JP7058497B2 - Delivery status provision device and program - Google Patents

Description

Application of Article 30, Paragraph 2 of the Patent Law Publication date by download November 28, 2017 Download data of the proceedings of the 2017 Winter Games of the Video Information Media Society General Incorporated Association Shuhei Taguchi, Daiki Endo, Takeuchi Shinya, Kazuya Fujisawa, Kenjiro Kai

The present invention relates to a delivery status providing device and a program.

There is an environment in which broadcast content and VOD (Video On Demand) content can be viewed using mobile terminals such as smartphones in the time of daily gaps. In addition, the user can easily obtain information on the content that suits his / her taste (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-173350

Content is distributed in various media such as broadcasting and the Internet. On the other hand, the content is distributed in various formats such as the main video, its short video, audio, articles, AR (augmented reality) and VR (virtual reality). These contents may be distributed by different operators. Usually, contents are distributed from different businesses by different URLs (Universal Resource Locators), and a system for linking the same or related contents across all the businesses is not widespread. In addition, there is no device that centrally manages the contents of all businesses at present, and there are issues with rights and security, so it will be difficult to realize in the future. Therefore, it is difficult for the user to know the whole picture of which company distributes the desired content in what format.

The present invention has been made in consideration of such circumstances, and is a distribution status providing device capable of collectively providing the distribution status of the content desired by the user even when the content is distributed in a plurality of different situations. Provide a program.

One aspect of the present invention is a distribution status information including a receiving unit that receives search content information indicating the content to be searched from a user terminal, metadata indicating information about the content, and information regarding the format and distribution of the content. The delivery status inquiry destination is determined according to a predetermined selection order from the plurality of distribution status management devices that store the information , or the business operator included in the search content information is selected from the plurality of distribution status management devices. Based on the specified information, the inquiry destination determination unit that determines the distribution status management device that stores the distribution status information of the business operator as the inquiry destination, and the inquiry destination determination by acquiring the first search condition from the search content information. A distribution status acquisition unit that transmits to the distribution status management device determined as the inquiry destination and receives the first distribution status information that is the distribution status information obtained by the search using the first search condition. The second search condition is acquired from the first distribution status information received by the distribution status acquisition unit, transmitted to at least a part of the plurality of distribution status management devices, and obtained by a search using the second search condition. Of the distribution status additional acquisition unit that receives the second distribution status information that is the distribution status information and the second distribution status information that the distribution status additional acquisition unit has received, the first distribution status acquisition unit has received the second distribution status information. (I) Obtained from each of the selection unit that selects the second distribution status information of the content that is the same as or related to the distribution status information, the first distribution status information, and the second distribution status information selected by the selection unit. It is a distribution status providing device characterized by comprising a list returning unit for returning a list of information to the user terminal.

One aspect of the present invention is the distribution status providing device described above, wherein the selection unit is based on one or more of the title, distribution date and time and outline of the content indicated by the metadata, and the video of the content. , The second delivery status information of the content that is the same as or related to the first delivery status information is selected.

One aspect of the present invention is a program for making a computer function as any of the above-mentioned delivery status providing devices.

According to the present invention, even when the content is delivered in a plurality of different situations, it is possible to collectively provide the delivery status of the content desired by the user.

It is an overall block diagram of the content distribution situation management system by embodiment of this invention. It is a functional block diagram of the delivery status providing apparatus by the same embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the delivery status information by the same embodiment. It is a sequence diagram of the content distribution status management system by the same embodiment. It is a figure which shows the setting example of the delivery status information by the same embodiment. It is a figure which shows the setting example of the delivery status information by the same embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a content distribution status management system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The content distribution status management system 1 shown in the figure includes a user terminal 2, a distribution status providing device 3, and a distribution status management device 7. The user terminal 2 and the distribution status providing device 3 are connected to the network 8. The network 8 is, for example, a public network such as the Internet, but may be a private network or a combination of a public network and a private network. The distribution status providing device 3 and the distribution status management device 7 are connected to the network 9. The network 9 may be, for example, a private network such as a dedicated line or a virtual dedicated line, a public network, or a combination of a private network and a public network. In the figure, only one user terminal 2 is shown, but the number of user terminals 2 is arbitrary. Further, the content distribution status management system 1 includes one or more distribution status management devices 7.

