JPH1188419A - System for distributing animation information and its method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To permit one terminal equipment to easily retrieve animation information stored in plural animation information distributing sources and also to receive a distribution. SOLUTION: A retrieval server 3S distributes a transmissive access homepage 52 to a terminal equipment 4 in accordance with access from the terminal equipment 4. A user uses the transmissive access homepage 52 so as to request the retrieval of animation information. The retrieval server 3S retrieves animation information on a network in accordance with the retrieval request from the terminal equipment 4 and distributes a retrieval result to the terminal equipment 4. The user uses the retrieval result so as to receive the distribution of animation information from a multi-media server. In this case, the terminal equipment 4 down-loads a multi-media viewer 57 required for reproducing animation information from the multi-media server as necessary.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a moving picture information distribution system and method for distributing moving picture information to a client.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, multimedia information distribution systems for distributing multimedia information including moving image information to clients have been put to practical use. As an example of such a multimedia information distribution system, video-on-demand (hereinafter, also referred to as VOD) which distributes image data, audio data, and the like from a server in response to a request for acquisition of a movie, a program, or the like from a client. ) There is a system.

[0003] A conventional multimedia information distribution system is configured by connecting a dedicated terminal device to a multimedia server. FIG. 9 shows an example of the configuration of a conventional multimedia information distribution system.
In the example shown in this figure, the multimedia server 91A,
For LANs 91B and 91C, dedicated LANs (Loca
l Area Network) Dedicated terminal devices 93A, 93B, 93 serving as clients via 92A, 92B, 92C
C are connected to form independent multimedia information distribution systems.

In the system shown in FIG. 9, a user sends an information search request or a viewing request to each of the multimedia servers 91A, 91B, 91C by using each of the terminal devices 93A, 93B, 93C. On the other hand, each of the multimedia servers 91A, 91B, 91C is
Search results and information are sent to A, 93B and 93C.

In the example shown in FIG. 9, since a plurality of multimedia information distribution systems exist independently, one terminal device (for example, the terminal device 93B) is connected to the The user accesses the media servers 91A and 91C, and accesses the multimedia servers 91A and 91B,
Information cannot be exchanged between 91C.

[0006]

[0005] By the way, the user,
There is a case where it is desired to use multimedia information stored in a plurality of multimedia servers. Also, multimedia information is very important and close to human sensitivity as information, and has a large amount of information. Therefore, a lot of resources are required for storage. Therefore, it is not realistic that one site collectively stores and manages all the multimedia information, and it is considered that the mainstream is to distribute and store all the multimedia information in a plurality of sites. Therefore, a situation in which one user accesses a plurality of multimedia servers may occur.

However, the conventional multimedia information distribution system has the following problems since a dedicated terminal device is connected to each multimedia server to form an independent system.

First, since each multimedia server has a different specification, for each multimedia server,
There is a problem that a dedicated terminal device is required for each terminal, the cost is increased, and the operation is complicated because the operation method is different for each terminal.

[0009] Further, due to the difference in the structure of each multimedia server, it is necessary to search for information from each terminal device using each multimedia server in each system and obtain results, and the operation is complicated. There was a problem.

[0010] Further, the terminal device must depend on the configuration and environment of the multimedia server existing on the network. Therefore, the user interface has no versatility, the operation is complicated, and the construction of the user interface is difficult. However, there is a problem in that the user interface is complicated, or the user interface needs to be changed according to a change in the configuration or environment of the multimedia server.

Furthermore, in order to view moving pictures of a plurality of multimedia servers of different types, programs for viewing moving pictures of the respective multimedia servers are individually installed in advance in the terminal device. However, there is a problem that it is necessary and troublesome, and it is not possible to flexibly respond to a change in the program.

[0012] The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to make it easy for a single terminal device to use a single terminal device.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a moving picture information distribution system and a method capable of searching for and receiving moving picture information stored in a plurality of moving picture information distribution sources.

