JP2006303860A - Av content delivery system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem, wherein a system has not been controlled so as to set up AV contents optimal to each embarkation flight, and to provide an AV environment that satisfies passengers in an AV content delivery system which provides video images and audios to a mobile, such as a commercial planes. <P>SOLUTION: A system control device 5 receives flight information from an aircraft system 6 and recognizes the types of AV contents requested by the passengers resting on the flight information. An AV server 1 automatically sets up AV contents delivered to seat terminals 2, taking these information into consideration the processing capacity of an AV server 1, and a network configuration. Information on the set AV contents is transmitted from the system control device 5 to the seat terminals 2. Passengers obtain the information through the seat terminals 2, select the AV contents, and view the AV contents delivered from the AV server 1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a system for distributing AV content such as video and music on a moving body such as a passenger plane.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, services that provide AV content such as video and audio to passengers have become widespread in passenger airplanes and other mobile units. Such a service is provided by an AV content distribution system configured by a communication network centered on an AV server and a seat terminal group, as disclosed in Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2. Furthermore, the practical application of video-on-demand distribution that provides AV content at a time desired by a passenger as shown in Patent Document 3 is also in progress.

  An embodiment of a conventional AV content distribution system in a passenger aircraft will be described below with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an overview of a conventional AV content distribution system and the present invention.

  In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 denotes an AV server that stores AV content such as MPEG and distributes AV content as necessary. The AV server 1 distributes AV content on a video-on-demand basis. A seat terminal 2 requests AV content from the AV server 1 and plays back the AV content distributed from the AV server 1. Reference numeral 3 denotes a relay device that distributes AV content distributed from the AV server 1 to each seat terminal 2 connected by the seat terminal communication network 4b. Reference numeral 5 denotes a system control device that sets AV content distributed by the AV server 1 and controls the AV content request from the seat terminal 2 according to the seat class (first, business, economy) assigned to the seat terminal 2. is there. The system control device 5 and each relay device 3 are connected by a communication network 4a.

  The operation of the AV content distribution system in the conventional passenger aircraft configured as described above will be described below.

  First, the crew operates the system control device 5 to set the seat class of each seat terminal 2 and the AV content to be distributed to each seat class. For example, 10 types of AV content are distributed to each business class seat terminal 2, and 5 types of AV content are distributed to each economy class seat terminal 2. The passenger operates the seat terminal 2 and selects the desired AV content. The seat terminal 2 transmits a signal requesting the selected AV content to the AV server 1. This signal passes through the relay device 3 and is passed to the system control device 5. The system control device 5 checks the address of the signal source to determine the seat class of the seat terminal 2 that is the signal source, and if the AV content is set to be distributed, passes the signal to the AV server 1, and the AV server 1 requests The AV content is distributed to the seat terminal 2. When the seat terminal 2 receives the AV content, the passenger can view the requested AV content.

  Since the AV content and seat configuration required by the passengers are different for each flight, the conventional system sets the AV content to be distributed by the crew for each flight so as to provide a service that satisfies the passengers.

On the other hand, as shown in Patent Document 4, a database server for storing AV contents is provided at an airport, and when a passenger aircraft arrives at the airport, the AV server to be distributed to the AV server in the passenger aircraft on the next flight is a database server. Have proposed a wireless transmission system.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,584,063 JP-A-8-317299 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-74551 JP 2002-194059 A

  The conventional configuration described above has a problem that it is impossible to set AV content to be distributed in consideration of the capability of the AV server 1 and the type of AV content.

  For example, when the disk capacity or processing capacity of the AV server 1 is limited for the purpose of cost and weight reduction, high-quality AV content cannot be transmitted to all the seat terminals 2, so that it differs depending on the seat class. A service for distributing AV content at an encoding rate is required. In addition, since the type of AV content required by the passenger (language, passenger preference, etc.) varies from one flight to another, it is necessary to determine and switch the optimum one. Considering these, it is difficult for the crew to set AV content for each flight.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and an object thereof is to provide a system for automatically setting and distributing optimal AV contents for each boarding flight.

The invention described in claim 1 of the present invention
An AV content distribution system comprising an AV server that transmits AV content such as a plurality of video content and audio content via a communication line on a mobile body, and a seat terminal that receives the content,
It is an AV content distribution system characterized by having a system control device that obtains operation information from a machine system via a communication line and automatically sets AV content to be distributed.
By automatically setting and distributing AV content to be distributed according to the operation information, it is possible to easily provide an AV environment that satisfies passengers for each boarding flight.

