JP2008147759A - Distribution system, its recorder apparatus, terminal equipment and program recording/distributing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To record a program on a different channel while viewing a program in IP broadcasting using IP multicast distribution. <P>SOLUTION: The distribution system is provided with a recorder server 5 capable of accessing an IP network 2 where content data (a)-f are multicast distributed from an IP converted distribution device 1. An IPTV 4 transmits a program recording request (contents e) to the recorder server 5 while viewing the program of content data c. In response to the request, the recorder server 5 records specified program contents from received multicast streams to the recorder of the recorder server 5. Then, in the case of receiving a program reproduction request from the IPTV 4, the recorded program contents are distributed to the IPTV 4 by IP unicast. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a distribution system that receives a digital broadcast signal or the like and distributes the stream using IP (Internet Protocol) multicast, a recorder apparatus thereof, and a program recording / distribution method terminal apparatus.

  Unlike IP-VOD (Video On Demand), which distributes programs by IP unicast by individually specifying / requesting the contents that each viewer wants to view from the content storage server, multicasting of programs to be viewed by IP broadcasting By joining the group, the multicast router simply opens the program based on the IP multicast stream distributed on time to the home where the multicast group is requested to join. The advantage of this IP multicast distribution depends only on the number of broadcast programs (IP multicast), and does not occupy / squeeze the transmission bandwidth of the backbone network depending on the number of viewer requests. (For example, see Patent Document 1).

  However, in this system, since only a multicast stream of the program being viewed is sent to each home, a so-called program A that is distributed at the same time is recorded and recorded while a program A is viewed. Cannot perform “back program recording”.

Such a problem will not occur if there is enough bandwidth in the network transmission path to each home where the final end host (IPTV terminal / STB) exists, and a plurality of streams can be transmitted. Even the environment of facilities such as the occupation of bandwidth due to the high quality of content (from SD level to HD level) and the “last one mile” optical fiber to the final home are not fully prepared.
JP 2004-180023 A

  As described above, in IP broadcasting using IP multicast distribution, since there is no room in the transmission band to each home, a plurality of programs cannot be received simultaneously. For this reason, it is no longer possible to record and view the back program while viewing the program, as was possible with analog broadcasting.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a distribution system and a recorder apparatus for recording a back program while viewing a program in IP broadcasting using IP multicast distribution. Another object is to provide a terminal device and a program recording / delivery method.

  In order to achieve the above object, a first distribution system according to the present invention converts a program content into an IP packet and distributes it multicast via an IP network, and a terminal device belonging to a multicast group from a multicast router on the IP network A distribution system that distributes program content specified in the above-mentioned IP network, comprising a recorder device on the IP network, wherein the recorder device receives from the terminal device a receiving means that receives the multicast distributed program content. Recording means for recording the received program content in response to a received program recording request; and reading out the corresponding program content from the recording means in response to a program playback request sent from the terminal device; Distribution means for delivering to the terminal device From the recording request transmitting means for transmitting a recording request for the program content distributed to the recorder apparatus, a reproduction request transmitting means for transmitting a reproduction request for the recorded program content to the recorder apparatus, and the recorder apparatus Reproducing means for receiving and reproducing the program content to be distributed.

  The second distribution system according to the present invention receives a plurality of program contents, converts the received plurality of program contents into IP packets, and distributes the multicast contents via an IP network. A distribution system for distributing designated program content from a multicast router to a terminal device belonging to a multicast group, comprising a recorder device on the IP network, wherein the recorder device includes a plurality of program content to be multicast-distributed Receiving means, recording means for recording the received program content in response to a program recording request sent from the terminal device, and recording in response to a program playback request sent from the terminal device Read the corresponding program content from the means and Distribution means for distributing to a terminal device, wherein the terminal device transmits a recording request transmission means for transmitting a recording request for the program content to be distributed to the recorder device, and reproduces the program content recorded on the recorder device. It is characterized by comprising reproduction request transmitting means for transmitting a request and reproduction means for receiving and reproducing program content distributed from the recorder device.

  The recorder apparatus provided in the first distribution system according to the present invention converts program contents into IP packets and distributes them multicast via the IP network, and designates the terminal apparatus belonging to the multicast group from the multicast router on the IP network. A recorder apparatus provided in a distribution system for distributing the program content that has been distributed, the receiver being provided on the IP network and receiving the program content distributed by multicast, and the program recording sent from the terminal device A first recording means for recording the received program content in response to a request; and a corresponding program content read out from the first recording means in response to a program playback request sent from the terminal device to the terminal Distribution means for delivering to the device And features.

