JP2002176639A - Video software rental distribution system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a video software rental distribution system that can enhance quality of a video distribution service via a network. SOLUTION: The video software rental distribution system is composed of a display device 3 installed at a user home 1, a gateway device 2 installed at the user home 1, a server device 5 installed at a video software utilization management center 4 and a network channel (the Internet 6) that interconnects the devices. The gateway device 2 identifies a video packet rented by a user, according to the flow label of Ipv6 protocol, buffers the identified packet only and temporarily stores the video packet for a prescribed time interval.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video software rental distribution system, and more particularly, to a video software rental distribution system which distributes video software via a network line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, generally, when a customer rents a video cassette at a video rental store, the customer goes to the store to rent a video cassette, and after watching the video, returns to the store again to return. There is also a proposal for a video software communication service device that allows rental of desired video software information while staying at home (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-145925).

In addition, a cable television system (hereinafter referred to as a CATV (Cable Television) system) provides a video broadcasting service such as a retransmission service and an independent broadcasting service, as well as a versatile service using a communication function. . For example, by utilizing the bidirectional communication of the CATV system, it is possible to request the center of the CATV system to send out video software. Using such a video-on-demand function, as in the case of renting video software, each user can enjoy desired video software in real time without possessing the video software (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-1995). 32722
No. 1).

[0004] Also, with the spread of the Internet, video application distribution via the Internet has become common. Such video data transmission by the Internet includes a store method and a real-time method.The former is a method of starting reproduction after all data has arrived, and the latter is a method of starting reproduction at the same time as receiving data. is there. In particular, the latter is called real-time communication or real-time data transfer, and is a next-generation Internet protocol, IPv6 (Internet Protocol Ve).
rsion6) provides a mechanism for efficiently performing real-time data transfer at the IP level. The mechanism is a flow label and priority. IPv6
Will be described.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a header of an IPv6 packet which is a next-generation Internet protocol. FIG. 10 shows the format 10 of a specific IPv6 packet.
1 is shown. In IPv6, 40 bytes are used as a basic header in the packet length. IP address is IP
The size of the entire IP header is twice as large as that of v4, which is four times as large as v4, so that the overhead is suppressed. Therefore, for the increased number of functions, a method of using an optional header independently of the basic header is adopted. This makes it possible to reduce the size of the packet header when it is not necessary, thereby reducing the overhead and the load on the router. The IPv6 header is
Optimized for efficient processing. Extra fields have been removed and all multi-byte fields have been aligned on natural boundaries.

[0006] Here, an item called a flow label 105 is prepared in the header of the IPv6, and is used to better support traffic (such as a video conference) that requires real-time properties. A 24-bit numerical value can be stored in the flow label 105, and the value can be used by the router to know which end-to-end flow each packet belongs to. That is, it is possible to determine which packet belongs to the traffic requiring real-time property by using the flow label. Also, a flow value may be assigned to a particular stream of traffic having special quality of service requirements. The flow label is used in combination with the source address to identify a specific traffic flow in the network. A flow is a group of packets sent from a certain starting point to a certain (unicast or multicast) destination, the starting point of which requires special handling from an intermediate router.

[0007] In the IPv6 header, there is an item of priority 104 in addition to the flow label. This priority 104
Can store a 4-bit numerical value, and is used to determine whether or not the packet has priority over other packets. The priority 104 is divided into one for traffic under congestion control (0 to 7) and one for traffic not under congestion control (8 to 16).

[0008]

The conventional video software rental distribution system has the following problems. When a customer uses a general video rental store, the customer needs to visit twice each time he or she uses it. Also, in the case of popular videos, it is difficult to obtain them because of the frequent use of rentals, and it is often impossible to use rentals even when going to a store, and there is also a problem that the efficiency of obtaining and service to customers is poor.

[0009] Further, the video software communication service apparatus has a problem that means for reducing the quality of video distribution (for example, a video image is interrupted) due to traffic on a communication line is not provided. Also, CAT
In the V-system video-on-demand apparatus, even when the execution of the video-on-demand function is suspended, the down line from the server apparatus to the day-play apparatus is occupied, resulting in poor service efficiency. Was.

