JP5537968B2 - Relay server - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technology for streaming content.

In a streaming distribution system that distributes content in real time, a distribution server delivers content in response to a request from a user terminal based on a protocol such as RTSP (Real Time Streaming Protocol) or RTP (Real-time Transport Protocol). Stream it. In such a streaming distribution system, it is desired to perform flexible distribution control and support various viewing modes by a user terminal.
For example, Patent Document 1 describes a technique for holding content in a cache server during a period according to the content playback state in streaming distribution based on IPTV (Internet Protocol TeleVision), which is a digital broadcasting technology. As a result, when the user terminal pauses viewing of the content, the processing load when starting playback from a location where viewing has been completed later is reduced.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 is a technique for maintaining a session for a certain period of time after streaming streaming of content is stopped, so that a user can immediately re-view without establishing a re-session in response to a re-view request from the user. Is described.

JP 2009-111890 A JP 2009-225339 A

  However, in the distribution control in the protocol as described above, since the distribution server responds in response to a request transmitted from the user terminal, streaming distribution cannot be controlled from the distribution server side. For example, it is not possible to temporarily stop streaming distribution of content to the user terminal on the distribution server side and resume distribution after a certain period of time. Even though it is possible to perform such control by revising the distribution control protocol and basic technology, it is practically difficult to replace all software such as distribution servers and user terminals that are already widely used. is there. Therefore, it is desirable that the distribution server and the user terminal improve the convenience of streaming distribution by performing more flexible distribution control while performing communication based on the conventional communication protocol.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation. A relay server that more flexibly controls streaming distribution to a user terminal without adding a new functional unit to either the distribution server or the user terminal. provide.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a relay server connected to a distribution server that distributes content by streaming and a user terminal that receives and reproduces the content distributed from the distribution server. A distribution request receiving unit that receives the first streaming distribution request transmitted from the network, and a second streaming distribution request to the distribution server in response to the first streaming distribution request received by the distribution request receiving unit. A distribution request transmitting unit, a content receiving unit that receives content streamed from the distribution server in response to the second streaming distribution request transmitted by the distribution request transmitting unit, and a content received by the content receiving unit. A streaming delivery unit for streaming delivery to a user terminal; Depending on the conditions, characterized in that it comprises a distribution control section for stopping the streaming distribution of the content to the user terminal by the streaming unit.

  In addition, the present invention provides that the distribution control unit stops streaming the content to the user terminal when a predetermined time has elapsed since the streaming distribution unit started streaming the content to the user terminal. When a streaming delivery request is received again from the terminal, the streaming delivery of the content is resumed from the stop point.

  In addition, according to the present invention, the relay server is connected to the first user terminal and the second user terminal, and for each user identification information for identifying a user corresponding to the user terminal, a user terminal corresponding to the user identification information is provided. A user information storage unit that stores the reproduction stop time corresponding to the stop of the reproduction of the content distributed by streaming, and stores the first streaming distribution request in the first streaming distribution request. When the user identification information corresponding to the terminal is included and the streaming control to the first user terminal is stopped, the distribution control unit stores the playback time of the content at the time of the stop as the playback stop time in the user information storage unit. And receiving a first streaming distribution request including user identification information corresponding to the first user terminal from the second user terminal. If that is characterized by resuming the streaming content according to the playback stop time corresponding to the user identification information.

  The present invention further includes a content storage unit that stores content transmitted from the distribution server, and the distribution control unit displays the content that is streamed from the distribution server when the content streaming to the user terminal is stopped. When the streaming delivery request is stored in the storage unit and received again from the user terminal, the content stored in the content storage unit is streamed.

  In addition, the present invention includes a scenario storage unit that stores scenario information indicating a range of a playback target for streaming distribution of the content within the playback time of the content, and the distribution control unit performs streaming distribution of the content based on the scenario. It is characterized by that.

  Also, the present invention provides a distribution control unit that stops streaming distribution of content to a user terminal when a predetermined time has elapsed since the streaming distribution unit started streaming distribution of content to the user terminal. The distributed advertisement information is streamed to the user terminal, and the streaming distribution of the content is restarted from the stop point.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the first streaming distribution request transmitted from the user terminal is received, and the second streaming distribution to the distribution server according to the received first streaming distribution request. Sends a request, receives content that is streamed from the delivery server in response to the sent second streaming delivery request, streams the received content to the user terminal, and sends it to the user terminal according to a predetermined condition Therefore, it is possible to provide a relay server that performs flexible distribution control.