The invention described in claim 2
The system controller is
The system controller is
The operation information, seat class information indicating a seat configuration corresponding to the operation information, type information relating to AV content stored in the AV server, processing capability of the AV server and communication between the AV server and the seat terminal An environment setting database section for storing line bandwidth information;
A system control unit that uses the operation information and the plurality of information stored in the environment setting database unit, sets AV content distributed by the AV server, and distributes information on the AV content to be distributed to the seat terminal The AV content distribution system according to claim 1, wherein:
Based on the operation information from the airframe system, it becomes possible to automatically set and distribute AV content to be distributed to each seat class.

The invention according to claim 3
The seat terminal is
2. The AV content distribution system according to claim 1, further comprising means for receiving information related to AV content distributed by the system control device via a communication line and displaying the received information. ,
It is possible to provide passengers with information regarding the AV content to be distributed.

  As described above, the present invention can provide an excellent effect of providing an AV content distribution system having an optimal configuration for providing services to passengers in a moving body such as a passenger plane.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

(Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an AV content distribution system of the present invention. An AV server 1 that distributes AV content and a plurality of seat terminals 2 that receive AV content are provided, a system control device 5 that performs setting of AV content and control of AV content requests from the seat terminal 2, a communication network 4a, and a relay Data communication is performed via the device 3 and the communication network 4b. In general, the communication network 4a has a wider bandwidth than the seat terminal communication network 4b. For example, the communication network 4a is provided with a 1000Base communication cable, and the seat terminal communication network 4b is provided with a 100Base communication cable.
The configuration of these apparatuses is the same as that of the conventional system as shown in FIG. 2 is different from the configuration of FIG. 2 in that the system control device 5 includes an environment setting database unit 7 and a system control unit 8, and an airframe system 6 that manages operation information of the next flight of the passenger aircraft is connected to the system control device. The seat terminal 2 has a function of receiving a signal from the system control device and displaying information related to the AV content.

  The operation information managed by the airframe system 6 is information such as flight number, flight date, departure time, arrival time, departure place, destination, etc. The airframe system 6 transmits the operation information to the system control device 5. .

  Hereinafter, the configuration and function of each unit will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the AV server 1. The AV server 1 includes a content storage device 10 that manages a plurality of AV contents, and a transmission / reception device 11 that receives an AV content request signal and transmits AV content. The content storage device 10 has an AV content area 10a for storing AV content and a VOD (Video On Demand) area 10b used by the distributed AV content. The transmission / reception device 11 has a communication function 110 that receives signals from the seat terminal 2 and distributes AV content, and a control function 111 that controls distribution of AV content on a video-on-demand basis.

  The operation of the AV server 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The AV server 1 stores AV content such as MPEG in the AV content area 10a, and records the AV content to be distributed in the VOD area 10b. When the transmission / reception device 11 receives the AV content request signal from the seat terminal 2 by the communication function 110, the control function 111 analyzes the received AV content request signal and converts the AV content recorded in the VOD area 10b to the communication function 110. To the seat terminal 2 via video on demand.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the seat terminal 2. The seat terminal 2 outputs an audio content request to the AV server 1 and a terminal device 20 that receives the AV content, an input device 21 that is operated by a passenger, a video output device 22 that outputs video, and audio. An audio output device 23 is provided. The terminal device 20 includes a communication function 200 that transmits and receives signals, a video / audio processing function 202 that composites AV content, and a control device 201 that controls these functions and processes a command input from the input device 21. Have.

  The operation of the seat terminal 2 will be described with reference to FIG. The passenger operates the input device 21 to select AV content. The control function 201 in the terminal device 20 receives these command signals and transmits an AV content request signal to the AV server 1 via the communication function 200. The communication function 200 receives AV content from the AV server 1, and the AV content is combined by the video / audio processing function 202 via the control function 201. The composite AV content video is displayed on the video output device 22, and the audio is output from the audio output device 23.

  The seat terminal 2 receives the AV content menu data transmitted from the system control device 5 and displays the distributed AV content menu on the video output device 22. Furthermore, when the reception permission of the AV content requested by the passenger cannot be acquired from the system control device 5, the message output from the system control unit 5 is received, and a message informing the passenger that it cannot be received is a video output device 22. To display.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the system control device 5. The environment setting database unit 7 is a database that manages the seat class information 70, the AV content list information 71, and the network information 72. The system control unit 8 receives operation information from the airframe system 6, sets AV content distributed by the AV server 1 using information held in the environment setting database unit 7, and controls an AV content request from the seat terminal 2. It has a control function 80, an information management function 81 for managing distribution content information 810 and communication state information 811, and a communication function 82 for transmitting and receiving signals. Information stored in the environment setting database unit 7 is displayed on the image output device 50 by the system control unit 8, and the crew member operates the input device 51 to change the information.

  The seat class information 70 is a list indicating a seat configuration for each flight number. Information such as the seat class (first, business, economy) of each seat corresponding to each flight number is managed. As in the example of the seat class information 70 shown in FIG. 6, the seat addresses assigned to each seat class and the number thereof are shown for each flight number.

