder, the program (MPEG2-TS) received by the terrestrial digital tuner 41c is stream-recorded by the hard disk drive unit 2001 and simultaneously received by the terrestrial analog tuner 41b. It is also possible to view the program while recording the DVD-VR on the hard disk drive unit 2001 or the optical disc 1001.

  The encoder unit 50 can also supply the compressed digital video signal or digital audio signal directly to the formatter 51 when a compressed (encoded) digital video signal or digital audio signal is directly input. The encoder unit 50 can also directly supply the digital video signal and audio signal that have been converted from analog to digital to the video mixing unit 71 and the audio selector 76.

  In the MPEG video encoder included in the encoder unit 50, the digital video signal is compressed at a variable bit rate based on the MPEG2 or MPEG1 standard, and converted into a digital video signal to be recorded on a hard disk or on an optical disk. The digital audio signal is converted into a digital audio signal compressed at a fixed bit rate based on the MPEG or AC-3 standard, or an uncompressed linear PCM digital audio signal.

  When a sub-video signal is input from the AV input unit 41a (for example, a signal input from a DVD video player with an independent output terminal of a sub-video signal), or a DVD video signal having such a data structure is broadcast and is transmitted to a TV When received by the tuner unit 42, the sub-picture signal in the DVD video signal is encoded by the sub-picture encoder (run-length encoding based on the DVD standard) and becomes sub-picture bitmap data.

  The encoded digital video signal, digital audio signal, and sub-picture data are packed by the formatter 51 to become a video pack, an audio pack, and a sub-picture pack, and these are assembled into a format defined by the DVD video standard. (DVD-Video format) or a format (DVD-VR format) defined by the DVD-recording standard. The formatter 51 uses the buffer memory 52 as a work area during the above conversion process.

  The apparatus shown in FIG. 1 receives information formatted in the formatter 51 (packs of video, audio, sub-picture data, etc.) and created management information via a data processor unit 1003 and a hard disk drive unit 2001 and / or a data disk. It can be supplied to the drive unit 1002 and recorded on the hard disk or the optical disc 1001. Further, information recorded on the hard disk or the optical disk 1001 can be recorded on the optical disk 1001 or the hard disk via the data processor unit 1003 and the disk drive unit 1002.

  It is also possible to perform editing processing such as deleting a part of video objects of a plurality of programs recorded on the hard disk or the optical disc 1001 or connecting objects of different programs.

  The microcomputer block 30 includes an MPU (microprocessing unit) or CPU (central processing unit), a ROM in which a control program and the like are written, a RAM for providing a work area necessary for program execution, and the like. The microcomputer block 30 is an electronic program from an electronic program service for terrestrial analog broadcasting (ADAMS: TV-Asahi Data and Multimedia Service in Tokyo area) or electronic guide information / electronic program guide (EPG) for terrestrial / satellite digital broadcasting. Table information (including not only broadcast programs but also various information services) can be captured. The microcomputer block 30 can be connected to the external network 200 via the network interface 30a. Thereby, it is also possible to take in electronic program guide information (DEPG) from an external server (FIG. 3 described later).

  Further, the MPU of the microcomputer block 30 uses a RAM as a work area according to a control program (firmware) stored in the ROM, and detects a defect location, unrecorded area detection, recording information recording position setting, UDF recording, Performs AV address setting and the like. The microcomputer block 30 has an information processing unit necessary to control and control each block of the apparatus, and includes a work RAM 31, a directory detection unit 32, a VMG (total video management information) information creation unit, and a copy. A related information detection unit, a copy and scrambling information processing unit (RDI processing unit), a packet header processing unit, a sequence header processing unit, an aspect ratio information processing unit, and the like are provided. The microcomputer block 30 also includes a management information control unit 34 for recording and a management information control unit 33 for editing.

  Further, the microcomputer block 30 is provided with a series program reservation / recording control unit 35, a GUI (graphic user interface) screen control unit 36, and a processing unit 37 such as information storage / analysis / data collection.

  Among the execution results of the MPU of the microcomputer block 30, the contents to be notified to the user are displayed on the display unit 43 of the video data recording / reproducing apparatus or are displayed on the monitor display 3001 by OSD (on-screen display).