The distribution status management device 7 manages the distribution status of the content distributed by the business operator. Each business operator distributes contents by media such as broadcasting, Internet distribution, and VOD (Video On Demand) distribution. In addition, the formats of the contents distributed by each business operator include main video, short video, audio, article, AR (augmented reality), VR (virtual reality), and the like. A business operator that distributes content (also referred to as "content distribution business operator") and a business operator that manages the distribution status of the content distributed by the business operator by the distribution status management device 7 (also described as "distribution status management business operator"). May be the same or different. Further, the distribution status of the content distributed by one content distribution business operator may be managed by one distribution status management device 7, and the distribution status of the content distributed by each of the plurality of content distribution business operators may be managed. May be good. In the following, a case where the content distribution business operator and the distribution status management business operator that manages the distribution status of the content distributed by the content distribution business operator are the same business operator will be described as an example. The distribution status management devices 7 that manage the distribution status of the contents distributed by the business operators D1, D2, D3, ... Are described as distribution status management devices 7-1, 7-2, 7-3, ..., Respectively. The distribution status management device 7 is provided with an API (Application Program Interface) that enables the distribution status providing device 3 to refer to the distribution status of the content.

The distribution status providing device 3 receives an inquiry from the user terminal 2 regarding the distribution status of the desired content. The distribution status providing device 3 refers to the distribution status of the content managed by the distribution status management device 7 of each business operator using the API, and determines the distribution status of the same content as the inquired content and the related content. get. The distribution status providing device 3 returns the acquired list of distribution statuses to the user terminal 2. The user terminal 2 selects an appropriate viewing method from the list, such as the device function of the own terminal and the viewing environment, and acquires and reproduces the content of the media suitable for the selected viewing method. Alternatively, the user terminal 2 acquires and reproduces the content of the media or format selected by the user.

Each time the distribution status providing device 3 receives an inquiry about the distribution status of the content from the user terminal 2, the distribution status providing device 3 refers to the distribution status managed by the distribution status management device 7 of each business operator. Therefore, it is not necessary to store the distribution status information of each business operator in a separate device, and it is possible to clear the rights and security issues.

The configuration of each device will be described.
The user terminal 2 is a terminal used by the user. The user terminal 2 is, for example, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a personal computer, a television receiver, and the like, but is not limited thereto. The user terminal 2 includes a communication unit 21, a control unit 22, an input unit 23, and a display unit 24. The communication unit 21 transmits / receives data to / from another device via the network 8. The control unit 22 controls each unit. The input unit 23 is configured by using an existing input device such as a keyboard, a pointing device (mouse, tablet, etc.), a button, and a touch panel. The input unit 23 may be an interface for connecting the input device to the user terminal 2. For example, the input unit 23 may be a receiving device that receives an instruction from the remote controller. The display unit 24 is an image display device such as a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) display, a liquid crystal display, and an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display. The display unit 24 displays the data.

The distribution status providing device 3 receives the distribution status list request in which the search content information is set from the user terminal 2. The search content information is information that identifies the content to be inquired about the distribution status. The distribution status providing device 3 acquires the distribution status information of the same content as the content inquired about the distribution status and the related content from the distribution status management device 7 of each business operator. The delivery status information includes metadata indicating information about the content and information about the format and delivery of the content. The distribution status providing device 3 returns the acquired list of distribution status information to the user terminal 2. The detailed configuration of the delivery status providing device 3 will be described with reference to FIG. 2 described later.

The delivery status management device 7 is realized by one or more computer servers. The distribution status management device 7 provides an API for receiving a content distribution status inquiry. The distribution status management device 7 includes a storage unit 71 and an information providing unit 72. The storage unit 71 stores the distribution status information of each content. The information providing unit 72 performs a search according to the conditions set in the distribution status inquiry received using the API, reads the distribution status information obtained as a result of the search from the storage unit 71, and returns it to the distribution status providing device 3. do.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the distribution status providing device 3. The distribution status providing device 3 shown in the figure includes a gateway device 4, an information collecting device 5, and a conversion device 6. The gateway device 4, the information collecting device 5, and the conversion device 6 are each realized by one or more computer servers. When there is a device realized by a plurality of computer servers among the gateway device 4, the information collecting device 5, and the conversion device 6, it can be arbitrary which computer server has which functional part of the device. .. Further, one functional unit may be realized by a plurality of computer servers. Further, the distribution status providing device 3 may be a single device in which the gateway device 4, the information collecting device 5, and the conversion device 6 are integrated. Further, the gateway device 4 and the information collecting device 5 may be an integrated device. Further, the gateway device 4 may have some functions of the information collecting device 5 and the conversion device 6, and the information collecting device 5 may have some functions of the gateway device 4 and the conversion device 6.

