JP2008160301A - Content distribution device, network terminal, and content distribution system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve a problem that it is difficult to change over reproduction terminals while making contents continue in a system in which the contents are distributed and reproduced. <P>SOLUTION: The system has a small size portable terminal 1, and a terminal 2 which is a relatively large stand-alone type, which can be connected to a network 5. A code content server 3 has a function to distribute the contents converted to digital through the network. The content server 3 has objects of various forms such as a service offered by a content distribution provider, distribution by a PC (Personal Computer) in a home or a server device of exclusive use, etc. A router 4 is a router for connecting the portable terminal 1 and the stand-alone terminal 2 to the internet 5, and has a granting function of IP addresses to the terminal 1 and the stand-alone terminal 2, a routing function, a security function, etc. When changing over content reproducing terminals which are content distribution objects from the small size portable terminal 1 to the stand-alone terminal 2, it is possible to smoothly change over the content distribution points by acquiring necessary information beforehand. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a content distribution technology via a network.

  In recent years, continuous connection via the Internet has become widespread, and content distribution services via the network have become widespread, which makes it possible to view video content and the like by communication. The content viewing method in this case is roughly classified into two types. The first content viewing method is a content download type in which content is downloaded to a terminal and then the content is viewed. The second content viewing method is a streaming type that reproduces content while downloading the content in real time.

  There are various types of viewing terminals ranging from portable terminals having a small display screen to stationary terminals having a large display monitor (for example, a PC having a large liquid crystal monitor). The delivery method, screen size, and image quality are not available in real time. Therefore, it is common to view the content from the beginning to the end with the same terminal.

In addition, a communication system is disclosed in which a terminal that receives content during content distribution is changed according to the situation of the viewer and the continuation is viewed (see Patent Document 1). Patent Document 1 discloses two different terminals 10 and 60, terminal connection devices 20 and 50 connected to the terminals 10 and 60, and services to the terminals 10 and 60 connected to the terminal connection devices 20 and 50, respectively. Disclosed is a system including a service providing apparatus 40 that provides service and a service providing status management apparatus 30 that manages the service providing status so that services can be continuously provided between different terminals 10 and 60. ing.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-070042

  When viewing content, first check the content on your mobile device, and if you are interested, switch to a larger device to view or view the content you were watching while moving. When returning home, there is a request to switch to a large terminal from the middle. Conversely, there is a request to watch while using a large terminal, but to go out, and to enjoy the continuation while moving with a portable terminal.

  However, in the download type, the data file is moved from one terminal to another, and is reproduced from the beginning at the destination terminal. Even in the streaming type, if the terminal is changed, the communication session will be disconnected once, and a new terminal will need to be reconnected, and playback will start from the beginning. .

  The technique described in Patent Document 1 also requires a service provision status management device 30 that manages the service provision status, and a new device needs to be added. In addition, specific means for switching terminals while continuously playing back content is not disclosed, and there is a problem that it is difficult to cope with the streaming type.

  The content distribution technique according to the present invention is characterized in that the content distribution destination is smoothly switched by acquiring necessary information in advance when switching the content reproduction terminal to be a content distribution target.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, a content reproduction terminal that receives and reproduces content via a network and a content distribution device that distributes content via the network, the content being distributed via the first communication interface. A content distribution device having a second communication interface that communicates with a second content reproduction terminal different from the first content reproduction terminal, and when the content reproduction destination content reproduction terminal is switched, There is provided a content distribution system in which information relating to reception / reproduction capability of the content reproduction terminal is exchanged between the content reproduction terminal and the content distribution device.

  According to the above system, by switching the content distribution in advance before switching the network (content distribution destination), it is possible to smoothly switch the reproduction of the content when the terminal is switched.

  When the content reproduction destination content reproduction terminal is switched, content reproduction information and content distribution information are exchanged in advance between the content reproduction terminal and the content distribution device. Thus, by completing the content distribution setting before the network switching, it is possible to suppress time loss and content disconnection and switch the connection destination.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, a first communication interface unit that forms an interface for performing communication via a network, a content distribution unit that distributes content, and a first that distributes content from the content distribution unit There is provided a content distribution apparatus including a switching control unit that performs control to switch a content distribution destination to a second distribution destination terminal different from the distribution destination terminal.

