JP2003050954A - Video rental method using network and device used for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide video rental service which enables a user to indicate the start of downloading of video contents through a portable telephone, etc., before going back to the home. SOLUTION: This video rental system 10 is equipped with a managing server 14 which is connected to the Internet 12, a distributing server 16, and cache servers 18a and 18b. The user downloads video by using a video terminal 40 and can indicate the downloading through equipment other than the video terminal 40. The user indicates the downloading of the video contents through the portable telephone 42 connected to the Internet 12. Thus, the downloading destination of the video contents and the place and equipment of the transmission of the indication for the downloading are separated, so the downloading of the video to the video terminal 40 at home 50 can be indicated through the portable telephone 42.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video rental service using the Internet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, services for distributing video via the Internet have been widely used. By using this service, a user who wants to watch a video can connect to a predetermined video rental server via the Internet and download a video (for example, a movie) to watch through the Internet. Then, after downloading, the user can watch this video.

[0003]

The downloading of video contents in the conventional video rental service using the Internet takes a very long time.
Although high-speed network services have become widespread in recent years, it may take several tens of minutes to an hour to download large video contents such as movies.

Therefore, when the user wants to watch a new movie when he returns home, he has to "wait" for several tens of minutes to download the movie video.
As a result, it may be assumed that the user's request to immediately watch the desired video cannot be met.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the invention is to use a mobile phone or the like to instruct the start of downloading of video contents such as a movie before returning home. It is to provide a rental service. As a result, it is possible to instruct to download in advance and to watch the video immediately when returning to home.

[0006]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a rental request for a user to request a video rental from a management server that manages a video rental service via a network. And a download start step of starting download of video content to a predetermined video terminal via a network in response to the request, and a device for transmitting the rental request and the download of the video content. In the video rental method, the predetermined video terminal is a device located at a different address on the network.

With such a configuration, it is possible to make the place for requesting rental and the place for downloading different.

Further, according to the present invention, the rental requesting step includes a title displaying step of displaying a video title and a video selecting step of selecting a video desired by a user from the displayed titles. It is a featured video rental method.

With such a structure, the user can select a video to watch from the displayed titles.

The download start step is
The management server selects a cache server having a low download load from the cache server group for downloading, a cache server notifying step of notifying the selected video server of the selected cache server, The predetermined video terminal includes a downloading step of downloading the video content from the notified cache server, and the video rental method.

According to such a configuration, since the download is executed from the cache server having a light load, the load can be distributed.

In the present invention, the download step includes a first reporting step in which, when the cache server starts the download, the cache server transmits the number of executed downloads increased by 1 to the management server. The management server stores the number of the downloaded downloads in an internal database, and in the selecting step, the management server stores the number of downloads in the internal database based on the number of downloads in the internal database.
This is a video rental method characterized by determining the size of the download load.

With such a configuration, the management server can monitor the load on each cache server.

In the present invention, the download step includes a second reporting step in which the cache server, when the download is completed, transmits the number of executed downloads reduced by 1 to the management server. The management server stores the number of the downloaded downloads in an internal database, and in the selecting step, the management server stores the number of downloads in the internal database based on the number of downloads in the internal database.
This is a video rental method characterized by determining the size of the download load.

With such a configuration, the management server can monitor the load of each cache server in real time.

Further, according to the present invention, a management server used when providing a video rental service to a user via a network guides the video to the user, and the video is provided via the network. The management server is characterized in that it includes a video guide means for receiving the rental request of (1) and internally registering the received request.

With such a configuration, the user can input the video that he wants to watch.

Further, the present invention provides that, from a predetermined video terminal,
When there is a request to start downloading the requested video content, a cache server with a low download load is selected from the cache server group for downloading, and the selected cache server is notified to the predetermined video terminal. A management server including a monitoring means.

With such a configuration, the load on the cache server can be distributed.

According to the present invention, the video guide means is
The management server is characterized by displaying a video title to the user and inputting the selection of the user in the displayed title.

With such a configuration, the user can select the video he or she wants to watch from the video titles.

Further, in the present invention, when the number of downloads being executed is transmitted from the cache server, the monitoring means stores the number of transmitted downloads in an internal database, The management server is characterized by determining the size of the download load based on the number of downloads.

With such a configuration, the monitoring means can monitor the load on the cache server in real time.

