JP4677992B2 - VIDEO DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, VIDEO DISTRIBUTION METHOD, DISTRIBUTION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, AND PROGRAM - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a video distribution system, a video distribution method, a distribution management system, and a program. Regarding the program.

  An example of a conventional video distribution system is described in Patent Document 1. The video distribution system described in Patent Document 1 includes a distribution management system, a distribution server, and a terminal, and operates as follows.

  The terminal makes a distribution request to the distribution management system using the terminal information and the content name desired to be distributed as transmission information. Upon receiving the distribution request, the distribution management system refers to the content information and server status in the distribution server management DB (database), determines a distribution server, and transmits a distribution instruction to the determined distribution server. Upon receiving the distribution instruction, the distribution server transmits a distribution instruction response to the distribution management system if the content can be distributed, and waits for a connection request from the terminal. The distribution management system that has received the distribution instruction response transmits a distribution request response including distribution server information and a content name to the terminal. The terminal that has received the distribution request response connects to the distribution server from the distribution server information and receives content from the distribution server.

  The distribution server management DB stores the status of each distribution server (the presence / absence of a failure, the state of a load, etc.), information on contents held by each distribution server, and the like.

  When the distribution server management DB becomes abnormal and becomes inaccessible, content information held by each distribution server cannot be acquired from the distribution server management DB, and content distribution becomes impossible.

JP 2006-018643 A

  However, in the background art described above, when the distribution server management DB becomes abnormal and becomes inaccessible, it becomes impossible to refer to the content information held by each distribution server stored in the distribution server management DB. There is a problem that it becomes impossible to deliver.

  The reason is that there is a lack of measures when the distribution server management DB that stores information of contents held by each distribution server becomes abnormal.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a video distribution system, a video distribution method, a distribution management system, and a program that solve the above-described conventional problems.

  A first video distribution system according to the present invention is a video distribution system including a viewing client, a Web portal, a distribution management system, and a distribution server. The viewing client selects content desired to be viewed and identifies the content. Means for transmitting a content ID, which is information, to the Web portal; receives an access destination of the distribution server from the distribution management system via the Web portal; and accesses the distribution server indicated by the received access destination And the Web portal includes means for receiving the content ID from the viewing client and transmitting the received content ID to the distribution management system. A content management DB (database) for managing A control information storage unit that extracts and stores a content ID, location information, and security level from the content management DB, means for receiving a content ID desired to be viewed from the Web portal, and location information corresponding to the received content ID. When acquisition from the content management DB fails, means for acquiring the location information from the control information storage unit, means for selecting an access destination of the distribution server based on the acquired location information, and Means for returning the access destination to the viewing client via the Web portal, and the distribution server has means for distributing the requested content to the viewing client.

  The second video distribution system according to the present invention is the first video distribution system, wherein the distribution management system manages the distribution status management DB based on the distribution status management DB that manages the status of the distribution server and the acquired location information. Means for reading the state of the distribution server from the DB, determining an optimum access destination from the read state of the distribution server, and means for returning the determined optimum access destination to the viewing client via the Web portal; It is characterized by having.

  According to a third video distribution system of the present invention, in the first or second video distribution system, the Web portal reads from the authority storage unit that stores authority information of the viewing client in advance and the authority storage unit. Means for transmitting the authority information to the distribution management system, the distribution management system acquiring a security level corresponding to the received content ID from the control information storage unit, and receiving the acquired security level Means for comparing the access information with the viewing client and checking the access authority of the viewing client; and means for returning the access destination to the viewing client via the Web portal when the check passes. Features.

  A first video distribution method according to the present invention is a video distribution method of a video distribution system including a viewing client, a web portal, a distribution management system, and a distribution server, wherein the viewing client selects content desired to be viewed. A content ID that is identification information of the content is transmitted to the Web portal, the Web portal receives the content ID from the viewing client, transmits the received content ID to the distribution management system, and the distribution management system Receives the content ID desired to be viewed from the Web portal, and if the location information corresponding to the received content ID has failed to be acquired from the content management DB (database) that manages various pieces of content information, Content ID and location from management DB And acquiring the location information from the control information storage unit that extracts and stores the security level, selects an access destination of the distribution server based on the acquired location information, and passes the selected access destination via the Web portal The viewing client receives the access destination of the delivery server from the delivery management system via the web portal, accesses the delivery server indicated by the received access destination, and The distribution server distributes the requested content to the viewing client.