[0013]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A moving image information distribution system according to the present invention is connected to a client via a network and uses a World Wide Web, which is a system that enables access to information on the Internet. A video information access information distribution unit that distributes video information access information for realizing a video information search request function and a video information search result display function to a client in response to an access from a client; A video that is connected to the client and searches for video information on the network in response to a video information search request from the client using the search request function, and delivers search results including link information to the video information to the client Connected to a client via an information search means and a network, and Results Depending on the access from the client using the link information included in the search results displayed by a function, in which a video information distribution unit for distributing video information.

The moving picture information distribution method of the present invention utilizes the World Wide Web, which is a system that allows access to information on the Internet, and provides the client with access to the client via a network. A video information access information distribution procedure for distributing video information access information for realizing a video information search request function and a video information search result display function, and a request from a client using the search request function via a network. In response to a video information search request, a video information search procedure that searches video information on the network and distributes search results including link information to the video information to the client, and a search result display function via the network From the client using the link information included in the displayed search results Depending on the access, it is intended to include the video information distribution procedure for distributing video information.

In the moving picture information distribution system according to the present invention, the moving picture information access information distribution means utilizes the World Wide Web to respond to the access from the client, thereby providing a function for requesting the client to search for moving picture information. Video information access information for realizing the video information search result display function is distributed. In addition, the video information search unit searches for video information on the network in response to a video information search request from the client using the search request function, and a search result including link information to the video information is transmitted to the client. It will be delivered. Further, the moving image information distribution means distributes the moving image information in response to an access from a client using link information included in the search result displayed by the search result display function.

According to the moving picture information distribution method of the present invention, the information distribution procedure for accessing moving picture information is performed by using
Using the web, via a network, in response to access from the client, video information access information for realizing a video information search request function and a video information search result display function to the client is distributed. . Also, in accordance with the video information search procedure, a video information search on the network is performed in response to a video information search request from a client using a search request function via the network, and includes link information to the video information. Search results are delivered to the client. Further, according to the moving image information distribution procedure, moving image information is distributed via a network in response to an access from a client using link information included in the search result displayed by the search result display function.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a multimedia information distribution system as a moving image information distribution system according to one embodiment of the present invention. This multimedia information distribution system uses a World Wide Web (hereinafter, referred to as WWW), which is a system that makes it possible to access information on the Internet, and responds to a request from a client for a moving image. A system for providing desired multimedia information including information.
In the following, the multimedia information will be described using video information as a representative.

The multimedia information distribution system 1 is connected to the network 2 and searches for moving image information on the network 2 in response to a search request for moving image information from a client, and the search result including link information to the moving image information Server 3S for distributing to a client, and a plurality of multimedia servers 3A to 3D connected to the network 2, each storing different moving image information to be provided to the client and distributing desired moving image information in response to a request.
3C and a terminal device 4 connected to the network 2 that sends a search request for moving image information to the search server 3S, displays the search result, and plays back the moving image information. .

The terminal device 4 connected to the network 2, the search server 3S, and the multimedia servers 3A to 3
There is no particular limitation on the number of Cs or the form of connection to the physical network 2.

The search server 3S corresponds to the moving picture information access information distribution means and the moving picture information search means in the present invention, and the multimedia servers 3A to 3C correspond to the moving picture information distribution means in the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the search server 3S, the multimedia servers 3A to 3C and the terminal device 4 in FIG. Note that in this figure, the search server 3S and the multimedia servers 3A to 3A
3C is represented as a server 3.

The server 3 includes a computer main body 11 and a display 1 connected to the computer main body 11.
2, a keyboard 13, a mouse 14, and hard disk devices 15a and 15b. Computer body 1
Reference numeral 1 denotes a CPU (central processing unit) 21, a memory 22 including a ROM (read only memory) and a RAM (random access memory), a display controller 23 for controlling the display 12, and a keyboard 1
An input / output (hereinafter also referred to as I / O) controller 24 for controlling input and output, a hard disk controller 25 for controlling the hard disk devices 15a and 15b, and a network 2, Network controller 26 for controlling communication
Which are connected to each other by a bus 27. The CPU 21 uses the RAM in the memory 22 as a work area to execute application programs stored by the hard disk devices 15a and 15b.

The terminal device 4 includes a computer main body 31 and
The display 3 connected to the computer main body 31
2, keyboard 33, mouse 34, speakers 35a, 3
5b and a hard disk device 36. The computer main body 31 includes a CPU 41, a ROM and an RA.
M, a display controller 43 for controlling the display 32, and an MPEG (Moving Pic)
MPEG Experts Group), an MPEG processing unit 44 for compressing and decompressing image data, an I / O controller 45 connected to a keyboard 33 and a mouse 34 for controlling input and output, and audio output from speakers 35a and 35b. , A hard disk controller 47 for controlling the hard disk device 36, and a network controller 48 connected to the network 2 for controlling communication, and these are connected to each other by a bus 49. Note that MP
The EG processing unit 44 may be realized by hardware,
It may be realized by software. The CPU 41 executes an application program stored by the hard disk device 36 using the RAM in the memory 42 as a work area. The terminal device 4 is not particularly limited in hardware as long as it is a platform on which a commercial Internet browser operates, image data can be reproduced according to the MPEG standard, and a Java script operates.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing functions of the search server 3S, the multimedia servers 3A to 3C and the terminal device 4 in FIG.

The terminal device 4 is a terminal for instructing retrieval of moving picture information, displaying search results, and reproducing moving picture information. The terminal device 4 includes an Internet browser unit 51 for accessing the Internet using WWW, receiving and displaying information. The Internet browser unit 51 is a general commercial browser software (for example, Netscape Navigator (Netscape N
avigator (trademark of Netscape Communications, USA)
It is realized by. The terminal device 4 can acquire a transparent access homepage 52 as moving image information access information from the search server 3S by the Internet browser unit 51 at the time of startup, and display the acquired homepage 52.

The transparent access homepage 52 is a user interface screen for exchanging with the search server 3S.
This realizes transparent access that allows access to moving image information without being aware of the locations and types of A to 3C. The transparent access homepage 52 is an HTML (Hype) including a program written in the Java programming language.
rText Markup Language) documents.

The transparent access homepage 52 has a server list display / holding function 53, a keyword inquiry function 54, a search result display / holding function 55, and a multimedia viewer acquisition function 56. The server list display / holding function 53 is a function for displaying and holding a list of multimedia servers accessible by the terminal device 4 created by the search server 3S.

The keyword inquiry function 54 is a function for transmitting a keyword for causing the search server 3S to search for moving image information. The keyword inquiry function 54 is configured to transmit a keyword input by a user to search for moving image information to the search server 3S as a search request. The search result display / hold function 55
This is a function for displaying and holding a search result of moving image information by the search server 3S.

The multimedia viewer acquisition function 56 includes:
This is a function for obtaining, from the multimedia server, a multimedia viewer 57 which is a program necessary for reproducing moving image information distributed from the multimedia server. The acquired multimedia viewer 57 is
It is stored in the hard disk device 36. Note that, when the terminal device 4 accesses the multimedia server, the multimedia viewer acquisition function 56 does not previously acquire the multimedia viewer required to reproduce the moving image information distributed from the multimedia server. Only when you get it from the multimedia server.

The above functions 53 to 56 in the transparent access homepage 52 are realized by the terminal device 4 executing a program described in the Java programming language included in the HTML document. .

The server list display / hold function 53 corresponds to the list display function of the present invention, the keyword inquiry function 54, and the search request function of the present invention.
The search result display / hold function 55 corresponds to the search result display function in the present invention, and the multimedia viewer obtaining function 56 corresponds to the reproduction program obtaining function in the present invention.

The search server 3S has a function of creating a server list to be searched, executing a search in response to a search request from the terminal device 4, and returning a search result to the terminal device 4. The search server 3S has a function of holding the transparent access homepage 52 and downloading it to the terminal device 4 in response to a request when the terminal device 4 is activated.

The search server 3S uses the WWW to exchange information with the terminal device 4 and the multimedia servers 3A to 3C, and a search request from the terminal device 4 via the Internet server unit 61. Based on the search request, instructs the multimedia servers 3A to 3C to search for moving image information, collects search results from the multimedia servers 3A to 3C, and distributes the search results to the terminal device 4. 62. The Internet server unit 61 is realized by software for managing and distributing information published on the Internet using the WWW.
Upon receiving a request from a user, the search unit 62 is realized by software called a search agent that autonomously executes a search process and returns a search result.

