JP2009124617A - Telecommunication terminal and communicating system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication terminal for reproducing content using stored content data so long as there is stored the content data corresponding to content data distributed from a server. <P>SOLUTION: The communication terminal of the present invention includes: a data storage part 24 for storing content data distributed in the past by a server as first content data; a receiving part 22 for receiving the content data distributed from the server as second content data; a collation part 20 for collating identification information of the first content data and identification information of the second content data; and a content reproducing part 20 for reproducing the content using the first content data when the data storage part 24 stores the first content data corresponding to the second content data as a result of the collation by the collating part 20. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication terminal for reproducing content and a communication system for distributing content.

When distributing content such as video or music over a network such as the Internet, the file size of the content is so large that it takes time to download the file. Streaming distribution) is often performed. There is a data distribution system that uses such streaming distribution and switches content data used for content reproduction according to a communication situation such as a data transfer speed between devices that transmit and receive data (see Patent Document 1).
JP 2003-263174 A

  By the way, in the data distribution system described in Patent Document 1, content reproduction is performed using content data stored in another local terminal, or content data streamed from a server is used. Switching between reproduction and switching is performed according to the communication status between the devices that transfer data. Although streaming delivery has the advantage that playback can be started with a short waiting time even when the network communication speed is low, the response such as fast forward and rewind is slow and usability is good compared to the case where content data is stored locally. There is no problem.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a communication terminal and a communication capable of reproducing content using the stored content data when content data equivalent to the content data distributed from the server is stored in the communication terminal. Is to provide a system.

  Hereinafter, the configuration of the present invention will be described with reference to the embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

  The communication terminal of the present invention includes a data storage unit (24) that stores content data distributed in the past by a server as first content data, and a reception unit that receives content data distributed from the server as second content data. (22), a collation unit (20) that collates the identification information of the first content data and the identification information of the second content data, and the collation result by the collation unit (20), the second content When the first content data corresponding to the data exists in the data storage unit (24), the content storage unit (20) includes a content reproduction unit (20) that reproduces content using the first content data. .

  In addition, the communication terminal of the present invention receives a data storage unit (24) for storing content data distributed in the past by the server as first content data, and content data distributed from the server as second content data. As a result of collation by the receiving unit (22), the collation unit (20) for collating the identification information of the first content data and the identification information of the second content data, and the collation unit (20), A message output unit (26) for outputting a selection message for prompting selection of content data used for content reproduction when the first content data corresponding to two content data exists in the data storage unit (24); The first content data selected based on the message output to the message output unit (26) It is characterized by having a content reproduction unit that reproduces the content using the second content data (20).

  The communication system of the present invention includes a server (4) for distributing content, a first communication terminal (2) connected to the server (4) via a first communication path (10), A communication system comprising a server (4) and a second communication terminal (6) connected via a second communication path (12), wherein the first terminal (2) 4) content data distributed to the second communication terminal (6) via the second communication path (12) from 4), and establishing a connection with the second communication terminal (6) A data storage unit (24) for storing the content data transmitted from the second communication terminal (6) as the first content data, and the server (4) through the first communication path (10). Content data distributed through the network as second content data A receiving unit (22) for receiving information, a collation unit (20) for collating the identification information of the first content data and the identification information of the second content data, and a result of collation by the collation unit (20), When the first content data corresponding to the second content data is present in the data storage unit (24), a content playback unit (20) for playing back content using the first content data is provided. And

  The communication system of the present invention includes a server (4) for distributing content, a first communication terminal (2) connected to the server (4) via a first communication path (10), A communication system comprising a server (4) and a second communication terminal (6) connected via a second communication path (12), wherein the first terminal (2) 4) content data distributed to the second communication terminal (6) via the second communication path (12) from 4), and establishing a connection with the second communication terminal (6) A data storage unit (24) for storing the content data acquired from the second communication terminal (6) as the first content data, and the server (4) via the first communication path (10). The content data distributed as the second content data A receiving unit (22) for receiving, a collation unit (20) for collating the identification information of the first content data and the identification information of the second content data, and a result of collation by the collation unit (20); A message output unit (26) for outputting a selection message for prompting selection of content data used for content reproduction when the first content data corresponding to the second content data exists in the data storage unit (24); A content playback unit (20) for playing back content using the first content data or the second content data selected based on the message output to the message output unit (26). And

  According to the communication terminal of the present invention, the identification information of the first content data distributed in the past by the server and the identification information of the second content data distributed from the server are collated to correspond to the second content data. When the first content data exists, the content is reproduced using the first content data, so that a response such as a rewinding process can be improved and usability can be appropriately improved.