[0010] Furthermore, in video distribution over the Internet, by using flow labels and priorities of IPv6, packets for real-time data transfer can be identified and transfer processing can be performed with priority. The processing method for data transfer and the procedure and protocol of resource reservation itself are not specified, and there is no guarantee that real-time data transfer can be reliably performed on the Internet. That is, in video distribution using the Internet, there is a problem that a moving image may be interrupted on the way.

[0011] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a video software rental distribution system capable of improving the quality of a video distribution service via a network.

[0012]

According to the present invention, there is provided a video software rental distribution system comprising a display device installed in a user home, a gateway device installed in the user home, and a server installed in a video software usage management center. What is claimed is: 1. A video software rental distribution system comprising: a device; and a network line connecting the devices, wherein the gateway device includes an identification unit that identifies a video packet rented by a user by a flow label of an IPv6 protocol, and an identification unit. Storage means for temporarily storing the obtained packet in the gateway device, even if the video signal packet transmitted to the gateway device is temporarily interrupted, the video signal packet is continuously transmitted from the gateway device to the display device. Can be sent That.

The gateway device transmits the video packet temporarily stored by the storage means to the display device after a preset time has elapsed, and transmits the video packet transmitted to the video display device. A second storage means for storing the video signal packet buffered in the gateway device for an operation such as fast-forward or rewind only within a predetermined time by the display device. To respond quickly to user requests.

[0014] Further, the server device includes setting means for setting a rental period of the video software in accordance with an instruction from a user, and management means for permitting the user to access the video software only during the rental period. This eliminates the need for complicated management means for recording the rental use start time and use end time and calculating the actual video viewing time.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of a video software rental distribution system according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, the basic concept of the present invention will be described.

A home gateway is installed at the entrance of a home, and a function of identifying and buffering a video packet rented to the home gateway at an IP level using an IPv6 flow label is provided. The flow label is
Originally, it is for identifying a packet for real-time data transfer and performing priority processing at the router. However, only on the home gateway, priority routing processing is performed in accordance with an instruction from a terminal (television etc.). Buffer (store) video packets rented for a specific time
To do.

In addition, a function of duplicating and buffering a packet sent to the display device is provided so that the home gateway can respond to requests from the user such as pause, fast forward, and rewind.

In the server device installed in the video software use management center, a viewing period (for example, 3 days) is set at the time of the first authentication in order to reduce the process of charging the user for watching the video. Incorporate authentication and management methods that require billing. That is, the gateway device comprises a display device installed in a user home, a gateway device installed in the user home, a server device installed in a video software use management center, and a network line connecting the devices. , A means for identifying a video packet rented by a user with a flow label of the Ipv6 protocol and buffering only the packet in the gateway device.

Further, the video packets buffered by the gateway device are stored for a predetermined time (for example,
3 minutes), a means for transmitting to the display device and buffering a video packet transmitted to the display device for a preset time (a buffer for several minutes for fast forward / rewind, etc.) is provided. .
The server device permits access to the video software for a period (time) selected by the user;
It has means to manage.

The buffer is temporary for several minutes and does not store the entire video (for example, 2 hours) on the home side. When the user wants to watch the video from the beginning, a reproduction request is issued again as described in detail in the present embodiment (steps S13 and S23 of the flow in FIGS. 5 and 6). The server permits this during the rental period.

According to the video software rental distribution system of the present invention configured as described above, the display device installed in the user home, the gateway device installed in the user home, and the video software usage management center are installed. Server device, and a network line connecting the devices, and the gateway device transmits a video packet rented by the user to the Ip.
The video signal transmitted to the gateway device is temporarily stored in the gateway device by providing means for identifying the packet by the flow label of the v6 protocol and buffering only the packet in the gateway device. Even if the packet is temporarily interrupted, the video signal packet can be continuously transmitted from the gateway device to the display device.