Further, the present invention is provided by a predetermined video terminal,
In a cache server for executing a download of a video content when a request for downloading the video content is received via a network, a reporting means for externally reporting the number of downloads being executed when the download to the predetermined video terminal is started It is a cache server characterized by including ,.

With such a configuration, the load state of the cache server can be known from the outside.

Further, the present invention is the cache server, wherein the reporting means transmits, when the download is started, the incremented number of downloads being executed to the management server.

With such a configuration, the number of downloads can be known in real time from the outside.

Further, the present invention is the cache server, wherein the reporting means transmits, when the download is completed, the number of executing downloads reduced by one to the management server.

With such a configuration, it is possible to know the change in the number of downloads in real time.

Further, according to the present invention, the predetermined video terminal is connected by a private connection which is not a public network,
A cache server characterized by including private connection means for downloading video contents.

With such a configuration, it is possible to download at the shop front without using the public network.

Further, according to the present invention, via a network,
In a video terminal used for receiving provision of a video rental service, a video terminal for accessing a management server, receiving an instruction from a cache server to be downloaded, accessing the instructed cache server, and downloading a video content Is.

With such a configuration, it is possible to download the video content from the cache server.

Further, according to the present invention, the cache server is connected by a private connection which is not a public network,
A video terminal including a private connection means for downloading video contents.

With such a configuration, it is possible to download at the shop front without using the public network.

[0036]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a video rental system 10 which provides the Internet video rental service of the present embodiment.

As shown in this figure, the video rental system 10 comprises a management server 14 connected to the Internet 12, a distribution server 16, and a plurality of cache servers 18a, 18b. These servers are connected to the Internet 12 via the Internet service provider 20. The management server 14 and the distribution server 16 are located in the main shop 30 of the rental shop, and the cache servers 18a and 18b are located in the branch shops 32a and 32b of the rental shop.

In this embodiment, the cache server 18 executes the downloading of the video contents.
The distribution server 16 distributes the video content to each cache server 18. And the management server 14
Manages users of rental services.

On the other hand, the user views the video using the video terminal 40 that downloads the video via the Internet. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the video terminal 40 is placed in the user's home 50 and downloads a video via the Internet 12. The user is a video terminal 4
Operate 0 to download video data.

In the present embodiment, the user downloads the video using the video terminal 40, but the download instruction may be given by a device other than the video terminal 40. The user may use the mobile phone 42 connected to the Internet 12 and issue an instruction to download the video content from the mobile phone. The mobile phone 42 is connected to the Internet 12 via a gateway device 54 that connects the mobile phone network 52 to the Internet 12.
Connected to.

What is characteristic of the present embodiment is that the download destination of the video content is separated from the place or the device issuing the download instruction. Due to the separation, it is possible to instruct the mobile phone 42 to download the video to the video terminal 40 of the home 50.

Each Component of Video Rental System The video rental service in this embodiment adopts a membership system and provides the video rental service to members.

(1) Management Server 14 A block diagram of the management server 14 is shown in FIG. As shown in this figure, first, the management server 14 includes a registration / authentication unit 60 for registering and authenticating members of a rental service, and a charging unit 62 for charging a rental fee.
Is equipped with. Further, the management server 14 uses the mobile phone 42.
Is provided with a video guide means 64 for delivering a video guide when the management server 14 is accessed, and a monitor means 66 for monitoring the data access of the cache server 18.

On the basis of the result of this monitoring, the monitoring means 66 also allocates downloads of users to each cache server 18 so that the load on each cache server 18 is evenly distributed.

Further, the management server 14 has a storage means 68. The storage means 68 is composed of, for example, a hard disk, and has a member database, a database for recording rental requests, and the like built therein.

Each means except the storage means 68 comprises a computer and a program for operating the computer as each of the above means.

(2) Cache Server 18 A block diagram of the cache server 18 is shown in FIG. As shown in this figure, first, the cache server 18 is provided with a storage means 70 for storing video contents to be distributed to users. Also, the cache server 1
8 is the first distribution for distributing video contents to users.
The reporting means 72 is provided. This first delivery / reporting means 7
2 transmits the access frequency of the video content to the management server 14 in real time every time the access frequency is changed. The monitoring means 66 of the management server 14 executes the above-mentioned data access monitoring by inspecting the transmitted contents.

As will be described later, since the access frequency changes at the start and end of the download, the access frequency is transmitted at that timing. Here, the access frequency refers to the number of video terminals 40 downloading from the cache server 18, which is also referred to as “load coefficient”.