  The recorder apparatus provided in the second distribution system according to the present invention receives a plurality of program contents, converts each of the received plurality of program contents into IP packets, and multicasts them via an IP network, A recorder apparatus provided in a distribution system that distributes designated program content from a multicast router on an IP network to a terminal device belonging to a multicast group, the plurality of program contents provided on the IP network and distributed by multicast Receiving means, first recording means for recording the received program content in response to a program recording request sent from the terminal device, and in response to a program playback request sent from the terminal device Corresponding program controller from the first recording means. It reads Ntsu and characterized by comprising a delivering device for delivering to the terminal device.

  A terminal device provided in the first distribution system according to the present invention converts a program content into an IP packet and multicasts it via an IP network. The terminal device belongs to a multicast group from a multicast router on the IP network. Provided in the distribution system for distributing the program content designated by the receiver, receives and records the program content that is connected to the IP network and is multicast-delivered, and is designated by the terminal device among the recorded program content A recorder device that reads and distributes program content, a terminal device connected via the IP network, and a recording request transmission unit that transmits a recording request for the distributed program content to the recorder device, and the recorder Recorded on the device A reproduction request transmitting means for transmitting a request for reproducing program content, characterized by comprising a reproducing means for reproducing by receiving the program contents distributed from the recorder apparatus.

  The terminal device provided in the second distribution system according to the present invention receives a plurality of program contents, converts each of the received plurality of program contents into IP packets, and multicasts them via an IP network, Provided in a distribution system for distributing designated program content from a multicast router on an IP network to a terminal device belonging to a multicast group, and responding to a program recording request sent from the terminal device connected to the IP network A recorder device that receives and records distributed program content, reads program content specified from the terminal device among the recorded program content, and distributes the program content, and a terminal device connected via the IP network The recorder device Recording request transmission means for transmitting a recording request for the program content to be distributed, reproduction request transmission means for transmitting a reproduction request for the recorded program content to the recorder device, and program content distributed from the recorder device And reproducing means for receiving and reproducing.

  Also, the program recording / distribution method used in the first distribution system of the present invention converts the program contents into IP packets and multicasts them via the IP network, and belongs to the multicast group from the multicast router on the IP network. In a program recording / distribution method used in a distribution system for distributing program content designated by a terminal device, a recorder device is provided on the IP network, the recorder device receives the program content distributed by multicast, and The received program content is recorded in response to a program recording request sent from a terminal device, and the corresponding program content is read out from the recording means in response to a program playback request sent from the terminal device. Distributed to the device, the terminal device Transmitting a recording request for the program content distributed to the recorder device, transmitting a reproduction request for the recorded program content to the recorder device, and receiving and reproducing the program content distributed from the recorder device. Features.

  The program recording / distribution method used in the second distribution system of the present invention receives a plurality of program contents, converts each of the received plurality of program contents into IP packets, and multicasts them via an IP network. In a program recording / distribution method used in a distribution system for distributing and distributing designated program content from a multicast router on the IP network to a terminal device belonging to a multicast group, a recorder device is provided on the IP network, and the recorder An apparatus receives a plurality of program contents distributed by multicast, records the received program contents in response to a program recording request sent from the terminal apparatus, and reproduces a program sent from the terminal apparatus The corresponding number from the recording means upon request Content is read and distributed to the terminal device, the terminal device transmits a recording request for the program content to be distributed to the recorder device, and transmits a reproduction request for the recorded program content to the recorder device. The program content distributed from the recorder device is received and reproduced.

  In the above configuration, a recorder that can access a network on a backbone network that is a relay point of a multicast stream, instead of installing a recorder device (record storage device) for recording a back program in each home that is an actual end host. Install the equipment. On the backbone network corresponding to the relay point, IP multicast streams for all programs are transmitted, and program recording can be performed by extracting designated program contents from the IP multicast streams. Thus, even if only a multicast stream of the program being viewed is sent to each home, the back program distributed at the same time can be recorded and stored while viewing a certain program.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a distribution system, a recorder device, a terminal device, and a program recording / distribution method capable of recording a back program while viewing a program in IP broadcast using IP multicast distribution. it can.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)
In the first embodiment of the present invention, in a distribution system that distributes a plurality of program contents by IP multicast, by providing a recorder server on the IP network, the back program can be displayed even when the transmission band to the end host is limited. It enables recording.

  FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a distribution system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The operator of the recorder server 5, the broadcaster, and the service provider of the content holder provide a path to the router to which the recorder server 5 is connected so that the multicast stream signal of the broadcaster can be received.

  The IP distribution apparatus 1 converts content data (af) distributed from content holders on a broadcast station or an Internet service provider (ISP) into IP packets, and transmits “IP packets” on the IP network 2. Stream distribution by real-time IP multicast as “program”. The IP network 2 is configured by a general Internet.