  The switching control unit acquires the reception / playback capability of the terminal that delivers the content after switching the network when the delivery destination terminal is changed during the delivery of the content, and according to the reception / playback capability The content distribution method is determined in advance. The switching control unit can also instruct a change in the content encoding method. Further, it is possible for the switching control unit to instruct a delivery destination address. It has a plurality of encoding systems that operate simultaneously.

  Thereby, even when the content distribution connection destination is changed, the content is switched without interruption. Even if the content encoding method to be distributed is changed, the content is switched without interruption.

  In addition, a second communication interface unit that receives content via a network, a communication information management unit that manages communication information via the second communication interface unit, and a content reproduction capability that manages content reproduction capability information There is provided a content reproduction terminal comprising: an information management unit; a storage unit that stores the communication information, the content reproduction capability information, and a content reception terminal ID when the content is received. By storing the communication information, the content reproduction capability information, and the content receiving terminal ID, it is determined in advance whether or not switching is possible in consideration of communication capability, reproduction capability, and the like when the content distribution destination terminal is switched. can do.

  As described above, when changing the terminal for reproducing content from, for example, a small portable terminal to a large-screen network TV, or vice versa, the user only has to indicate the connection destination terminal. The time loss required for switching can be reduced, and the reproduction of content can be continued without interruption.

  Hereinafter, a content distribution technique according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the entire content distribution system according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the content distribution system according to the present embodiment is connectable to a network 5 and is a terminal capable of reproducing video content, for example, a small portable terminal (such as a PDA) 1 and relatively large. This is a stationary terminal (for example, a large network TV) 2. The content server 3 has a function of distributing digitally converted content via a network. The content server 3 is targeted for various forms such as a service provided by a content distributor, distribution by a home PC or a dedicated server device.

  The router 4 is a router for connecting the portable terminal 1 and the stationary terminal 2 to the Internet 5 and has an IP address assignment, a routing function, a security function, etc. to the terminal 1 and the stationary terminal 2.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating in detail a configuration example of the mobile terminal 1 according to the present embodiment. The description will be continued with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the network communication unit 11 communicates with the network 5 by wire or wireless. The communication state management unit 12 obtains information related to the communication state such as the currently used communication means, communication band, channel quality such as the estimated error rate from the network communication unit 11 and stores it in the setting state storage unit 15. If necessary, it is determined whether or not the setting needs to be updated based on the difference in information. If the setting is updated, the contents stored in the setting state storage unit 15 are updated. The content playback unit 13 plays back digitally encoded content such as MPEG and WMA. The content playback information management unit 14 receives attribute information related to content playback, such as the type of content currently being played back, the frame rate, pointer information indicating how far the content has been played back, and the type of decoding function held by the content playback unit 13. Obtain and store in the setting state storage unit 15. In addition, when necessary, it is determined whether or not the setting needs to be updated based on the difference in information. When the setting is updated, the setting state storage unit 15 is updated. The setting state storage unit 15 is a database that stores information on the communication state management unit 12 and the content reproduction information management unit 14, for example. The display / input unit 16 can display image data and input data using a touch panel or the like. The audio output unit 17 outputs audio data. The short-range wireless communication unit 18 mainly performs communication between terminals using Bluetooth, RF-ID, or the like.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration example of the stationary terminal 2 according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 21 denotes a network communication unit that performs communication with the network 5 by wire or wireless. Reference numeral 22 denotes a communication state management unit, which obtains communication state information such as currently used communication means, communication band, and line quality such as error rate from the network communication unit 21 and stores it in the setting state storage unit 15. To do. Further, when necessary, it is determined whether or not the setting needs to be updated based on the difference in information, and the setting state storage unit 25 is updated as necessary. Reference numeral 23 denotes a content reproduction unit which reproduces digitally encoded content such as MPEG and WMA.

  Reference numeral 24 denotes a content reproduction information management unit, which obtains attribute information related to content reproduction, such as the type of content currently being reproduced, the frame rate, the location where the reproduction has been performed, and the type of decoding function to be held, from the content reproduction unit 23. Store in the setting state storage unit 25. Further, it is determined whether or not the setting needs to be updated based on the difference in information when necessary, and the setting state storage unit 15 is updated as necessary.