  Further, the microcomputer block 30 has a key input unit 44 for giving an operation signal for operating this apparatus. The key input unit 44 corresponds to, for example, operation switches provided on the main body of the recording / reproducing apparatus or a remote controller. Also, a personal computer connected to the recording / reproducing apparatus by means of wired communication, wireless communication, optical communication, infrared communication, or the like can be used for the operation of the apparatus of FIG. Regardless of the form, when the user operates the key input unit 44, recording processing of the received video / audio signal, playback processing of the recorded content or optical disc, or editing of the recorded content is performed. Processing can be performed.

  The timing at which the microcomputer block 30 controls the disk drive unit 1002, the hard disk drive unit 2001, the data processor unit 1003, the encoder unit 50, and / or the decoder unit 60 is time data from an STC (system time clock) 38. Can be performed based on. Recording and playback operations are normally executed in synchronization with the time clock from the STC 38, but other processes may be executed at a timing independent of the STC 38.

  Although not shown, the decoder unit 60 separates and extracts each pack from a DVD format signal having a pack structure, a memory used when performing pack separation and other signal processing, and main video data separated by the separator. V decoder that decodes (contents of video pack), sub-picture decoder that decodes sub-video data (sub-picture pack contents) separated by a separator, and audio data (audio pack contents) separated by a separator And an A decoder for decoding. The decoder unit 60 also includes a video processor that appropriately synthesizes the decoded sub-video with the decoded main video and outputs a menu, a highlight button, subtitles, and other sub-videos superimposed on the main video.

  The output video signal of the decoder unit 60 is input to the video mixing unit 71. In the video mixing unit 71, for example, text data is synthesized. The video mixing unit 71 is also connected to a line that directly takes in a signal from the TV tuner or the AV input unit 41a. A frame memory 72 used as a buffer is connected to the video mixing unit 71. When the output of the video mixing unit 71 is an analog output, it is externally output via an I / F (interface) 73, and when it is a digital output, it is output externally via a digital-analog converter 74.

  The output audio signal of the decoder unit 60 is analog-converted by the digital-analog converter 77 via the selector 76 and output to the outside. The selector 76 is controlled by a select signal from the microcomputer block 30. Thus, the selector 76 can directly select a signal that has passed through the encoder unit 50 when directly monitoring digital signals from the TV tuners 41b to 41e and the AV input unit 41a.

  Note that the formatter 51 of the encoder unit 50 creates each piece of segmentation information during recording and periodically sends it to the MPU of the microcomputer block 30 (information at the time of GOP head interrupt, etc.). The segmentation information includes the number of VOBU packs, the end address of the I picture from the beginning of the VOBU, and the playback time of the VOBU.

  At the same time, information from the aspect information processing unit is sent to the MPU at the start of recording, and the MPU creates VOB stream information (STI). Here, the STI stores resolution data, aspect data, and the like, and at the time of reproduction, each decoder unit is initialized based on this information.

  In this apparatus, one video file is recorded on a DVD. In order to continue playback without interruption while accessing (seeking) data, a minimum continuous information unit (size) is determined. This unit is called CDA (Contiguous Data Area). The CDA size is a multiple of an ECC (error correction code) block (16 sectors), and the file system records in this CDA unit.

  The data processor unit 1003 receives data in VOBU units from the formatter of the encoder unit 50 and supplies data in CDA units to the disk drive unit 1002 or the hard disk drive unit 2001. Further, the MPU of the microcomputer block 30 creates management information necessary for reproducing the recorded data. When the MPU recognizes a data recording end command, it sends the created management information to the data processor unit 1003. Thereby, the management information is recorded on the disc. Therefore, when encoding is performed, the MPU of the microcomputer block 30 receives data unit information (eg, segmentation information) from the encoder unit 50. The MPU of the microcomputer block 30 recognizes the management information (file system) read from the optical disk and the hard disk at the start of recording, recognizes the unrecorded area of each disk, and sets the data processor area to the data processor unit 1003. Is set to disk via.