The gateway device 4 includes a communication unit 41, a storage unit 42, a reception unit 43, an inquiry destination determination unit 44, a distribution status acquisition unit 45, an instruction unit 46, and a list return unit 47.
The communication unit 41 transmits / receives data to / from another device via the network 8. Further, the communication unit 41 transmits / receives data to / from another device via the network 9. The storage unit 42 stores various information.

The receiving unit 43 receives the distribution status list request in which the search content information is set from the user terminal 2. The inquiry destination determination unit 44 determines the distribution status management device 7 to be the inquiry destination of the distribution status from the plurality of distribution status management devices 7 based on the search content information. The distribution status acquisition unit 45 transmits a distribution status inquiry in which the first search condition acquired from the search content information is set to the distribution status management device 7 of the inquiry destination determined by the inquiry destination determination unit 44. In response to the distribution status inquiry, the distribution status acquisition unit 45 receives the distribution status information of the content obtained as a result of the search using the first search condition from the distribution status management device 7.

The instruction unit 46 transmits the same / related content distribution status collection instruction set by the distribution status acquisition unit 45 to the information collection device 5. The instruction unit 46 receives the distribution status information of the content that is the same as or related to the content whose search content information is the search target from the information collection device 5 in response to the same / related content distribution status collection instruction. The list return unit 47 sends a list of the distribution status information received from the distribution status management device 7 of the inquiry destination by the distribution status acquisition unit 45 and the distribution status information received by the instruction unit 46 from the information collection device 5 to the user terminal 2. I will send it back. The list return unit 47 may transmit a list of some information included in the distribution status information.

The information collecting device 5 includes a communication unit 51, a storage unit 52, a distribution status additional acquisition unit 53, and a selection unit 54. The communication unit 51 transmits / receives data to / from another device via the network 9. The storage unit 52 stores various information. The distribution status additional acquisition unit 53 acquires the second search condition from the distribution status information set in the same / related content distribution status collection instruction, and manages a plurality of distribution status inquiries set with the acquired second search condition. It transmits to at least a part of the device 7. In response to the distribution status inquiry, the distribution status additional acquisition unit 53 receives the distribution status information of the content obtained as a result of the search using the second search condition from each distribution status management device 7. The selection unit 54 selects the distribution status information of the content that is the same as or related to the distribution status information set in the same / related content distribution status collection instruction from the distribution status information received by the distribution status addition acquisition unit 53. The selection unit 54 returns the selected distribution status information to the gateway device 4.

The conversion device 6 converts the format of the distribution status inquiry transmitted by the gateway device 4 or the information collection device 5 into a format suitable for the API provided by the destination distribution status management device 7. Further, the distribution status information received from the distribution status management device 7 is converted into the data format used by the gateway device 4 or the information collecting device 5. When the gateway device 4 and the information collecting device 5 generate a distribution status inquiry according to the API provided by the destination distribution status management device 7, the data format of the distribution status information is set in the gateway device 4 and the information collecting device 5. If conversion is possible, or if conversion of the data format is unnecessary, the conversion device 6 may not be provided.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of distribution status information. The delivery status information includes metadata indicating information about the content and information about the format and delivery of the content. The metadata shown in the figure includes information such as the title, summary, and performers of the content. The metadata may include other information such as content subtitles and genres. The information regarding the distribution of the content includes a URL indicating the distribution address of the content, media, a broadcast date and time, a distribution date and time, and the like. In the present embodiment, both formats such as broadcasting and VOD and media such as main video, short video, audio, article, AR, and VR are described in the "format" column. If the description of the media is omitted in the "Format" column, it means the main video. The URL of the distribution address can be used as a content identifier for each business operator, and the domain name of the URL can be used as information for identifying the business operator. The broadcast date / time or the distribution date / time is indicated by, for example, the start date / time and the end date / time of the distribution by broadcasting or the Internet.

FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the content distribution status management system 1. In the description of the figure, the description of the conversion process in the conversion device 6 will be omitted.

The control unit 22 of the user terminal 2 transmits a distribution status list request in which search content information is set to the gateway device 4 based on an operation performed by the user by the input unit 23 (step S105). The receiving unit 43 of the gateway device 4 receives the distribution status list request transmitted from the user terminal 2. The inquiry destination determination unit 44 determines the distribution status management device 7 to be the inquiry destination of the distribution status based on the search content information set in the distribution status list request (step S110).

The inquiry contact determination unit 44 uses the business operator or the content identifier indicated by the business operator specific information when it is determined that the business operator specific information or the content identifier of each business operator is set in the search content information. The delivery status management device 7 of the business operator is determined as the contact destination. For the business identification information, for example, the name and identifier of the business, the domain name of the URL indicating the distribution address of the content, and the like are used. Further, when it is determined that the information that can identify the business operator is not set in the search content information, the inquiry contact determination unit 44 determines the distribution status management device 7 for one or more inquiries according to a predetermined selection order.

The delivery status acquisition unit 45 acquires the first search condition from the search content information (step S115). The first search condition is information that can specify the content, such as, for example, the content identification information, the content title, the combination of the business-specific information and the broadcast date / time or the delivery date / time of the content. If the search content information does not include information that can identify the content, the search condition that can narrow down the content is set as the first search condition. For example, the names and subtitles of the performers of the program, the names of the participating teams and participating players in sports games, and the like can be used. Further, the first search condition may be the search content information itself. The delivery status acquisition unit 45 sets the first search condition and transmits the delivery status inquiry addressed to the delivery status management device 7 of the inquiry destination.

The information providing unit 72 of the delivery status management device 7 of the inquiry destination receives the delivery status inquiry. The information providing unit 72 acquires the first search condition from the distribution status inquiry, and reads the distribution status information specified by the first search condition from the storage unit 71. The delivery status information specified by the first search condition is described as the first delivery status information. The information providing unit 72 returns the first delivery status information to the gateway device 4 (step S125). The instruction unit 46 of the gateway device 4 transmits the same / related content distribution status collection instruction set with the first distribution status information received from the distribution status management device 7 of the inquiry destination to the information collection device 5 (step S130).

The distribution status addition acquisition unit 53 of the information collection device 5 acquires the second search condition from the first distribution status information set in the same / related content distribution status collection instruction (step S135). The second search condition is information that can identify the same or related content as the content of the first delivery status information. The second search condition includes, for example, the title of the content, the words included in the outline of the content, the names and subtitles of the performers of the program, the genre, the names of the teams and players participating in the sports match, and the broadcast date / time / delivery date / time. Etc. can be used. The delivery status additional acquisition unit 53 sends a delivery status inquiry for which a second search condition is set to each of all or part of the delivery status management devices 7 (step S140).

The information providing unit 72 of the delivery status management device 7 of the inquiry destination receives the delivery status inquiry. The information providing unit 72 acquires the second search condition from the distribution status inquiry, and reads the distribution status information specified by the second search condition from the storage unit 71. The delivery status information specified by the second search condition is described as the second delivery status information. The information providing unit 72 returns the second distribution status information to the information collecting device 5 (step S145).

The selection unit 54 of the information collecting device 5 selects the second distribution status information of the same content as the first distribution status information or the related content from the second distribution status information returned from each distribution status management device 7. (Step S150). Any method can be used for selection. For example, the exact or partial match of the title between the first delivery status information and the second delivery status information, the high degree of similarity between the summary sentences, the match of the broadcast date and time or the delivery date and time, and the difference between the broadcast date and time or the delivery date and time. Select based on whether it is within the specified range, the match of the broadcast start date or the broadcast start date, the number of performers, participating teams, and players matching, and whether the title of one information appears in the summary of the other information. be able to. For example, the same content may be delivered from different operators on different broadcast dates and times, or rebroadcast from the same operator on different broadcast times, but the difference is generally hours to days. Often within. Further, even when sports news including the content related to the game is delivered after the sports match is delivered, the difference between the broadcast date and time and the delivery date and time is often within several hours to several days. Therefore, the difference between the broadcast date and time or the delivery date and time between the first delivery status information and the second delivery status information is also within a predetermined range in the second delivery status information of the same content as the first delivery status information or related contents. It can be used as useful information for determining the existence. The selection unit 54 outputs the selected second distribution status information to the gateway device 4 (step S155).