  Reference numeral 25 denotes a setting state storage unit, which is a database that stores information of the communication state management unit 22 and the content reproduction information management unit 24. FIG. 5 shows a configuration example of a terminal setting state table stored in reference numeral 25. As shown in FIG. 5, the terminal setting state table describes communication information such as communication equipment, communication means, and communication quality, and content information such as a content encoding method and a content server. Has been. Reference numeral 26 denotes a display / input unit which displays image data and inputs using a touch panel or the like. Reference numeral 27 denotes an audio output unit that outputs audio data. Reference numeral 28 denotes a short-range wireless communication unit, which mainly performs communication between terminals using Bluetooth, RF-ID, or the like. In addition, since it is a relative thing whether it is a short distance, it can select suitably according to a condition.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating in detail a configuration example of the content server 3 according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 31 denotes a network communication unit that performs communication with a network. Reference numeral 32 denotes a content generation unit that encodes content. Reference numeral 33 denotes a content distribution unit that distributes the encoded content to a specific device. Reference numeral 34 denotes a switching control unit. When the distribution destination terminal is changed in the middle of distribution, before switching the network, the content is determined in advance according to the content decoding method, available network bandwidth, etc. possessed by the terminal after switching. A distribution method is determined, and appropriate content distribution is performed according to network switching.

  Reference numeral 35 denotes an information storage unit that stores information such as the content encoding method and the available network bandwidth held by the content generation unit 32. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of information stored in the information storage unit 35, and includes a content name, an encoding method of each content held by the content generation unit 32, and a selectable communication band class. .

  In the portable terminal 1, stationary terminal 2, content server 3, router 4, and network 5 configured as described above, a large display function is provided near the portable terminal 1 that receives and reproduces video from the content server 3. The operation will be described by taking as an example a case where the content being played back on the portable terminal is continuously played back on the stationary terminal 2 when there is the stationary terminal 2 possessed.

  First, as step 1, IP address information, communication capability information, device name acquisition, and content reproduction capability information acquisition processing of the own terminal will be described. When connected to the network 5, the network communication units 11 and 21 of the portable terminal 1 and the stationary terminal 2 obtain an IP address from the router 4 and set the IP address. The communication state management units 12 and 22 acquire the IP address information, communication means, and communication band information of the network communication units 11 and 21 and store them in the setting state storage units 15 and 25. Further, the content reproduction information management units 14 and 24 acquire content decoding method information held by the portable terminal 1 and the stationary terminal 2 from the content reproduction units 13 and 23 and store them in the setting state storage units 15 and 25.

  Here, select an appropriate range of image quality of encoding and decoding methods among multiple parameters such as screen size, frame rate, compression rate, etc., classify and define high image quality, standard image quality, low image quality and image quality, The quality of the image quality is recorded in each storage unit. In the following, an example of three stages will be described, but there is no restriction on the number of stages. Further, when information such as “Zaurus” and “Living TV” (both are trade names) set in advance by the manufacturer or set by the user exists in a specific memory, the information is stored in the setting state storage units 15 and 25. To remember.

  When the terminal acquires the encoding capability and distribution capability of the content server in step 2, when the mobile terminal 1 starts receiving content from the content server 3, the network communication unit 11 of the mobile terminal 1 sets a known IP address. After forming a communication path with the network communication unit 31 of the content server 3 that the content server 3 has, the content reproduction information management unit 14 of the mobile terminal 1 switches the distribution capability held by the content generation unit 32 of the content server 3 to the switching control unit 34. Contact On the other hand, the switching control unit 34 inquires of the content generation unit 32 about the type of encoding, the image quality, and the content name held by the content generation unit 32 and stores them in the information management unit 35. Further, the contents of the information management unit 35 are answered to the content reproduction information management unit 14 of the portable terminal 1.

  When performing content selection determination processing in step 3, the content reproduction information management unit 14 stores the content decoding method, image quality, communication means, communication band, and content generation unit of the mobile terminal stored in the setting state storage unit 15. 32 to compare and judge the distribution capability possessed, determine the content name, possible encoding method, communication means, and communication band, and display a list of possible contents on the display / input unit 16 , And waits for the input of instructions regarding distribution from the user.