  Further, according to the communication terminal of the present invention, the identification information of the first content data distributed in the past by the server and the identification information of the second content data distributed from the server are collated, and the second content data is obtained. When the corresponding first content data exists, a selection message for prompting selection of the content data used for content reproduction is output, and the content is reproduced using the selected first content data or second content data. Therefore, it is possible to provide appropriate content data that matches the user's request and improve usability.

  Further, according to the communication system of the present invention, in the first communication terminal, content data distributed from the server to the second communication terminal via the second communication path, The identification information of the first content data acquired from the second communication terminal when the connection is established and the identification information of the second content data distributed from the server via the first communication path are collated. When the first content data corresponding to the second content data is present, the content is reproduced using the first content data, so that the response regarding the content reproduction processing is improved and the usability is appropriately improved. it can.

  Further, the communication system of the present invention is content data distributed from the server to the second communication terminal via the second communication path in the first communication terminal, and is between the second communication terminal and the content data. Collating the identification information of the first content data acquired from the second communication terminal when the connection is established with the identification information of the second content data distributed from the server via the first communication path, When the first content data corresponding to the two content data exists, a selection message for prompting selection of the content data used for reproducing the content is output, and the content using the selected first content data or second content data Therefore, it is possible to provide appropriate content data that matches the user's request and to improve usability appropriately.

  Hereinafter, a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The first communication terminal in the present invention includes mobile communication type portable devices (portable terminals) such as mobile phones, notebook computers, tablet PCs, PDAs, wearable displays, wearable computers, etc. A PDA will be described as an example. In addition, a case where a personal computer (PC) such as a notebook personal computer or a desktop personal computer is used as the second communication terminal will be described as an example.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a schematic configuration of a communication system according to the present embodiment. The communication system includes a server 4 (streaming server) that distributes content data and content meta information, and a PDA 2 (a first connection) connected to the server 4 via the Internet 8, an access point, and a wireless LAN 10 (a first communication path). A communication terminal) and a PC 6 (second communication terminal) connected to the server 4 via the Internet 8 and a LAN 12 (second communication path). In the communication system according to the present embodiment, the connection between the PDA 2 and the PC 6 is established via, for example, a USB cable.

  Here, FIG. 1 shows a case where both the communication path by the wireless LAN 10 and the communication path by the LAN 12 are established in order to show the connection state between the server 4 and the PDA 2 and between the server 4 and the PC 6. However, the communication path by the wireless LAN 10 and the communication path by the LAN 12 do not need to be established at the same time. That is, the wireless LAN 10 may be established when the PDA 2 communicates with the server 4, and the LAN 12 may be established when the PC 6 communicates with the server 4. Also, the connection between the PDA 2 and the PC 6 need not always be established, and the connection is established only when content data (first content data) or the like is output from the PC 6 to the PDA 2. It only has to be. The LAN 12 that connects the server 4 and the PC 6 uses a communication path that has higher communication stability than the wireless LAN 10.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the PDA 2 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the PDA 2 includes a CPU 20 that controls processing such as content reproduction. The CPU 20 includes a communication control unit 22 (receiving unit) that controls communication via the Internet 8 and the like, content meta information, A storage unit 24 (data storage unit) that stores content data and the like, a display unit 26 that displays reproduced content and the like, and a USB port 28 that establishes a connection with the PC 6 are connected. Although not shown in FIG. 2, the PDA 2 also includes a speaker or the like that is used when music content or the like is reproduced. In this PDA 2, content meta information transmitted from the server 4 via the Internet 8 and the wireless LAN 10 is received via the communication control unit 22, and content stored in the storage unit 24 based on the received content meta information Using the data or content data (second content data) streamed from the server 4 to the PDA 2, content such as moving images or music is reproduced.

  Here, the content meta information is a playlist such as a title of content distributed from the server 4, a URL indicating a connection destination when content data is acquired, a file format of the content, a file name, and a file ID (identification information). It is information which shows. If the content is composed of a plurality of files, a file ID is assigned to each file.

  Further, in the PDA 2, the content data previously delivered to the PC 6 by the server 4 is acquired via the PC 6 and stored in the storage unit 24 in advance. That is, the PC 6 may connect to the server 4 via the LAN 12 and the Internet 8 and download and store content data distributed from the server 4. In such a case, when the connection between the PC 6 and the PDA 2 is established via the USB cable, the content data stored in the PDA 2 is transmitted from the PC 6 and arbitrary content data is stored in the PDA 2 in advance.