In the present embodiment, the access frequency is transmitted to the management server 14 every time the access frequency changes, but it is also preferable to transmit the access frequency periodically even if the access frequency does not change. This is because the management server 18 can grasp the operating status of the cache server 18 in real time by periodically reporting the status of the cache server 18.

The storage means 70 may be any storage medium capable of storing video contents. You can use a hard disk or a so-called DVD (Digital Video Di
sk). Further, the delivery / report means 72 is
It is composed of a computer, a program that causes the computer to perform distribution and reporting operations, and an interface unit with the Internet service provider 20.

Further, the cache server 18 is provided with LAN connecting means 74 for providing a user who brings the video terminal 40 to the branch 32 of the video rental shop with a high speed download service by LAN connection.

The LAN connecting means 74 is the storage means 70.
The point of downloading the video content stored in the video terminal 40 to the user's video terminal 40 functions similarly to the distribution / report means 72. However, the LAN connection means 74 differs from the distribution / report means 72 in that the video content is not downloaded via the Internet 12 but is downloaded by a high-speed LAN connection. For example, high-speed L such as 100BASE-TX
With AN, a speed of 100 Mbps can be obtained.

The LAN connecting means 74 corresponds to an example of the private connecting means in the claims. Although the LAN connection is adopted in this embodiment, other means may be used as long as it is a high-speed transmission interface other than the public network.
For example, IEEE 1394 or the like may be used.

Since the cache server 18 is provided with the LAN connecting means 74 as described above, the user can not only access the Internet 12 at a relatively low speed, but also
It is also possible to execute the download of the video content using the high-speed LAN connection at the rental shop.

The LAN connecting means 74 is a computer,
It is composed of a program for causing the computer to execute the download operation and a LAN interface. The user uses the LAN interface to download the video content to the video terminal 40 brought in by the user.

(3) Distribution Server 16 A block diagram of the structure of the distribution server 16 is shown in FIG. The distribution server 16 includes all the functions of the cache server 18. That is, the storage means 80 is provided for storing the video contents to be distributed to the users. Further, a second distribution / report means 82 for distributing this video content to the user is provided. Then, LA is displayed on the video terminal 40 brought by the user who came to the rental shop.
LAN connection means 84 for downloading video contents by N connection is provided.

Now, the second distribution / report means 82 performs the distribution operation for the user similarly to the first distribution / report means 72 in FIG.
The distribution operation for 8a and 18b is also executed. The distribution function for the other cache servers 18a and 18b is a function that does not exist in the cache server 18 but exists in the distribution server 16.

As described above, the distribution server 16 distributes the video content to the other cache servers 18a and 18b via the Internet 12. The other cache servers 18a and 18b store the delivered video content in the storage means 70 and deliver the stored video content to the user according to the instruction of the management server 14.

Of course, since the distribution server 16 itself also has the function of a cache server, the video content stored in the storage means 80 is distributed to the user according to the instruction of the management server 14.

(4) Video Terminal 40 A block diagram of the structure of the video terminal 40 is shown in FIG. As shown in this figure, the video terminal 40 includes an internet connection means 90 for connecting to the internet. This internet connection means 90 is an interface for connecting to the internet service provider 20, a program for receiving video content on the internet 12, and a management server 14 for receiving operation and distribution of video content by this program.
And a computer that executes the operation required by the computer.

In the present embodiment, the connection with the Internet 12 is premised on the condition that a so-called constant connection is possible. The situation where constant connection is possible is the so-called xDS.
Always connected by L, always connected to the Internet 12 using CATV (cable TV), or FTTH
(Fiber To The Home) is always available. According to such a constant connection, even if a proxy server or the like exists on the way, it is possible to pass through the proxy server. There are various methods for xDSL, but in recent years A
A method called DSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) is relatively widely used.

Further, since all communication carried out by the video terminal 40 is carried out by encrypted communication such as SSL (Secure Sockets Layer), it is possible to prevent leakage of personal information of the user. As this encryption technique, various conventional techniques can be used. Also, of course, it is possible to rent a video without the need for encryption technology.

The video terminal 40 is also provided with a storage means 92 for storing the video content downloaded via the Internet 12. The storage means 92 is a readable / writable storage means such as a hard disk. The storage means 92 may be any storage means having a data read speed higher than the video reproduction speed.

