JP7067360B2 - Processing equipment, processing methods, programs and systems - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a processing device, a processing method, a program, and a system, and relates to, for example, a technique for measuring the number of viewing users in distributed video distribution.

In recent years, it has become the mainstream to adopt HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) as a video distribution method using a network (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 1). In video distribution by HTTP, the content is often divided into segment units separated by specific time intervals, and at the same time as the segment division, a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) according to the playback time of the content is given to each segment. Will be done. In addition, a segment list in which URLs corresponding to the playback times of the contents are listed is generated.

The viewing user acquires the segment list before the start of playback of the content, and obtains the URL of the target segment. Generally, a plurality of servers that provide segments are prepared, and when the viewing user actually acquires the segments, the servers are randomly selected by the user terminal or the reverse proxy, and the load distribution on the distribution system side is achieved. .. Therefore, the viewing user acquires segments from different servers every few seconds even for the same content.

With reference to FIG. 11, the measurement process of the number of viewing users in the conventional video distribution system will be described. Here, as shown in FIG. 11A, the Web servers 903A and 903B are accessed from the user terminal 901a operated by the user a, the user terminal 901b operated by the user b, and the user terminal 901c operated by the user c (segment request). ) Is assumed. The Web servers 903A and 903B have an access log for each content, and the access time and the viewing user information are recorded in the access log in association with each other.

Here, as shown in the access log LA of the Web server 903A (see FIG. 11B), in order to view a specific content, the Web server 903A is set to the time "00:00:01", "00". There is a segment request from user a at ": 00:21" and a segment request from user b at time "00:00:12", and the times "00:00:07", "00:00:17", "00" : 00:27 ”is a segment request from user c. Further, as shown in the access log LB of the Web server 903B (see FIG. 11B), in order to view a specific content, the Web server 903B is segmented from the user a at the time "00:00:11". It is assumed that there is a request, there is a segment request from user b at the times "00:00:02" and "00:00:22", and there is no segment request from user c.

As described above, the acquisition destination of the segment is randomly selected from multiple Web servers for each segment, so in order to accurately measure the number of viewing users, the access logs output from each Web server are aggregated. There is a need to. For example, as shown in FIG. 11C, by aggregating the access log LA and the access log LB, it can be seen that the number of viewing users of the content is "three" of the users a, b, and c. The number of viewing users is measured, for example, by a measuring device (not shown) connected to each Web server via a network.

"Hybrid cast related technology MPEG-DASH application technology", [online], NHK Engineering System, [Search on July 26, 2018], Internet <http://www.nes.or.jp/transfer / catalog / 2018/01/71a />

However, the conventional method of aggregating access logs recorded by multiple Web servers and measuring the total number of viewing users requires a huge amount of access logs to be collected at all times. There is a problem that the network is overloaded.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a processing device, a processing method, a program, and a system capable of reducing the load of measurement processing of the number of viewing users.

In order to solve the above problems, the processing device according to the present invention is a processing device connected to a plurality of second communication devices used for transmitting the first content to the first communication device, and the plurality of processing devices. Information acquired from each of the second communication devices in the second communication device using the first time information indicating the time interval of the segment in the first content, from the second communication device to the first communication device. Using the first processing unit that receives the first information, which is information indicating that the first content is transmitted, and the first information, the second communication device to the first communication device. It is characterized by having a second processing unit for determining that one content has been transmitted.

Further, the processing method according to the present invention is a processing method of a processing device connected to a plurality of second communication devices used for transmitting the first content to the first communication device, and is the plurality of processing methods. Information acquired from each second communication device in the two communication devices using the first time information indicating the time interval of the segment in the first content, and the first communication device from the second communication device to the first communication device. The first content is received from the second communication device to the first communication device by using the first processing step of receiving the first information which is the information indicating that the content is being transmitted and the first information. It is characterized by having a second processing step, which determines that is being transmitted.

Further, in the program according to the present invention, a computer connected to a plurality of second communication devices used for transmitting the first content to the first communication device is connected to each second in the plurality of second communication devices. Information acquired from the communication device using the first time information indicating the time interval of the segment in the first content, and the first content is transmitted from the second communication device to the first communication device. It is determined that the first content is transmitted from the second communication device to the first communication device by using the first processing unit and the first information that receive the first information which is information indicating that. , It functions as a second processing unit.

Further, the system according to the present invention includes a plurality of second communication devices used for transmitting the first content to the first communication device, and a processing device connected to the plurality of second communication devices. In the system, each of the second communication devices uses the first time information indicating the time interval of the segment in the first content to transmit the first content to the first communication device. The first process, which has a third processing unit for acquiring the first information which is the information to be shown, receives the first information from each second communication device in the plurality of second communication devices. It has a unit and a second processing unit that determines that the first content is transmitted from the second communication device to the first communication device by using the first information.

According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the load of the measurement processing of the number of viewing users.

It is a block diagram of the moving image distribution system which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is an image diagram of the MF file which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the Web server which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the measuring apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the measurement process of the number of viewing users in the moving image distribution system which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention, (a) is the schematic block diagram of the system, (b) is each shown in (a). It is an example of the access log of the Web server, and (c) is an image diagram of the measurement process of the number of viewing users. It is a sequence diagram which shows the operation of the moving image distribution system which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the case where the number of viewing users is measured in a predetermined measurement section in a state where the segment length of a content is not uniform, (a) is a schematic block diagram of a system, and (b) is (a). It is an example of the access log of each Web server shown in (c), and (c) is an image diagram of the measurement process of the number of viewing users. It is a block diagram of the moving image distribution system which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is an image diagram of the MF file which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the measurement process of the number of viewing users in the moving image distribution system which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention, (a) is the schematic block diagram of the system, (b) is each shown in (a). It is an example of the access log of the Web server. It is a figure for demonstrating the measurement process of the number of viewing users in a conventional video distribution system, (a) is a schematic block diagram of a system, (b) is an example of the access log of each Web server shown in (a). (C) is an image diagram of the access log aggregation process.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate.
Each figure is merely schematically shown to the extent that the present invention can be fully understood. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the illustrated examples. Further, in the present embodiment, the description may be omitted for the configuration not directly related to the present invention or the well-known configuration. In each figure, common components and similar components are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicate description thereof will be omitted.

[First Embodiment]
<Structure of video distribution system according to the first embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a moving image distribution system 10 according to the first embodiment. The video distribution system 10 distributes content in segment units separated by specific time intervals. Further, the moving image distribution system 10 measures the number of predetermined items for each content. The content distribution method in the video distribution system 10 is not particularly limited, and is, for example, "HTTP Live Streaming (HLS)" or "Moving Picture Experts Group-Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (MPEG-DASH)".
Here, an example of the number of predetermined items for each content is as follows.
One example is the number at which it is determined that the content has been distributed to the user terminal 1 (described later) from the Web server 3 (described later) in the video distribution system, and it is determined that the content has been reproduced and distributed on the user terminal 1. It is determined that the content (video and audio) is viewed by the user via the user terminal 1, and the content (audio) is determined to be listened to by the user via the user terminal 1. The number, or the number at which it is determined that the content (video only, other content such as data broadcasting) has been contacted by the user via the user terminal 1.
In the description described below, a content composed of video and audio will be taken as an example, and the content (video and audio) will be viewed by the user via the user terminal 1 as an example.

The video distribution system 10 includes a user terminal 1a, ... 1n (hereinafter, referred to as "user terminal 1" when not distinguished) operated by a viewing user, a segment list generation device 2 for issuing a segment list, and a Web. A plurality of Web servers 3A, ... 3N (hereinafter referred to as "Web server 3" when not distinguished) that form a server group, a load balancer 4 that distributes access to Web servers 3A, ... 3N, and contents. It is provided with a measuring device 5 for measuring the number of viewing users for each.

In the present embodiment, it is assumed that one viewing user operates one user terminal 1 and views one content. That is, it is assumed that one viewing user does not operate two or more user terminals 1 or view contents at the same time. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the "number of viewing users of the content", the "number of user terminals 1", the "number of contents played on the user terminal 1", and the "number of distributed contents" are the same. As a matter of course, one viewing user may view a plurality of contents at the same time, or may operate a plurality of user terminals 1 at the same time.

The video distribution system 10 is an example of a "system", and the example of the "system" is not limited to the video distribution system 10.
Further, the user terminal 1 is an example of the "first communication device", and the example of the "first communication device" is not limited to the user terminal 1.
Further, the Web server 3 is an example of the "second communication device", and the example of the "second communication device" is not limited to the Web server 3.
Further, the measuring device 5 is an example of a “processing device”, and an example of the “processing device” is not limited to the measuring device 5.

The user terminal 1 is a device for reproducing content, and has at least a display function, a communication function, and a calculation function. The user terminal 1 is, for example, a television receiver, a PC (Personal Computer), a tablet terminal, or a smartphone.
The user terminal 1 acquires a segment list in which the acquisition destination of the segment is described from the segment list generation device 2, and acquires the segment according to the segment list.

The segment list generation device 2 generates a segment list in which the acquisition destination of the segment is described, and is, for example, a server. The segment list is described in, for example, a manifest file (MF file) which is metadata of the segment. The manifest file is a playlist in HLS and an MPD (Media Presentation Description) in MPEG-DASH. The image of the MF file is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the URL of the segment is described in the segment list of the first embodiment, and here, "<url> http: // url1 / segment1 </ url>" and "<url> http". ": // url1 / segment2 </ url>" is illustrated. The segment list generation device 2 transmits a segment list (MF file) to the user terminal 1 that has been requested to view the content.

The load balancer 4 distributes segment requests by load balancing and transfers them to each Web server 3A, ... 3N. When the segment request is distributed and transferred to each Web server 3A ... 3N by using the load balancer 4 as in the present embodiment, the URL of the segment list is represented by, for example, each Web server 3A ... 3N. The URL to be used is set. The URL of each Web server 3A, ... 3N may be set in the URL of the segment list, and the segment request may be directly transmitted to each Web server 3A, ... 3N without going through the load balancer 4.

The Web server 3 has a segment in which the content is divided at a specific time interval, and provides the corresponding segment to the requesting user terminal 1a, ... 1n in response to the segment request from the user terminal 1a, ... 1n. do.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the Web server 3 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the Web server 3 stores a communication unit 31 that communicates with another device, a processing unit 32 that controls the operation of the Web server 3, and information necessary for the operation of the Web server 3. A storage unit 33 is provided.

The storage unit 33 is composed of a recording medium such as a hard disk or a memory. The storage unit 33 includes a content file storage unit 34 and an access log storage unit 35.
The content file storage unit 34 stores the segments constituting the content. The access log storage unit 35 stores an access log for each content.

The processing unit 32 is realized by a program execution process by a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a dedicated circuit, or the like. The processing unit 32 includes a content distribution unit 36 and a viewing user counting unit 37.
The viewing user counting unit 37 is an example of the “third processing unit”, and the example of the “third processing unit” is not limited to the viewing user counting unit 37.

The content distribution unit 36 distributes the data of the content body in segment units in response to the request from the user terminal 1. The viewing user counting unit 37 refers to the access log owned by itself and counts the viewing users who are viewing the content.

The processing of the viewing user counting unit 37 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a measurement process of the number of viewing users in the moving image distribution system 10.
Here, as shown in FIG. 5A, the Web servers 3A and 3B are accessed (segment request) from the user terminal 1a operated by the user a, the user terminal 1b operated by the user b, and the user terminal 1c operated by the user c. ) Is assumed. The Web servers 3A and 3B have an access log for each content, and the access time and the viewing user information are recorded in the access log in association with each other. Here, the access log LA held by the Web server 3A (see FIG. 5B) and the access log LB held by the Web server 3B (see FIG. 5B) will be described as an example.

In the present embodiment, attention is paid to a specific time zone having the same length as the segment length by utilizing the characteristic that the interval of the segment request from the user terminal 1 is the cycle of the segment length. At this time, it is assumed that the times of all the Web servers 3 are synchronized. For example, when the segment length is "10 seconds", the time zone of interest is also the time zone of "10 seconds". The start time of this time zone may be any time, and FIG. 5B exemplifies "10 seconds" from the time "00:00:10" to the time "00:00:20". As described above, when focusing on the time zone having the same length as the segment length, the segment request from the user terminal 1 is made only to one place (any one of the Web servers 3) in the Web server group. Therefore, in this focused time zone, the access record from the viewing user appears only in the access log of the Web server 3 of any one of the Web server groups. Therefore, when the number of viewing users in a specific time zone of the access log recorded by each Web server 3 is counted and the cumulative total is taken, it matches the total number of viewing users. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the viewing user counting unit 37 of each Web server 3 counts the number of viewing users in a specific time zone of the access log, and the measuring device 5 accumulates the number. In the following, a specific time zone for counting the number of viewing users will be referred to as a “measurement section T”. The measurement section T has the same length as the segment length, and the start time (or end time) is not particularly limited.

A specific example of the processing of the viewing user counting unit 37 will be described with reference to FIG. 5B. For example, as recorded in the access log LA, the Web server 3A receives a segment request from the user a at the time "00:00:01" and "00:00:21", and the time "00:00:12". There is a segment request from user b, and there is a segment request from user c at the times "00:00:07", "00:00:17", and "00:00:27". Further, as recorded in the access log LB, the Web server 3B receives a segment request from the user a at the time "00:00:11", and the times "00:00:02" and "00:00:22". There is a segment request from user b, and there is no segment request from user c. As described above, in the present embodiment, it is premised that the Web servers 3A and 3B are accessed at intervals of 10 seconds, which is the same as the cycle of the segment length.

In this case, the viewing user counting unit 37 of the Web server 3A receives a segment request from the users b and c in the measurement section T from the time "00:00:10" to the time "00:00:20", so that the viewing is performed. "2 people" is counted as the number of users. Here, the viewing user counting unit 37 does not need to recognize the user who requested the segment, and may count the number of times (access number) that the segment request is made in the measurement section T. The viewing user counting unit 37 of the Web server 3A notifies the measuring device 5 of the information of the counted number of viewing users "2 people".
On the other hand, the viewing user counting unit 37 of the Web server 3B receives a segment request from the user a in the measurement section T from the time "00:00:10" to the time "00:00:20", so that the number of viewing users is set. Count "1 person". Then, the viewing user counting unit 37 of the Web server 3B notifies the measuring device 5 of the information of the counted number of viewing users "1 person".

The measurement section T is an example of the “first time information”, and the example of the “first time information” is not limited to the measurement section T.
Further, the information on the number of viewing users is an example of "first information", and the example of "first information" is not limited to the information on the number of viewing users.

The measuring device 5 shown in FIG. 1 measures the number of all viewing users who view the content on the user terminal 1.
That is, the measuring device 5 shown in FIG. 1 measures the number determined to have been distributed from the Web server 3 to the user terminal 1, and it is determined that the content has been reproduced and distributed on the user terminal 1. The number of contents is measured, and the number of contents determined to be viewed by the user via the user terminal 1 is measured.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the measuring device 5. As shown in FIG. 4, the measuring device 5 includes a communication unit 51 that communicates with other devices and a processing unit 52 that controls the operation of the measuring device 5.

The processing unit 52 is realized by a program execution process by a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a dedicated circuit, or the like. The processing unit 52 includes a user number information acquisition unit 53 and a viewing user cumulative unit 54.
The user number information acquisition unit 53 is an example of the “first processing unit”, and the example of the “first processing unit” is not limited to the user number information acquisition unit 53.
Further, the viewing user cumulative unit 54 is an example of the "second processing unit", and the example of the "second processing unit" is not limited to the viewing user cumulative unit 54.

The user number information acquisition unit 53 acquires information on the number of viewing users from all the Web servers 3.
That is, the user number information acquisition unit 53 acquires the number of information determined to have been distributed to the user terminal 1 from the Web server 3, and the content is reproduced and distributed on the user terminal 1. It acquires information on the number of determinations, and acquires information on the number of determinations that the content has been viewed by the user via the user terminal 1.
Here, the information on the number of viewing users is information obtained by counting the number of segment requests in the measurement section T, not the access log itself.

The viewing user accumulation unit 54 accumulates the number of viewing users collected from each Web server 3 and calculates the total number of viewing users who view the content.
That is, the viewing user accumulation unit 54 accumulates the number determined to have been distributed from the Web server 3 to the user terminal 1, and it is determined that the content has been reproduced and distributed on the user terminal 1. The number is accumulated, and the number determined that the content is viewed by the user via the user terminal 1 is accumulated.
A specific example of the processing of the viewing user cumulative unit 54 will be described with reference to FIG. 5 (c). FIG. 5 (c) is an image of the measurement process of the number of viewing users, and corresponds to the system configuration and the status of the segment request shown in FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b). Here, the viewing user cumulative unit 54 totals the "2 people" measured by the Web server 3A and the "1 person" measured by the Web server 3B, and the total "3 people" views the content. This is the total number of viewing users.

<Operation of the video distribution system according to the first embodiment>
The operation of the moving image distribution system 10 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 6 (see FIGS. 1 to 5 as appropriate). Here, the operation of the video distribution system 10 will be described separately for "content reproduction processing" and "viewing user measurement processing".

(Content playback process)
First, the user terminal 1 requests the segment list (MF file) from the segment list generator 2 (step S11). The segment list request may be part of a content viewing request. The user terminal 1 may have the URL of the segment list generation device 2 in advance, or may acquire the URL of the segment list generation device 2 from a portal server or the like. The segment list generation device 2 responds to the user terminal 1 with the segment list (MF file) in response to the request (step S12).

Subsequently, the user terminal 1 requests the Web server 3 for the segment based on the URL described in the segment list (step S13). The load balancer 4 distributes segment requests by load balancing and transmits them to each Web server 3 (step S14). The method of distributing the segment request by the load balancer 4 is not particularly limited.

Subsequently, the content distribution unit 36 (see FIG. 3) of each Web server 3 responds to the user terminal 1 that has made the segment request with the segment corresponding to the segment request (step S15). At this time, the content distribution unit 36 records the user information of the segment request source and the access time in its own access log. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5B, the accessed user information is recorded in the access log in chronological order. The load balancer 4 transfers the segment to the user terminal 1 that is the source of the segment request (step S16). Then, the user terminal 1 reproduces the acquired segment as a part of the content (step S17). The process described above is repeated until the content is completed.
In addition, in the process of step S15 and step S16, the segment corresponding to the segment request may be replied to the user terminal 1 which directly made the segment request without going through the load balancer 4.

(Measurement processing of viewing users)
First, the user number information acquisition unit 53 (see FIG. 4) of the measuring device 5 communicates the measurement section T for measuring the number of viewing users to each Web server 3 (step S21). The method of communicating the measurement section T is not particularly limited, and any method may be used as long as the Web server 3 can specify the measurement section T. The user number information acquisition unit 53 may, for example, notify the start time and the end time, or may notify the start time and the time length (the time length related to the measurement section T), the end time, and the time length. Further, the measurement section T can be known or set in advance in each Web server 3. It is assumed that the times of all the Web servers 3 are synchronized.

Subsequently, the viewing user counting unit 37 (see FIG. 3) of each Web server 3 refers to the measurement section T in the access log, and the number of segment requests in the measurement section T (number of viewing users (content playback number)). ) Is counted (step S22). Further, the viewing user counting unit 37 of each Web server 3 notifies the measuring device 5 of the counted information on the number of viewing users (step S23). As a result, the measuring device 5 collects the number of viewing users measured in the measurement section T from all the Web servers 3. Then, the viewing user cumulative unit 54 (see FIG. 4) of the measuring device 5 accumulates the number of viewing users collected from all the Web servers 3 and calculates the total number of viewing users who have viewed the content (step S24).

Although it is assumed that the segment request of the user who is actually viewing is not temporarily recorded in the access log due to packet loss or concentration of access, the measurement process of the viewing user (steps S21 to S24) shown in FIG. 6 is assumed. ) Can be performed multiple times in succession, or multiple times at predetermined intervals to reduce the effect.

As described above, the video distribution system 10 according to the first embodiment utilizes the characteristic that the interval of the segment request from the user terminal 1 is the cycle of the segment length, and has the measurement section T having the same length as the segment length. Each Web server 3 measures the number of segment requests. Then, the measuring device 5 collects and accumulates the number of segment requests measured by each Web server 3, and the accumulated number is taken as the total number of viewing users in the content. Therefore, in the moving image distribution system 10 according to the first embodiment, the load of measuring the number of viewing users can be reduced.

That is, in the video distribution system 10 according to the first embodiment, it is possible to measure the number of viewing users without aggregating the entire access log in the video distribution using a plurality of Web servers 3. Therefore, the traffic for transferring the access log and the process for aggregating and analyzing the log are not required, so that the load on the entire system is reduced.
Further, in the video distribution system 10 according to the first embodiment, since the Web server 3 measures the number of viewing users in a specific time zone of the access log, the number of viewing users is measured with a smaller amount of processing than analyzing the entire access log. It is possible to do. Therefore, it becomes easy to measure the number of viewing users in the entire service in real time.

[Second Embodiment]
In the first embodiment, it is a precondition that the segment length of the content provided by each Web server 3 is uniform (for example, 10 seconds). Therefore, when the segment length of the content is not uniform (when the segment length differs depending on the content), the technique in the first embodiment cannot be applied.
For example, if the segment length is lengthened, the frequency of segment requests from the user terminal 1 to the Web server 3 is reduced, so that the load on the Web server 3 and the like is reduced. The delay until the reproduction in 1 (the delay of the reproduction time) becomes large. On the other hand, if the length of each segment is shortened, the delay in the reproduction time becomes smaller, but the frequency of segment requests from the user terminal 1 to the Web server 3 increases accordingly, so that the load on the Web server 3 and the like increases. As described above, it may be preferable to appropriately adjust the segment length according to the situation of the system.

FIG. 7 shows a case where the number of viewing users is measured in a predetermined measurement section T in a state where the segment length of the content is not uniform. Here, as shown in FIG. 7B, the user a accesses the Web servers 3A and 3B in a cycle of 5 seconds, the user b accesses the Web servers 3A and 3B in a cycle of 10 seconds, and the user c accesses the Web servers 3A and 3B in a cycle of 10 seconds. It is assumed that the Web servers 3A and 3B are accessed periodically. For example, as recorded in the access log LA, the time "00:00:01", "00:00:06", "00:00:21", "00:00:26" is stored in the Web server 3A. There is a segment request from user a, a segment request is made by user b at time "00:00:12", and a segment request is made by user c at time "00:00:14". Further, as recorded in the access log LB, the Web server 3B receives a segment request from the user a at the time "00:00:11" and "00:00:16", and the time "00:00:02". , "00:00:22", there is a segment request from user b, and at time "00:00:29", there is a segment request from user c.

In this case, in the method of the first embodiment, for example, the viewing user counting unit 37 of the Web server 3A has the user b, in the measurement section T from the time "00:00:10" to the time "00:00:20". Since there was a segment request from c, "2 people" is counted as the number of viewing users. Further, since the viewing user counting unit 37 of the Web server 3B has twice requested the segment from the user a in the measurement section T from the time "00:00:10" to the time "00:00:20". "2 people" is counted as the number of viewing users. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7 (c), the cumulative total of the measuring device 5 is "2 + 2 = 4 (persons)", and the number of viewing users is not accurate. That is, there is no section (specific time zone) that all viewing users access once, and it becomes impossible to measure the total number of viewing users from the access log. Therefore, in the second embodiment, we propose a method for accurately measuring the number of viewing users in a video distribution system in which different segment lengths coexist.

<Structure of video distribution system according to the second embodiment>
FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of the moving image distribution system 110 according to the second embodiment. The video distribution system 110 according to the second embodiment has the same configuration as the video distribution system 10 according to the first embodiment, but the functions of the segment list generation device 102 and the Web server 103 are different from those of the first embodiment.

The segment list generation device 102 of the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that information on the segment length is added to the segment list to be issued as a URL query. A query is a notation used to pass parameters from a client to a server in a Web application, etc., and a "?" Mark is added to the end of the URL, followed by a description in the format of "name = value".
An image of the MF file used in the second embodiment is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 9, the segment length information is added as a URL query to the segment list of the second embodiment. Here, a segment list with a segment length of 15 seconds is exemplified, and "<url> http: // url1 / segment1? Period = 15 </ url>" and "<url> http: // url1 / segment2" are shown. ? period = 15 </ url> ”is illustrated. The segment length information added to the segment list is recorded in the access log of each Web server 103 by the segment request from the user terminal 1.
Here, in the segment list where the segment length is 5 seconds, the URL query is "<url> http: // url1 / segment1? Period = 5 </ url>", "<url> http: // url1 /. segment2? Period = 5 </ url> ”(not shown). Also, in the segment list where the segment length is 10 seconds, the URL query is "<url> http: // url1 / segment1? Period = 10 </ url>", "<url> http: // url1 / segment2". ? period = 10 </ url> ”(not shown).

The processing of the Web server 103 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a measurement process of the number of viewing users in the moving image distribution system 110.
Here, as shown in FIG. 10A, the Web servers 103A and 103B are accessed (segment request) from the user terminal 1a operated by the user a, the user terminal 1b operated by the user b, and the user terminal 1c operated by the user c. ) Is assumed. User a accesses the Web servers 103A and 103B in a 5-second cycle, user b accesses the Web servers 103A and 103B in a 10-second cycle, and user c accesses the Web servers 103A and 103B in a 15-second cycle. .. The Web servers 103A and 103B have an access log for each content, and the access time, the viewing user information, and the segment length information are recorded in the access log in association with each other (see FIG. 10B).

The viewing user counting unit 37 of the Web server 103 according to the second embodiment sets a plurality of measurement sections T according to a plurality of segment lengths, and in each measurement section T, only a segment request having the same segment length as the measurement section T is performed. To count. That is, each Web server 103 measures a unique number of viewing users from the start time of each measurement section T to the elapse of the segment length time. This measurement is performed for all the segment lengths that can be detected, and the number of viewing users who have accessed one Web server 103 is obtained from the total number of viewing users for each segment length.
That is, the viewing user counting unit 37 of the Web server 103 according to the second embodiment measures the number determined to have been distributed from the Web server 3 to the user terminal 1 for each segment length. Measures the number determined to have been reproduced and distributed on the user terminal 1, and measures the number determined to have been viewed by the user via the user terminal 1.

As shown in the access log LA of FIG. 10B, for example, the Web server 103A has the times "00:00:01", "00:00:06", "00:00:21", and "00". It is assumed that there is a segment request from user a at ": 00:26", a segment request is made by user b at time "00:00:12", and a segment request is made from user c at time "00:00:14". Further, as shown in the access log LB, the Web server 103B receives a segment request from the user a at the time "00:00:11" and "00:00:16", and the time "00:00:02", It is assumed that the user b makes a segment request at "00:00:22" and the user c makes a segment request at the time "00:00:29".

In this case, the viewing user counting unit 37 of the Web server 103A has the user a having an access cycle of "5 seconds" in the measurement section Ta for 5 seconds from the time "00:00:00" to the time "00:00:05". Since there was a segment request from, "1 person" is counted as the number of viewing users in the measurement section Ta (the number of segment requests in the measurement section Ta (content playback number) = "1").
Further, the viewing user counting unit 37 does not receive a segment request from the user b whose access cycle is "10 seconds" in the measurement section Tb for 10 seconds from the time "00:00:00" to the time "00:00:10". Therefore, "0" is counted as the number of viewing users in the measurement section Tb (the number of segment requests in the measurement section Tb (content playback number) = "0"). Although there is a segment request from user a at the time "00:00:01", it is not counted because the access cycle "5 seconds" is different from the length of the measurement section Tb.
Further, the viewing user counting unit 37 receives a segment request from the user c having an access cycle of "15 seconds" in the measurement section Tc for 15 seconds from the time "00:00:00" to the time "00:00:15". Therefore, "1 person" is counted as the number of viewing users in the measurement section Tc (the number of segment requests in the measurement section Tc (content playback number) = "1"). Note that there is a segment request from user a at the time "00:00:01" and "00:00:06", and there is a segment request from user b at the time "00:00:12", but the access cycle " Since "5 seconds" and "10 seconds" are different from the length of the measurement section Tc, they are not counted.
Therefore, the viewing user counting unit 37 of the Web server 103A counts "1 + 0 + 1 = 2 (persons)" as the number of viewing users (number of segment requests (content playback number)) in the Web server 103A, and counts the number of viewing users (number of viewing users). Notify the measuring device 5 of the number of segment requests (number of content reproductions).

Similarly, the viewing user counting unit 37 of the Web server 103B has the user a having an access cycle of "5 seconds" in the measurement section Ta for 5 seconds from the time "00:00:00" to the time "00:00:05". Since there was no segment request from, "0" is counted as the number of viewing users in the measurement section Ta (the number of segment requests in the measurement section Ta (content playback number) = "0"). Although there is a segment request from user b at the time "00:00:02", it is not counted because the access cycle "10 seconds" is different from the length of the measurement section Ta.
Further, the viewing user counting unit 37 receives a segment request from the user b whose access cycle is "10 seconds" in the measurement section Tb for 10 seconds from the time "00:00:00" to the time "00:00:10". Therefore, "1 person" is counted as the number of viewing users in the measurement section Tb (the number of segment requests in the measurement section Tb (content playback number) = "1").
Further, the viewing user counting unit 37 does not receive a segment request from the user c whose access cycle is "15 seconds" in the measurement section Tc for 15 seconds from the time "00:00:00" to the time "00:00:15". Therefore, "0" is counted as the number of viewing users in the measurement section Tc (the number of segment requests in the measurement section Tc (content playback number) = "0"). There is a segment request from user b at time "00:00:02" and a segment request from user a at time "00:00:11", but the access cycle "5 seconds, 10 seconds" is measured. Since it is different from the length of the section Tc, it is not counted.
Therefore, the viewing user counting unit 37 of the Web server 103B counts "0 + 1 + 0 = 1 (person)" as the number of viewing users (number of segment requests (content playback number)) in the Web server 103B, and counts the number of viewing users (number of viewing users). Notify the measuring device 5 of the number of segment requests (number of content reproductions).

<Operation of the video distribution system according to the second embodiment>
The operation of the moving image distribution system 110 according to the second embodiment is the same as the operation of the moving image distribution system 10 of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

As described above, the video distribution system 110 according to the second embodiment sets a plurality of measurement sections T according to a plurality of segment lengths, and in each measurement section T, only a segment request having the same segment length as the measurement section T is performed. Is counted by each Web server 103. Then, the measuring device 5 collects and accumulates the number of segment requests measured by each Web server 103, and the accumulated number is used as the total number of viewing users in the content.
That is, it is determined that the video distribution system 110 according to the second embodiment distributes only the segment request having the same segment length as the measurement section T in each measurement section T from the Web server 3 to the user terminal 1. It collects and accumulates the number, collects and accumulates the number determined that the content has been reproduced and distributed on the user terminal 1, and determines that the content has been viewed by the user via the user terminal 1. It collects and accumulates the numbers to be made.
Therefore, in the moving image distribution system 110 according to the second embodiment, it is possible to measure the total number of viewing users even under the condition that different segment lengths coexist.

[Modification example]
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be carried out without changing the gist of the claims. A modification of the embodiment is shown below.

In each embodiment, it is assumed that one viewing user operates one user terminal 1 and views one content. That is, it is assumed that one viewing user does not operate two or more user terminals 1 or view contents at the same time. However, one viewing user may view a plurality of contents at the same time, or may operate a plurality of user terminals 1 at the same time. In that case, the number of deliveries for each content may be measured.

Further, in the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, the start times of the measurement sections Ta, Tb, and Tc are aligned, but the end times may be aligned. That is, the measurement sections T need only overlap with each other.

1 User terminal 2,102 Segment list generator 3,103 Web server 4 Load balancer 5 Measuring device 10,110 Video distribution system 36 Content distribution unit 37 Viewing user counting unit 53 User number information acquisition unit 54 Viewing user cumulative unit

Claims (11)

A processing device that is connected to a plurality of second communication devices used to transmit the first content to the first communication device.
From each of the second communication devices in the plurality of second communication devices,
This is information acquired by using the first time information indicating the time interval of the segment in the first content.
A first processing unit that receives first information, which is information indicating that the first content is transmitted from the second communication device to the first communication device.
A second processing unit that determines that the first content is transmitted from the second communication device to the first communication device using the first information.
A processing device characterized by having. The processing device according to claim 1, wherein the second processing unit uses the first information to determine that the first content is being reproduced in the first communication device. The processing device according to claim 1, wherein the second processing unit uses the first information to determine that the content is being viewed by a user in the first communication device. The processing device according to claim 1, wherein the second processing unit uses the first information to determine that the content or the user is listening to the content in the first communication device. The processing device according to claim 1, wherein the second processing unit uses the first information to determine that the content is in contact with the user in the first communication device. The first information is the number of segment requests received by the second communication device from the first communication device in the section of the first time information.
The processing apparatus according to claim 1. There are a plurality of the first time information according to the time interval of the segments having different lengths.
The first information is the total number of segment requests received by the second communication device from the first communication device in each of the sections of the first time information at the same time interval as the first time information.
The processing apparatus according to claim 1. The first information is calculated based on the information recorded in the section of the first time information in the access log of the first content held by the second communication device.
The processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the processing apparatus is characterized in that. A processing method of a processing device, which is connected to a plurality of second communication devices used for transmitting the first content to the first communication device.
From each of the second communication devices in the plurality of second communication devices,
This is information acquired by using the first time information indicating the time interval of the segment in the first content.
The first processing step of receiving the first information, which is information indicating that the first content is transmitted from the second communication device to the first communication device,
A second processing step of determining that the first content is transmitted from the second communication device to the first communication device using the first information.
A processing method characterized by having. A computer connected to a plurality of second communication devices used to transmit the first content to the first communication device.
From each of the second communication devices in the plurality of second communication devices,
This is information acquired by using the first time information indicating the time interval of the segment in the first content.
The first processing unit, which receives the first information which is the information indicating that the first content is transmitted from the second communication device to the first communication device.
A second processing unit that determines that the first content is transmitted from the second communication device to the first communication device using the first information.
A program to function as. A system including a plurality of second communication devices used for transmitting the first content to the first communication device, and a processing device connected to the plurality of second communication devices.
Each of the second communication devices is
A third process of acquiring first information, which is information indicating that the first content is transmitted to the first communication device, using the first time information indicating the time interval of the segment in the first content. Has a part,
The processing device is
A first processing unit that receives the first information from each of the second communication devices in the plurality of second communication devices.
It has a second processing unit that determines that the first content is transmitted from the second communication device to the first communication device using the first information.
A system characterized by that.

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