  According to a second video distribution method of the present invention, in the first video distribution method, the distribution management system uses a distribution status management DB that manages the status of the distribution server based on the acquired location information to determine the distribution server's status. The state is read, an optimum access destination is determined from the read state of the distribution server, and the determined optimum access destination is returned to the viewing client via the Web portal.

  According to a third video delivery method of the present invention, in the first or second video delivery method, the Web portal receives the authority information read from an authority storage unit that stores authority information of the viewing client in advance. The distribution management system acquires a security level corresponding to the received content ID from the control information storage unit, compares the acquired security level with the received authority information, and accesses the viewing client. The authority is checked, and when the check is passed, the access destination is returned to the viewing client via the Web portal.

  A first distribution management system of the present invention is a distribution management system of a video distribution system including a viewing client, a Web portal, and a distribution server, and includes a content management DB (database) for managing various pieces of content information, and the content A control information storage unit that extracts and stores a content ID, location information, and security level from the management DB, means for receiving a content ID desired to be viewed from the viewing client via the Web portal, and the received content ID If the location information corresponding to the location management DB fails to be acquired from the content management DB, means for acquiring the location information from the control information storage unit and the access destination of the distribution server is selected based on the acquired location information And the selected access destination via the web portal And it means to return to the viewing client, characterized in that.

  A second distribution management system according to the present invention includes a distribution state management DB for managing a state of the distribution server and a distribution state management DB based on the acquired location information in the first distribution management system. Means for reading out the state and determining an optimum access destination from the state of the read distribution server; and means for returning the determined optimum access destination to the viewing client via the Web portal. Features.

  According to a third distribution management system of the present invention, in the first or second distribution management system, a security level corresponding to the received content ID is acquired from the control information storage unit, the acquired security level and the received authority information And means for checking the access authority of the viewing client, and means for returning the access destination to the viewing client via the Web portal when the check passes. To do.

  A first program of the present invention is a program of a distribution management system in a video distribution system including a viewing client, a Web portal, and a distribution server, and a content ID desired to be viewed from the viewing client via the Web portal. When it fails to acquire the location information corresponding to the received content ID and the location information corresponding to the received content ID from the content management DB that manages the various types of content information, the content ID, location information, and security level are obtained from the content management DB. A process of acquiring the location information from the control information storage unit that is extracted and stored, a process of selecting an access destination of the distribution server based on the acquired location information, and the selected access destination via the Web portal Processing to return to the viewing client. The features.

  The second program of the present invention reads out the status of the distribution server from the distribution status management DB that manages the status of the distribution server based on the acquired location information in the first program, and A process for determining an optimal access destination from the state and a process for returning the determined optimal access destination to the viewing client via the Web portal are performed.

  The third program of the present invention acquires a security level corresponding to the received content ID from the control information storage unit in the first or second program, and compares the acquired security level with the received authority information. And a process of checking the access authority of the viewing client and a process of returning an access destination to the viewing client via the Web portal when the check is passed.

  The present invention has an effect that the system can be maintained even when a failure occurs in the content management DB, and the service can be continued in response to the viewing request.

  The reason is that content management information necessary for access control is extracted from the content management DB and held.

  According to the present invention, in a video distribution system that distributes content to a client, a part of content management information is stored in advance in an access control device of the distribution management system that manages the location of the content. It is characterized by improving availability so that services can be continued even at times.

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

  Referring to FIG. 1, the first embodiment of the video distribution system of the present invention includes a distribution management system 1, a distribution server 21, a distribution server 22, a distribution server 23, a Web portal 3, and a viewing client 4. And a network 5. Distribution server 21, distribution server 22, and distribution server 23 may be collectively referred to as distribution server 2. In FIG. 1, one viewing client and three distribution servers are connected, but the number of connected viewing clients and distribution servers is not particularly limited.

  The distribution management system 1 is an apparatus for managing the location of content and managing the state of the distribution server. The distribution management system 1 is an information processing device that operates under program control, for example, a server device. As shown in FIG. 1, the distribution management system 1 includes an access control device 11, a distribution state management device 12, a content management DB 13, and a distribution state management DB 14.