  FIG. 2 illustrates an overview of the remote controller 20. Main operation keys will be described. 20a is a power key for turning on / off the power, and 20b is a program navigation key for starting program navigation. (20b may be used as a top menu key for displaying a top menu screen.) The menu key 20c is an operation key operated when displaying a menu recorded on a medium such as a DVD. 20DE is an enter key, and 20UP, 20DW, 20R, and 20L are cursor operation keys for moving the cursor up, down, right, and left, respectively.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an example of a system configuration to which the server access method according to one embodiment of the present invention is applied. In this system, a client device 100 (recording / reproducing apparatus in FIG. 1) is appropriately connected to a server 300 via a network 200 such as the Internet. 110 is a server access terminal. The server 300 includes a program guide (EPG) data providing unit 306, a content information (CI) providing unit 304, a server access information providing unit 302, and the like. The client device 100 operates as a user via the operation of the device (the operation of the content reproduction device 102, the recording on the recording medium 104 such as the HDD or DVD-R / RW / RAM, the display on the GUI display system (monitor) 106). And the like, and a data storage unit (database) 108 for storing information from the server 300 is provided. The CPU of the client device 100 includes a server access information request processing unit 122, a server access information reception / storage processing unit 124, a reproduction content / access information comparison processing unit 126, a content information request processing unit 128, and a content information reception / storage processing unit. 130, a content information reproduction processing unit 132, a content information display count processing unit 134, a content information display count information upload processing unit 136, and a content information / access information clear unit 138.

In the system configuration of FIG. 3, the client device 100 side is configured to have the following functions:
-Integrated display of non-broadcasting content and service information, with program table, program list, program search operation functions and display interface functions;
-With user settings and server-side settings (users can also make server settings), it has the ability to specify display / non-display of specific content and services, display order, display information amount, and display content
・ Has a database that stores user preferences;
・ Recording reservation, execution of reservation, playback of recorded content, deletion of recorded content, saving of recorded content to portable media (DVD-R / RW / RAM, etc.), management of library (metadata) information, CD / It has a function of storing portable media such as a DVD, storing content and service purchase history information, searching for information, keywords for automatic search, and / or transmitting to a server;
-It has a function capable of automatically or manually acquiring information recommended by a content provider or a merchandise distributor and / or information required by a user from a server.

Further, in the system configuration of FIG. 3, the server 300 side is configured to have the following functions:
・ Has a function to identify clients;
・ Has a function to store client information;
・ Has a function to store and transmit program data for the program guide system;
・ Has a function to collect and store various content data other than program data;
-Analyzes and associates the accumulated client information with various content information, adds recommendations, and delivers to clients;
・ Has functions that can handle content purchases and rental applications from clients;
・ Has a billing system.

  FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating communication processing between the client device 100 and the server 300 in the system of FIG. A recording medium 152 (corresponding to the HDD unit 2001 in FIG. 1) on the client device 100 side stores programs broadcast through broadcast waves and download contents 352 from the server. In addition to the recording medium 152, the client device 100 includes a storage medium (corresponding to the medium 1001 in FIG. 1) such as a CDV / CD154 such as a movie or music. When playback of the contents of the recording medium 152 and CDV / CD 154 is started (block # 156), the presence / absence of server access information is determined at block # 158.

  The server 300 stores related information (advertising information, etc.) related to or associated with each content, and the client device 100 transmits a download request for the related information of the content to the server 300 during the reproduction of the content. Download related information (content information). When the reproduction of the content is stopped, the client device 100 displays the downloaded content information. Here, the server 300 does not store related information for all contents. Some contents have no related information. The related information is, for example, information related to content advertisements, and includes text, still images, audio, and / or moving images. Another example of the related information is information related to product sales information, and includes text, still images, sounds, and / or moving images.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, server access information indicating the presence / absence of related information is defined for each content. FIG. 6 is an example of server access information, which is a list (table) of content identification numbers in which the server 300 stores related information. The content of the identification number described in this list indicates that related information is stored in the server 300. The list is created by registering the content identification number each time the server 300 stores related information. When the client device 100 is connected to the server 300, the client device 100 downloads a list from the server 300. The downloaded list is stored in the storage unit 164 composed of a nonvolatile memory such as a RAM.

