JP2008236153A - Content distribution device, content distribution system, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a content distribution device which limits the viewing and listening of an improper scene when distributing contents stored in a server to clients connected to a network in a home network. <P>SOLUTION: The content distribution device constitutes a content distribution system which distributes the contents stored in the content distribution device to terminals through the network. The device is provided with a content storing unit which stores the contents which are composed of a plurality of packets; a data packet analysing unit which analyses the plurality of the packets based on reproduction limiting information determined beforehand, and decides data packets which limit reproduction from among the plurality of the packets; a data packet replacing unit which replaces the data packet to a reproduction-unable data packet; and a content distribution unit which distributes the contents. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a distribution system and a distribution method for distributing predetermined content data stored in a server to clients. More specifically, the present invention relates to a technical field for restricting viewing of content data to viewers.

  Conventionally, for inappropriate content (violent / cruelous scenes, etc.) that adversely affects minors in video content stored on DVDs (Digital Versatile Disc) and video content of TV programs Various techniques for restricting viewing of video content are known.

  For example, when viewing recorded data of a DVD or a television program with a playback device, a viewing restriction level (parental lock) is set for each disk or program, and viewing is prohibited according to the level on the playback device side. It is.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an apparatus that analyzes subtitle data during reproduction of an optical disc such as a DVD and mutes audio when a speech ignoring word is detected. When a word is detected, the corresponding part is silenced or skipped.

  Also, in Patent Document 2, streaming output is performed after embedding reproduction output restriction information in the data packet on the server side in advance, and the data packet in which the reproduction output restriction information is embedded is analyzed on the client side, and video, audio, etc. A content data distribution apparatus that restricts the reproduction output of the content is disclosed.

JP 2006-339722 A JP 2006-86576 A

  In recent years, guidelines for ensuring the interoperability of electronic devices (digital devices) such as personal computers and digital home appliances have been established by DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance). A system in which devices or electronic devices and controllers (control devices) are connected to a home network has been built. In such a home network, content protection such as encryption of exchanged content is performed according to a standard such as DTCP-IP (Digital Transmission Content Protection over Internet Protocol).

  However, there is no method for realizing viewing restrictions on a home network as in a DVD player, and an inappropriate scene is used when content stored in a server is distributed to a client and played back. There is a need for a method of restricting viewing.

  Accordingly, the present invention provides a content distribution apparatus and a content distribution system that limit viewing of inappropriate scenes when distributing content stored in a server to a client connected to the network in a home network. The purpose is to do.

  A content distribution apparatus according to the present invention is a content distribution apparatus that constitutes a content distribution system that distributes content stored in a content distribution apparatus to a terminal via a network, and stores the content including a plurality of data packets. A content storage unit that performs analysis of the plurality of data packets based on predetermined reproduction restriction information, and determines a data packet that restricts reproduction among the plurality of data packets, and the data A data packet replacement unit that replaces a packet with a non-reproducible data packet and a content distribution unit that distributes the content are provided.

The content distribution system of the present invention is a content distribution system that distributes content stored in a content distribution device to a terminal via a network, and the content distribution device stores the content composed of a plurality of data packets. A content storage unit that performs analysis of the plurality of data packets based on predetermined reproduction restriction information, and determines a data packet that restricts reproduction among the plurality of data packets, and the data A data packet replacement unit that replaces a packet with a non-reproducible data packet; and a content distribution unit that distributes the content.
A content receiving unit that receives the content and a content reproduction unit that reproduces a plurality of data packets constituting the content are provided.

  A program according to the present invention is a program for causing a content distribution device that constitutes a content distribution system to distribute content stored in a content distribution device to a terminal via a network. Storing the content composed of packets; and causing a data packet analysis unit to analyze the plurality of data packets based on predetermined reproduction restriction information and restrict reproduction of the plurality of data packets. The method includes the steps of: determining a data packet; causing the data packet replacement unit to replace the data packet with a non-reproducible data packet; and causing the content distribution unit to distribute the content.

  More specifically, the content distribution apparatus of the present invention includes a content storage unit that stores the content composed of a plurality of data packets in the MPEG2 transport stream format, and the plurality of the plurality of content distribution units based on predetermined reproduction restriction information. A data packet analysis unit that analyzes a data packet and determines a data packet that restricts reproduction from among the plurality of data packets, a data packet replacement unit that replaces the data packet with a non-reproducible data packet, and distributes the content The data packet replacing unit replaces the data packet with the non-reproducible data packet by setting an error flag in an error indicator of the data packet.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to limit viewing of inappropriate scenes in content distribution viewing in a home network. Also, there is no need to change the program or modify the device to limit viewing on the client side.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining a configuration of a content distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, a content distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a server 10 and a client 20, each connected via a network 30, for example, a wireless LAN. A configuration in which a plurality of servers 10 and clients 20 are connected may be employed.

  The server 10 stores various contents such as a digital broadcast recording program, and determines whether or not an inappropriate word is included by analyzing the caption data of the contents when distributing the contents to the client 20. If an inappropriate word is included, packet replacement is performed so as to be error data, and the packet-replaced content is distributed to the client 20 via the network 30.