  In each home, for example, a terminal device such as a television terminal compatible with IP connection (hereinafter referred to as IPTV) or STB (Set Top Box) is installed. An edge router 3 is provided to connect these terminal devices to the IP network 2. The edge router 3 is a multicast router that can handle an IP multicast protocol. As a standard example of the protocol, IGMP (Internet Group Management Protocol) is used in the case of an IPv4 network, and PIM (Protocol Independent Multicast) -SM + MLDv2 is used in the case of an IPv6 network. A reception path from the broadcasting station or the content holder to the terminal device is set via the edge router 3 by the IPv4 or IPv6 protocol.

  For example, when viewing a program on the IPTV 4, the IPTV 4 sets the reception of a multicast group corresponding to the desired program (content c) from the edge router 3. The edge router 3 releases the multicast stream of the content data c to the physical interface to which the IPTV 4 is connected. The merit of IP multicast distribution depends only on the number of broadcast programs (IP multicast), and does not occupy / squeeze the transmission bandwidth of the backbone network depending on the number of viewer requests as in VOD. Is mentioned.

  However, in this case, since only the multicast stream of the program being viewed is sent to each home terminal device, the program B distributed at the same time is recorded and recorded while viewing a certain program A. In other words, so-called “back program recording” cannot be performed. Therefore, in the present invention, a recorder device for recording a back program is not installed in each home which is an actual end host, but network access is possible on the backbone network (IP network 2) which is a relay point of the multicast stream. The recorder server 5 is installed. Note that “recording of the back program” here refers to a program that is IP broadcasted while viewing recorded content by a terminal device or a viewing device connected to the terminal device, in addition to viewing the program A. This includes the case of recording.

  The operator of the recorder server 5, the broadcaster, and the service provider of the content holder provide in advance a path to the router to which the recorder server 5 is connected so that the multicast stream signals of the broadcast station and the content holder can be received. IP multicast streams (content data a to f) for all programs are transmitted on the IP network 2, and the recorder server 5 can extract and accumulate target content data from a plurality of existing IP multicast streams. Is possible. As a result, even if only the multicast stream of the program being viewed is sent to the terminal device at each home, it is possible to record and save the program B distributed at the same time while viewing a program A at home. Become. Moreover, it is not necessary to transmit the data of program B in real time from the recorder server 5 existing at the relay point to the recorder device installed in each home for the recorded program B. The playback request time can be flexibly handled.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the recorder server 5. The recorder server 5 is connected to the IP network 2 which is a backbone network to which all contents are multicast distributed by the network device 104. When the network device 104 receives various requests transmitted from each home terminal device, the request interpretation unit 105 determines the type of the received request (program recording / playback / deletion, etc.). The request response unit 106 returns a response to the received request toward the requesting terminal. The request execution unit 107 executes the requested instruction content according to the determination by the request interpretation unit 105.

  The state management unit 108 manages state transitions of request interpretation / response / execution performed by the request interpretation unit 105, the request response unit 106, and the request execution unit 107. The connection management unit 109 manages the content data input state and the user access state. The setting storage unit 110 stores setting information (storage capacity, recording reservation status, etc.) of each user in the recorder server 5 in a setting recording medium.

  The content recording unit 112 records the corresponding content on the content recording medium 101 in response to the program recording request supplied from the request execution unit 107 under the control of the recording control unit 111. The content playback unit 114 performs playback processing of content recorded on the content recording medium 101 in response to the playback request supplied from the request execution unit 107 under the control of the playback control unit 113. The recording deletion unit 115 deletes the content recorded on the content recording medium 101 in response to the deletion request supplied from the request execution unit 107.

  In addition, the content protection unit 116 performs protection processing for the content recorded on the content recording medium 101. The timer unit 117 manages the expiration date of the content recorded on the content recording medium 101 and deletes the content whose expiration date has passed from the content recording medium 101. The capacity management unit 118 manages the capacity of content recorded on the content recording medium 101. For example, the capacity management unit 118 limits the execution of the program recording request when the capacity exceeds a preset capacity for each terminal device.

  FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration of the terminal device. Hereinafter, the IPTV 4 will be described as an example of the terminal device. The IPTV 4 includes a network I / F 201, an input unit 202, an output unit 203, a setting memory 204, a content memory 205, a command transmission unit 206, and a content reproduction unit 207. The network I / F 201 is configured by a TCP / IP board, for example, and is connected to the edge router 3 by a wired or wireless line. The IPTV 4 communicates with the recorder server 5 via the edge router 3 by this network I / F 201.

  The input unit 202 is input means such as a keyboard, a mouse, a button, and a switch. The output unit 203 is a display unit such as a monitor display such as a CRT or LCD, a speaker, or a lamp. The setting memory 204 stores multicast stream reception group setting information to be set in the edge router 3 and connection destination information for connection to the recorder server 5. For example, the IP address or URL of the recorder server 5 is used as the connection destination information.