The search section 62 creates a server list 63 which is a list of multimedia servers to be searched, that is, a list of multimedia servers accessible by the terminal device 4, and outputs the server list 63 via the Internet server section 61.
It also has a function to distribute to. The server list 63 is stored in the hard disk devices 15a and 15b. When the terminal device 4 accesses the search server 3S, the search unit 62 searches the other multimedia servers existing on the network 2 based on the server list 63 including the name of the multimedia server currently recognized. When searching and finding a new multimedia server, the name is added to the server list 63. Thereby, it is possible to always keep track of the latest accessible multimedia server.

Further, the search server 3S holds the transparent access homepage 52, and in response to a request at the time of activation of the terminal device 4, transmits the transparent access homepage 52 via the Internet server unit 61 to the terminal device 4. It is designed to be downloaded to.

The multimedia servers 3A to 3C search title information corresponding to moving picture information in response to a request from the search server 3S, return a search result to the search server 3S, and respond to a playback request from the terminal device 4. The server has a function of downloading the multimedia viewer 57 to the terminal device 4 as needed and distributing moving image information to the terminal device 4.

Each of the multimedia servers 3A to 3C includes an Internet server unit 64 for exchanging with the search server 3S and the terminal device 4, and the terminal device 4 in cooperation with the multimedia viewer 57 via the Internet server unit 64. And a database engine unit 66 that searches title information in response to a search request from the search server 3S and returns a search result to the search server 3S. The Internet server unit 64, the distribution unit 65, and the database engine unit 66 are each realized by software.

Also, the multimedia servers 3A to 3C
Are moving image information 67 to be distributed to the terminal device 4,
Title information 68 corresponding to the moving image information 67 and a multimedia viewer 57 necessary for reproducing the moving image information 67 are stored. The moving image information 67 includes data of a plurality of contents (in the figure, moving images 1, 2,..., N), and the title information 68 includes title information (titles 1, 2, 2,. ... N "). Video information 67, title information 68
The multimedia viewer 57 is stored in the hard disk devices 15a and 15b.

The database engine 66 includes a database management system (DBMS).
stem), for example, Sybase (registered trademark of Sybase Inc., USA). The database engine unit 66 responds to a search request from the search unit 62 of the search server 3S in response to a SQL (Structured Query Language;
Using the structured query language), the title information 68 is searched, and the title of the moving image information corresponding to the search condition, the name of the multimedia server where the moving image information exists, the file name of the moving image information, and the moving image information URL (Uniform) indicating the storage destination of the
A search result including a Resource Locator is returned to the search unit 62 of the search server 3S via the Internet server unit 64.

The Internet server unit 64 responds to the multimedia viewer acquisition request from the terminal device 4 using the multimedia viewer acquisition function 56 of the transparent access homepage 52, and the multimedia viewer 5
7 to the terminal device 4.

The multimedia viewer 57 is a moving picture reproducing program corresponding to the content type of the moving picture information 67 (for example, a moving picture compression method), and is plug-in software for an Internet browser. When the accessing terminal device 4 does not hold the multimedia viewer 57, the multimedia viewer 57 is downloaded to the terminal device 4 so that the terminal device 4
Can play moving images without depending on the type of multimedia server.

Here, the screen configuration of the transparent access homepage 52 will be described with reference to FIG. The transparent access homepage 52 has a moving image information reproducing unit 71 for displaying moving image information distributed from the multimedia server and reproduced by the multimedia viewer 57 at the center of the screen. A moving image information control button 72 for controlling reproduction and stop of moving image information is provided below 71. Also, the transparent access homepage 52 has a keyword input unit 73 for inputting a keyword by the keyword inquiry function 54 above the moving image information reproducing unit 71, and a server list display on the right side of the moving image information reproducing unit 71. A holding function 53 has a server list display section 74 for displaying a list of names of multimedia servers accessible by the terminal device 4. A search result display / hold function 55 is provided on the left side of the moving picture information reproducing section 71. Has a search result display part 75 for displaying the search result displayed by the.

The server list display section 74 displays the terminal device 4
The name of the multimedia server that can be accessed and its icon are displayed. A URL as link information for accessing the multimedia server is embedded in both the name of the multimedia server and its icon. In the search result display section 75,
A title in which the URL of the moving image information obtained by searching based on the keyword input by the user through the keyword input unit 73 is embedded is displayed.

Next, the operation of the multimedia information distribution system 1 as the moving image information distribution system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG.
Is an explanatory diagram showing the transition of the screen display of the transparent access homepage, FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the order of processing in the terminal device 4, the search server 3S and the multimedia servers 3A to 3C, and FIGS. It is explanatory drawing which shows the process in the terminal device 4, the search server 3S, and the multimedia servers 3A-3C in time series. The following description also serves as a description of the moving image information distribution method according to the present embodiment.

In the multimedia information distribution system 1,
First, the terminal device 4 starts the browser software (step S1), specifies the accessible search server 3S by the Internet browser unit 51, and connects to the search server 3S (step S2). Search server 3
S distributes the transparent access homepage 52 to the terminal device 4 via the Internet server unit 61 (step S3). Next, the terminal device 4 acquires the transparent access homepage 52 distributed from the search server 3S, and displays it by the Internet browser unit 51 as shown in FIG. 5A (step S4).

On the other hand, the search server 3S searches for a multimedia server existing on the network 2 by the search unit 62 (step S5). The multimedia server existing on the network 2 returns the name and the icon of the multimedia server to the search unit 62 of the search server 3S as search result data (step S6).
When a new multimedia server is found, the search unit 62 of the search server 3S adds the name and icon to the server list 63, and the multimedia server that is found in the server list 63 but is found to be inaccessible. Is deleted from the server list 63, the server list 63 is updated, and transmitted to the terminal device 4 (step S7). The terminal device 4 acquires the server list 63 by the server list display / holding function 53 of the transparent access homepage 52 (step S7), for example, as shown in FIG.
As shown in (b), a list of multimedia servers (server name and icon) is displayed on the server list display section 74 (step S8). In FIG. 5B, the servers A, B, and C displayed on the server list display section 74 are multimedia servers 3A,
3B and 3C are supported. The server name and the icon displayed on the server list display section 74 both have the URL of the server embedded therein. When the user selects the server name or the icon, the terminal device 4 is selected. The server of the URL embedded in the server name or the icon is accessed.

Next, as shown in FIG. 5B, the user inputs a keyword related to the title of the moving picture information to be searched into the keyword input section 73 on the transparent access homepage 52, as shown in FIG. In response, the keyword inquiry function 54 of the transparent access homepage 52 transmits the input keyword as a search request to the search server 3S (step S9). The search unit 62 of the search server 3S transmits a search request to each of the multimedia servers 3A, 3B, 3C existing in the server list, and instructs search of moving image information (Step S10). In response to the search request, each of the multimedia servers 3A, 3B, and 3C searches the title information 68 by the database engine unit 66, and determines the title of the moving image information corresponding to the search request and the multimedia server in which the moving image information exists. A search result including the name and the file name of the moving image information is returned to the search unit 62 of the search server 3S (step S11). The search unit 62 is provided for each multimedia server 3
The search results from A, 3B, and 3C are collected and transmitted to the terminal device 4 as a prosecution result list (step S1).
2). The terminal device 4 acquires the search result list, and displays the search result of the transparent access homepage 52 by the search result display / holding function 55 of the transparent access homepage 52 as shown in FIG. In part 75,
A list of titles of the moving image information as the search result is displayed (step S13).

Next, the user selects a desired video information title 76 from the list of video information titles displayed on the search result display section 75 (step S1).
4). The terminal device 4 sends directly to the multimedia server (the multimedia server 3C in the example shown in FIG. 6) in which the selected moving image information is stored, based on the URL embedded in the title of the selected moving image information. The connection is made (step S15), and the file name of the selected moving image information is transmitted. The connected multimedia server transmits the type of the moving image information (for example, the moving image compression method) to the terminal device 4 based on the file name of the moving image information (Step S16).