It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the streaming delivery system by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the user information memorize | stored in the user information storage part by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the scenario information memorize | stored in the scenario memory | storage part by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows the example by which content is streamed and delivered for every fixed time unit by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows the example by which content is streamed and delivered for every fixed time unit by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows the operation example which performs roaming between terminals by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows the operation example in which a relay server records a content by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows the operation example which carries out the streaming delivery of the content according to one scenario by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows the operation example which inserts an advertisement in the content delivered by streaming by one Embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a streaming distribution system 1 according to the present embodiment.
The streaming distribution system 1 includes a plurality of content distribution servers 100-N (content distribution server 100-1, content distribution server 100-2,...), A relay server 200, and a plurality of user terminals 300-N (user terminals). 300-1, user terminal 300-2,...)). Here, since the plurality of content distribution servers 100-N have the same configuration, the content distribution server 100 will be described when there is no particular need for distinction. Similarly, since the plurality of user terminals 300-N have the same configuration, the user terminal 300 will be described when there is no particular need for distinction.

  The content distribution server 100 is a computer device that distributes content stored in its own storage area based on a protocol such as RTSP or RTP. In the storage area of the content distribution server 100, for example, content such as movie content such as a movie or a TV program, and information such as a reproduction time indicating the length of the content are associated with each content ID for identifying the content. Is remembered. The content distribution server 100 reads the content corresponding to the content ID included in the streaming distribution request transmitted from the relay server 200 from the storage area, and distributes the read content to the relay server 200 by streaming.

  The relay server 200 is a computer device that is connected to the content distribution server 100 and the user terminal 300 and relays streaming distribution. The relay server 200 includes a distribution request receiving unit 201, a distribution request transmitting unit 202, a content receiving unit 203, a streaming distribution unit 204, a user information storage unit 205, an authentication unit 206, a content storage unit 207, a scenario, A storage unit 208, a content list storage unit 209, and a distribution control unit 210 are provided.

  The distribution request receiving unit 201 receives a streaming distribution request transmitted from the user terminal 300. Here, the streaming distribution request received by the distribution request receiving unit 201 includes a user ID corresponding to the user terminal 300 that transmits the streaming distribution request and a content ID that identifies the content that is the target of the streaming distribution request. .

  The distribution request transmitting unit 202 transmits a streaming distribution request to the content distribution server 100 in response to the streaming distribution request received from the user terminal 300 by the distribution request receiving unit 201. The streaming distribution request transmitted from the distribution request transmission unit 202 to the content distribution server 100 includes the content ID indicated in the streaming distribution request received from the user terminal 300.

The content receiving unit 203 receives content that is streamed from the content distribution server 100 in response to the streaming distribution request transmitted to the user terminal 300 by the distribution request transmitting unit 202.
The streaming delivery unit 204 delivers the content received by the content receiving unit 203 to the user terminal 300 in a streaming manner.

  The user information storage unit 205 corresponds to, for each user ID for identifying a user corresponding to the user terminal 300, a playback stop time when playback of the content streamed to the user terminal 300 corresponding to the user ID is stopped. The attached user information is stored. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of user information stored in the user information storage unit 205. For example, in the user information, information indicating a user ID, a password, a content ID, and a reproduction stop time is associated and stored. The password is information (for example, a character string) determined together with the user ID, and is used for login authentication by a combination of the user ID and the password. The content ID is information for identifying the content that is stream-distributed to the user terminal 300 used by the user with the corresponding user ID. The content ID is written by the distribution control unit 210 when the streaming distribution of the content by the streaming distribution unit 204 is started, for example. The reproduction stop time indicates a time during which reproduction is stopped in the reproduction time of the content when distribution of the corresponding content ID is distributed to the user terminal 300 and the distribution is stopped during the reproduction. For example, if the content length is 10 m (minutes) 00 s (seconds) and playback is stopped when the content is played back up to 5 m15 s, the playback stop time is 5 m15 s. The reproduction stop time is written by the distribution control unit 210.