  The command transmission unit 206 transmits various commands (program recording request, program reproduction request, program deletion process) to the recorder server using the connection destination information stored in the setting memory 204. The content playback unit 207 stores the recorded content acquired from the recorder server 5 in response to the program playback request in the content memory 205, reads out the corresponding recorded content in response to the user playback request, and outputs it to the output unit 203.

  The operation of the distribution system configured as described above will be described.

(Program recording process)
FIG. 4 is a system diagram illustrating a content recording sequence. It is assumed that the IPTV 4 is viewing the content c by setting a reception group so that the edge router 3 receives the content c. At this time, the IPTV 4 transmits a program recording request for the content e of the back program to the recorder server 5 by the command transmission unit 206. When receiving the program recording request, the recorder server 5 starts recording the content e. Then, the recorder server 5 returns a program recording response.

(Program playback processing)
FIG. 5 is a system diagram illustrating a content playback sequence. The command transmission unit 206 of the IPTV 4 transmits a program playback request for the already recorded content e to the recorder server 5. Upon receiving this program playback request, the recorder server 5 reads the content e from the content recording medium, returns a program playback response to the IPTV 4, and also delivers the content by stream distribution by IP unicast or normal download (data transfer). Distribution of e is started.

  When the content e is stream-distributed from the recorder server 5, the content playback unit 207 of the IPTV 4 receives the stream-delivered content e by the network I / F 201 and outputs it to the display device. When content e is downloaded from the recorder server 5, the content e received by the network I / F 201 is stored in the content memory 205. Then, in response to a request from the user, the content reproduction unit 207 reads the content e from the content memory 205 and outputs it to the display device.

(Program deletion process)
FIG. 6 is a system diagram illustrating a content deletion sequence. The command transmission unit 206 of the IPTV 4 transmits a program deletion request for the already recorded content e to the recorder server 5. When receiving the program deletion request, the recorder server 5 starts deleting the content e stored in the content recording medium and returns a program deletion response to the IPTV 4.

  As described above, in the first embodiment, by providing the recorder server 5 on the IP network 2 which is a backbone network, even when the transmission band at the end to the terminal device is limited, the program can be viewed. However, it becomes possible to record the back program. For recorded programs, it is not necessary to transmit the program data in real time from the recorder at the relay point to the recorder installed in each home, and it is flexible for network congestion and user demands. It becomes possible to cope with.

  In the first embodiment, it is also possible to display the execution result for the request to the user on the terminal device side according to the response result returned from the recorder server 5. For example, for an IP broadcast of program content that the user does not have the right to record and save, a response indicating the error content in the program recording response is returned in response to the program recording request, and the “recording and saving right” is displayed on the display screen of the IPTV 4. It is possible to present information such as "You cannot record because the program content does not own".

(Second Embodiment)
The second embodiment of the present invention further provides an authentication function in the distribution system of the first embodiment, and the recorder device executes a request sent from the terminal device only when the authentication is successful. It is to make.
FIG. 7 is an overall configuration diagram of a distribution system showing a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram of the recorder server 5A shown in FIG. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to FIG.1 and FIG.2 and an identical part in the said 1st Embodiment, and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted. The configuration of the terminal device will be described using the IPTV 4 shown in FIG.

  The distribution system in FIG. 7 includes an authentication server 6 that can be connected to the recorder server 5A. When receiving a request from the terminal device, the recorder server 5A instructs the authentication server 6 to perform authentication processing based on the information used for authentication received from the terminal device. The authentication server 6 authenticates a terminal device or a user who uses the terminal device according to an instruction from the recorder server 5A. The recorder server 5A executes a request from the terminal device only when there is a response of authentication success from the authentication server 6. In FIG. 7, the authentication server 6 is separately provided. However, as shown in FIG. 8, an authentication database 119 may be provided in the recorder server 5A. Hereinafter, a case where authentication processing is performed using the authentication database 119 provided in the recorder server 5A will be described.

  In FIG. 8, the recorder server 5 </ b> A further includes an authentication database 119 and an authentication execution unit 120. Data used for authentication is stored in the authentication database 119 in advance. Data used for authentication is information for identifying a user or a terminal device used by the user. For example, a registered user name / password, a user-used network address, a user-used Mac address, and a user-used device unique ID (Device license) and an electronic certificate (encryption key) for user use are used. The authentication execution unit 120 performs authentication processing by accessing the authentication database 119.

Next, an operation at the time of program recording / playback in the distribution system configured as described above will be described.
In FIG. 7, the IPTV 4 transmits the data used for authentication to the recorder server 5A together with the program recording / playback request by the command transmission unit 206. Upon receiving the program recording / playback request and data used for authentication, the recorder server 5A accesses the authentication database 119 by the authentication execution unit 120 and makes an authentication request based on the data used for authentication. At the time of authentication in the authentication execution unit 120, by referring to the registered user name and password match, referring to the charging status, the expiration date of user registration, and the status of exceeding the capacity limit that can store data Finally, the result of authentication (authentication success / authentication failure) is notified.