The terminal device 4 acquires the type of the moving image information, and determines whether the multimedia viewer corresponding to the type of the acquired moving image information has already been downloaded by the multimedia viewer acquiring function 56 of the transparent access homepage 52. Confirm whether or not (step S1
7). If not downloaded, the terminal device 4
Sends the multimedia viewer name corresponding to the type to the moving image information to the multimedia server requesting the moving image information by the multimedia viewer acquiring function 56, and requests the multimedia server to download the multimedia viewer (step S18). ). The multimedia server receiving this request transmits the multimedia viewer 57 to the terminal device 4 (Step S19). The terminal device 4
The multimedia viewer 57 is downloaded by the multimedia viewer acquisition function 56. In addition,
If the corresponding multimedia viewer has already been downloaded in the terminal device 4, the multimedia viewer is reused, and steps S17 to S19 are not executed.

Next, the multimedia server distributes the moving image information corresponding to the file name of the moving image information transmitted from the terminal device 4 (Step S20). The terminal device 4 reproduces the distributed moving image information using the multimedia viewer 57 (Step S20). As shown in FIG. 5D, the moving image information is stored on the transparent access homepage 5.
2 is displayed on the moving image reproducing unit 71, and the user views it. Thereafter, when the distribution of the moving image information from the multimedia server ends, the reproduction of the moving image information on the terminal device 4 also ends (step S21).

As described above, according to the moving picture information distribution system and the moving picture information distribution method according to the present embodiment,
In response to access from terminal device 4 to search server 3S,
The search server 3S distributes the transparent access homepage 52 to the terminal device 4 so that the user can make a search request for video information using the transparent access homepage 52, In response to this search request, the search server 3S searches for video information on the network, distributes the search result to the terminal device 4, and the user uses the search result to distribute the video information from the multimedia server. This allows the user to transparently search and view moving image information without being conscious of the location and type of the multimedia server.

Further, the number of terminal devices conventionally required by the number of types of multimedia servers is reduced to only one common terminal device 4, so that the cost can be reduced and the operation can be simplified. become.

Further, it is not necessary for the terminal device 4 to individually search for a plurality of multimedia servers for moving image information, and a single search can search moving image information for all accessible multimedia servers. Information can be searched, and the operation is simplified.

Further, since the operation on the terminal device 4 uses general browser software, it is excellent in versatility. Further, construction of a user interface in the terminal device 4 is facilitated.

Further, when the search server 3S is accessed from the terminal device 4, the search server 3S creates a list of multimedia servers that the terminal device 4 can access.
It is possible to grasp the latest accessible multimedia server. Further, it is not necessary to reset the terminal device 4 in response to a change such as an increase or decrease in the number of distributed multimedia servers. It does not overlook the change of the media server and has excellent scalability.

In the terminal device 4, there is no need to install in advance a program (multimedia viewer) for viewing moving picture information stored in a plurality of multimedia servers, which saves time and effort. Can flexibly respond to changes in

Also, if the terminal device 4 knows at least one accessible search server 3S, it is possible to receive distribution of moving image information from all accessible multimedia servers.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the embodiment, one search server 3S and a plurality of multimedia servers 3A to 3C are described as being realized by separate hardware. However, one search server and one multimedia server may be realized and integrated by the same hardware, and a multimedia server including the search server may be prepared. In this case, the search server and the multimedia server share the same Internet server unit.

When the multimedia server including the search server receives a search request for a multimedia server from another search server (step S5), the search is further performed from the multimedia server, and the search request is issued. It is also possible to return a search result to the search server that issued the request. Therefore, when there are a plurality of multimedia servers including a search server, the search server that has accessed first issues a search request to the multimedia server that the search server already knows, and the multimedia server that has received the search request However, by sequentially issuing a search request to the multimedia servers that it knows, the multimedia servers receiving the search request return the search results to the server that issued the search request. Server list can be created.

When there are a plurality of search servers and the search server to be accessed first by the terminal device 4 is determined, the search server to be accessed first holds the transparent access homepage. Need to be.