  The AV content list information 71 is an information list of each AV content managed by the AV server 1. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, information such as AV content name, file name, encoding rate, playback time, language, genre, season to be distributed, related date, and related location are stored.

  The network information 72 includes information on the size of the storage device included in the AV server 1, the processing capacity of the AV server 1, and the bandwidth of the communication network 4a and the terminal communication network 4b.

  Setting of AV content to be distributed performed by the system control unit 8 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 8.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an operation process for setting AV contents.

  The control function 80 of the system control unit 8 receives the operation information from the airframe system 6 (S11), and creates adaptive classification information A1 indicating the classification information of the AV content to be distributed based on the operation information (S12). For example, for a flight from Tokyo to Los Angeles on March 20, 2000, the language is Japanese and English, the related places are the US and the West, and the related date is March 20, Adaptation type information A1 indicating AV content type information such as spring is created for the season.

  Further, the control function 80 sets a delivery upper limit A2 for each seat class based on the seat class information 70 and the network information 72 that the environment setting database unit has (S13 to 15). The distribution upper limit value A2 is calculated for each seat class calculated in consideration of the number of seats of each seat class indicated in the seat class information 70, the capability of the AV server 1 indicated in the network information 72, the communication network bandwidth, and the configuration. These are values such as the upper limit of the network bandwidth to be allocated, the upper limit of the number of AV contents to be distributed, the upper limit of the encoding rate, and the upper limit of the seat terminals 2 that can simultaneously access the same AV content. When the distribution upper limit value A2 is set for each seat class, priorities are given to classes in the order of first, business, and economy, and the distribution upper limit value A2 assigned to the class to be prioritized is increased. However, it is desirable to set the distribution upper limit value A2 in a balanced manner so that there is no significant difference in the upper limit value A2 of each class. An example of the distribution upper limit value A2 is shown in FIG.

  The control function 80 determines AV content to be distributed by the AV server 1 based on the adaptation type information A1 and the distribution upper limit value A2. First, AV contents having many items applicable to the adaptation type information A1 are listed from the AV contents list information 71 (S16). From these AV contents, the AV contents are selected so as not to exceed the distribution upper limit A2, and distribution content information 810 indicating the AV contents to be distributed is created for each seat class (S17). This information indicates the AV content to be distributed and its type information. The created distribution content information 810 is managed by the information management function 81.

  FIG. 10 shows an operation process of the system control unit 8 after the AV content is set.

  The control function 80 of the system control unit 8 creates communication state information 811 based on the distribution upper limit value A2 (S21). The communication state information 811 indicates the total number of seat terminals 2 receiving each AV content by class and the total number of seat terminals 2 and the upper limit number of seat terminals 2 that can be received. The created communication status information 811 is managed by the information management function 81.

  Further, the control function 80 creates AV content menu data based on the distribution content information 810 managed by the information management function 81, and transmits it to the seat terminal 2 via the communication function 82 (S22). This menu data includes a list menu of AV contents distributed to the seat terminal 2, and the seat terminal 2 can display a menu of AV contents distributed to passengers by analyzing this data. It is possible (S23, S24).

Thereafter, the communication function 82 receives an AV content request signal from the seat terminal 2 (S25). In response to this request signal, the control function 80 refers to the distribution content information 810 and the communication state information 811 managed by the information management function 81, and determines whether or not the requested AV content can be distributed (S26). First, based on the distribution content information 810, the control function 80 determines whether the requested AV content is distributed to the seat class of the seat terminal 2 that sent the request signal. In the case where the content is not distributed, the control function 80 transmits a message indicating that the AV content is not distributed to the passenger seat class via the communication function 82 (S27, S28). In the case of distribution, the control function 80 determines whether or not the AV content can be distributed based on the communication state information 811 (S29). If distribution is not possible, the control function 80 transmits a message indicating that the communication network is congested via the communication function 82 (S30, S28). If distribution is possible, the control function 80 transmits the received AV content request signal to the AV server 1 via the communication function 82 (S31, S32). Accordingly, the control function 80 updates the communication state information 811 (S33). AV content transmitted from the AV server 1 is transmitted to each seat terminal 2 via the communication function 82. (S34, S35)
The operation of the AV content distribution system in the passenger aircraft configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the system control device 5 sets AV contents to be distributed to each seat class based on operation information from the airframe system 6 (S41 to S43). In order to convey the set AV content to the passenger, the system control device 5 transmits the menu data of the AV content to the seat terminal 2 (S44). The seat terminal 2 receives this (S45), and allows the menu of the AV content to be distributed to be displayed on the screen (S46). When the passenger selects the AV content to be viewed, the seat terminal 2 transmits an AV content request signal for requesting the AV content from the AV server 1 to the AV server 1 (S47). The system control device 5 receives this signal before the AV server 1 and determines whether or not the requested AV content can be distributed in consideration of the seat class and the communication state (S48). If distribution is not possible, a message indicating that the content is not distributed to the seat terminal 2 is transmitted (S49), and the seat terminal 2 receives and displays the message to notify the passenger that the AV content requested is not distributed (S50, S51). If distributed, the system control device 5 transmits an AV content request signal to the AV server 1 (S52). The AV server 1 receives this signal (S53), and transmits the requested AV content to the seat terminal 2. This AV content is transmitted to the seat terminal 2 via the system control device 5 (S54), and the seat terminal 2 receives and reproduces it. This provides AV content to the passengers. (S55, S56)
In the above description, the AV server 1 performs video-on-demand distribution. However, the AV server 1 may perform not only video-on-demand distribution but also multicast distribution. In this case, the number of AV contents distributed in the entire AV content distribution is set dynamically or statically.