  If there is an authentication success response from the authentication execution unit 120, the above request is executed, and a response indicating the execution result is returned to the IPTV 4. On the other hand, when an authentication failure response is received from the authentication execution unit 120, a response indicating the authentication failure is returned to the IPTV 4 without executing the request. At this time, information indicating that “the customer's request cannot be executed because authentication has failed” can be presented on the display screen of the IPTV 4.

  Further, in the case of successful authentication, it is possible to identify the user who has requested the recorder server 5A, and therefore it is possible to register individual user setting information in the authentication database 119. This makes it possible to adapt the data storage format (moving image encoding method) to the user's environment. In that case, the content recording unit 112 changes from the original moving image coding method (for example, MPEG-2 video) in IP broadcasting to the moving image coding method (for example, H.264 / AVC) designated by the user. It has a transcoding function to convert. In addition, in order to distribute data recorded and stored in a moving picture encoding method designated by the user to the user, the content reproduction unit 114 has an encoding function in accordance with the moving picture coding method designated by the user.

  Furthermore, in the case of authentication using an electronic certificate (encryption key) held by the user, it is encrypted to a storage format for content that can be played back uniquely in each home only from the viewpoint of copyright protection, which is the scope of private recording. Distribution is also possible.

  In addition, from the viewpoint of copyright protection on the content holder side of “ensuring the sameness of broadcast contents”, a terminal device used by a user when distributing data stored in the recorder server 5 to a requested home It is also possible to restrict the devices that can be played back by the device-specific ID (device license).

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, by providing an authentication function for specifying a terminal device or a user, the recorder server 5 receives a request sent from the terminal device only when the authentication is successful. To execute. This makes it possible to provide a service according to a specific user or terminal device. In particular, since digital content does not deteriorate from the original data even if it is copied, a recorder installed in each home from the viewpoint of copyright protection, which is the “private recording range” in terrestrial digital broadcasting and CS broadcasting. Although it is limited to primary copy (copy-once), multiple program broadcast waves reach each home. In the distribution system according to the second embodiment, since it is possible to record and save a plurality of programs that are practically difficult to deal with, the IP multicast broadcast is performed without losing the convenience of the user as in the case of the conventional program broadcast wave. Can be realized.

(Third embodiment)
According to a third embodiment of the present invention, in the distribution system of the first embodiment, a region limiting function is further provided, and the recorder device records and reproduces the content provided according to the region where the terminal device is installed. It is what you do.
FIG. 9 is an overall configuration diagram of a distribution system showing a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram of the recorder server 5B shown in FIG. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to FIG.1 and FIG.2 and an identical part in the said 1st Embodiment, and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted. The configuration of the terminal device will be described using the IPTV 4 shown in FIG.

  The distribution system in FIG. 9 is provided with a region-limited server 7 that can be connected to the recorder server 5B. When inputting a recording request command, the terminal device inputs information (hereinafter referred to as an area code) indicating an area where the terminal device exists. When the recorder server 5B receives the recording request command from the terminal device, the recorder server 5B instructs the region limitation server 7 on the region confirmation processing based on the area code received together with the command from the terminal device. The area code registered when the content viewing contract is made between the terminal device and the content holder is stored in advance in the setting memory 204 of the terminal device, and this stored area code is stored in the recording request command. As a part, it may be transmitted to the recorder server 5B. Alternatively, the recorder server 5B may have a function of automatically reading a router passing through the recording request source terminal device and detecting the area code of the terminal device.

  The area-limited server 7 determines whether or not a program requested to be recorded / reproduced can be viewed in the area from the information indicating the area of the terminal device according to an instruction from the recorder server 5B. The recorder server 5B executes the request from the terminal device only when there is a response from the area-limited server 7 indicating that the area is viewable. In FIG. 9, the area limiting server 7 is separately provided. However, as shown in FIG. 10, an area limiting database 121 may be provided in the recorder server 5B. Hereinafter, a case where the area limitation process is performed using the area limitation database 121 provided in the recorder server 5B will be described.

  In FIG. 10, the recorder server 5 </ b> B further includes an area limitation database 121 and an area execution unit 122. In the area limitation database 121, data used for area limitation is stored in advance. The data used only for the region is information for identifying and recognizing the location where the terminal device used by the user is installed. For example, in Saitama, you can watch TV Saitama, but you cannot watch TV Kanagawa. The purpose of this is to “ensure the regional limitation of the broadcast content” that is being implemented in terrestrial broadcasting. Depending on the number of regional restrictions, a form in which a plurality of recorder servers are installed in each region is also conceivable.