  The authentication unit 206 compares the login request transmitted from the user terminal 300 with the user information stored in the user information storage unit 205, and performs user authentication processing. For example, the login request transmitted from the user terminal 300 includes a combination of the user ID and password input to the user terminal 300, and the authentication unit 206 uses the combination of the user ID and password included in the login request. If the matching user information is stored in the user information storage unit 205, it is determined that the authentication is successful. If the matching user information is not stored in the user information storage unit 205, it is determined that the authentication has failed.

  The content storage unit 207 stores content that is streamed from the content distribution server 100. For example, in the case of streaming distribution such as live distribution or IP broadcast, if the reproduction of content is stopped at the user terminal 300, the user is streamed while the user is stopped even if the reproduction is started after a certain time at the user terminal 300. I can't watch the content I was watching. Therefore, the relay server 200 stores the content while the streaming distribution is stopped, and performs the streaming distribution in response to the streaming distribution request from the content distribution server 100. As described above, the content storage unit 207 is a storage area for temporarily storing content in the relay server 200. For example, the content storage unit 207 may be deleted after a certain period of time, or deleted when viewing by the user terminal 300 is completed. You may make it do.

  The scenario storage unit 208 stores, for each scenario ID for identifying a scenario, scenario information indicating a range to be reproduced in which the content is stream-distributed out of the reproduction time of the content stored in the content distribution server 100. . FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of scenario information stored in the scenario storage unit 208. For example, the scenario with the scenario ID “1” is in the range of 3 s (seconds) to 5 s (seconds) of the content with the content ID “10” and from 2 m (minutes) 30 s (seconds) to 2 m (minutes) 40 s (seconds). This indicates that the range is the playback target. Here, the reproduction target range indicated in the scenario may extend over a plurality of contents. For example, the scenario with the scenario ID “2” has a range from 0 s (seconds) to 15 m (minutes) to 0 s (seconds) of the content with the content ID “10” and 0 s (seconds) with the content with the content ID “20”. This indicates that the range up to 15 s (seconds) and the range from 15 m (minutes) 0 s (seconds) to 30 m (minutes) 0 s (seconds) of the content ID “10” are playback targets. In this way, by designating a plurality of contents, for example, during the reproduction of a content that is a television program, advertisement moving image content (CM) that is another content can be inserted.

  The content list storage unit 209 stores a list of a plurality of pieces of content information including names of contents distributed by the plurality of connected content distribution servers 100. For example, the content list stored in the content list storage unit 209 is read by the distribution control unit 210 and transmitted to the user terminal 300. The transmitted content list is received and displayed by the user terminal 300. The user can confirm what kind of content can be requested by looking at the content list displayed on the user terminal 300, and selects any content for which streaming distribution is requested.

  The distribution control unit 210 controls the distribution of content distributed from the content distribution server 100 to the user terminal 300. For example, the distribution control unit 210 stops the streaming distribution of content to the user terminal 300 by the streaming distribution unit 204 according to a predetermined condition. For example, the distribution control unit 210 stops streaming distribution by transmitting a content end notification (ANNOUNCE message) in RTSP to the user terminal 300. Even if the distribution control unit 210 stops the streaming distribution between the relay server 200 and the user terminal 300, the session between the relay server 200 and the content distribution server 100 is maintained, and the relay server 200 receives the content from the content distribution server 100. It is possible to continue receiving the streaming distribution. Thereby, the relay server 200 can perform flexible distribution control.

  For example, the distribution control unit 210 stops the streaming distribution to the user terminal 300 when a predetermined time has elapsed after the streaming distribution unit 204 starts streaming distribution to the user terminal 300, and again from the user terminal 300. When the streaming delivery request is received, the streaming delivery of the content is resumed from the stop point. As a result, it is possible to stream the content in time units (for example, 30 minutes). For example, it is possible to charge for viewing content in a contract time unit such as 30 minutes, and to stop streaming distribution when the contract time expires. For example, since the session between the relay server 200 and the content distribution server 100 can be maintained even when the streaming distribution to the user terminal 300 is stopped, a subsequent streaming distribution request is received from the user terminal 300. In this case, the content from the stop point can be immediately streamed to the user terminal 300.