The list return unit 47 of the gateway device 4 is a list of distribution status from the first distribution status information returned from the distribution status management device 7 in step S125 and the second distribution status information returned from the information collection device 5 in step S155. Is generated and returned to the user terminal 2 (step S160). For example, the distribution status list includes a title, a format, a medium, a broadcast date / time or a distribution date / time, a URL, a business name specified from the URL, and the like acquired from each distribution status information.

The control unit 22 of the user terminal 2 selects an appropriate medium according to the device function and the viewing environment from the distribution status list. Alternatively, the control unit 22 displays the distribution status list on the display unit 24, and the user selects the content acquisition destination from the displayed units by the input unit 23. The control unit 22 acquires the content using the URL of the selected acquisition destination and displays it on the display unit 24.

In addition, in order to specify the distribution status management device 7 of the business operator that distributes (broadcasts) the content targeted by the search content information in the inquiry contact determination unit 44 of the gateway device 4, the business operator is previously stored in the storage unit 42. The association between the specific information and the distribution status management device 7 is managed. As a result, it is possible to make an inquiry to the distribution status management device 7 of a specific business operator and acquire the distribution status information of the content to be searched without inquiring to the distribution status management device 7 of all the business operators.

In the above-described embodiment, the gateway device 4 and the information collecting device 5 transmit a distribution status inquiry to the distribution status management device 7 of each business operator each time a distribution status list request is received from the user terminal 2, and the distribution status information. Is acquired and the distribution status list is returned, but the distribution status information may be cached for a certain period of time.

For example, the storage unit 42 of the gateway device 4 associates the search content information with the distribution status list and holds the search content information for a certain period of time. When the distribution status list associated with the search content information received from the user terminal 2 is stored in the storage unit 42, the distribution status acquisition unit 45 reads the distribution status list and performs the process of step S160. Alternatively, the storage unit 42 of the gateway device 4 associates the first search condition with the first delivery status information received from the delivery status management device 7 of the inquiry destination and holds the first delivery status information for a certain period of time. When the first distribution status information associated with the first search condition acquired from the search content information is stored in the storage unit 42, the distribution status acquisition unit 45 reads the first distribution status information and steps S130. Is processed.

Further, the storage unit 52 of the information collecting device 5 links the first distribution status information set in the same / related content distribution status collection instruction with the second distribution status information returned to the gateway device 4 for a certain period of time. Hold. When the second distribution status information associated with the first distribution status information set in the same / related content distribution status collection instruction is stored in the storage unit 52, the distribution status additional acquisition unit 53 is the first. (Ii) The distribution status information is read out and the process of step S155 is performed. Alternatively, the storage unit 52 of the information collecting device 5 associates the second search condition with the second distribution status information received from the distribution status management device 7 and holds it for a certain period of time. The distribution status additional acquisition unit 53 stores in the storage unit 52 the second distribution status information associated with the second search condition acquired from the first distribution status information set in the same / related content distribution status collection instruction. If so, the second delivery status information is read out and the process of step S150 or step S155 is performed.
As a result, the number of communications between the distribution status providing device 3 and the distribution status management device 7 can be reduced.

Further, the selection unit 54 of the information collecting device 5 is the same as or related to the content inquired about the distribution status from the user terminal 2 from the second distribution status information acquired from the distribution status management device 7 of each business operator. The second delivery status information of the content is specified. Various methods can be considered as this specific method. For example, as described above, there is a method of collating the information included in the distribution status information such as the title and the broadcast date and time, but by using the method of specifying the distribution status information of the same or related contents by using the similarity between the videos. May be good. In this case, the selection unit 54 acquires the content using the URLs set in each of the first distribution status information and the second distribution status information, or the information providing unit 72 of the distribution status management device 7 is the first. Content is added to each of the delivery status information and the second delivery status information and returned to the sender of the delivery status inquiry. The selection unit 54 collates the video of the content acquired based on the first distribution status information with the video of the content acquired based on the second distribution status information, and the content acquired based on the first distribution status information. Select the second distribution status information of the content determined to be the same as or similar to. Any combination of a method of collating the information included in the distribution status information and a method of using the similarity between the images may be used.