Next, an operation at the time of program recording / playback in the distribution system configured as described above will be described.
In FIG. 9, the IPTV 4 transmits data (for example, area code) used for region limitation to the recorder server 5 </ b> B together with a program recording / playback request by the command transmission unit 206. When the recorder server 5B receives the program recording / reproduction request and the data used for region limitation, the region execution unit 122 accesses the region limitation database 121, and the IPTV 4 views the program specified by the program recording / reproduction request. Determine if it applies to the region. When the area execution unit 122 determines that the IPTV 4 falls within the viewing area of the program, the recorder server 5B executes the program recording / playback request and returns a response indicating the execution result to the IPTV 4. On the other hand, if the area execution unit 122 determines that the IPTV 4 does not fall within the viewing area, the response indicating the execution failure is returned to the IPTV 4 without executing the request.

  As described above, according to the third embodiment, by providing the area limiting function, it is possible to ensure the area limitation of the broadcast content being implemented in the terrestrial broadcasting. In addition, since the recorder server 5B grasps the area where the terminal device is installed, for example, it is possible to record content corresponding to the area of the terminal device such as CM and weather forecast.

(Fourth embodiment)
According to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, in the distribution system of the first embodiment, a program content can be requested to be recorded from an outside location by an access device such as a mobile terminal device.
FIG. 11 is an overall configuration diagram of a distribution system showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 is a functional block diagram of the recorder server 5C shown in FIG. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to FIG.1 and FIG.2 and an identical part in the said 1st Embodiment, and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted. The configuration of the terminal device will be described using the IPTV 4 shown in FIG.

  In the distribution system of FIG. 11, an access device 41 such as a notebook personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a notebook personal computer) is connected to the recorder server 5C by an edge router 31. In addition, wireless access devices 42, 43, and 44 that can perform wireless communication such as mobile phone terminals are connected to the recorder server 5C via the wireless LAN access point 32. The access device 41 and the wireless access devices 42, 43, and 44 are used by users who use the IPTV 4 on the go.

  In FIG. 12, the recorder server 5 </ b> C further includes an I / F database 123 and an I / F providing unit 124. In the I / F database 123, device information of the access device 41 and the wireless access devices 42, 43, and 44 and setting data for associating these devices with the IPTV 4 are stored. The I / F providing unit 124 provides a standard user interface such as WEB so that the access device 41 and the wireless access devices 42, 43, and 44 can be used in common.

A program recording operation in the distribution system configured as described above will be described. Here, a case will be described in which the user makes a program recording request using the access device 41 on the go, and views the program using the IPTV 4 at home after returning home.
When the recorder server 5C is accessed from the access device 41 on the go, the I / F providing unit 124 accesses the I / F database 123 to acquire device information and accepts a program recording request. Provides a user interface. When the recorder server 5C receives the program recording request, the content recording unit 112 records the designated program content in the content recording medium 101. Then, the recorder server 5C transmits a program recording response to the requesting access device 41.

  On the other hand, after the user returns home, the command transmission unit 206 transmits a program reproduction request from the IPTV 4 at home to the recorder server 5C. Then, the recorder server 5 reads the corresponding program content from the content recording medium 101 by the content reproduction unit 114 under the control of the reproduction control unit 113 and distributes it to the IPTV 4 by IP unicast.

  In addition, authentication is performed for each access device as in the second embodiment, and setting information is given as the link, thereby converting to a moving image encoding method that can be reproduced and output on, for example, a portable terminal or a laptop computer. And can be easily distributed.

  Also, as shown in FIG. 13, even if the portal site 8 is installed as an access destination from the external network, the same service can be provided. The portal site here provides a standard user I / F such as WEB for connections from the access device 41 and the wireless access devices 42, 43, 44, and according to the request from the user, A request is made to the recorder server 5C by proxy. By providing a standard I / F such as WEB, a service can be developed without providing a user I / F for recording an original program like IPTV and STB.

  As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, by providing a standard user interface to the various access devices from the recorder server 5C, for example, a recording request for program content can be requested from the outside by a mobile terminal device. This is possible, and convenience can be improved.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. In each of the above embodiments, when receiving content data (af) distributed from a broadcast station or a content holder on an Internet service provider (ISP), converting them into IP packets and multicasting them, In other words, the case of retransmission is described as an example, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the content server of the transmission source that holds the program content may distribute the held content directly to the user terminal device via the network by multicast.

  Further, according to the method of enabling the back program recording of the present invention, since it is not a general server access type back program recording, it is not necessary to perform server management such as preventing download of content before broadcasting, and the system There is also an advantage that management becomes easy.

For example, all program content (content data a to f) received by the IP multicast in the recorder server 5 may be recorded on the content recording medium 101 separately from the recording request from the terminal device. In this way, even when the user makes a recording request after the program starts, program content can be provided from the start of the program. In addition, for example, a service for distributing VOD to a terminal device for a limited time such as one week is also possible.

  In short, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments as they are, and can be embodied by modifying the components without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. Moreover, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the above embodiments. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in each embodiment. Furthermore, you may combine suitably the component covering different embodiment.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of a distribution system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The functional block diagram which shows the structure of the recorder server shown in FIG. The functional block diagram which shows the structure of the terminal device shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a system diagram illustrating a content recording sequence in the distribution system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a system diagram illustrating a content viewing sequence in the distribution system according to the first embodiment. The system block diagram explaining the sequence of the content deletion in the delivery system of 1st Embodiment. The figure which shows the structure of the delivery system concerning the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. The functional block diagram of the recorder server shown in FIG. The figure which shows the structure of the delivery system concerning the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. The functional block diagram of the recorder server shown in FIG. The figure which shows the structure of the delivery system concerning the 4th Embodiment of this invention. The functional block diagram of the recorder server shown in FIG. The figure which shows the other structure of the delivery system shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... IP distribution apparatus, 2 ... IP network, 3 ... Edge router, 4 ... IPTV, 5 ... Recorder server of 1st Embodiment, 101 ... Content recording medium, 102 ... Setting recording medium, 103 ... Recording Memory 104 104 Network device 105 Request interpreter 106 Request response unit 107 Request execution unit 108 Status management unit 109 Connection management unit 110 Setting storage unit 111 Recording control unit 112 ... Content recording unit, 113 ... Playback control unit, 114 ... Content playback unit, 115 ... Content deletion unit, 116 ... Content protection unit, 117 ... Timer unit, 118 ... Capacity management unit, 201 ... Network I / F, 202 ... Input , 203 ... output unit, 205 ... content memory, 206 ... command transmission unit, 207 ... content reproduction unit, 5A ... second Recorder server of embodiment, 6 ... authentication server, 119 ... database for authentication, 120 ... authentication execution unit, 5B ... recorder server of third embodiment, 7 ... area limited server, 121 ... database for area limitation, 122 ... area Execution unit, 5C ... recorder server of the fourth embodiment, 31 ... edge router, 32 ... wireless LAN access point, 41 ... access device, 42, 43, 44 ... wireless access device, 123 ... database for I / F, 124 ... I / F provider, 8 ... portal site server.

Claims (18)