The storage means 92 needs to have the capacity for the number of video contents that can be rented at one time. Although depending on the contents of the rental service, in the case of a service in which only one movie video can be rented at a time, the storage means 92 may have a capacity capable of storing one movie. Then, when borrowing the next video, the content of the previously borrowed video may be overwritten. With this configuration, it is less necessary to consider the operation of "returning" the borrowed video content.

The video terminal 40 is also provided with a LAN connecting means 94. The LAN connecting means 94 is similar to the LAN connecting means 74 and 84 described above. When the user brings the video terminal 40 to a video rental shop, the user can connect the video terminal 40 to the cache server 18 or the like by using the LAN connection means 94 and download the video content via the LAN. it can.

In this way, the video terminal 40 downloads the video content to the storage means 92 from the outside.
The video terminal 40 then plays the video.
A video output means 96 is provided. The video output means 96 reads the video content stored in the storage means 92, converts it into a video signal, and outputs it to the outside.
The user can connect the display 98 to the outside of the video terminal 40 and watch the video image on the display 98.

Service provision of video rental system
Operation Hereinafter, a specific operation of the system 10 will be described based on a flowchart.

FIG. 6 shows an overall flowchart of the operation when renting a video using the present system 10.

In step S6-1, the user requests a video rental (download).

In step S6-2, the video content is downloaded to the video terminal 40.

The detailed operation of each step will be described below.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the detailed operation of the video content download request shown in step S6-1.

First, in step S7-1, the user accesses the management server 14. This access is
It can be executed from the video terminal 40 provided in the user's home 50. Further, the access may be performed from a computer provided at home 50. Since a normal personal computer can easily instruct a video content to be downloaded using a mouse or a keyboard, it is also preferable to execute a request from home from the personal computer.

A characteristic of this embodiment is that the management server 14 can be accessed from a place other than the place where the video terminal is placed. In the present embodiment, the management server 14 can be accessed from the mobile phone 42 as well as the personal computer described above.

In the present embodiment, the management server 14
Is the so-called HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol)
It has a server function and is a WE on the Internet 12.
The management server 14 can be accessed from any terminal as long as it has a function of browsing page B. In recent years, devices that can connect to the Internet 12 only with the mobile phone 42 have been widely used.
The management server 14 can be accessed from the mobile phone 42 at any time simply by mounting the P server function.

When the management server 14 is first accessed, the registration / authentication means 60 displays the registration / authentication screen (WEB page) to the user by using the function of the HTTP server. On the WEB page, the user is prompted to enter the password and ID.

At step S7-2, the user selects WE
As instructed on page B, login password and membership I
Enter D. This video rental service employs a membership system, and the video terminal 40 is lent to the member in advance. A member ID is given to each member.

In step S7-3, confirmation of the password is executed. This operation is performed by the registration / authentication means 60.
Is executed by checking whether the entered password is registered in the personal database as the personal password represented by the entered ID. This personal database is built in the storage means 68, and is a database in which an ID given to an individual when the individual registers as a member and at least a password set for the individual are registered. A conceptual diagram of the registered contents of this database is shown in FIG. As shown in this figure, in addition to the ID and password, the video terminal ID of the video terminal 40 owned by the member is also registered in the personal database. When one member owns a plurality of video terminals, a plurality of video terminal IDs are registered as the video terminal IDs.

If the identity verification is successful, the process proceeds to step S7-4. If the password is incorrect, the process proceeds to step S7-5. In step S6-5, access is denied and the user has to start over. However, the password input may be retried. The processing when the password is incorrect may be adopted by various conventionally known methods, which are not directly related to the present invention.

In step S7-4, the video guide means 64 guides the user about the video title. This guidance is also executed using the function of the HTTP server. That is, the user can see a list of available video titles on the screen of the so-called WEB page. It is desirable that this screen contains various information about the video such as time in addition to the title.

In step S7-6, the user selects the title of the video to be borrowed. Furthermore, the period (rental period) to be borrowed is also selected. This choice is WEB
Performed by entering the title of the video and the period you want to borrow on the page. Of course, the user may select from radio buttons and other options. These titles and rental period are video guide means 6
4 inputs.

In step S7-7, the video guide means 64 registers the input title and rental period in the rental request database. This rental request database is built in the storage means 68 in FIG. The contents registered in the rental request database are as follows.