Further, in the above, the distribution status addition acquisition unit 53 of the information collecting device 5 has acquired the second search condition, but the information providing unit 72 of the distribution status management device 7 may acquire the second search condition. In this case, the distribution status addition acquisition unit 53 of the information collection device 5 sets the first distribution status information acquired from the same / related content distribution status collection instruction in the distribution status inquiry and transmits it to the distribution status management device 7. Further, the information providing unit 72 of the distribution status management device 7 has the same content or relation as the first distribution status information among the second distribution status information obtained as a result of searching the storage unit 71 using the second search condition. The second distribution status information of the content to be used may be selected by the same processing as that of the selection unit 54 of the information collection device 5 and returned to the information collection device 5.

Next, a specific operation example of the content distribution status management system 1 will be described. First, an operation example when the inquiry destination can be specified from the search content information will be described.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of distribution status information. 5 (a) to 5 (e) show the distribution status information stored in the distribution status management devices 7-1 to 7-5, respectively. The business operator D1 is a broadcasting business operator, and the business operators D2 to D5 are business operators that distribute contents on the Internet.

In the distribution status information shown in FIG. 5A, the broadcast date and time and the format “broadcast” of the content of the title “drama α” are set. In addition, broadcast / distributor information "arib: //7fe0.7fe0.0400/-1" indicating a broadcaster and a channel is set in the URL. In the distribution status information shown in FIG. 5B, the distribution date and time of the content of the title "drama α", the format "net (simultaneous distribution)", and the URL for distribution are set. In the distribution status information shown in FIG. 5 (c), the content format "VOD" of the title "drama α" and the URL for distribution are set. In the distribution status information shown in FIG. 5D, the content format "net (short moving image)" of the title "drama α understood in 5 minutes" and the URL for distribution are set. In the distribution status information shown in FIG. 5 (e), the content format "net (article)" of the title "drama α synopsis" and the URL for distribution are set.

When the control unit 22 of the user terminal 2 can acquire the broadcaster and the broadcast date and time of the content that the user wants to watch, it transmits a distribution status list request in which search content information indicating such information is set. For example, when the input unit 23 clicks the content name of the content that the user wants to view in the web content displayed by the display unit 24 of the user terminal 2, the control unit 22 delivers the URL linked to the content name. It is transmitted as a list request (step S105). The distribution status list request includes search content information including the broadcast / distributor information "arib: //7fe0.7fe0.0400/-1" and the broadcast date / time.

Since the broadcast / distribution business operator information represents the business operator D1, the inquiry destination determination unit 44 of the gateway device 4 determines the distribution status inquiry destination as the distribution status management device 7-1 (step S110). The distribution status acquisition unit 45 acquires the broadcast date and time as the first search condition from the search content information (step S115). The distribution status acquisition unit 45 transmits a distribution status inquiry addressed to the distribution status management device 7-1 for which the first search condition is set (step S120).

The information providing unit 72 of the distribution status management device 7-1 searches the storage unit 71 according to the broadcast date and time indicated by the first search condition set in the distribution status inquiry, and distributes the distribution status information of "drama α" (FIG. 5 (FIG. 5). a)) is specified and returned to the gateway device 4 as the first delivery status information (step S125). The instruction unit 46 of the gateway device 4 transmits the same / related content distribution status collection instruction set with the received first distribution status information to the information collection device 5 (step S130).

The distribution status additional acquisition unit 53 of the information collection device 5 acquires the title “drama α” and the broadcast date and time as the second search condition from the first distribution status information set in the same / related content distribution status collection instruction (step). S135). The distribution status addition acquisition unit 53 transmits a distribution status inquiry for which a second search condition is set to each of the distribution status management devices 7-1 to 7-n (step S140). The delivery status management device 7-1 for which the gateway device 4 has already made an inquiry may be excluded from the destination of the delivery status inquiry. Here, the delivery status management devices 7-2 to 7-n are the destinations.