  In step 4, when content distribution is started, the content reproduction information management unit 14 issues a content request to the content switching control unit 34 of the content server 3 in response to a content distribution instruction input by the user. The requested content name, encoding method, image quality, and communication means information are added to the setting state storage unit 15.

  Upon receiving the content distribution request, the content switching control unit 34 of the content server 3 notifies the content generation unit 32 of the content name, encoding method, and image quality, and notifies the content distribution unit 33 of the distribution destination IP address and distribution protocol. The specified content is encoded by the content generation unit 32, constitutes the transmission format specified by the content distribution unit 33, and distribution to the mobile terminal 1 is started through the network communication unit 31. Depending on the type of encoding, the content generation unit 32 and the content distribution unit 33 may be integrated.

  Next, in step 5, the content distribution destination is changed. In changing the content distribution destination, first, in step 5-1, the designation of the distribution destination changing terminal, the IP address between the terminals, and the device name information are exchanged. For example, when the user wants to change the reproduction terminal from the portable terminal 1 to the stationary terminal 2 because the stationary terminal 2 having a large display function appears nearby, the user brings the portable terminal 1 closer to the stationary terminal 2 having a large display function. . When both distances are within the communicable range of the short-range wireless communication units 18 and 28, the content reproduction information management units 14 and 24 pass through the short-range wireless communication units 18 and 28 and the setting state storage units 15 and 25. Exchange IP address information and device name.

  At this time, it is also possible to construct a security mechanism so that information exchange is permitted only when a password or the like is set in advance. In addition, by setting whether or not to switch the terminal connection destination, it is possible to prevent information exchange even when the distance is short. In this case, when “setting not to be performed” is performed only on either one of the mobile terminal 1 and the stationary terminal 2, information exchange is not performed.

  Next, in step 5-2, distribution destination terminal change permission is performed. That is, when the information exchange is completed, the content reproduction information management unit 14 of the portable terminal 1 displays the device name indicating the stationary terminal 2 on the display / input unit 16, and moves the content reproduction terminal from the portable terminal 1 to the stationary terminal 2. Prompt the user for permission to switch.

  Next, in step 5-3, basic content information is exchanged between terminals. First, when the user makes an input related to switching permission from the display / input unit 16, the content reproduction information management unit 14 of the mobile terminal 1 is based on the contents stored in the setting information storage unit 15 and the current content server 3. The content name, content encoding method, image quality, other selectable encoding method, image quality, IP address or URL information of the content server 3 and the IP address of the portable terminal 1 are received via short-range wireless communication. The information is transmitted to the content reproduction information management unit 24 of the stationary terminal 2 via the units 18 and 28.

  Next, in step 5-4, a change notification is sent to the content server. That is, the content reproduction information management unit 14 of the portable terminal 1 changes the connection destination to the IP address of the stationary terminal 2 to the switching control unit 34 of the content server 3 simultaneously with transmission to the content reproduction information management unit 24. To be notified.

  Next, in step 5-5, the reception destination determination at the change destination terminal and the distribution destination are switched. That is, the content reproduction information management unit 24 of the stationary terminal 2 that has received information from the content reproduction information management unit 14 of the mobile terminal 1 receives the acquired information and the decoding capability of the stationary terminal 2 stored in the setting state storage unit 25. The image quality and the communication capability are compared, and it is determined whether or not the content received by the portable terminal 1 can be received by the stationary terminal 2.

(1) When the content can be received by the stationary terminal (1-1) When the condition received by the portable terminal 1 is determined to be optimal The content reproduction information management unit 24 is stored in the setting state storage unit 25 If the content reproduction information management unit 24 determines that the communication bandwidth is insufficient when maintaining a higher quality content encoding method and image quality than the decoding capability and communication capability of the stationary terminal 2, the content reproduction information management unit 24 A terminal switching request is sent to the switching control unit 34, and the content name, encoding method, image quality, and IP address of the stationary terminal 2 for content reproduction are sent, and an application for reproducing the specified encoding method is started. Prepare to receive.

  When receiving the request, the switching control unit 34 instructs the content distribution unit 33 to switch the distribution destination IP address from the portable terminal 1 to the stationary terminal 2.