  The content identification number is determined as follows. In the case of recorded content, the server and the client use the same ID determination method (method using the broadcast channel and broadcast time) and determine it independently. Therefore, the server and the client recognize the identification number, and communication between the server and the client for notifying the identification number does not occur. In the case of download content, the server determines the ID and informs the client when the content is downloaded.

  When it is determined in block # 158 that there is no server access information (list), the client device 100 transmits a server access information acquisition request to the server 300. When the server 300 receives the server access information acquisition request, the server 300 stores the server access information from the content information / server access information storage unit 354 in the content information / server access information storage unit 164 on the client device 100 side.

  If it is determined in block # 158 that the server access information (list) is present, in block # 160, the client device 100 determines whether there is an identification number of the content being played back in the list, that is, related information on the content. Is stored in the server. When the identification number of the content is in the list, that is, when the related information is stored in the server and the related information can be downloaded, the client device 100 transmits a content information acquisition request to the server 300. Upon receiving the content information acquisition request, the server 300 stores the content information from the content information / server access information storage unit 354 in the content information / server access information storage unit 164 on the client device 100 side.

  If the content identification number is not in the list in block # 160, the content information is not stored in the server 300 and cannot be downloaded, so the processing ends in block # 162. Accordingly, useless server access in which an acquisition request is transmitted to the server 300 even though the content information is not stored in the server 300 is prevented, the frequency of server access is reduced, and the load on the server is reduced. In addition, it is determined whether or not server access information is stored in the client device 100, and the content information acquisition request is transmitted to the server 300 only when there is no server access information. Play.

  When content playback of the recording medium 152 and CDV / CD 154 is stopped (block # 166), the client device 100 reads content information related to the content being played back from the content information / server access information storage unit 164 in block # 168, Displayed as shown in FIG.

  Thereafter, display information data such as the number of display times of the content information is accumulated in block # 170. The content information shown in FIG. 7 is only a menu, and actual advertisement information and the like are displayed by clicking each item “... DVD information”, “. The number of impressions is the number of clicks. The stored data is transmitted to the server 300 at the same time when the server access information acquisition request or the content information acquisition request is transmitted. This also reduces the frequency of server access and reduces the load on the server.

  The stored data transmitted to the server 300 is analyzed by the user information analysis / content information analysis / data creation (with recommendation level) unit 358 by using the program guide data 356 to analyze user preferences. Since the broadcast program can be specified if the broadcast channel and the broadcast time are known, the program guide data may not be present.

  FIG. 5 is an operation flow diagram of the client device using the communication concept shown in FIG.

  At the time of the first reproduction after the power is turned on, in step # 2, the client device 100 transmits a server access information acquisition request to the server 300 and uploads the display count information.

  In step # 4, the client device 100 downloads server access information from the server 300.

  Since the server and the client are connected, at this time, without determining whether the identification number of the content being reproduced is included in the server access information, the client device 100 sends the content information to the server 300 in step # 6. Send an acquisition request.

  In step # 8, the client device 100 downloads content information from the server 300.

  If the download of the content information is completed when the reproduction is stopped, the content information is displayed in step # 10, and the display count is counted for each content information.

  The server access information acquisition request is not transmitted because the server access information is stored in the client device at the second and subsequent playbacks. In step # 12, it is determined whether or not the identification number of the content being reproduced is included in the server access information. If access is possible, the client device 100 sends a content information acquisition request to the server 300 in step # 14. Send and upload impression count information. If it is inaccessible, do nothing. The client device 100 downloads the content information at step # 16.

  In the second and subsequent playbacks, if the download of content information is completed when playback is stopped, the content information is displayed in step # 18, and the display count is counted for each content information.

  When the power is turned off, the content information and server access information stored in the storage unit 164 of FIG. 4 are cleared at step # 20. The display count data is not cleared but retained.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, since the related information acquisition request is transmitted to the server based on the server access information, useless server access is prevented and the frequency of server access is reduced. , Server load is reduced.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, you may combine suitably the component covering different embodiment. In the above embodiment, the related information is always downloaded from the server during the reproduction of the content, but may be omitted if the downloaded related information is stored in the storage unit 164. The server may manage server access information for each client device. Thereby, the data amount of the server access information transmitted from the server to the client device during the first reproduction after the power is turned on is reduced. Furthermore, when managing server access information for each client, it is possible to analyze the user preferences of client devices with reference to the display count information of the related information, and to narrow down the related information according to the analysis results, thereby more effectively advertising Information can be distributed.