  Further, when the streaming distribution to the user terminal 300-1 is stopped, the distribution control unit 210 stores the content reproduction time at the time of the stop in the content storage unit 207 as the reproduction stop time, and from the user terminal 300-2 When a streaming distribution request including the same user ID as that of the user terminal 300-1 is received, the reproduction stop time corresponding to the user ID is read from the content storage unit 207, and the content streaming distribution is resumed from the read reproduction stop time. To do. In this way, roaming between different user terminals 300 by the same user can be performed, and the convenience of viewing the content of the user can be improved. Here, for example, when the user terminal 300-1 is a PC connected to a so-called broadband line and the user terminal 300-2 is a portable information terminal that performs wireless communication, streaming distribution to the user terminal 300-2 is distribution. It is also possible to reduce the amount of data to be performed (narrow the bandwidth). When the user terminal 300-2 is a portable information terminal that performs wireless communication, even when playback is stopped once and playback is performed from the user terminal 300-2 after a certain period of time, content is streamed using a narrowed band. .

  In addition, the distribution control unit 210 may perform streaming distribution by switching between 2D moving image content and 3D moving image content in response to a request from the user terminal 300. For example, the distribution control unit 210 stores the reproduction stop time of the 3D video content when the 2D video content and the 3D video content of the same content exist and the streaming distribution of the 3D video content is stopped. In response to another distribution request stored in the unit 207, streaming distribution of the two-dimensional moving image content is started from the reproduction stop time stored in the content storage unit 207. Alternatively, the playback stop time of the 2D moving image content is stored in the content storage unit 207, and streaming delivery of the 3D moving image content is resumed from the playback stop time. In this way, for example, when a viewer is watching 3D moving image content and feels fatigue, the content distributed in streaming can be switched to 2D moving image content. In addition, the distribution control unit 210 has a conversion function for alternately converting one content into two-dimensional moving image content and three-dimensional moving image content, and streaming distribution of the content whose dimensions are converted in response to a request from the user terminal 300 You may make it do.

  Further, when the distribution control unit 210 stops streaming distribution of content to the user terminal 300, the distribution control unit 210 stores the content streamed from the content distribution server 100 in the content storage unit 207, and makes another streaming distribution request from the user terminal 300. When received, the content stored in the content storage unit 207 is streamed. Thus, as described above, when the streaming distribution from the content distribution server 100 to the relay server 200 is a live distribution, the distributed content can be stored (network recording) in the content storage unit 207. In addition, streaming distribution can be performed in response to a streaming distribution request from the user terminal 300. Thus, even if the user pauses playback due to a business such as a visitor while viewing the live distribution of the content, the user can resume viewing the content after the business is completed, and convenience is improved.

  In addition, the distribution control unit 210 performs streaming distribution of content based on the scenario stored in the scenario storage unit 208. Thereby, it is possible to perform streaming delivery by connecting arbitrary portions of the content according to the scenario. For example, in the prior art, when streaming a digest version or a preview version of streaming distribution is streamed, the main contents, the digest version or the preview contents are prepared and distributed. On the other hand, as in the present embodiment, if a scenario for only a digest part or a notice part is generated and stored in the scenario storage unit 208, a plurality of patterns are streamed using a single content. It becomes possible.

  Also, the distribution control unit 210 stops the streaming distribution of the content to the user terminal when a predetermined time has elapsed since the streaming distribution unit 204 started the streaming distribution of the content to the user terminal 300. After streaming the advertisement information to the user terminal 300, the streaming distribution of the content is resumed from the stop point. By distributing the advertising content in this way, the advertiser can promote to the user and the like, and the administrator of the relay server 200 can expect revenue such as an advertising fee from the advertiser. For example, the user can view the advertisement, and in some cases, the content charge can be reduced according to the advertisement fee.

  The user terminal 300 is a computer device that receives and reproduces content distributed from the content distribution server 100 via the relay server 200. Here, the user terminal 300 has a function of receiving and reproducing content streaming distribution based on RTP or RTSP. In addition, the user terminal 300 includes an output unit such as a display and a speaker that outputs information, and an input unit such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a button that accepts input of information. Here, it is assumed that the user terminal 300-1 is a PC connected to a so-called broadband line, and the user terminal 300-2 is a portable information terminal that performs wireless communication.

Next, an operation example of the streaming distribution system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example in which content is streamed at regular time intervals by the streaming distribution system 1 of the present embodiment. Here, an example will be described in which streaming distribution is performed in accordance with a standard defined for IPTV.
Here, it is assumed that communications such as DESCRIBE and SETUP in RTSP have already been performed. First, the user terminal 300 transmits a content streaming distribution request (PLAY) to the relay server 200 (step S1). When the distribution request receiving unit 201 of the relay server 200 receives the streaming distribution request transmitted from the user terminal 300, the distribution request transmitting unit 202 transmits the streaming distribution request to the content distribution server 100 (step S2). The distribution control unit 210 of the relay server 200 acquires and stores the time at the time of step S2 from its own clocking function, and thereafter measures the elapsed time from the stored time (step S3). Then, the content receiving unit 203 of the relay server 200 receives the content that is streamed from the content distribution server 100 (step S4). The streaming distribution unit 204 distributes the content received by the content reception unit 203 to the user terminal 300 (Step S5).

  When the distribution control unit 210 determines that the elapsed time has exceeded a predetermined time according to the contract (step S6), the distribution control unit 210 transmits a content end notification to the user terminal 300 (step S7). Upon receiving the content end notification transmitted from the relay server 200, the user terminal 300 transmits a stop request (TEARDOWN) to the relay server 200 (step S8). When receiving the stop request transmitted from the user terminal 300, the relay server 200 transmits the stop request to the content distribution server 100 (step S9). Here, a stop screen is displayed on the display of the user terminal 300 (step S10). On the stop screen, for example, a button for selecting either “YES” or “NO” is displayed together with a message such as “Time has come. Do you want to extend?”. Here, if “NO” is selected by the user, the streaming distribution process is terminated. On the other hand, if “YES” is selected by the user, the user terminal 300 has a button for selecting any viewing time such as “10 minutes”, “30 minutes”, “until the end of the content being viewed”, for example. Is displayed.

  Here, when any button is pressed by the user, the user terminal 300 transmits a streaming distribution request to the relay server 200 (step S11). The distribution request receiving unit 201 of the relay server 200 receives the streaming distribution request transmitted from the user terminal 300, and transmits the streaming distribution request to the content distribution server 100 (step S12). The relay server 200 starts measuring elapsed time as in step S3 (step S13). The content receiving unit 203 of the relay server 200 receives the content that is streamed from the content distribution server 100 (step S14), and performs streaming distribution to the user terminal 300 (step S15). When the elapsed time exceeds the viewing time selected by the user, the distribution control unit 210 stops streaming distribution to the user terminal 300 as in step S7.

FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing an example in which content is streamed at regular time intervals by the streaming distribution system 1 of the present embodiment, as in FIG. Here, an example in which streaming delivery is performed in accordance with a standard defined by WMT (Windows (registered trademark) Media Technology) will be described.
The processing from step S21 to step S25 is the same as the operation from step S1 to step S5 in FIG. In step S26, when the distribution control unit 210 of the relay server 200 determines that the elapsed time has exceeded a predetermined time, the playlist is rewritten, the induced content is registered in the transmission key, and a content switching command (FireEvent) is executed. Thereby, the delivery control unit 210 of the relay server 200 transmits a stop request to the content delivery server 100 (step S27). The processing after step S28 is the same as the processing after step S10 in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram illustrating an operation example in which inter-terminal roaming is performed between a user terminal 300-1 which is a PC used by the same user and a user terminal 300-2 which is a portable information terminal.
The user terminal 300-1 accesses the relay server 200 and transmits a login request to the relay server 200 based on the user ID and password input from the user. The authentication unit 206 of the relay server 200 determines whether or not user information that matches the combination of the user ID and the password transmitted from the user terminal 300-1 is stored in the user information storage unit 205, and the determination result is determined. It transmits to the user terminal 300-1 (step S40). If the authentication unit 206 determines that the authentication has failed, the relay server 200 transmits information indicating that the authentication has failed to the user terminal 300-1, and does not perform streaming distribution of the content.

  On the other hand, when the authentication unit 206 determines that the authentication is successful, the user terminal 300-1 transmits a content streaming distribution request to the relay server 200 (step S41). When the distribution request receiving unit 201 of the relay server 200 receives the distribution request transmitted from the relay server 200, the distribution request transmitting unit 202 transmits a streaming distribution request to the content distribution server 100 (step S42). The relay server 200 performs the same processing from step S3 to step S5 in FIG. 4 from step S43 to step S45. When a stop request is input from the user, the user terminal 300-1 transmits a content stop request to the relay server 200 (step S46). Here, the distribution control unit 210 stores the measured elapsed time in the user information storage unit 205 as the reproduction stop time. The relay server 200 transmits a stop request to the content distribution server 100 (step S47).

  Then, the user terminal 300-2 accesses the relay server 200 in response to an operation input from the same user as the user terminal 300-1, and, based on the user ID and password input from the user, to the relay server 200. Is logged in (step S48). When the distribution request receiving unit 201 of the relay server 200 receives the streaming distribution request transmitted from the user terminal 300-2 (step S49), the distribution control unit 210 is associated with the user ID of the logged-in user. The reproduction stop time stored in the information storage unit 205 is read (step S50). The distribution request transmission unit 202 of the relay server 200 transmits a streaming distribution request with the reproduction stop time read by the distribution control unit 210 as a reproduction start time to the content distribution server 100. The content distribution server 100 performs streaming distribution of content from the reproduction start time corresponding to the received streaming distribution request (steps S52 and S53).

  Next, an operation example in which the relay server 200 records content will be described with reference to FIG. The processing from step S70 to step S73 is the same as the processing of steps S1, S2, S4, and S5 in FIG. When the distribution control unit 210 of the relay server 200 receives a pause request (PAUSE) from the user terminal 300 (step S74), the distribution control unit 210 stops the streaming distribution to the user terminal 300 and the content distributed from the content distribution server 100. Recording is performed by storing the content in the content storage unit 207 (step S75). When the streaming distribution from the content distribution server 100 ends (step S76), the distribution control unit 210 of the relay server 200 ends the content recording.

  When the relay server 200 receives the streaming delivery request again from the user terminal 300 (step S77), the delivery control unit 210 reads the content stored in the content storage unit 207 (step S78) and performs streaming delivery to the user terminal 300. To do. The distribution control unit 210 performs streaming distribution until the content stored in the content storage unit 207 ends (step S79).

  Next, an operation example in which the relay server 200 performs streaming distribution of content according to the scenario will be described with reference to FIG. The distribution control unit 210 receives a streaming distribution request including the content ID selected by the user from the user terminal 300 (step S90). When the distribution control unit 210 reads a scenario (for example, scenario ID “1”) stored in the scenario storage unit 208 in association with the content indicated in the streaming distribution request, the range of the reproduction target indicated in the read scenario Is sent to the relay server 200 (step S91). The content receiving unit 203 of the relay server 200 receives the content that is streamed from the content distribution server 100 (step S92). The streaming distribution unit 204 of the relay server 200 performs streaming distribution of the content received by the content reception unit 203 to the user terminal 300 (step S93).

  When the distribution of the content corresponding to the reproduction target range (for example, 3 s to 5 s) defined in the scenario is completed, the distribution control unit 210 streams the content in the next reproduction target range (for example, 2 m30 s to 2 m40 s). A distribution request is transmitted to the content distribution server 100 (step S94). Thereafter, similarly, the distribution control unit 210 receives content in a range to be reproduced according to the scenario from the content distribution server 100, and performs streaming distribution to the user terminal 300.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 9, an operation example in which the relay server 200 inserts an advertisement into content that is streamed to the user terminal 300 will be described. Here, an example in which content is streamed using the scenario with the scenario ID “2” shown in FIG. 3 will be described. Here, it is assumed that the content with the content ID “10” is stored in the content distribution server 100-1, and the content with the content ID “20” is stored in the content distribution server 100-2.

  The processing from step S100 to step S103 is the same as the processing from step S90 to step S93 in FIG. The distribution control unit 210 of the relay server 200 transmits a content streaming distribution request corresponding to the content ID “20” to the content distribution server 100-2 based on the scenario read from the scenario storage unit 208 (step S104). The content distribution server 100-2 transmits the content indicated in the streaming distribution request to the relay server 200 (step S105). When the content reception unit 203 of the relay server 200 receives the content transmitted from the content distribution server 100-2, the streaming distribution unit 204 performs streaming distribution of the content received by the content reception unit 203 to the user terminal 300 (step S106). ). When the streaming distribution of the advertising content is completed, the relay server 200 transmits the streaming distribution request again to the content distribution server 100-1 based on the scenario (Step S107). The content receiving unit 203 of the relay server 200 receives the content distributed by streaming from the content distribution server 100-1 (step S108), and the streaming distribution unit 204 streams the content received by the content receiving unit 203 to the user terminal 300. Distribute (step S109)

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the content distribution server 100 for streaming content and the user terminal 300 for reproducing the content to be streamed can be added to the user terminal 300 without adding a new functional unit. Can be controlled more flexibly. The relay server 200 can be installed, for example, in a network to which the content distribution server 100 and the user terminal 300 are connected. The relay server 200 stops the content that is streamed to the user terminal 300 without depending on the operation from the user. You can resume or switch the content itself.

  The program for realizing the function of the processing unit in the present invention is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded on the recording medium is read into a computer system and executed to perform streaming distribution. May be. Here, the “computer system” includes an OS and hardware such as peripheral devices. The “computer system” includes a WWW system having a homepage providing environment (or display environment). The “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a storage device such as a flexible medium, a magneto-optical disk, a portable medium such as a ROM and a CD-ROM, and a hard disk incorporated in a computer system. Further, the “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a volatile memory (RAM) in a computer system that becomes a server or a client when a program is transmitted via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line. In addition, those holding programs for a certain period of time are also included.

  The program may be transmitted from a computer system storing the program in a storage device or the like to another computer system via a transmission medium or by a transmission wave in the transmission medium. Here, the “transmission medium” for transmitting the program refers to a medium having a function of transmitting information, such as a network (communication network) such as the Internet or a communication line (communication line) such as a telephone line. The program may be for realizing a part of the functions described above. Furthermore, what can implement | achieve the function mentioned above in combination with the program already recorded on the computer system, and what is called a difference file (difference program) may be sufficient.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Streaming delivery system 100 Content delivery server 200 Relay server 201 Delivery request receiving part 202 Delivery request transmission part 203 Content receiving part 204 Streaming delivery part 205 User information storage part 206 Authentication part 207 Content storage part 208 Scenario storage part 209 Content list storage part 210 Distribution control unit 300 User terminal

Claims (5)

A relay server connected to a distribution server that distributes content by streaming and a user terminal that receives and reproduces the content distributed from the distribution server;
A distribution request receiving unit for receiving a first streaming distribution request transmitted from the user terminal;
A distribution request transmitting unit that transmits a second streaming distribution request to the distribution server in response to the first streaming distribution request received by the distribution request receiving unit;
A content receiver that receives the content streamed from the distribution server in response to the second streaming distribution request transmitted by the distribution request transmitter;
A streaming delivery unit for streaming delivery of the content received by the content receiving unit to the user terminal;
A delivery control unit that stops streaming delivery of the content to the user terminal by the streaming delivery unit according to a predetermined condition;
With
The distribution control unit stops streaming distribution of the content to the user terminal when a predetermined time has elapsed since the streaming distribution unit started streaming distribution of the content to the user terminal. When a streaming delivery request is received again from the user terminal, a result of selecting whether to perform streaming delivery for a predetermined time or to perform streaming delivery until the end of the content is further received from the user terminal. Accordingly , the relay server restarts the streaming distribution from the stop point . The relay server is connected to a first user terminal and a second user terminal;
For each piece of user identification information for identifying a user corresponding to the user terminal, a reproduction stop time at which reproduction of content streamed to the user terminal corresponding to the user identification information is stopped is associated and stored. A user information storage unit,
The first streaming distribution request includes user identification information corresponding to the user terminal that transmits the first streaming distribution request,
When the streaming control to the first user terminal is stopped, the distribution control unit stores the playback time of the content at the time of the stop as the playback stop time in the user information storage unit, and When receiving the first streaming distribution request including the user identification information corresponding to the first user terminal from the user terminal, streaming distribution of the content according to the reproduction stop time corresponding to the user identification information The relay server according to claim 1, wherein the relay server is resumed. A content storage unit for storing the content transmitted from the distribution server;
When the distribution control unit stops streaming distribution of the content to the user terminal, the distribution control unit stores the content streamed from the distribution server in the content storage unit, and receives a streaming distribution request again from the user terminal. If you, the relay server according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that streamed the content stored in the content storage unit. A scenario storage unit that stores scenario information indicating a range of a reproduction target for streaming distribution of the content during the content reproduction time;
The relay server according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the distribution control unit performs streaming distribution of the content based on the scenario. The distribution control unit stops streaming distribution of the content to the user terminal when a predetermined time has elapsed since the streaming distribution unit started streaming distribution of the content to the user terminal. The relay server according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the distributed advertisement information is streamed to the user terminal, and the streaming delivery of the content is restarted from the stop time.

Images