  The content distribution unit 33 determines a good timing based on the content of the digital data frame encoded by the content generation unit, and changes only the distribution destination address from the portable terminal 1 to the stationary terminal 2 to change the stationary terminal. 2 starts distribution of content.

(1-2) Case in which higher quality reception is possible The content reproduction information management unit 24 has higher quality compared to the decoding capability / communication capability of the stationary terminal 2 stored in the setting state storage unit 25. When it is determined that the content can be received with the content encoding method and image quality, the content reproduction information management unit 24 requests the switching control unit 34 of the content server 3 to switch the terminal and changes the content name and content of the content reproduction. The encoding system, the image quality, and the IP address of the stationary terminal 2 are transmitted, and an application that reproduces the designated encoding system is activated to prepare for reception.

  When the switching control unit 34 of the content server 3 receives the request, the requested encoding method / image quality is compared with the distributable encoding method / image quality stored in the information management unit 35 and reproduction is possible. Is confirmed, the content generation unit 32 is instructed to change the encoding method and image quality. The content generation unit 32 switches the encoding method and image quality at a good timing, and notifies the switching control unit 34 of the completion of preparation.

  In addition, when the content generation unit 32 has the capability of operating a plurality of types of encoding methods at the same time, the content generation unit starts a new encoding based on time stamp information indicating the elapsed time of the current encoding. Points can be determined and encoded in parallel. In this case, preparation completion notification is made when new encoding is started. The information management unit 35 that has received the completion of preparation instructs the content distribution unit 33 to switch the distribution destination IP address from the portable terminal 1 to the stationary terminal 2.

  The content distribution unit 33 changes only the distribution destination address of the digital data frame encoded by the content generation unit 32 from the portable terminal 1 to the stationary terminal 2 and starts distribution to the stationary terminal 2. When the content generation unit 32 supports a plurality of encoding methods, it is possible to switch the connection without any breaks regardless of the change of the encoding method.

(2) When reception is impossible The content reproduction information management unit 24 compares the decryption capability and communication capability of the stationary terminal 2 stored in the setting state storage unit 25 with each other and determines that reception is impossible. The content reproduction information management unit 14 of the terminal 1 is notified that reception is impossible. The content reproduction information management unit 14 displays a message indicating that the connection destination cannot be switched on the display / input unit 16 and ends the process.

  The determination of whether or not reception is possible is made by the content reproduction information management unit 24 of the stationary terminal 2 sending the information stored in the setting state storage unit 25 to the switching control unit 34 of the content server 3, which is determined by the switching control unit 34. It is also possible to do.

  In addition, the content reproduction information management unit 24 of the stationary terminal 2 does not directly send the information stored in the setting state storage unit 25 to the switching control unit 34 of the content server 3, but in the above step 5-3. It is sent from the content reproduction information management unit 24 of the terminal 2 to the content reproduction information management unit 14 of the portable terminal 1 through the short-range wireless communication units 18 and 28, and sent from the content reproduction information management unit 14 to the switching control unit 34 of the content server 3. It is also possible to determine whether or not switching is possible by the switching control unit 34. However, in this case, if the IP address of the stationary terminal 2 is a local address, it is difficult to connect directly from the content server 3, so the setting for permitting connection to the router is performed or the IP address of the stationary terminal 2 is global. Must be an address.

  In both cases (1) and (2) of step 5-5, when a fixed time has elapsed from the connection request from the stationary terminal 2, the port number set in the router 4 and the local indicating the stationary terminal 2 are displayed. Since the setting relating to the address is cleared and the content server 3 cannot access the stationary terminal 2, communication between the switching control unit 34 and the stationary terminal 2 is performed periodically using dummy data as necessary. As described above, the content is continuously switched simultaneously with the network switching from the portable terminal 1 to the stationary terminal 2, and the content can be continuously enjoyed on the new terminal.

  Note that the proximity wireless communication does not have to be bidirectional communication, and any type may be used as long as it is a means for transmitting information of the portable terminal to the stationary terminal. In addition, when the portable terminal 1 already knows the IP address of the stationary terminal 2, it is possible to directly designate the IP address and exchange data with the stationary terminal 2 via the network instead of communication by proximity wireless communication. Is possible.