-Title information for rent-Member ID-Video terminal ID of member-Rental period FIG. 9 shows how the rental request database is registered.

As described above, the video rental request from the user is registered in the rental request database.

Although the rental period is input and registered in the rental request database in the present embodiment, the rental period may or may not be input in some cases. Although it depends on the content of the service, how to return the video content when renting it via the Internet 12 is one important point. There are various ideas. The data may be invalidated after a certain period of time, or the period may be unlimited.

In the present embodiment, it is also preferable to provide a service with an unlimited period. In such a service form, the rented video content is stored in the storage means 9 until another video content is rented next time.
It will continue to be preserved in 2. Then, when renting the next video content, the previously borrowed video content is overwritten (on the storage unit 92).

The most serious problem in copyright infringement is that illegal copying is performed, and even if "viewing" of a video is not limited to "reproduction", there is a problem of copyright infringement. Considered difficult.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the execution of the video content download shown in step S6-2.

First, in step S10-1, the video terminal 40 accesses the management server 14. Then, the video terminal 40 inspects the contents of the rental request database described above. The video terminal 40 regularly executes this operation. That is, the video terminal 40 needs to use the connection form which is always connected to the Internet 12 or is close to the constant connection. If the dial-up connection is used, the video terminal 40 must have a function of dialing up periodically and connecting to the Internet 12.

In step S10-2, if the member ID or the video terminal ID of the member does not exist in the rental request database, the process moves to step S10-1 again. In this way, the video terminal 40 regularly accesses the management server 14.

On the other hand, if the data including the video terminal ID is present in the rental request database, the process proceeds to step S10-3.

In step S10-3, the video terminal 40 transmits its own video terminal ID, member ID, and password to the management server 14.

At step S10-4, the authentication is executed using the transmitted video terminal ID, member ID and password. This authentication is carried out by the registration / authentication means 60. Specifically, the sent password is
Confirmation is performed by searching the personal database for whether or not the personal password indicated by the transmitted ID. If the transmitted password is registered in the personal database, it is authenticated as the correct video terminal 40 of the person. If the authentication succeeds, the process proceeds to step S10-6, and if the authentication fails, the process proceeds to step S10-5.

Although the authentication by the password is executed in the present embodiment, it is also preferable to perform the authentication depending on whether the combination of the member ID and the video terminal ID is a correct combination.

In step S10-5, access is denied and the user has to start over.

In step S10-6, the charging process is executed. This charging process is performed by the charging means 62.
Executed by This charging process is a process of charging the user, and various conventional charging methods can be adopted. For example, credit card payment may be used.

In step S10-7, after the charging process has been successfully completed, the monitoring means 66 refers to the load coefficient of each cache server 18 totaled at that time,
The cache server 18 with the least load is selected. Here, the distribution server 16 is also treated as the cache server 18. This is because the distribution server 16 also has the function as the cache server 18 and operates as the cache server. Here, the load factor means the number of downloads being executed. This number also means the number of video terminals 40 that are downloading. Since it is estimated that the load coefficient is the smallest and the download capacity has the remaining capacity, the download is newly assigned to the cache server 18 having the smallest load coefficient.

Of course, the above estimation is based on the assumption that the cache servers 18 have the same capabilities. If there is a difference in capacity between the cache servers 18, the cache server with the most available capacity is selected in consideration of the difference in capacity.

Next, the monitoring means 66 notifies the video terminal 40 of the selected cache server with the least load. This notification allows the video terminal 40 to know from which cache server 18 the video content should be downloaded.

In step S10-8, the video terminal 40 receives the above notification and knows the cache server 18 to which the download should be requested. Then, the cache server 18 is requested to download and the download of the desired video content is started.

In step S10-9, the cache server increments the load coefficient (the number of downloading video terminals 40) by 1, and the load coefficient is added to the management server 1.
Send to 4. This transmission is executed by the first distribution / report means 72 (see FIG. 3).

The monitoring means 66 of the management server 14 records the transmitted load coefficient in the cache server load database. The cache server load database is a database built in the storage means 68,
This is a database for managing the load coefficient of each cache server 18 in real time. The monitoring means 66 sequentially registers the load coefficient (the number of downloads: the number of video terminals 40 that are downloading) transmitted from the cache server 18 in this database and manages the contents.

A conceptual diagram of the registered contents of the cache server load database is shown in FIG. As shown in this figure, the cache server name and its load coefficient are registered in this database.