  When the client 20 receives the content distributed from the server 10 via the network 30, the client 20 decodes and displays the corresponding content. The user can view the reproduced and displayed content.

  The server 10 includes a server control unit 11, a content storage unit 12, a tuner 13, and a network interface 14, and is configured by a personal computer or the like. The tuner 13 is for receiving broadcast waves transmitted from a television station, and the network interface 14 is for connecting the server 10 and the network 30. The content storage unit 12 stores content recorded from a television broadcast program received by the tuner 13 and is composed of a storage medium such as a hard disk or a memory.

  The server control unit 11 includes a content distribution unit 111, a prohibited word table management unit 112, a caption data analysis unit 113, and a packet replacement unit 114. The function and operation of each unit of the server control unit 11 will be described later.

  The client 20 includes a client control unit 21, a display unit 22, and a network interface 23, and is configured by a personal computer or the like. The network interface 23 is for connecting the client 20 and the network 30. The display unit 22 displays various display data such as displaying decoded content under the control of the client control unit 21, and is configured by a display device such as an LCD.

  The client control unit 21 includes a content receiving unit 211 and a content decoding unit 212. The function and operation of each unit of the client control unit 21 will be described later.

  The operation of the content distribution system according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the content distribution system according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining data included in the prohibited word table in the content distribution system according to the embodiment of this invention.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the structure of an MPEG2 transport stream method (hereinafter referred to as TS) data packet that constitutes content data. FIG. 5 is a diagram for describing a configuration of a replacement data packet in the content distribution system according to the embodiment of this invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining prohibited word search and packet replacement in the content distribution system in the embodiment of the present invention.

  First, referring to FIG. 2, the flow of content viewing restriction when content stored in the content storage unit 12 of the server 10 is distributed to the client 20 will be described.

  In advance, in the server 10, the prohibited word table management unit 112 generates a prohibited word table for setting a prohibited word for viewing restriction (step S301). Referring to FIG. 3, the prohibited word table includes client information such as a MAC address and an IP address for identifying a client, a character string of a prohibited word applied to each client, a reproduction prohibited time in each prohibited word, and the like. Contains data. A plurality of prohibited words may be set for one client. When the reproduction prohibition time is not set, an initial value (for example, 10 seconds) may be set as the reproduction prohibition time.

  First, the content distribution unit 111 generates a content list indicating what content is stored in the content storage unit 12, and transmits the content list to the client 20 (step S302). The content receiving unit 211 receives the content list transmitted from the server 10 (step S303), refers to the content list, selects the content to be viewed, and requests distribution of the content (step S304).

  When receiving the content distribution request from the client 20 (step S305), the caption data analysis unit 113 analyzes the caption data included in the content with reference to the prohibited word table (step S306).

  When the subtitle data is not included in the subtitle data as a result of the subtitle data analysis performed by the subtitle data analysis unit 113 in step S306 (No in step S307), the content distribution unit 111 transmits the data packet of the content requested to be distributed. Are sequentially delivered to the client 20 (step S309).

  On the other hand, as a result of the caption data analysis unit 113 analyzing the caption data, when the prohibited word is included in the caption data (Yes in step S307), the packet replacement unit 114, as shown in FIG. For the data packets after the included caption data, the data packet for the reproduction prohibition time set in the prohibition word table is replaced with an error packet (step S308).

  The packet replacement unit 114 sets an error flag (“1”) in the error indicator of the TS packet header, and replaces all of the payload portion of the TS packet with data that cannot be reproduced (for example, padding data such as “0xFF”). To do. The TS packet has a data structure as shown in FIG. 4, but is replaced by an error packet having a data structure as shown in FIG. 5 by this packet replacement.

  Here, the error indicator of the TS packet header is used in the MPEG2 transport stream system defined in the MPEG2 standard as shown in FIG. 4. For example, the TS packet on the receiver side is deteriorated due to the deterioration of the reception state. When the error flag ("1") indicating that a bit error has occurred in the TS packet is set in this error indicator, and the TS packet is decoded and reproduced. In addition, it is used for performing appropriate error processing such as not reproducing TS packets in which the error flag is set.

  If only audio data is silenced, for example, so that it cannot be reproduced, the above-described packet replacement process may be performed only on the Audio packet.

  Next, the content distribution unit 111 sequentially distributes the data packet of the content replaced with the error packet to the client (step S309).

  In the client 20, the content receiving unit 211 receives a data packet of content distributed from the server 10 (step S310), and the content decoding unit 212 decodes the TS packet (step S311). The decoded content data is reproduced and displayed on the display unit 22 (step S312).

  In the case of the data packet replaced with the error packet in step S311, the content decoding unit 212 cannot decode the error packet, so that the video data immediately before the error packet is displayed while being paused. After the reproduction prohibition time (reproduction time of the data packet replaced with the error packet) has elapsed, decoding is resumed from the normal data packet portion and reproduced and displayed.

  Next, a case where content is viewed in the middle of content, or content seek processing such as fast-forward, fast-reverse, and jump while content is being viewed will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining prohibited word search and packet replacement in the content distribution system in the embodiment of the present invention.

  In step S304, the client 20 designates a content reproduction start position at the time of content distribution request, or designates a new reproduction start position by seek processing such as fast forward, fast reverse, and jump during content reproduction. Can be.

  In step S306, the caption data analyzing unit 113 refers to the prohibited word table and analyzes the caption data from a position that is traced back from the designated reproduction start position for the reproduction prohibited time set for the client 20. .

  When the prohibited word is not included in the caption data (No in step S307), the content distribution unit 111 sequentially distributes the data packet of the content requested for distribution to the client (step S309).

  On the other hand, when the prohibited word is included in the caption data (YES in step S307), the packet replacing unit 114 prohibits the data packets after the caption data including the prohibited word as shown in FIG. Of the data packets for the reproduction prohibition time set in the word table, the data packets after the reproduction start position are replaced with error packets (step S308).

  Next, the content distribution unit 111 sequentially distributes the data packet of the content replaced with the error packet to the client (step S309).

  In the client 20, the content receiving unit 211 receives a data packet of content distributed from the server 10 (step S310), and the content decoding unit 212 decodes the TS packet (step S311). The decoded content data is reproduced and displayed on the display unit 22 (step S312).

  Thus, according to the content distribution system of the embodiment of the present invention, as described above, an error indicator in the MPEG2 transport stream system that originally indicates whether or not an error bit exists in the TS packet. Can be used on the server side that distributes content, so that the client side can limit viewing of inappropriate scenes in content distribution viewing within the home network without changing programs or modifying the equipment to limit viewing. Can do.

It is a block diagram for demonstrating the structure of the content delivery system of embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the content delivery system in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the prohibition word data table in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the data structure of an MPEG2-TS packet. It is a figure for demonstrating the data structure of the replacement packet of the content delivery system in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the prohibition word search and packet replacement of the content delivery system in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the prohibition word search and packet replacement of the content delivery system in embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

10 server 20 client 30 network 11 server control unit 111 content distribution unit 112 prohibited word table management unit 113 subtitle data analysis unit 114 packet replacement unit 12 content storage unit 13 tuner 14 network interface 21 client control unit 211 content reception unit 212 content decoding unit 22 Display unit 23 Network interface

Claims (8)

The content distribution device constituting the content distribution system for distributing content accumulated in the content distribution device to a terminal via a network,
A content storage unit for storing the content composed of a plurality of data packets;
A data packet analysis unit that analyzes the plurality of data packets based on predetermined reproduction restriction information and determines a data packet that restricts reproduction of the plurality of data packets;
A data packet replacement unit for replacing the data packet with a non-reproducible data packet;
A content distribution apparatus comprising: a content distribution unit that distributes the content. In a content distribution system that distributes content stored in a content distribution device to a terminal via a network,
The content distribution device includes:
A content storage unit that stores the content composed of a plurality of data packets, and data that analyzes the plurality of data packets based on predetermined reproduction restriction information and restricts reproduction of the plurality of data packets A data packet analysis unit for determining a packet, a data packet replacement unit for replacing the data packet with a non-reproducible data packet, and a content distribution unit for distributing the content,
The terminal
A content distribution system comprising: a content reception unit that receives the content; and a content reproduction unit that reproduces a plurality of data packets constituting the content. A program for causing a content distribution device constituting a content distribution system to distribute content accumulated in a content distribution device to a terminal via a network,
Causing the content storage unit to store the content composed of a plurality of data packets;
Causing the data packet analysis unit to analyze the plurality of data packets based on predetermined reproduction restriction information, and to determine a data packet that restricts reproduction among the plurality of data packets;
Causing the data packet replacement unit to replace the data packet with a non-reproducible data packet;
And causing the content distribution unit to distribute the content. The content distribution device constituting the content distribution system for distributing content accumulated in the content distribution device to a terminal via a network,
A content storage unit for storing the content composed of a plurality of data packets in the MPEG2 transport stream format;
A data packet analyzer that analyzes the plurality of data packets based on predetermined reproduction restriction information and determines a data packet that restricts reproduction of the plurality of data packets;
A data packet replacement unit for replacing the data packet with a non-reproducible data packet;
A content distribution unit for distributing the content,
The content distribution apparatus, wherein the data packet replacement unit replaces the unreproducible data packet by setting an error flag in an error indicator of the data packet. 5. The content distribution apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the reproduction restriction information includes character information for which reproduction is impossible and reproduction impossible time for which reproduction is impossible. 5. The data packet analyzing unit analyzes whether or not the character data that cannot be reproduced is included in a caption data packet among a plurality of data packets constituting the content. 5. The content distribution device according to 5. The data packet analysis unit restricts reproduction of a data packet included in the non-reproducible time from the subtitle packet when the character information that is not reproducible is included. 6. The content distribution device according to 6. The content distribution device according to claim 4, wherein the data packet replacement unit replaces payload data of the data packet with padding data.

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