  In the present embodiment, switching of the terminal has been described as an example of switching from the portable terminal 1 to the stationary terminal 2, but conversely, switching from the stationary terminal 2 to the portable terminal 1 is performed based on the same concept. Is possible.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, when changing the terminal for playing back content, for example, from a mobile terminal to a large-screen network TV or vice versa, the user instructs the connection destination terminal. By doing so, the time loss is reduced, and the reproduction of the content can be continued without interruption.

  The present invention can be used for content exchange between a distribution destination device that distributes content and a terminal that receives the content.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the whole content delivery system by embodiment of this invention. It is a functional block diagram which shows the structural example of the portable terminal by this Embodiment. It is a functional block diagram which shows the structural example of the stationary terminal by this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a content server structure by this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the setting information storage part table of a portable terminal. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the information storage part table of a content server.

Explanation of symbols

1 Mobile terminal 2 Deferred terminal 3 Content server 4 Router

Claims (16)

A content distribution system that includes a content distribution device that distributes content and a plurality of content reproduction terminals that are network-connectable to the content distribution device,
A content distribution system comprising a switching mechanism for switching the content reproduction terminal as a content distribution destination in a state where content is continuously reproduced. A content reproduction terminal that receives and reproduces content via a network, and a content distribution device that distributes content via a network, the first content reproduction terminal reproducing content via a first communication interface; Has a second communication interface for communicating with different second content reproduction terminals, and
A content distribution system for exchanging information on reception / reproduction capability of a content reproduction terminal between the content reproduction terminal and the content distribution device when the content reproduction destination content reproduction terminal is switched.   The content according to claim 1 or 2, wherein when the content reproduction destination content reproduction terminal is switched, the content reproduction information and the content distribution information are exchanged in advance between the content reproduction terminal and the content distribution device. Distribution system.   The content distribution system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein when the content distribution destination network terminal is changed, the encoding method is changed according to the changed content reproduction capability.   5. A quality class is defined by selecting a plurality of parameters of a content encoding / decoding method, and control for transmitting content reproduction capability using the quality class is performed. The content distribution system described in 1. A first communication interface unit that forms an interface for performing communication via a network; a content distribution unit that distributes content;
A content distribution apparatus comprising: a switching control unit that performs control to switch a content distribution destination to a second distribution destination terminal different from the first distribution destination terminal that distributes content from the content distribution unit.   The switching control unit acquires the reception / playback capability of the terminal that delivers the content before switching the network when the delivery destination terminal is changed during the delivery of the content, The content distribution apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the content distribution method is determined in advance.   The content distribution apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the switching control unit instructs to change a content encoding method.   The content distribution apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the switching control unit instructs a distribution destination address.   The content distribution apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein a plurality of encoding systems that operate simultaneously are held. A second communication interface unit for receiving content via a network;
A communication information management unit for managing communication information via the second communication interface unit;
A content playback capability information management unit for managing content playback capability information;
A content reproduction terminal comprising: a storage unit that stores the communication information, the content reproduction capability information, and a content reception terminal ID when receiving the content.   And a third communication interface unit that is different from the second communication interface unit, and exchanges information necessary for switching content reception between content reproduction terminals. The network terminal according to claim 11.   Further, the third communication interface unit is different from the second communication interface unit, and performs a communication for exchanging the content receiving terminal ID when switching the content reception between the content reproduction terminals. The content reproduction terminal according to claim 11, further comprising: a communication interface unit.   The content reproduction terminal according to claim 12, wherein a communication method by the third communication interface unit is a near field communication method. A content delivery method for delivering content to at least one of a plurality of content playback terminals that receive and play back content via a network from a content delivery device that delivers content via a network,
The content distribution comprising the step of exchanging information relating to reception / reproduction capability of the content reproduction terminal in advance between the content reproduction terminal and the content distribution device when the content reproduction destination content reproduction terminal is switched Method. A content delivery method for delivering content to at least one of a plurality of content playback terminals that receive and play back content via a network from a content delivery device that delivers content via a network,
A content distribution method comprising a step of exchanging content reproduction information and content distribution information in advance between the content reproduction terminal and the content distribution device when a content distribution destination content reproduction terminal is switched.

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