The gateway device transmits the buffered video packet to the display device after a preset time has elapsed, and also buffers the video packet transmitted to the display device for the preset time. Is provided, the video signal packet buffered in the gateway device can be transmitted to the display device within a predetermined time period for operations such as fast forward and rewind.

Further, the server device includes means for permitting and managing access to the video software for a time or period selected by the user, so that the rental use start time and the use end time are recorded and executed. There is no need for complicated means for calculating the video watching time.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a video software rental distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention based on the above basic concept. In FIG. 1, a video software rental distribution system connects a gateway device 2 installed in each user home 1 and a server device 5 installed in a video rental usage management center 4 via the Internet 6, and furthermore, a gateway device. 2 and a display device 3 for watching a video are connected via a home network 7.

As access lines for the Internet 6, FTTH (Fiber To The Home), HFC (Hybrid Fiber
r Coax: Optical coaxial cable) and ADSL (Asymmetric)
A large capacity line such as Digital Subscribe Line can be used. The gateway device 2 is a device having a communication function of the Internet Protocol IPv6 and a routing function of transferring an IPv6 packet to the display device 3.

The display device 3 also has an Internet protocol IPv6 communication function. Further, the server device 5 of the video rental use management center 4 can employ a so-called general-purpose computer, minicomputer, workstation, or the like. The selection is appropriately made according to the contents of the work performed by the use management center 4.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the server device 5. In FIG. 2, the server device 5 includes a computer 11 which is a control device, a video data storage device 12, and a network 13 connecting them, like a normal server device.

In addition to managing video data, the computer 11 also manages user management information and the like including files for managing user usage. The video data is provided with means (protect) for preventing unauthorized use. Whether the video software storage device 12 is a hard disk or an optical disk can take various forms depending on the operation mode of the present system.

The computer 11 provided in the video rental use management center 4 stores and manages a large number of pieces of video software information to be rented, and one of the stored and managed video software information is searched and designated. At this time, in response to the request for transmission of the video software information designated by the search, the video data is read out from the video software storage device 12 and transmitted to the display device 3 on the user side.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the gateway device 2. In FIG. 3, the gateway device 2
Is a network interface unit (hereinafter, N
IU) 21, an Ethernet (registered trademark) 22, a home IP router device 23, and a video packet buffer device 24.

The NIU 21 is a home device that encodes / decodes bits going to and from the Internet (access line). For example, a cable modem is used in HFC, and an ATU-R (ADSL Transmissio) is used in ADSL.
n Unit-Remote). The basic functions of the NIU include control functions depending on the physical layer, such as modulation and demodulation of a signal to an access line, forward error correction, execution of a MAC (Media Access Control) protocol, and HFC output management and ADSL speed adaptation. is there.

Ethernet is a network technology that is widely used as a computer network (LAN: local area network) in an organization such as a company. For video transmission, a transfer speed of Fast Ethernet (100 Mbps) or higher is preferable.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the structure of the display device 3. As shown in FIG. In FIG. 4, the display device 3 includes an Ethernet 31, a CPU 32, an MPEG decoder 33, an external output device 34 such as a display and a speaker, and an input device 35 such as a remote controller.

The video rental distribution packet sent from the gateway device 2 is returned to the original MPEG signal by the Ethernet 31 and the CPU 32,
The EG decoder 33 converts the video signal into a video signal such as NTSC. The video signal is sent to an external output device 34 such as a display, and the video can be displayed. Also,
An input device 35 such as a remote controller is used to input a request from a user to the video rental use management center 4.

Here, after receiving the first packet for the flow label notification from the video rental usage management center 4, the display device 3 notifies the gateway device 2 of the value of the flow label. The gateway device 2 buffers only the packet having the value of the flow label in the video packet buffer device 24 for a certain period of time. For example, buffer for 3 minutes. However, nothing is displayed on the display device 3 during the first buffer.
Since it is not preferable for the user, a commercial (hereinafter, referred to as CM) or the like is played during that time. However, the CM video is set to a value of a flow label different from that of the rented video packet, and is handled as a real-time communication packet without being buffered in the gateway device 2 and transferred to the display device 3. Although the quality of the CM video is not guaranteed, it is considered to be acceptable to the user because it is just a connection until the video is viewed.