The information providing unit 72 of the distribution status management devices 7-2 to 7-n includes distribution status information in which the title and summary include "drama α" indicated by the second search condition, the broadcast date and time indicated by the second search condition, and the net. The delivery status information having the same delivery date and time or the difference within a predetermined range for simultaneous delivery is read from the storage unit 71. The information providing unit 72 of the distribution status management devices 7-2 to 7-n returns the read distribution status information as the second distribution status information (step S145). The selection unit 54 of the information collecting device 5 is used to simultaneously distribute the main part of the broadcast drama α from the second distribution status information returned from the distribution status management devices 7-2 to 7-n, VOD, and a short video. , The second distribution status information (FIGS. 5 (b) to 5 (e)) of the same or related contents such as articles is selected and transmitted to the gateway device 4 (steps S150 and S155). The list return unit 47 of the gateway device 4 generates a distribution status list from the first distribution status information received from the distribution status management device 7-1 and the second distribution status information returned from the information collection device 5, and the user It is returned to the terminal 2 (step S160).

Next, an operation example when the business operator cannot be identified from the search content information will be described.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of distribution status information. 6 (a) to 6 (e) show the distribution status information stored in the distribution status management devices 7-1 to 7-5, respectively. Businesses D1 and D4 are broadcasters, and businesses D2, D3 and D5 are businesses that distribute content over the Internet.

The distribution status information shown in FIG. 6A includes the content format “broadcast” of the title “baseball broadcast α vs. β”, the broadcast date and time, and the broadcast / distributor information “arib:” indicating the broadcaster and channel. Information representing "/ 7fe0.7fe0.0400/-1" is set. In the distribution status information shown in FIG. 6 (b), the content format "net (simultaneous distribution)" of the title "α vs. β", the URL for distribution, and the distribution date and time are set. In the distribution status information shown in FIG. 6 (c), the content format “VOD” of the title “α vs. β” and the URL for distribution are set. In the distribution status information shown in FIG. 6D, the content format "broadcast", URL, and broadcast date and time of the title "sports news B" are set. In the distribution status information shown in FIG. 6 (e), the content format "VOD" of the title "Sports Documentary C" and the URL for distribution are set.

The control unit 22 of the user terminal 2 transmits a distribution status list request in which search content information indicating "baseball relay α vs. β" is set to the gateway device 4 based on the user's input by the input unit 23. Since the business operator cannot be identified from the search content information, the inquiry contact determination unit 44 of the gateway device 4 determines the delivery status inquiry destination as the distribution status management devices 7-1 to 7-3 based on a predetermined priority. (Step S110). The delivery status acquisition unit 45 sets the search content information as the first search condition (step S115). The distribution status acquisition unit 45 transmits a distribution status inquiry addressed to the distribution status management devices 7-1 to 7-3 for which the first search condition is set (step S120). It should be noted that the distribution status inquiry may be transmitted in parallel to the distribution status management devices 7-1 to 7-3, until the distribution status information is acquired from the predetermined number of distribution status information or the predetermined number of distribution status management devices 7. Delivery status inquiries may be sent in order.

The information providing unit 72 of the distribution status management devices 7-1 to 7-3 has distribution status information having a high degree of similarity to the first search condition set in the distribution status inquiry (FIGS. 6 (a) to 6 (c)). Is read from the storage unit 71 and returned as the first delivery status information (step S125). Any existing technique can be used to calculate the similarity. For example, the degree of similarity can be obtained by the number of words included in the first search condition or words similar to the words appearing in the whole of the distribution status information or in a predetermined column (title, summary, performers, etc.). .. The instruction unit 46 of the gateway device 4 transmits the same / related content distribution status collection instruction set with the received first distribution status information to the information collection device 5 (step S130).

When a plurality of first distribution status information is set in the same / related content distribution status collection instruction, the distribution status addition acquisition unit 53 of the information collection device 5 describes each first distribution status information in steps S135 to S150. Perform processing. That is, the distribution status addition acquisition unit 53 acquires the second search condition from the first distribution status information (step S135), sets the second search condition to each of the distribution status management devices 7-3 to 7-n. The delivery status inquiry is transmitted (step S140). The information providing unit 72 of the distribution status management devices 7-3 to 7-n reads the distribution status information obtained as a result of the search by the second search condition from the storage unit 71 and returns it as the second distribution status information (step S145). ). The selection unit 54 of the information collecting device 5 is the same as or the same as the first distribution status information from which the second search condition was obtained from the second distribution status information returned from the distribution status management devices 7-3 to 7-n. The second delivery status information of similar contents is selected (step S150).

The selection unit 54 of the information collecting device 5 returns the second distribution status information selected based on each of the plurality of first distribution status information to the gateway device 4 (step S155). The list return unit 47 of the gateway device 4 displays a distribution status list from the first distribution status information received from the distribution status management devices 7-1 to 7-3 and the second distribution status information returned from the information collection device 5. It is generated and returned to the user terminal 2 (step S160).

According to the embodiment described above, it is possible to provide information on what kind of media and format the content desired by the user is distributed, and the user can obtain an opportunity to view the content.

The above-mentioned user terminal 2, gateway device 4, information collecting device 5, conversion device 6, and distribution status management device 7 have a computer system inside. The operation process of the user terminal 2, the gateway device 4, the information collecting device 5, the conversion device 6, and the distribution status management device 7 is stored in a computer-readable recording medium in the form of a program, and this program is stored in a computer. The above processing is performed by reading and executing the system. The computer system referred to here includes hardware such as a CPU, various memories, an OS, and peripheral devices.

Further, the "computer system" includes the homepage providing environment (or display environment) if the WWW system is used.
Further, the "computer-readable recording medium" refers to a portable medium such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM, or a CD-ROM, and a storage device such as a hard disk built in a computer system. Further, a "computer-readable recording medium" is a communication line for transmitting a program via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line, and dynamically holds the program for a short period of time. In that case, it also includes those that hold the program for a certain period of time, such as the volatile memory inside the computer system that is the server or client. Further, the above-mentioned program may be for realizing a part of the above-mentioned functions, and may be further realized by combining the above-mentioned functions with a program already recorded in the computer system.

1 ... Content distribution status management system, 2 ... User terminal, 3 ... Distribution status provision device, 4 ... Gateway device, 5 ... Information collection device, 6 ... Conversion device, 7 ... Distribution status management device, 8 ... Network, 9 ... Network , 21 ... communication unit, 22 ... control unit, 23 ... input unit, 24 ... display unit, 41 ... communication unit, 42 ... storage unit, 43 ... reception unit, 44 ... inquiry contact determination unit, 45 ... delivery status acquisition unit, 46 ... Instruction unit, 47 ... List return unit, 51 ... Communication unit, 52 ... Storage unit, 53 ... Delivery status additional acquisition unit, 54 ... Selection unit, 71 ... Storage unit, 72 ... Information provision unit

Claims (3)

A receiver that receives search content information indicating the content to be searched from the user terminal, and a receiver.
A distribution status inquiry destination is determined according to a predetermined selection order from a plurality of distribution status management devices that store distribution status information including metadata indicating information regarding the content and information regarding the format and distribution of the content . Alternatively, the distribution status management device that stores the distribution status information of the business operator is determined as the inquiry destination from the plurality of distribution status management devices based on the information that identifies the business operator included in the search content information. Inquiry decision department and
The distribution status obtained by acquiring the first search condition from the search content information, transmitting it to the distribution status management device determined by the inquiry destination determination unit as the inquiry destination, and searching using the first search condition. The delivery status acquisition unit that receives the first delivery status information, which is information, and the delivery status acquisition unit,
The second search condition is acquired from the first distribution status information received by the distribution status acquisition unit, transmitted to at least a part of the plurality of distribution status management devices, and obtained by a search using the second search condition. The delivery status additional acquisition unit that receives the second delivery status information, which is the delivery status information,
Of the second distribution status information received by the additional distribution status acquisition unit, a selection unit that selects the second distribution status information of the content that is the same as or related to the first distribution status information received by the distribution status acquisition unit. When,
A list return unit that returns a list of information acquired from each of the first distribution status information and the second distribution status information selected by the selection unit to the user terminal.
A delivery status providing device characterized by being provided with. The selection unit is the second content that is the same as or related to the first distribution status information based on one or more of the title, delivery date and time, and outline of the content indicated by the metadata and the video of the content. Select delivery status information,
The delivery status providing device according to claim 1 . A program for causing a computer to function as the delivery status providing device according to claim 1 .

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