Since the monitoring means 66 can know that the download has started, it is also preferable to notify the member that the download has started.
As described above, the download request can be executed from outside the home using a mobile phone or the like, and then the download is automatically executed. At this time, the fact that the download has started is that mobile phone or the like. If it is notified to the member, it is convenient because the member can know that the download has started automatically outside the home. If the download start notification is not received forever, the member can determine that the video terminal 40 at home has a failure (for example, the outlet is unplugged).

In order to execute such notification, the cache server 18 sets the load coefficient to the management server 14.
(Step S10-9), the member information to be downloaded may be transmitted in addition to the load coefficient.

After that, the download proceeds, and the download is completed in step S10-10.

In step S10-11, the cache server 18 decrements its own load coefficient by -1, and sends the decremented load coefficient to the management server 14. This transmission is also
The first distribution / report means 72 executes (see FIG. 3). The monitoring means 66 of the management server 14 registers the received load coefficient in the cache server load database. In this way, the cache server load database always holds the contents that reflect the load of each cache server 18.

Even when the download is completed, the monitoring means 6
It is desirable for 6 to notify the mobile phone or the like to that effect.
According to such a notification, the member can know that the download has been successfully completed before returning home. Note that in order to make such a notification, the member information is also sent to the management server 14 at the same time when the above-mentioned load coefficient of -1 is transmitted.
You can send it to.

Member Registration The video rental service in this embodiment adopts a membership system, lends the video terminal 40 to each section member, and sets a member ID to each member. In addition, each member sets his own password. The user who wants to become a member visits the rental video shop at the store and performs the member registration on the spot. This member registration may be performed by mail, telephone or the like.

Storage Method of Video Content In the present embodiment, all video content is stored in the storage means 70, 80, 92. These storage means are storage means such as a hard disk.

Especially when a hard disk is used,
It is preferable to store and read the video contents as follows.

FIG. 12 shows the hard disk 80a of the distribution server 16 and the cache server 1 according to this embodiment.
8 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between a hard disk 70a of No. 8 and a hard disk 92a of the video terminal 40.

As shown in this figure, in the present embodiment, the areas of the hard disks 70a, 80a, 92a are managed by physical addresses. Then, one physical address is associated with one video content. That is, the physical location where a certain video content is stored is fixed.

Further, in the present embodiment, an IP address is given to the physical position where each video content is stored. Of course, this IP address is a so-called local address.

As shown in FIG. 12, the hard disk 80a of the distribution server 16 and the hard disk 70a of the cache server 18 are the same hard disk, and the IP
Addresses are assigned in the same way. For example,
The local IP address 1 stores the video content whose title is “Matrics”, and the local IP address 2 stores the video content whose title is “Golf Tournament”. This state is the hard disk 80a of the distribution server 16.
And the hard disk 70a of the cache server 18 are exactly the same. In this way, one IP address and one video content are associated with each other on a one-to-one basis. Therefore, by simply knowing which IP address a certain video content is, the physical content of that video content can be quickly obtained. You can know the exact position. As a result, it is possible to easily and quickly read the video content. Further, since the hard disk 80a of the distribution server 16 and the hard disk 70a of the cache server 18 have the same IP address, the management of each video content becomes easy.

In the conventional personal computer, the hard disk is often accessed from the software by a logical address. Especially FAT
(File Allocation T
It was often the case that continuous data was physically distributed on the hard disk by using "able."

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, since one certain physical position is fixedly assigned to one video content, it is not necessary to refer to the FAT every access. Quick access is possible.

In particular, an IP that is substantially equivalent to a physical address
Since the hard disk is managed by the address, the reading of the video content can be executed by the hardware, and the reading / writing speed can be further improved.

Now, in the distribution server 16, the video contents to be rented are transferred from the DVD or the CD,
It is necessary to once transfer to the hard disk 80a.
Therefore, the distribution server 16 includes the media unit 1
00 is provided. A video content such as a DVD is sent to the hard disk 8 via the media unit 100.
0a. As described above, the distribution server 16 stores the video content in each cache server 18a, 1c.
It has a function of delivering to 8b. IP as shown in Figure 12
When using the address, simply use the same local IP
Since it is sufficient to store the same video content in the place to which the address is assigned, the video content can be distributed with extremely simple control. For example, the data stored in the local IP address 4 of the hard disk 80a is directly transferred to the local I of the hard disk 70a.
All you have to do is send it to P-address 4.