[0062]

As described above, claims 1 to 4
According to the moving picture information distribution system described above or the moving picture information distributing method according to claims 5 to 8, moving picture information is transmitted to a client in response to access from the client via a network using the World Wide Web. Distribute access information, search for video information on the network in response to a video information search request from the client, deliver search results including link information to the video information to the client, Since moving image information is distributed in response to access from a client using the included link information, a single terminal device can easily search for moving image information accumulated at a plurality of moving image information distribution sources. And distribution can be received.

According to the moving picture information distribution system described in claim 2 or 3 or the moving picture information distribution method described in claim 6 or 7, a moving picture information distribution source on a network is searched for and a list of the moving picture information distribution source is searched. Is created, so that it is possible to obtain the latest accessible moving picture information distribution source.

According to the moving picture information distribution system described in claim 4 or the moving picture information distribution method described in claim 8, a program necessary for reproducing moving picture information can be distributed to a terminal device as needed. Therefore, in the terminal device, there is an effect that it is not necessary to hold a program necessary for reproducing the moving image information in advance.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing functions of a search server, a multimedia server, and a terminal device in a moving image information distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a search server, a multimedia server, and a terminal device in the moving picture information distribution system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a moving image information distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of a screen of a homepage for transparent access according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining screen transition of a transparent access homepage during operation of the moving picture information distribution system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a processing order in the moving picture information distribution system according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a processing flow in the moving image information distribution system according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a processing flow in the moving image information distribution system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a configuration of a conventional multimedia information distribution system.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Multimedia information distribution system, 2 ... Network, 3S ... Search server, 3A, 3B, 3C ... Multimedia server, 4 ... Terminal device, 51 ... Internet browser part, 57 ... Transparent access homepage, 61 ...
Internet server section, 62 search section, 64 Internet server section, 65 distribution section, 66 database engine section

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI H04N 7/173

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. Using the World Wide Web, a system connected to a client via a network and enabling access to information on the Internet,
A video information access information distribution means for distributing video information access information for realizing a video information search request function and a video information search result display function to the client in response to access from the client; In response to a search request for moving image information from the client using the search request function, the server searches for moving image information on the network, and delivers a search result including link information to the moving image information to the client. Video information search means, connected to a client via a network, and distributes video information in response to access from a client using link information included in the search result displayed by the search result display function A video information distribution system comprising video information distribution means. Temu. 2. The moving picture information distribution system according to claim 1, wherein said moving picture information search means has a function of searching for moving picture information distribution means on a network and creating a list of moving picture information distribution means. . 3. The moving picture information searching means further has a function of distributing a list of moving picture information distributing means on a network to a client.
The moving picture information distribution system according to claim 2, further comprising information for realizing a list display function for displaying a list distributed by the moving picture information search means to the client. 4. The moving image information distribution means has a function of distributing a program necessary for reproducing moving image information to be distributed,
The moving image information access information includes information for causing a client to realize a reproduction program acquisition function of acquiring a reproduction program necessary for reproducing the moving image information from the moving image information distribution unit. Item 2. The moving image information distribution system according to Item 1. 5. A function for requesting a client to search for moving image information in response to an access from a client via a network using the World Wide Web, which is a system that enables access to information on the Internet. A video information access information distribution procedure for distributing video information access information for realizing a video information search result display function; and a video information search request from a client using the search request function via a network. A video information search procedure for performing a search for video information on a network and delivering a search result including link information to the video information to a client, and the search displayed by the search result display function via a network. According to the access from the client using the link information included in the result , Video information distribution method characterized by comprising a video information distribution procedure for distributing video information. 6. The moving picture information distribution method according to claim 5, further comprising the step of creating a list of moving picture information distribution sources by searching for moving picture information distribution means on the network. 7. A list distribution procedure for distributing a list created by the list creation procedure to a client, wherein the moving picture information access information displays a list distributed by the list distribution procedure to a client. 7. The moving image information distribution method according to claim 6, further comprising information for realizing a list display function. 8. The moving image information distribution procedure includes distributing a program necessary for reproducing the moving image information to be distributed,
6. The moving picture according to claim 5, wherein the moving picture information access information includes information for causing a client to realize a reproduction program acquisition function of acquiring a reproduction program necessary for reproducing the moving picture information. Information distribution method.