Hereinafter, the operation of the video software rental distribution system configured as described above will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation on the server device side, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation on the display device side. In the figure, S indicates each step of the flow.

On the server device side shown in FIG. 5, the server device 5 receives a video distribution request from a user (step S1).
In step S12, the rental period (for example,
3 days). When the rental period ends, the user cannot play back the video. Billing is performed for this rental period. After setting the rental period, it is determined in step S13 whether or not there is a video playback request from the user. If there is a video playback request from the user, a CM packet is first transmitted from the CM server in step S14. Next, in step S15, the flow label for the video packet is notified to the display device 3,
In step S16, a video packet with a flow label is transmitted. In step S17, it is determined whether or not there is a video stop request from the user. If there is a video stop request from the user, the video packet transmission is stopped in step S18.

In step S19, it is determined whether or not a preset rental period has ended, and the process returns to step S13 and repeats the above processing until the set rental period ends. As a result, the user can play the video as many times as necessary.

Similarly, on the display device 3 side shown in FIG. 6, a video distribution request is sent to the server device 5 (step S
21) is performed, and a rental period is set in step S22. In step S23, it is determined whether or not the server apparatus 5 has been requested to play back video. If the server apparatus 5 has been requested to play back video, first, in step S24, the CM server
Receive M packets. Next, in step S25, a flow label for a video packet is received. After receiving the flow label for the video packet, it notifies the gateway device 2 of the received flow label in step S26.
Next, in step S27, a video packet with a flow label is received, and in step S28, it is determined whether or not a video stop request has been made to the server device 5. When a video stop request is made to the server device 5, the video packet transmission is stopped in step S29.

In step S30, it is determined whether or not a preset rental period has ended, and the process returns to step S23 and repeats the above processing until the set rental period ends. Thus, the user can play the video any number of times until the preset rental period ends (step S30).

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of a video software rental distribution system according to another embodiment of the present invention. The same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description of the overlapping portions will be omitted. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, in addition to the display device receiving the video rental distribution,
A personal computer 41 or the like connects to a personal computer server 42 via the Internet. In this case, the packets transmitted and received between the personal computer 41 and the personal computer server 42 are subjected to normal routing processing in the gateway device 2 and do not pass through the video packet buffer device 24. In the case of a normal packet, the value of the flow label is 0
Therefore, packets are sorted according to this value.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration of a video software rental distribution system according to another embodiment of the present invention. The same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description of the overlapping portions will be omitted. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, video communication is performed between users using the TV telephone device 51 and the V telephone device 54 via the Internet. In this case, since real-time communication is indispensable, the gateway device 2 and the gateway device 53 determine the flow label and perform routing with priority. As a matter of course, the video packet buffer device 24 does not pass.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the processing in the gateway device described above. FIG. 9 shows the flow of the packet processing in the gateway device 2 described above. First, the display device 3 notifies the gateway device 2 of the flow label value notification 61 of the video rental distribution packet. Here, the two-flow label value of the video rental distribution is, for example, “987”, which differs for each rental. The gateway device 2 that has received the notification prepares a queue and reserves CPU resources, and after the arrival of various packets 66 at the packet arrival 65, checks and sorts the flow label 67. The packets 69 with the flow label “321” are collected in the real-time communication queue 68 for real-time communication. The packets 71 with the flow label “0” are collected in the queue 70 for normal communication. On the other hand, the packet 73 with the flow label “987”
Are collected in a queue for video rental delivery, buffered by the video buffer device 24 for a specific time, and then sent to the packet delivery 74.

As described above, the quality of video rental distribution via the Internet can be improved by determining the flow label of the IPv6 packet by the gateway device 2 in which the user home is installed.