However, due to this distribution, the local IP
Address conversion means 102 for converting an address into a global IP address is required. This is the distribution server 16
This is because the cache server 18 is connected to the Internet 12 and the local IP address cannot be put on the Internet 12 as it is.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the address converting means 102 for temporarily converting the local IP address into the global IP address is provided. Of course, the cache server 18 on the other side also needs to be provided with the address converting means 104 for converting the global IP address back into the local IP address. Since the local IP address once converted to the global IP address by the existence of the address conversion unit 104 also returns to the original local IP address, the video content may be stored as it is at the position designated by the local IP address. With such an operation, the video content can be easily distributed.

These address conversion means 102, 104
Has basically the same function. When data is sent from the inside to the outside, the local IP address is converted to the global IP address, and conversely the data is received from the outside to the inside. In this case, the global IP address is converted to the local IP address.

For example, NAT (Network Address Translation) is known as such an address translation system.

Although the distribution server 16 is provided with the second distribution / report means 82 as described with reference to FIG. 4, the address conversion means 102 is included in the second distribution / report means 82. It is a composition.

The cache server 18 is provided with the first delivery / report means 72 as described with reference to FIG. 3, but the address translation means 104 is included in the first delivery / report means 72. It is a composition.

Packet Format FIG. 13 shows a conceptual diagram of a packet data format used in this embodiment. In this embodiment, data packets are used in the UDP (User Datagram Protocol) format. The distribution of the video content from the distribution server 16 to the cache server 18 is executed using such a packet. As shown in FIG. 13, in order to perform flow control, a hard disk start offset address and a sequential number are inserted in the upper data part of UDP (see FIG. 13).

Here, the sequential number is a sequential number given to each fixed length packet of UDP. One video title is distributed by being divided into a plurality of packets, and this sequential number represents the order. The packet is a fixed length UDP packet. In other words, the sequential number is incremented each time one fixed length packet is transmitted.

The hard disk start offset address represents the first position on the hard disk where the video title is stored. Based on the combination of the hard disk start offset address and the sequential number, the storage position of the packet on the hard disk is known.

All the video contents are burst-transferred between the hard disk 16a of the distribution server 16 and the hard disk 18a of the cache server 18. For example, when starting a rental service of a new video title, the video content of that title is burst-transferred between the hard disks.

After the transfer is complete, a UDP checksum check is performed. If an error is found, the cache server 18 issues a resend request to the distribution server 16 with the hard disk start offset address and the sequential number set for the packet for which the error was found.

Note that the packet shown in FIG. 13 is also used for downloading from the video terminal 40. In this embodiment, the management server 14, the distribution server 16, the cache server 18, and the video terminal 40 know the correspondence between the video title and the IP address. When a new video title is added, its distribution behavior will
In addition to the management server 14, the distribution server 16 and the cache server 18 share the relationship between the video title and the IP address. The video terminal 40 periodically accesses the management server 14 and, when a new video title is added, acquires the correspondence relationship between the new video title and the IP address. As a result, even when the video terminal 40 downloads the video content from the cache server 18, the download target is designated by the IP address (see FIG. 13).

If only the designation of the video title is considered, it is possible to use only the (local) IP address, but the hard disk start offset address and the sequential number are used to perform the flow control. Such flow control is performed between the video terminal 40 and the cache server 18 as well as between the distribution server 16 and the cache server 18.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is not necessary that the download destination of the video content and the place of requesting the download exist in the same place.
Therefore, it is possible to issue a video content download request before returning home and start downloading the video content before returning home. As a result, you can go home and enjoy the downloaded video right away.

The video content may be any moving image data. In recent years, moving image data based on MPEG2 is generally used, but other types of moving image data may be used.

[0136]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the position (address) on the network for requesting rental can be made different from the position (address) for downloading, a video for a home from a remote place can be obtained. You can request the download of content.

Further, according to the present invention, the load on the cache server can be distributed. Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to know the load of the cache server in real time.

Further, according to the present invention, since the video can be downloaded without using the public network, the video content can be directly downloaded from the cache server at the store.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a video rental system according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a configuration block diagram of a management server.

FIG. 3 is a configuration block diagram of a cache server.

FIG. 4 is a configuration block diagram of a distribution server.

FIG. 5 is a configuration block diagram of a video terminal.