  The access control device 11 performs access control for a viewing request from the viewing client 4. As shown in FIG. 1, the access control device 11 includes a request response unit 111, an information inquiry unit 112, an authority check unit 113, an access destination determination unit 114, and a control information storage unit 115. The access control device 11 acquires only content management information (content ID, location information, and security level of all contents) necessary for access control from the content management DB 13 and holds it in the control information storage unit 115. When the viewing request is received, based on the given content ID (identification information) and the authority of the viewing client 4, the security level of the content is obtained and an access authority check is performed. Similarly, the location information (location list) of the content is obtained and the distribution destination management device 12 is inquired about the optimal access destination or arbitrarily selected (such as the round robin method) and the access destination is accessed to the Web portal 3. To return.

  Below, the role of each means is demonstrated.

  The request response means 111 is a means for responding to the viewing request, and receives the content ID and the authority of the viewing client 4. Further, after access control, the access destination of the requested content is returned to the Web portal 3.

  The information inquiry unit 112 is a unit that inquires management information to the distribution state management device 12 or the content management DB 13 and obtains the content security level and the content location information from the content management DB 13 based on the content ID. Further, based on the location information, the distribution status management device 12 is inquired about an optimal distribution server (access destination) with a small distribution load. If the inquiry fails, an abnormality is notified.

  The authority check unit 113 obtains the content security level from the content management DB 13 through the information inquiry unit 112, compares the content security level with the authority information of the viewing client 4, and checks the access authority to the requested content. Means to do. If an abnormality occurs in the inquiry to the content management DB 13, an access authority check is performed with reference to the security level held in the control information storage unit 115.

  The access destination determination unit 114 is a unit that determines an access destination (URL (uniform resource locator)) of the requested content, and obtains an optimum access destination from the distribution state management device 12 through the information inquiry unit 112. When an abnormality occurs in the inquiry to the distribution status management device 12, the location information held in the control information storage unit 115 is referred to, and an access destination is arbitrarily selected from the distribution servers indicated in the location information. .

  The control information storage unit 115 holds only content management information (content ID, location information, and security level of all contents) necessary for access control extracted from the content management DB 13. The configuration of the control information storage unit 115 is shown in FIG. The means for holding information in the control information storage unit 115 does not matter (any method such as database, file format, memory expansion, etc. may be used).

  The distribution status management device 12 includes means for inquiring the distribution status management DB 14 about the load status of the distribution server indicated by the location information based on the location information of the content given from the access control device 11. Further, based on the result of inquiry to the distribution status management DB 14 (the number of distributions and the used bandwidth), a means for performing load balance and bandwidth limitation check on the distribution server indicated by the location information is included. Also, as a result of the load balance and bandwidth limitation check, an optimum access destination (a delivery server with a low load) is determined from the delivery servers indicated in the location information, and the determined optimum access destination is returned to the access control device 11. Including means. Further, it includes means for receiving notification of distribution start from the distribution servers 21 to 23 and updating the distribution number of the corresponding distribution server registered in the distribution state management DB 14. In addition, the distribution status management device 12 holds correspondence between the names of the distribution servers 21 to 23, the IP addresses, and the distribution server IDs.

  The content management DB 13 is a database that manages various types of content information, and holds a huge amount of data depending on the number of contents. As shown in FIG. 2, the record of the content management DB 13 is composed of fields such as a content ID, a content type, a title, a security level, location information, and a registration date. The security level indicates, for example, whether the content can be viewed only when it is an adult or can be viewed even when it is a minor. The location information indicates a distribution server ID in which the content exists and a URL that is an access destination for the content.

  The distribution status management DB 14 is a database that manages the status (load status, etc.) of the distribution server. As shown in FIG. 3, the record in the distribution status management DB 14 is composed of fields such as a distribution server ID, a used bandwidth, and the number of distributions.

  The distribution servers 21 to 23 include a content DB (not shown). The content DB includes as many sets of content IDs and content bodies (substances) corresponding to the content IDs as the number of contents. The distribution servers 21 to 23 have means for reading out the content body corresponding to the specified content ID from the content DB in response to the distribution request transmitted from the viewing client 4. In addition, it has means for distributing the read content body to the viewing client 4 that requested distribution. In addition, it has means for notifying the distribution status management device 12 of the notification of distribution start.

  The Web portal 3 is an information processing device that operates under program control, and is, for example, a server device. The Web portal 3 serves as an interface between the distribution management system 1 and the viewing client 4 and provides a viewing menu and the like to the viewing client 4. In addition, the Web portal 3 stores and holds the user authority information (for example, information on whether the user is an adult or a minor) in advance in an authority storage unit (not shown) for each user ID. The Web portal 3 reads the authority information corresponding to the user ID received from the viewing client 4 from the authority storage unit and transmits it to the distribution management system 1 together with the viewing content ID received from the viewing client 4.

  The viewing client 4 is an information processing apparatus that operates under program control, and is a personal computer, for example. The viewing client 4 has an input device (not shown) such as a keyboard, and includes means for inputting a user ID and a password from the input device and transmitting them to the Web portal 3. Also included is a means for selecting a viewing content from the displayed viewing menu and transmitting a viewing content ID to the Web portal 3. The viewing client 4 also includes means for obtaining an access destination of viewing content from the Web portal 3, accessing a distribution server of the obtained access destination, and requesting distribution by designating a content ID. Further, it includes means for outputting the distributed video (content) to a display device or the like (not shown).

  The network 5 is a communication network that connects the distribution management system 1, the distribution server 21, the distribution server 22, the distribution server 23, the Web portal 3, and the viewing client 4, for example, the Internet.

  Next, the operation of the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  First, the operation of the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  The access control device 11 acquires the minimum information (content ID, location information, and security level of all contents) necessary for access control from the content management DB 13 in advance through the information inquiry unit 112, and the control information storage unit 115 Keep it.

  When any viewing client 4 accesses the Web portal 3 (S001) and selects viewing content, the Web portal 3 passes the viewing authority of the viewing client 4 and the ID of the requested content to the access control device 11 as a viewing request ( S002).

  The access control device 11 receives the viewing request by the request response means 111. Based on the received content ID, the location information and security level for the requested content ID are inquired to the content management DB 13 through the information inquiry means 112 (S003, S004).

  If the inquiry is successful, the authority check unit 113 of the access control device 11 performs an access authority check based on the returned information (security level for the requested content ID) and the viewing authority of the viewing client 4. When the inquiry fails, an abnormality is notified by log output or the like, and the access authority check is performed by referring to the security level of the requested content ID from the control information storage unit 115.

  When the access is permitted, the access control device 11 passes the location information of the requested content ID to the distribution status management device 12 through the information inquiry means 112 and inquires about the optimum access destination (S005).

  Based on the location information of the requested content ID, the delivery status management device 12 inquires the delivery status management DB 14 about the load status of the delivery servers 21 to 23 (S006, S007), performs load balance and bandwidth limitation checks, and requests content. The access destination of the ID is returned to the information inquiry means 112 of the access control device 11 (S008).

  When the inquiry to the distribution status management device 12 fails, the information inquiry means 112 of the access control device 11 notifies the abnormality by log output or the like. The access destination determination unit 114 refers to the location information held in the control information storage unit 115 and arbitrarily selects an access destination (such as a round robin method).

  The request response unit 111 of the access control device 11 returns the returned access destination or the selected access destination to the viewing client 4 via the Web portal 3 (S009, S010).

  The viewing client 4 accesses the distribution server 21 based on the received access destination (assumed to be the distribution server 21) and makes a distribution request (S011).

  Upon receiving the request, the distribution server 21 distributes the designated content to the viewing client 4 (S012), and notifies the distribution state management apparatus 12 of distribution start (S013).

  The distribution status management device 12 updates the distribution status management DB 14 (S014). The number of distributions in the distribution state management DB 14 is updated (+1).

  In addition, when the access destination is selected from the stored location information by the round robin method, the load information of each distribution server is not accurate, but since it is a short period until the system is restored, a simple load balancing function Control with.

  Note that details of the bandwidth limitation check and load balance are well known to those skilled in the art and are not directly related to the essence of the present invention, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted.

  As an example of a method for storing information in the control information storage unit 115 in advance, there is a method in which the access control apparatus 11 periodically checks and updates the content management DB 13. In addition, when a content registration function is prepared and information is updated to the content management DB 13, a method of simultaneously updating information held in the control information storage unit 115 may be used.

  The operation of the first embodiment has been described in detail above, but a detailed flowchart of the access control apparatus 11 when receiving a viewing request is shown in FIG. 5 as a supplement.

  Next, the operation of the access control device 11 will be described with reference to FIG.

  When receiving the viewing request by the request response unit 111, the access control device 11 inquires of the content management DB 13 about the location information and the security level for the requested content ID through the information inquiry unit 112 based on the received content ID (step A1). ).

  If the inquiry is successful (“YES” in step A2), the process proceeds to step A6.

  If the inquiry fails ("NO" in step A2), the content management DB 13 abnormality is notified by log output or the like. The failure of the inquiry includes the case where the specified content ID does not exist. Thereafter, the location information and security level for the requested content ID are acquired from the control information storage unit 115 (steps A3 to A4).

  If the information acquisition has failed ("NO" in step A5), the process proceeds to step A13. The failure to acquire information includes the case where the specified content ID does not exist.

  When the information acquisition is successful (“YES” in step A5), the authority check unit 113 of the access control device 11 accesses based on the returned information (security level for the requested content ID) and the viewing authority of the viewing client 4. An authority check is performed (step A6).

  If access is not permitted ("NO" in step A7), the process proceeds to step A13.

  If the access is permitted (passes the access authority check) (“YES” in step A7), the access control device 11 passes the location information of the requested content ID to the distribution status management device 12 through the information inquiry means 112, Queries the optimal access destination. The distribution status management device 12 inquires the distribution status management DB 14 about the load status of the distribution servers 21 to 23 based on the location information of the requested content ID, and performs load balance and bandwidth limitation checks. Based on the results of the load balance and bandwidth limitation check, the optimum access destination of the requested content ID is determined and returned to the information inquiry unit 112 of the access control device 11 (step A8).

  If the inquiry to the distribution status management device 12 is successful (“YES” in step A9), the process proceeds to step A12.

  When the inquiry to the distribution status management device 12 fails ("NO" in step A9), the information inquiry means 112 of the access control device 11 notifies the abnormality by log output or the like. The access destination determination unit 114 refers to the location information held in the control information storage unit 115, and arbitrarily selects an access destination (such as a round robin method) (steps A10 to A11).

  The request response unit 111 of the access control device 11 returns the returned access destination or the selected access destination to the viewing client 4 via the Web portal 3 (step A12).

  An error is returned to the Web portal 3 (step A13).

  Next, effects of the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described. A comparison with the conventional system is shown in FIG.

  The first effect is that only the content management information necessary for access control is held in the access control device, so that the system can be maintained even when the content management DB or the distribution status management device fails ( Improved availability). By maintaining information on all contents, the service can be continued for all viewing requests even in the event of a failure. In addition, when updating the registration information in the content management DB 13, the system can be maintained using more accurate information by updating the information held in the control information storage unit 115.

  The second effect is that only the content management information necessary for access control is stored inside the access control device, so that it can be configured on a smaller scale than a system with a duplicated database, and provides improved availability at low cost. It can be done.

  A third effect is that an access authority check function corresponding to the authority of the viewing client can be maintained even in the event of a failure by holding the security level inside the access control device.

  A fourth effect is that a simple load balance function can be maintained even in the event of a failure by holding content location information inside the access control device.

  The fifth effect is that the content presence / absence check function can be maintained even in the event of a failure by holding the content location information inside the access control device.

  The sixth effect is that the amount of data can be reduced as compared with simple database redundancy by limiting the information held in the access control device to information (content ID, location information, security level) necessary for the access control function. It is.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  The second embodiment of the present invention differs from the first embodiment described above in the configuration of the distribution management system.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the distribution management system 6 in the second embodiment includes an access control server 61, a distribution state management server 62, a first DB server 63, a second DB server 64, and a network 9. Contains.

  The access control server 61 has the function of the access control apparatus 11 shown in FIG.

  The distribution status management server 62 has the function of the distribution status management device 12 shown in FIG.

  The first DB server 63 includes a content management DB 13, and has means for searching and returning the content management DB 13 in response to an inquiry from the access control server 61.

  The second DB server 64 includes a distribution status management DB 14, and has means for searching and returning the distribution status management DB 14 in response to an inquiry from the distribution status management server 62.

  The network 9 is a communication network that connects the access control server 61, the distribution state management server 62, the first DB server 63, and the second DB server 64. For example, a local area network (LAN).

  The access control server 61, the distribution status management server 62, the first DB server 63, and the second DB server 64 have transmission means and reception means for communicating with each other.

  Subsequently, Modification 1 of the distribution management system according to the second embodiment will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the distribution management system 7 in Modification 1 includes an access control server 61, a distribution state management server 62, a DB server 71, and a network 9.

  The access control server 61 has the function of the access control apparatus 11 shown in FIG.

  The distribution status management server 62 has the function of the distribution status management device 12 shown in FIG.

  The DB server 71 includes a content management DB 13 and a distribution status management DB 14, and has means for searching and returning the content management DB 13 in response to an inquiry from the access control server 61. Further, it has means for searching the distribution status management DB 14 and returning it in response to an inquiry from the distribution status management server 62.

  The network 9 is a communication network that connects the access control server 61, the distribution status management server 62, and the DB server 71. For example, a local area network (LAN).

  The access control server 61, the distribution status management server 62, and the DB server 71 have a transmission unit and a reception unit for communicating with each other.

  Next, a second modification of the distribution management system in the second embodiment will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the distribution management system 8 in the second modification includes an access control server 81, a distribution state management server 82, and a network 9.

  The access control server 81 includes an access control device 11 and a content management DB 13.

  The distribution status management server 82 includes a distribution status management device 12 and a distribution status management DB 14.

  The network 9 is a communication network that connects the access control server 81 and the distribution status management server 82. For example, a local area network (LAN).

  The access control server 81 and the distribution status management server 82 have a transmission unit and a reception unit for communicating with each other.

  Next, the operation of the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  Since the operation of the second embodiment is equivalent to the operation of the first embodiment described above, description thereof is omitted.

  Next, effects of the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  The effect of the second embodiment is that only the content management information necessary for access control is held in the access control device, so that the network management system in the distribution management system or the content management DB or the distribution status management device The system can be maintained even in the event of a failure (improvement of availability).

  Further, it can be configured on a small scale as compared with a system in which a database and a network are duplicated, and can provide improved availability at a low cost.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of content management DB. It is a figure which shows the structure of distribution status management DB. It is a figure which shows the structure of a control information storage part. It is a figure which shows the flowchart of the access control apparatus. It is a figure which shows the comparison with this invention and a conventional system. It is a figure which shows the structure of the delivery management system in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the deformation | transformation 1 of the delivery management system in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the deformation | transformation 2 of the delivery management system in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Distribution management system 2 Distribution server 3 Web portal 4 Viewing client 5 Network 6 Distribution management system 7 Distribution management system 8 Distribution management system 9 Network 11 Access control apparatus 12 Distribution status management apparatus 13 Content management DB
14 Distribution status management DB
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 21 Distribution server 22 Distribution server 23 Distribution server 61 Access control server 62 Distribution status management server 63 1st DB server 64 2nd DB server 71 DB server 81 Access control server 82 Distribution status management server 111 Request response means 112 Information inquiry means 113 Authority check means 114 Access destination determination means 115 Control information storage unit

Claims (12)

A video distribution system comprising a viewing client, a web portal, a distribution management system, and a distribution server,
The viewing client is:
Means for selecting content desired to be viewed and transmitting a content ID as identification information of the content to the web portal;
Means for receiving an access destination of the distribution server from the distribution management system via the web portal and accessing the distribution server indicated by the received access destination;
The web portal
Means for receiving the content ID from the viewing client and transmitting the received content ID to the distribution management system;
The distribution management system includes:
A content management DB (database) for managing various pieces of content information;
A control information storage unit that extracts and stores a content ID, location information, and security level from the content management DB;
Means for receiving a content ID desired to be viewed from the web portal;
Means for acquiring the location information from the control information storage unit when location information corresponding to the received content ID has failed to be acquired from the content management DB;
Means for selecting an access destination of the distribution server based on the acquired location information;
Means for returning the selected access destination to the viewing client via the web portal,
The distribution server
Means for delivering the requested content to the viewing client;
A video distribution system characterized by this. The distribution management system includes:
A distribution status management DB for managing the status of the distribution server;
Means for reading the state of the distribution server from the distribution state management DB based on the acquired location information, and determining an optimum access destination from the state of the read distribution server;
Means for returning the determined optimal access destination to the viewing client via the web portal;
The video distribution system according to claim 1. The web portal
An authority storage unit that stores authority information of the viewing client in advance;
Means for transmitting authority information read from the authority storage unit to the distribution management system,
The distribution management system includes:
Means for acquiring a security level corresponding to the received content ID from the control information storage unit, comparing the acquired security level with the received authority information, and checking the access authority of the viewing client;
Means for returning the access destination to the viewing client via the web portal when the check passes.
3. The video distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the video distribution system is a video distribution system. A video distribution method of a video distribution system comprising a viewing client, a web portal, a distribution management system, and a distribution server,
The viewing client is:
Select the content that the user wants to view and send a content ID that is identification information of the content to the web portal,
The web portal
Receiving the content ID from the viewing client, transmitting the received content ID to the distribution management system;
The distribution management system includes:
Receiving a content ID desired to be viewed from the web portal;
When the location information corresponding to the received content ID has failed to be acquired from the content management DB (database) that manages various types of content information, the content ID, location information, and security level are extracted from the content management DB. Acquiring the location information from the control information storage unit
Select the access destination of the distribution server based on the acquired location information,
Return the selected access destination to the viewing client via the web portal,
The viewing client is:
Receiving the delivery server access destination from the delivery management system via the web portal, accessing the delivery server indicated by the received access destination;
The distribution server
Delivering the requested content to the viewing client;
A video distribution method characterized by the above. The distribution management system includes:
Based on the acquired location information, read the state of the distribution server from the distribution state management DB that manages the state of the distribution server, determine the optimal access destination from the state of the read distribution server,
Returning the determined optimal access destination to the viewing client via the Web portal;
The video distribution method according to claim 4, wherein: The web portal
Sending the authority information read from the authority storage unit that stores the authority information of the viewing client in advance to the distribution management system,
The distribution management system includes:
A security level corresponding to the received content ID is acquired from the control information storage unit, and the access authority of the viewing client is checked by comparing the acquired security level with the received authority information,
When the check passes, the access destination is returned to the viewing client via the web portal.
6. The video distribution method according to claim 4, wherein the video distribution method is a video distribution method. A distribution management system of a video distribution system including a viewing client, a web portal, and a distribution server,
A content management DB (database) for managing various pieces of content information;
A control information storage unit that extracts and stores a content ID, location information, and security level from the content management DB;
Means for receiving a content ID desired to be viewed from the viewing client via the web portal;
Means for acquiring the location information from the control information storage unit when location information corresponding to the received content ID has failed to be acquired from the content management DB;
Means for selecting an access destination of the distribution server based on the acquired location information;
Means for returning the selected access destination to the viewing client via the Web portal;
A distribution management system characterized by that. A distribution status management DB for managing the status of the distribution server;
Means for reading the state of the distribution server from the distribution state management DB based on the acquired location information, and determining an optimum access destination from the state of the read distribution server;
Means for returning the determined optimal access destination to the viewing client via the web portal;
The distribution management system according to claim 7. Means for acquiring a security level corresponding to the received content ID from the control information storage unit, comparing the acquired security level with the received authority information, and checking the access authority of the viewing client;
Means for returning the access destination to the viewing client via the web portal when the check passes.
9. The distribution management system according to claim 7 or 8, wherein A distribution management system program in a video distribution system including a viewing client, a web portal, and a distribution server,
A process of receiving a content ID desired to be viewed from the viewing client via the web portal;
When the location information corresponding to the received content ID has failed to be acquired from the content management DB that manages various pieces of content information, the content ID, location information, and security level are extracted from the content management DB and stored. Processing for acquiring the location information from the control information storage unit;
A process of selecting an access destination of the distribution server based on the acquired location information;
Processing for returning the selected access destination to the viewing client via the web portal;
A program characterized by having Based on the acquired location information, a process of reading the state of the distribution server from the distribution state management DB that manages the state of the distribution server, and determining an optimal access destination from the state of the read distribution server;
Processing for returning the determined optimal access destination to the viewing client via the Web portal;
The program according to claim 10, wherein: A process of acquiring a security level corresponding to the received content ID from the control information storage unit, comparing the acquired security level with the received authority information, and checking the access authority of the viewing client;
Processing to return the access destination to the viewing client via the web portal when the check is passed;
The program according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the program is executed.

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