  In the above description, the system control device 5 automatically sets AV content. However, when there is AV content to be distributed regardless of the operation information, the crew member operates to set the AV content to be distributed. It may be possible to do this. Specifically, after the AV content to be distributed is automatically set, the crew member selects the AV content to be distributed using the image output device 50 and the input device 51 in FIG. The addition of the AV content to be distributed increases the load on the AV server 1 and the amount of data to be distributed. Therefore, the system control unit 8 resets the AV content to be distributed so as to reduce the increase.

  In the above description, the adaptive type information A1 indicating the type information of the AV content requested by the passenger is, for example, as shown in FIG. 9A. However, as shown in FIG. You may give priority. There is a method of setting AV content using priority, such as setting AV content having high priority type information or AV content having a high total priority of type information as content to be distributed. Conceivable.

  A method is also conceivable in which a crew member designates the priority and AV content is set based on the priority. For example, the “related person” considered as one of the type information is not normally indicated in the adaptive type information A1 by the operation information, but a celebrity who has been on the flight or a person who has recently become a hot topic With respect to the above, it is possible for the crew member to distribute the AV content related to the person by increasing the priority of the AV content related to the person.

  The content distribution system adapted to the operation information of the mobile body according to the present invention has an excellent effect that an AV content distribution system having an optimum configuration for providing services to passengers in a mobile body such as a passenger plane can be provided. It is useful as a system related to a system for providing a service for providing AV contents in a mobile unit such as a passenger plane.

Schematic configuration diagram of an AV content distribution system in an embodiment of the present invention Overview diagram showing a specific example in the embodiment of the present invention Schematic configuration diagram of an AV server in an embodiment of the present invention Schematic configuration diagram of a seat terminal in an embodiment of the present invention 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a system control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The figure which shows the specific example of the seat class information in embodiment of this invention The figure which shows the specific example of AV content classification information in embodiment of this invention The figure which shows schematically the process which sets the AV content which the system control part 8 in embodiment of this invention distributes The figure which shows the specific example of adaptive classification information A1 and delivery upper limit A2 in embodiment of this invention The figure which shows schematically the operation process after AV content setting of the system control 8 in embodiment of this invention The figure which shows the operation example of the whole system in embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the specific example of the adaptation classification information with a priority in embodiment of this invention

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 AV server 10 Storage device 10a AV content storage area 10b VOD area 11 Transmission / reception device 110 Communication function 111 Control function 2 Seat terminal 20 Terminal device 200 Communication function 201 Control function 202 Video / audio processing function 21 Input device 22 Video output device 23 Audio output Device 3 Relay device 4a Communication network 4b Terminal communication network 5 System control device 50 Image output device 51 Input device 6 Airframe system 7 Environment setting database unit 70 Seat class information 71 AV content list information 72 Network information 8 System control unit 80 Control function 81 Information management function 810 Distribution content information 811 Communication status information 82 Communication function

Claims (3)

An AV content distribution system comprising an AV server that transmits AV content such as a plurality of video content and audio content via a communication line on a mobile body, and a seat terminal that receives the content,
An AV content distribution system comprising a system control device that acquires operation information from a machine system via a communication line and automatically sets AV content to be distributed. The system controller is
The operation information, seat class information indicating a seat configuration corresponding to the operation information, type information relating to AV content stored in the AV server, processing capability of the AV server and communication between the AV server and the seat terminal An environment setting database section for storing line bandwidth information;
A system control unit that uses the operation information and the plurality of information stored in the environment setting database unit, sets AV content distributed by the AV server, and distributes information on the AV content to be distributed to the seat terminal The AV content distribution system according to claim 1, further comprising: The seat terminal is
2. The AV content distribution system according to claim 1, further comprising means for receiving information relating to AV content distributed by the system control device via a communication line and displaying the received information.

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