A distribution system that converts program content into IP (Internet Protocol) packets and distributes them multicast via an IP network, and distributes the specified program content from a multicast router on the IP network to terminal devices belonging to a multicast group. ,
A recorder device on the IP network;
The recorder device
Receiving means for receiving the program content distributed by multicast;
Recording means for recording the received program content in response to a program recording request sent from the terminal device;
A distribution unit that reads out the corresponding program content from the recording unit in response to a program playback request sent from the terminal device and distributes the program content to the terminal device;
The terminal device
Recording request transmission means for transmitting a recording request for the program content to be distributed to the recorder device;
Reproduction request transmitting means for transmitting a reproduction request for the recorded program content to the recorder device;
A distribution system comprising: reproduction means for receiving and reproducing program content distributed from the recorder device. A plurality of program contents are received, each of the received plurality of program contents is converted into IP packets, and multicast distribution is performed via an IP network, and designated by a terminal device belonging to a multicast group from a multicast router on the IP network. A distribution system for distributing program content,
A recorder device on the IP network;
The recorder device
Receiving means for receiving a plurality of program contents distributed by multicast;
Recording means for recording the received program content in response to a program recording request sent from the terminal device;
A distribution unit that reads out the corresponding program content from the recording unit in response to a program playback request sent from the terminal device and distributes the program content to the terminal device;
The terminal device
Recording request transmission means for transmitting a recording request for the program content to be distributed to the recorder device;
Reproduction request transmitting means for transmitting a reproduction request for the recorded program content to the recorder device;
A distribution system comprising: reproduction means for receiving and reproducing program content distributed from the recorder device. A recorder device provided in a distribution system that converts program content into an IP packet, multicasts it via an IP network, and delivers program content designated by a multicast router on the IP network to a terminal device belonging to a multicast group. And
Provided on the IP network;
Receiving means for receiving the program content distributed by multicast;
First recording means for recording the received program content in response to a program recording request sent from the terminal device;
A recorder apparatus comprising: distribution means for reading out corresponding program content from the first recording means in response to a program reproduction request sent from the terminal apparatus and distributing the program content to the terminal apparatus. A plurality of program contents are received, each of the received plurality of program contents is converted into IP packets, and multicast distribution is performed via an IP network, and designated by a terminal device belonging to a multicast group from a multicast router on the IP network. A recorder device provided in a distribution system for distributing program content,
Provided on the IP network;
Receiving means for receiving a plurality of program contents distributed by multicast;
First recording means for recording the received program content in response to a program recording request sent from the terminal device;
A recorder apparatus comprising: distribution means for reading out corresponding program content from the first recording means in response to a program reproduction request sent from the terminal apparatus and distributing the program content to the terminal apparatus.   5. The recorder apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a management unit that manages the program content recorded in the first recording unit in response to a request sent from the terminal device.   Authentication means for performing user authentication based on the identification information when the identification information for identifying the user is transmitted together with the request sent from the terminal device, and executing the request based on the authentication result; The recorder apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, further comprising:   When a data format reproducible in the terminal device is designated, the first recording means converts the received program content into the designated data in response to a program recording request sent from the terminal device. The recorder apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the recorder apparatus is recorded after being converted into a format.   The said recorder apparatus is further provided with the preservation | save period restriction | limiting means to delete the said program content after progress for a predetermined period from the time of recording the said program content with respect to the said recorded program content. 4. The recorder device according to 4.   The recorder apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a capacity limiting unit that limits a capacity capable of recording the program content for each terminal apparatus.   5. The recorder apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the distribution means further distributes the read program content to the terminal apparatus after converting the read program content into a format that can be reproduced only by the requesting terminal apparatus.   The distribution means reads out the corresponding program content from the first recording means in accordance with a program reproduction request sent from the terminal device and regional information of the terminal device, and distributes the program content to the terminal device. The recorder apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that   The apparatus further comprises device setting means for associating and storing a plurality of the terminal devices, and the first recording means records the received program content in response to a program recording request sent from a different terminal device. The recorder device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein   5. The recorder apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising second recording means for recording all received program contents distributed by multicast.   When the program recording request sent from the terminal device is after the start time of the program, the distribution unit reads out the corresponding program content from the second recording unit from the start of the program and sends it to the terminal device. 14. The recorder device according to claim 13, wherein the recorder device is distributed. Provided in a distribution system for converting program content into an IP packet, multicast distribution via an IP network, and distributing program content designated by a multicast router on the IP network to a terminal device belonging to a multicast group, the IP network Connected to a recorder device that receives and records the program content distributed by multicast and reads and distributes the program content specified from the terminal device among the recorded program content via the IP network A terminal device,
Recording request transmission means for transmitting a recording request for the program content to be distributed to the recorder device;
Reproduction request transmitting means for transmitting a reproduction request for the recorded program content to the recorder device;
A terminal device comprising: reproducing means for receiving and reproducing program content distributed from the recorder device. A plurality of program contents are received, each of the received plurality of program contents is converted into IP packets, and multicast distribution is performed via an IP network, and designated by a terminal device belonging to a multicast group from a multicast router on the IP network. Provided in the distribution system for distributing the program content received and recorded in response to the program recording request sent from the terminal device connected to the IP network, and recorded and recorded. A recorder device that reads and distributes program content designated from the terminal device among program content, and a terminal device connected via the IP network,
Recording request transmission means for transmitting a recording request for the program content to be distributed to the recorder device;
Reproduction request transmitting means for transmitting a reproduction request for the recorded program content to the recorder device;
A terminal device comprising: reproducing means for receiving and reproducing program content distributed from the recorder device. Program recording / distribution used in a distribution system that converts program contents into IP packets, multicasts them via an IP network, and delivers program contents designated by a multicast router on the IP network to terminal devices belonging to the multicast group In the method
A recorder device is provided on the IP network,
The recorder device
Receiving the multicast distributed program content;
Recording the received program content in response to a program recording request sent from the terminal device;
In response to a program playback request sent from the terminal device, the corresponding program content is read from the recording means and distributed to the terminal device,
The terminal device
Sending a recording request for the program content to be distributed to the recorder device;
Sending a playback request for the recorded program content to the recorder device;
A program recording / delivery method comprising receiving and reproducing program content distributed from the recorder device. A plurality of program contents are received, each of the received plurality of program contents is converted into IP packets, and multicast distribution is performed via an IP network, and designated by a terminal device belonging to a multicast group from a multicast router on the IP network. In a program recording / distribution method used in a distribution system for distributing program content,
A recorder device is provided on the IP network,
The recorder device
Receiving a plurality of program contents distributed by multicast;
Recording the received program content in response to a program recording request sent from the terminal device;
In response to a program playback request sent from the terminal device, the corresponding program content is read from the recording means and distributed to the terminal device,
The terminal device
Sending a recording request for the program content to be distributed to the recorder device;
Sending a playback request for the recorded program content to the recorder device;
A program recording / delivery method comprising receiving and reproducing program content distributed from the recorder device.

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