  Note that the content data stored in the PDA 2 is arbitrarily selected and acquired by a user using an input unit (not shown) from, for example, a list indicating content stored in the PC 6. When content data is transmitted from the PC 6 to the PDA 2, a playlist including the content title, content file format, file name, file ID and the like is transmitted together with the content data and stored in the storage unit 24. The

  Next, processing in the PDA 2 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. First, the PDA 2 receives content meta information transmitted from the server 4 (step S10). That is, the PDA 2 is connected to the server 4 via the wireless LAN 10, the access point, and the Internet 8, and content meta information indicating a playlist of content provided by the server 4 is acquired.

  Next, the play list stored in the storage unit 24 is referred to (step S11), and the file ID of the content included in the content meta information is compared with the file ID of the content included in the play list. It performs (step S12). That is, the file ID is collated to confirm whether or not the content data corresponding to the content data distributed from the server 4 is stored in the PDA 2.

  Here, the collation in step S12 is performed using the file ID instead of the file name. For example, for video content, when the image quality of the content is different because the bit rate of the content data is different, the file name may be different even for content data corresponding to the same content. On the other hand, even if the file ID is different in bit rate or the like, the same file ID is used as long as the content is the same. Therefore, the file ID is collated to confirm whether or not the content data corresponding to the content data streamed from the server 4 is stored in the storage unit 24 of the PDA 2.

  When the content data corresponding to the content data distributed from the server 4 exists in the storage unit 24 as a result of checking the file ID in step S12 (step S13), the content data stored in the storage unit 24 is used. The content is reproduced (step S14). That is, priority is given to the reproduction of content using content data stored in the storage unit 24.

  On the other hand, as a result of collating the file ID in step S12, if content data corresponding to the content data distributed from the server 4 does not exist in the storage unit 24 (step S13), the content data distributed from the server 4 is streamed. The content is reproduced by using (step S15). Note that the reception of the content meta information and the reproduction of the content can be realized using a known technique related to streaming distribution, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The communication terminal according to the present embodiment stores content data in advance, and if there is content data corresponding to content data that is streamed from the server based on the collation result of the file ID, the stored content data Is used to play content. Therefore, by reproducing the content using the content data stored in the communication terminal, it is possible to perform the reproduction with a good response such as rewinding or fast-forwarding of the content, thereby improving usability. it can.

  In addition, the communication system according to the present embodiment can download content data to a PC using a communication line that is more stable than a PDA used at the time of movement. Content data can be received without worrying about. Therefore, by using the already downloaded content data, the content on the PDA can be played back smoothly, and usability can be improved appropriately.

  In the communication system according to the above-described embodiment, the connection between the PDA and the PC is established by the USB cable, but may be established by something other than the USB cable. For example, a connection between the PDA and the PC may be established using a recording medium such as a USB memory or a flexible disk. That is, the content data may be acquired from the PC by outputting the downloaded content data to a recording medium and reading and saving the content data recorded on the recording medium on the PDA.

  The content data stored in advance in the PDA may not be acquired from the server via the PC. That is, the content data distributed from the server in the PDA may be stored, or the content data distributed from the server via another communication terminal may be stored. For example, when content data distributed from a server is acquired by another communication terminal or the like, the content data acquired by the other communication terminal is output to a predetermined recording medium and recorded on the predetermined recording medium. The content data may be read and stored in the PDA.

  In the communication terminal according to the above-described embodiment, when content data corresponding to content data streamed from the server is present in the PDA, priority is given to reproduction of content using the content data. However, the user may arbitrarily select content data used for content playback. In addition, when content data corresponding to content data to be distributed by streaming exists in the PDA, a message for prompting selection of which content data is used to reproduce the content may be displayed on the display unit 26. Good.

  Further, when displaying a message for prompting selection, for example, a message such as “content data distributed from the server has higher image quality” is displayed on the display unit 26 (message output unit), and the user selects content data. After confirming the quality of the content, it may be possible to arbitrarily select content data to be used for content playback using an input unit (not shown). That is, in the PDA, the bit rate included in the header of the content meta information is compared with the bit rate included in the header of the content data stored in the storage unit, and which content data is used based on the comparison result. A message including a higher image quality or the like may be displayed to prompt the user to select content data to be used.