FIG. 6 is an overall flowchart of a video rental service.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation of a video content download request.

FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram showing the registered contents of a personal database.

FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram showing registration contents of a rental request database.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing downloading of video content.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an operation of downloading video content.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship among a hard disk of a distribution server, a hard disk of a cache server, and a hard disk of a video terminal.

FIG. 13 is a conceptual diagram of a packet data format used in this embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Video rental system 12 Internet 14 Management server 16 Delivery server 18a, 18b cache server 20 Internet Service Provider 30 head office 32a, 32b branch 40 video terminals 42 mobile phone 50 home 52 Mobile phone network 54 gateway 60 Registration / Authentication Means 62 Billing means 64 video guide 66 monitoring means 68 storage means 70 storage means 70a hard disk 72 First distribution / reporting means 74 LAN connection means 80 storage means 80a hard disk 82 Second delivery / reporting means 84 LAN connection means 90 Internet connection means 92 storage means 92a hard disk 94 LAN connection means 96 video output means 98 display 100 media units 102 address conversion means 104 address conversion means

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A rental request step of requesting a video rental from a management server that manages a video rental service via a network, and a predetermined request via a network according to the request. A download start step for starting the download of the video content to the video terminal, the device for transmitting the rental request, and the predetermined video terminal for downloading the video content are located at different addresses on the network. A video rental method characterized by being a device. 2. The video rental method according to claim 1, wherein the rental request step includes a title display step of displaying a video title, and a video selection step of selecting a video desired by the user from the displayed titles. And a video rental method comprising: 3. The video rental method according to claim 1, wherein the download starting step includes a cache server selecting step in which the management server selects a cache server having a low download load from a cache server group for downloading. A cache server notifying step of notifying the predetermined video terminal of the selected cache server, and a download step of causing the predetermined video terminal to download the video content from the notified cache server. How to rent a video. 4. The video rental method according to claim 3, wherein, in the download step, when the cache server starts the download, the cache server sends the number of executed downloads increased by 1 to the management server. A first reporting step; a storage step in which the management server stores the number of transmitted downloads in an internal database; and in the selection step, the management server downloads data in the internal database. A video rental method, characterized in that the size of the download load is determined based on the number of. 5. The video rental method according to claim 3, wherein, in the download step, when the cache server completes the download, the cache server sends the number of executed downloads reduced by one to the management server. A second reporting step; and a storage step in which the management server stores the number of transmitted downloads in an internal database, wherein in the selection step, the management server downloads data in the internal database. A video rental method, characterized in that the size of the download load is determined based on the number of. 6. A management server used when providing a video rental service to a user via a network, presents the video to the user, and requests the rental of the video via the network. And a video guide means for internally registering the received request, and a management server. 7. The management server according to claim 6, wherein when a predetermined video terminal issues a request to start downloading of the requested video content, a download load from the cache server group that performs the download occurs. A management server, comprising: a monitoring unit that selects a small number of cache servers and notifies the selected video server of the selected cache servers. 8. The management server according to claim 6, wherein the video guide unit displays a video title to the user and inputs a selection of the user in the displayed titles. Management server to run. 9. The management server according to claim 7, wherein when the number of downloads being executed is transmitted from the cache server, the monitoring unit internally stores the number of downloads transmitted. A management server which stores in a database and judges the size of the download load based on the number of downloads. 10. A cache server which executes a download when a video content is requested to download via a network from a predetermined video terminal, and when the download to the predetermined video terminal is started, the cache server executes the download. A cache server characterized by including a reporting means for reporting the number of downloaded downloads to the outside. 11. The cache server according to claim 10, wherein the reporting unit transmits to the management server, when the download is started, the incremented number of downloads being executed by one. Cache server. 12. The cache server according to claim 10, wherein the reporting unit transmits the number of executing downloads reduced by 1 to the management server when the download is completed. server. 13. The cache server according to claim 10, further comprising: private connection means for connecting to the predetermined video terminal by a private connection that is not a public network and downloading the video content. A cache server to do. 14. A video terminal used for receiving a video rental service via a network, accessing a management server, receiving an instruction of a cache server to be downloaded, and instructing the instructed cache server. Video terminal to access and download video content. 15. The video terminal according to claim 14, further comprising: private connection means for connecting to the cache server and downloading the video content by a private connection that is not a public network. Terminal.