  Further, the present invention provides a computer-readable recording recording a program for causing a computer to execute predetermined means (or for causing a computer to function as predetermined means or for causing a computer to realize predetermined functions). It can also be implemented as a medium.

The figure explaining the structure of the client apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. The figure explaining an example of the remote controller which can be used for operation of the apparatus of FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a system configuration to which a server access method according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. The figure which shows an example of the communication processing between the client apparatus of FIG. 3, and a server. The figure which shows the operation | movement flow of the client apparatus of FIG. The figure which shows an example of server access information. The figure which shows an example of a display of the content information at the time of reproduction | regeneration stop.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Client apparatus, 102 ... Content reproduction apparatus, 104 ... Recording medium, 106 ... GUI display system, 108 ... Data storage part, 120 ... CPU, 200 ... Network, 300 ... Server, 302 ... Server access information provision part, 304 ... Content information provider.

Claims (16)

In a client device connected to a server that stores related information for specific content and manages a table representing the presence or absence of related information for each content,
Means for downloading the table from the server;
It is determined whether or not the server stores the related information of the playback content with reference to the downloaded table during the playback of the content, and if it is stored, the server requests the server to acquire the related information of the playback content. Means for transmitting;
A client device. Nonvolatile storage means for storing the table downloaded from the server;
Means for determining whether or not the storage means stores the table at the start of content reproduction, and if not, means for transmitting a table acquisition request to the server;
The client device according to claim 1, further comprising:   The client device according to claim 2, wherein the client device is connected to a server that manages the table for each client device, and the table acquisition request transmission unit transmits a table acquisition request of the own device to the server.   2. The client device according to claim 1, further comprising means for displaying the downloaded related information when reproduction of content is stopped, connected to a server that transmits the related information to the client device in response to a request for acquiring related information.   The client device according to claim 1, further comprising means for uploading display count information of related information to the server simultaneously with transmission of a related information acquisition request to the server.   The client apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising means for uploading display number information of related information to the server simultaneously with transmission of a table acquisition request to the server. The table acquisition request transmission means transmits a table acquisition request to the server at the time of first content playback after power-on,
3. The client device according to claim 2, wherein the related information acquisition request transmission unit determines whether or not the server stores the related information of the reproduced content with reference to the table during the second and subsequent content reproduction. In a server access method in a client device connected to a server that stores related information for specific content and manages a table that indicates the presence or absence of related information for each content,
Download the table from the server,
It is determined whether or not the server stores the related information of the reproduced content with reference to the downloaded table during the reproduction of the content, and if it is stored, the server requests the server to acquire the related information of the reproduced content. Server access method to send. The server sends relevant information to the client device in response to a request for obtaining relevant information,
The server access method according to claim 8, configured to display downloaded related information when content reproduction stops. Storing the table downloaded from the server in a non-volatile storage means;
9. The server access method according to claim 8, wherein the storage means determines whether or not the storage means stores the table at the start of content reproduction, and if not, transmits a table acquisition request to the server. . The server manages the table for each client device,
The server access method according to claim 10, wherein the server access method is configured to transmit a table acquisition request of the device itself to the server.   The server access method according to claim 8, wherein the display count information of related information is uploaded to the server simultaneously with transmission of a related information acquisition request to the server.   The server access method according to claim 10, wherein the display count information of related information is uploaded to the server simultaneously with transmission of a table acquisition request to the server.   The server access method according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the server analyzes a user's preference according to an uploaded display count, and transmits related information narrowed down according to the user's preference to the client device.   The server access method according to claim 8, wherein the related information includes text, still images, sounds, and / or moving images related to content advertisements.   The server access method according to claim 8, wherein the related information includes text related to product sales information, a still image, audio, and / or a moving image.

Images