  In addition to displaying a message urging selection of content data on the display unit, for example, selection of content data may be prompted by sound output from a speaker. That is, when playing music content, etc., an announcement such as “There is data corresponding to the content data to be streamed. Please select the content data to be used for playing the content.” May be performed.

  Further, in the communication system according to the above-described embodiment, a streaming server is used as a server, but the server constituting the communication system is not limited to the streaming server. Therefore, a Web server that does not perform streaming distribution may be used.

  If the content data of the content is composed of a plurality of files, verification may be performed on a file basis using the file ID assigned to each file. Here, for example, when the content data is composed of five files, file 1, file 2, file 3, file 4, and file 5, the content data used for content playback is switched in units of files. Also good. Specifically, file 1, file 2, and file 5 exist in the storage unit of the PDA, but file 3 and file 4 do not exist. In this case, when content is reproduced, the stored content data is used for the files 1, 2 and 5, but the content data streamed from the server may be used for the files 3 and 4.

  Further, even when all files exist in the PDA, a message that prompts selection of content data uses a file that is streamed from the server for each file or a message that is stored in the storage unit. It may be possible for the user to arbitrarily specify whether or not.

1 is a block configuration diagram schematically showing a schematic configuration of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block block diagram of the communication terminal which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the process in the communication terminal which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  2 ... PDA, 4 ... server, 6 ... PC, 8 ... Internet, 10 ... wireless LAN, 12 ... LAN, 20 ... CPU, 22 ... communication control unit , 24 ... storage unit, 26 ... display unit, 28 ... USB port.

Claims (6)

A data storage unit for storing content data distributed in the past by the server as first content data;
A receiving unit for receiving content data distributed from the server as second content data;
A collation unit for collating the identification information of the first content data with the identification information of the second content data;
As a result of the collation by the collation unit, when the first content data corresponding to the second content data exists in the data storage unit, a content reproduction unit that reproduces content using the first content data; A communication terminal comprising: A data storage unit for storing content data distributed in the past by the server as first content data;
A receiving unit for receiving content data distributed from the server as second content data;
A collation unit for collating the identification information of the first content data with the identification information of the second content data;
As a result of the collation by the collation unit, when the first content data corresponding to the second content data exists in the data storage unit, a message output for outputting a selection message for prompting selection of content data used for content reproduction And
A communication terminal comprising: a content reproduction unit that reproduces content using the first content data or the second content data selected based on the message output to the message output unit. The first content data includes first content meta information indicating a plurality of first data files constituting the content,
The second content data includes second content meta information indicating a plurality of second data files constituting the content,
The collation unit performs collation between first file identification information attached to each of the plurality of first data files and second file identification information attached to each of the plurality of second data files,
3. The content reproduction unit reproduces content using the first content data or the second content data in units of data files based on a collation result by the collation unit. The communication terminal described. A server for delivering content; a first communication terminal connected to the server via a first communication path; and a second communication terminal connected to the server via a second communication path. Communication system,
The first terminal is
Content data distributed from the server to the second communication terminal via the second communication path when the connection with the second communication terminal is established. A data storage unit for storing the content data acquired from the first content data;
A receiving unit that receives content data distributed from the server via the first communication path as second content data;
A collation unit for collating the identification information of the first content data with the identification information of the second content data;
As a result of the collation by the collation unit, when the first content data corresponding to the second content data exists in the data storage unit, a content reproduction unit that reproduces content using the first content data; A communication system comprising: A server for delivering content; a first communication terminal connected to the server via a first communication path; and a second communication terminal connected to the server via a second communication path. Communication system,
The first terminal is
Content data distributed from the server to the second communication terminal via the second communication path when the connection with the second communication terminal is established. A data storage unit for storing the content data acquired from the first content data;
A receiving unit that receives content data distributed from the server via the first communication path as second content data;
A collation unit for collating the identification information of the first content data with the identification information of the second content data;
As a result of the collation by the collation unit, when the first content data corresponding to the second content data exists in the data storage unit, a message output for outputting a selection message for prompting selection of content data used for content reproduction And
A communication system comprising: a content reproduction unit that reproduces content using the first content data or the second content data selected based on the message output to the message output unit. The first content data includes first content meta information indicating a plurality of first data files constituting the content,
The second content data includes second content meta information indicating a plurality of second data files constituting the content,
The collation unit performs collation between first file identification information attached to each of the plurality of first data files and second file identification information attached to each of the plurality of second data files,
The content reproduction unit reproduces content using the first content data or the second content data in units of data files based on a collation result by the content collation unit. 5. The communication system according to 5.

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