As described above, the video software rental distribution system according to the present embodiment includes the display device 2 installed in the user home 1, the gateway device 2 installed in the user home 1, and the video software usage management center 4.
And a network line (Internet 6) connecting the devices,
In the gateway device 2, a video packet rented by a user is identified by a flow label of the Ipv6 protocol, only the packet is buffered in the gateway device, and video packets for a fixed time are temporarily stored in the gateway device 2. Therefore, even if the video signal packet transmitted to the gateway device 2 is temporarily interrupted, the video signal packet can be continuously transmitted from the gateway device 2 to the display device 3, thereby improving the quality of video distribution. Can be.

In the present embodiment, the video packet buffered by the gateway device 2 is transmitted to the display device 3 after a preset time has elapsed, and the video packet transmitted to the display device 3 is also preset. The video signal packet buffered in the gateway device 2 is transmitted to the display device 3 for operations such as fast-forward and rewind only within a predetermined time period. As a result, it is possible to quickly respond to the user's request, and to improve the quality of the video distribution service.

Also, since the server device 5 manages to permit access to the video software only for the time or period selected by the user, the rental use start time and the use end time are recorded and the actual video is recorded. There is no need for complicated procedures for calculating the viewing time. This allows
It becomes possible to reduce the burden of video rental rental management. Furthermore, complicated tasks such as forgetting to return the user and collecting additional charges due to the user can be eliminated.

The above embodiment is an example in which the present invention is applied to a video software rental distribution system of the CATV system. Such a system is also applicable.
Also, each device constituting the video software rental distribution system, for example, the type of headend and network,
The number and connection method are not limited to the above-described embodiment.

[0049]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, it is possible to quickly respond to a user's request and improve the quality of a video distribution service via a network.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a video software rental distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a server device of the video software rental distribution system of the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a gateway device of the video software rental distribution system according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a display device of the video software rental distribution system according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation on the server device side of the video software rental distribution system of the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation on the display device side of the video software rental distribution system of the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of a video software rental distribution system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration of a video software rental distribution system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining processing in the gateway device of the video software rental distribution system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is IP, a next-generation Internet protocol
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a header of a v6 packet.

[Explanation of symbols]

1,52 User home 2,53 Gateway device 3 Display device 4 Video rental use management center 5 Server device 6 Internet 7 Home network 11 Computer 12 Video data storage device 13 Network 21 Network interface unit (NI
U) 22 Ethernet 23 Home IP router device 24 Video packet buffer device 31 Ethernet 32 CPU 33 MPEG decoding 34 External output device 35 Input device 41 Personal computer 42 Personal computer server 51, 54 TV telephone device 61 Notification of flow label value 62, 63 Flow label value 64 Preparation of queue and reservation of CPU resources 65 Arrival of packet 66, 69, 71, 73 packet 67 Check and distribution of flow label 68 Queue for flow label "321" 70 Queue for flow label "0" 72 Queue for flow label "987" 74 Delivery of packet 101 Header of IPv6 packet 102 Number of bits 103 Version 104 Priority 105 Flow label 106 Payload length 107 Next header 108 Hop limit 109 Source address 110 Destination address

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A display device installed in a user home, a gateway device installed in the user home, a server device installed in a video software use management center, and a network line connecting the devices. A video software rental distribution system, wherein the gateway device identifies a video packet rented by a user by a flow label of an IPv6 protocol, and a storage device for temporarily storing the identified packet in the gateway device. A video shift rental distribution system comprising: 2. The gateway device, wherein the video packet temporarily stored by the storage unit is
A second storage means for transmitting the video packet transmitted to the video display device to the display device after a preset time has elapsed, and for storing the video packet transmitted to the video display device for a preset time. Item 4. The video software rental distribution system according to Item 1. 3. The server device comprises: setting means for setting a video software rental period in accordance with an instruction from a user; and management means for permitting the user to access the video software only during the rental period. The video software rental distribution system according to claim 1, wherein: