JP2001022703A - System and method for contents distribution - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To start contents linked with it when a user selects the contents while referring to a catalog on a screen by making it possible to securely set the same identifier for both the catalog and contents. SOLUTION: When the user selects necessary contents which referring to the catalog through a catalog display means 11, an identifier acquiring means 12 obtains the identifier of the selected contents, a contents positioning means 13 positions the contents according to the obtained identifier, and a contents executing means 14 executes the positioned contents. Consequently, the user can execute the contents linked with the selecting operation that the user did for the catalog. When a list of catalogs is generated, information of the identifier is read out of a contents file and set to prevent the catalog and contents from having different identifiers.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a content distribution system, and more particularly to a digital video, music,
The present invention relates to a content distribution system and a content distribution method for distributing a literary work (content) such as a document to a plurality of users.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the following description, it is assumed that contents such as video teaching materials are distributed to hundreds of business offices for in-house education and the like. New content is created and distributed periodically.

[0003] As a conventional general content distribution system, there is a content distribution system using a CD-ROM. The case where contents are distributed by this system will be described below.

[0004] Contents to be distributed are created in the following procedure. Here, it is assumed that the content is a video teaching material of about 30 minutes. First, video is recorded on a videotape by shooting using a video camera, and then edited to create a video teaching material. The video teaching material recorded on the video tape is digitized by a computer equipped with a video capture board, compressed as a moving image, and taken as a moving image file on a hard disk of the computer and stored. When a compression method called MPEG1 is used, a video teaching material of about 30 minutes is stored in a moving image file of about several hundred megabytes. This is the content to be distributed.

[0005] The created contents are copied to a CD-ROM and distributed. By copying the content file from the hard disk to the CD-ROM using the CD writing device, a CD-ROM storing the content can be created. Usually, a label describing a title or the like is affixed to the CD-ROM so that the contents contained therein can be understood. The required number of CD-ROMs are created by this method, and the created CD-R
OMs will be distributed one by one to each office by mail or other means. Each office stores the received CD-ROM on a shelf or the like.

Next, the creation of a catalog listing the contents distributed in this manner will be described. here,
It is assumed that at a certain office, each user takes out the CD-ROM from the shelf and uses it. At this time, since there is a possibility that someone has already taken out the CD-ROM, there is a problem that the user cannot be sure whether all the CD-ROMs have been checked. If shelves have limited space and only retrieve and store the content they need, users will be skeptical that there may be more appropriate content available.
There is a problem. To solve such a problem,
It is conceivable to create and distribute a catalog capable of listing a list of all contents including contents distributed in the past. According to this method, by referring to the catalog, it is possible to select necessary video teaching materials including video teaching materials not stored on the shelf.
The created catalog is created in the form of digital data and distributed on a CD-ROM or the like.

[0007] The user displays the above-mentioned catalog on the screen of the user terminal and selects an appropriate content that matches the purpose. Next, the target content is searched by searching the CD-ROM on the shelf. CD-R storing desired content
The OM can be found by collating the title written on the label attached to the case with the title described in the catalog.

[0008] The content selected as described above is executed as follows. The user is a CD-ROM
To the CD-ROM drive of the user terminal. As a result, the content file in the CD-ROM is recognized as one file in the file system of the use terminal. If the content file is a moving image file, the user activates a moving image reproducing program mounted on the user terminal. Further, when the user designates a moving image file as the target content, the moving image reproducing program reads out the data from the specified moving image file and reproduces and displays the data on the screen of the computer.

[0009] Since the conventional content distribution system is configured as described above, the storage location of the content in the distribution destination user terminal generally differs for each distribution destination. Therefore, the catalog must include information on the storage location of the content. Can not. Explaining in the above example, the distributed content is positioned in the file system of the user terminal by mounting the CD-ROM on the CD-ROM drive of the user terminal. Usually, a file in a file system is determined by a drive name and a path name of the file. However, a drive name corresponding to a CD-ROM drive may differ depending on a terminal used, and thus cannot be set in a catalog in advance. .

Therefore, even if the user selects content by clicking on the catalog in the catalog displayed on the screen, the system does not know where in the file system the content is located.
The content cannot be activated in conjunction with the content selection operation. Therefore, the user must use a CD-ROM
After positioning the content file in the file system, it is necessary to specify this file again and execute it.

[0011] Further, since the catalog and the content are created independently of each other, the title set for the content on the catalog does not always match the title set for the content to be distributed. If the title of the catalog does not match the title of the content, a problem occurs that the user cannot reliably find the content described in the catalog.

FIG. 11 shows, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-23288.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a conventional information presentation system disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2 (Kokai) No. 2; In the figure, reference numeral 100 denotes a processing apparatus main body 10.
1 is a server computer provided with computerized information 102 and
An information presentation device 120 is connected to the server computer 100 via the network 103 and presents the digitized information 102 stored in the server computer 100. 107 provided in the information presentation device 120 is the server computer 100
CD-ROM in which at least a part of the digitized information 102 stored in the CD-ROM 107 is recorded.
ROM reading device, 104 is CD-ROM reading device 10
A processing apparatus main body 105 connected to 6 is a display device for displaying digitized information.

In this conventional system, in the information presenting device 120 connected to the server computer 100 via the network 103, the designated digitized information is stored in a CD.
If the information is present in the ROM 107, the computerized information is read out by the CD-ROM reading device 106.
A configuration is shown in which the designated digitized information 102 is acquired from 00 and the acquired digitized information is presented.

According to this configuration, if the catalog stored in the server computer 100 is browsed by the WWW browser and one of the contents is selected, the selected content can be read out from the CD-ROM and executed. Becomes That is, first, the contents are transferred to the server computer 1.
00 and the URL (Uniform Resour
ce Locator) as an identifier in the catalog. Further, the URL and the CD-R are stored in the CD-ROM 107.
A correspondence table of contents stored in the OM is created and stored. When the URL in the catalog is specified, the WWW browser in this example does not acquire the content corresponding to the URL from the server computer 100, but first obtains the CD-
The contents of the ROM 107 are checked. If the content corresponding to this URL is found in the CD-ROM 107,
The content is read out from the D-ROM 107 and presented,
If the content is not found, the content can be read from the server computer 100 and presented.

In this case, however, it is necessary to set the same URL as the content identifier in both the catalog and the CD-ROM 107. However, if these settings are performed by separate operations, different identifiers may be set due to a character string input error or the like. There is a risk of setting. In addition, a method of automatically acquiring and setting the URL of the content can be considered. In this case, when the content is moved or copied, the URL changes. If the user moves and then sets an identifier in the catalog, there is a problem that the identifier cannot be matched.

FIG. 12 shows, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-116.
472 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of another conventional information presentation system disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 472. In the figure, reference numeral 131 denotes a medium on which digitized information is recorded, and 132, a digital signal reproducing device for reading a signal recorded on the medium 131 and outputting the signal to a signal output device 133. Signal output device 1
33, a signal processing unit 133a, a display unit 133b, and a network connection unit 133c are provided. An information providing terminal device 134 including a digital signal reproducing device 132 and a signal output device 133 is connected to an information providing server 135 via a network 136. In the information providing server 135, a connection unit 135a, which is an interface unit for the network 136, and a database 135b storing related information for each identifier are provided.

This conventional information presentation system uses a medium (package medium) 131 such as a compact disc.
And ISRC (International Standard Recording Cod)
3 shows a configuration in which a unique code is added to a title of a content such as e) and recorded. In this configuration, the information providing terminal device (player) 134 reads the unique code, generates an identifier, and
36, the information providing server 135 is accessed, and the relevant information is presented by searching the database 135b using this identifier as a key. In this case, since the unique code is recorded in the content itself, it does not change even if the content is moved or copied. However, since a means for reading the unique code set for the content and setting it in the database 135b is not provided, it is necessary to set a unique code and an identifier separately. There is a risk of setting.
Further, since no means is provided for positioning the content on which the identifier specified in the database 135b is recorded on the information providing terminal device (player) 134 side, the content specified by reading the database 135b is read from the CD. Can't run.

[0018]

The conventional system is configured as described above, and in the general conventional content distribution system described first, since the storage location of the content is different for each distribution destination, a catalog is used. Cannot contain information on the storage location of the content, and thus there is a problem that the user cannot start the content in conjunction with the operation of selecting the content by the catalog. In addition, since the catalog and the content are created independently of each other, there is a problem that the title set for the content on the catalog may be different from the title set for the content to be distributed.

Also, in the conventional example shown in FIG.
As described above, the content identifier is assigned to the server computer 1.
00 and the CD-ROM 107 must be set to the same one. If these settings are performed by separate operations, there is a risk that different identifiers may be set due to a character string input error or the like. There was a problem. A method of automatically acquiring the identifier of the content may be considered. In this case, however, when the content is moved or copied, the identifier changes.
There is no other choice but to set the identifier in the OM and then move the original content, and then set the identifier in the catalog, and the identifier may not be consistent.

In the conventional example shown in FIG. 12, since a unique code is recorded in the content itself, it does not change even if the content is moved or copied.
5b, it is necessary to set an identifier separately.
There is a problem that there is a risk that a different identifier may be set for the content 5b and the content. Further, in this conventional example, since the means for locating the content on which the identifier specified in the database is recorded on the information providing terminal device 134 side is not provided, the content specified by referring to the database is read from the CD-ROM. There is a problem that it cannot be read out and executed.

[0021] The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems. When a user selects a content by referring to a catalog on a screen, the content can be activated in conjunction with the selection. It aims to obtain a distribution system and a content distribution method. It is another object of the present invention to provide a content distribution system and a content distribution method that enable the same identifier to be set to both a catalog and content accurately, thereby enabling a user to reliably find content corresponding to the catalog.

[0022]

According to the present invention, there is provided a distribution source content storage unit for storing content to be distributed, an identifier setting unit for adding an identifier to the content, and an identifier for the identifier added by the identifier setting unit. A catalog creation unit for reading information from the content and creating a catalog of the content including the identifier information; a distribution source catalog storage unit for creating and storing a catalog in which the catalogs output by the catalog generation unit are arranged; and a distribution source content storage. Content delivery means for delivering the content stored in the means together with the identifier; catalog delivery means for delivering the catalog stored in the distribution source catalog storage means together with the identifier of each content; and content delivered by the content delivery means together with the identifier. Distribution destination content storage means for storing Distribution destination catalog storage means for storing the catalog delivered by the distribution means together with the identifier of each content; catalog display means for displaying the catalog stored in the distribution destination catalog storage means; An identifier acquiring unit for acquiring an identifier of the designated content; a content locating unit for locating the designated content by comparing the identifier acquired by the identifier acquiring unit with the identifier stored in the distribution destination content storage unit; A content execution unit that executes the content positioned by the positioning unit.

The content delivery means stores the content in a portable storage medium and delivers it.

Further, the identifier setting means includes a printing unit for printing an identifier label on which an identifier to be attached to a portable storage medium is described, and the content positioning means stores the identifier acquired by the identifier acquiring means. The information processing apparatus further includes a presentation unit for presenting, and prompts a user to mount a portable storage medium to which the corresponding identifier label is attached.

The content distribution means transfers the content from the distribution source content storage means to the distribution destination content storage means using a communication line.

The content delivery means delivers the content when new content is registered, and the catalog delivery means delivers the catalog when the catalog is referenced.

[0027] The content delivery means may include one of the content in the distribution source content storage means and the catalog in the distribution source catalog storage means, and the content in the distribution destination content storage means and the catalog in the distribution destination catalog storage means. By comparing with either one of
Detecting that the new content has been registered in the distribution source content storage means, and delivering the newly registered content.

The identifier setting means refers to the identifiers of the respective contents already stored in the distributor catalog storage means and sets the identifiers for newly registered contents so as not to overlap with the identifiers.

The catalog creating means reads the content to be newly registered, extracts a representative image from the content, adds it to the catalog as a catalog of the content, and stores it in the distribution source catalog storage means.

A distribution source content storing step of storing the distribution target content in the storage device of the distribution source, an identifier setting step of adding an identifier to the content,
A catalog creation step of reading the information of the identifier added in the identifier setting step from the content and creating an inventory of the content including the identifier information, and creating a catalog by arranging the inventory created in the inventory creation step, A distribution source catalog storage step of storing in the second storage device;
A content delivery step of delivering the content stored in the storage device together with the identifier in the distribution source content storage step, and a catalog delivery step of delivering the catalog stored in the second storage device together with the identifier of each content in the distribution source catalog storage step And a distribution destination content storing step of storing the content distributed in the content distribution step together with the identifier in the third storage device of the distribution destination, and a catalog distributed in the catalog distribution step together with the identifier of each content in the fourth distribution destination. Obtaining the catalog stored in the storage device of the distribution destination, storing the catalog stored in the distribution destination catalog storage process, and acquiring the identifier of the designated content in the catalog displayed in the catalog display process Identifier acquisition process and identification Executing a content positioning step of positioning the designated content by comparing the identifier obtained in the obtaining step with the identifier stored in the third storage device in the distribution destination content storing step, and executing the content positioned in the content positioning step And a content execution step.

[0031]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the configuration of the content distribution system of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a content distribution source system, and reference numeral 2 denotes a distribution destination system. Reference numeral 3 denotes a distribution source content storage unit for storing the created content; 4, an identifier setting unit for adding an identifier that is invariant to movement or duplication to the content; 5, information of the identifier added by the identifier setting unit 4; A catalog creating means for reading out the content and including the information of the identifier in the catalog of the content and outputting the catalog, and a distribution catalog storing means 6 for storing a catalog in which the catalogs output by the catalog creating means 5 are arranged.
Reference numeral 7 denotes a content delivery unit that delivers the content stored in the distribution source content storage unit 3 together with the identifier. Reference numeral 8 denotes a catalog delivery unit that distributes the catalog stored in the distribution source catalog storage unit 6 together with the identifier of each content. It is. Reference numeral 9 denotes a distribution destination storage unit that stores the content distributed by the content distribution unit 7 together with the identifier. 10 denotes a distribution destination catalog storage unit that stores the catalog distributed by the catalog distribution unit 8 together with the identifier of each content. Catalog display means for displaying the catalog stored in the destination catalog storage means 10, 12 is an identifier obtaining means for obtaining an identifier of a designated content in the catalog displayed by the catalog display means 11, and 13 is an identifier obtaining means 12. Content positioning means for positioning the specified content by comparing the acquired identifier with the identifier stored in the distribution destination content storage means 9, and content execution means 14 for executing the content positioned by the content positioning means 13. .

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing one example of the configuration specifically showing the schematic configuration of FIG. In the configuration of FIG. 2, the distribution source system 1 includes a production terminal 20 and a WWW server 21, and a hard disk 22, a CD writing device 23, and a video tape recorder 24 are connected to the production terminal 20. The production terminal 20 and the WWW server 21 are connected to the same local area network 25. Further, the distribution destination system 2 includes a use terminal 30, a CD-ROM drive device 31, and a shelf 32 for storing distributed contents. Usage terminal 30
Is connected to the local area network 33 and has the WWW browser 34 and the helper program 3
And 5. Distribution source WWW server 21
Are connected to the local area network 33 of each distribution destination via the wide area network 40.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 2, the distribution source storage means 3 shown in FIG. 1 is constituted by a hard disk 22, and the distribution source catalog storage means 6 is composed of a WW.
It comprises a W server 21. The identifier setting means 4 and the catalog creation means 5 are constituted by a catalog creation program 26 by software installed in the production terminal 20. Further, the distribution destination content storage means 9 shown in FIG. 1 is provided with a shelf 32 for storing the mailed CD-ROM.
, And the distribution destination catalog storage means 10 and the catalog display means 11 are constituted by the WWW browser 34 of the use terminal 30. Further, the identifier acquisition unit 12, the content positioning unit 13, and the content execution unit 14 are configured by a helper program 35 by software installed in the use terminal 30.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing another configuration example specifically showing the schematic configuration of FIG. In the configuration of FIG. 3, the distribution source system 1 includes a production terminal 20 and a WWW server 21, and a hard disk 22 and a video tape recorder 24 are connected to the production terminal 20. The production terminal 20 and the WWW server 21 are connected to the same local area network 25. The distribution destination system 2 includes a use terminal 30 and a server 36, which are connected to a local area network 33. Furthermore, the distribution source WWW server 21 is connected to the local area network 33 of each distribution destination via the wide area network 40.

In the configuration of FIG. 3, the distribution source content storage unit 3 and the distribution source catalog storage unit 6 shown in FIG. The identifier setting means 4 and the catalog creation means 5 are constituted by a catalog creation program 26 by software installed in the production terminal 20. Further, the distribution destination content storage means 9 shown in FIG.
Distribution destination catalog storage means 10 and catalog display means 11
Is composed of the WWW browser 34 of the use terminal 30. Further, the identifier acquisition unit 12, the content positioning unit 13, and the content execution unit 14 include a helper program 35 by software installed in the use terminal 30.
It is composed of

The configuration shown in FIG. 2 stores contents on a CD-ROM.
It is assumed that the content is distributed using a portable storage medium such as the above, and the configuration in FIG. 3 is assumed to distribute the content via a network, that is, a communication line. It is also possible. Hereinafter, an embodiment of the content distribution system and the content distribution method of the present invention when both are combined will be described.

(1) Creation of Content First, a method of creating content to be distributed will be described. Here, it is assumed that the content is a video teaching material of about 30 minutes. First, a video is recorded on a video tape by shooting using a video tape recorder 24 such as a video camera, and then the video is edited to create a video teaching material. The video teaching material recorded on the video tape is digitized by the production terminal 20 equipped with the video capture board 27, and the video teaching material is compressed and stored in the distribution source content storage means 3 composed of the hard disk 22 connected to the production terminal 20. Import and store as a movie file. Using a compression method called MPEG1, 30
Minutes of video teaching material are stored in video files of several hundred megabytes. This is the content to be distributed.

(2) Content Delivery The content delivery means 7 is the distribution source content storage means 3
Then, the contents are distributed to the distribution destination contents storage means 9. First, when the contents are delivered by mail or the like using a CD-ROM, the following is performed. The content is composed of one or more content files. These content files are transferred from the hard disk 22 to the CD-R by using the CD writing device 23.
Copy to OM. At this time, the CD-ROM is put in a case, and an identifier label is attached to the case. The identifier label will be described later. The CD-ROM delivered by the content delivery means 7 is stored as it is on the shelf 32 of the distribution destination.
(Fig. 2). Also, at this time, the CD I received
-It is also possible to copy the contents of the ROM to the distribution destination server 36 (FIG. 3) and store it.

In the case of distributing contents via the network 40, the following is performed. The content delivery unit 7 delivers the content from the distribution source content storage unit 3 to the distribution destination content storage unit 9. The distribution destination receives this content and stores it in the server 36 (FIG. 3). The storage location on the server 36 may be appropriately determined in accordance with the convenience of the distribution destination, but the files corresponding to one content are arranged under the same directory.

FIG. 4 shows a configuration example of the distribution source content storage unit 3 and the distribution destination content storage unit 9. In this example, in the distribution source WWW server 21, the drive E
(3a) is assigned as an area for storing contents. In the distribution destination server 36 (FIG. 3), the drives H (9a) and I (9b) are allocated as areas for storing contents. In order to specifically explain, for example, the delivery of the content “TV” and the content “AIRCON” has already been completed.
It is assumed that the delivery of the content “SHOMEI” is going to be performed. The administrator at the distribution destination needs to determine an area for storing the content. The administrator determines this by comparing the capacity of the content “SHOMEI” with the free capacity of the drives H and I. Now, assuming that the free space of the drive I is not sufficient and the drive H has a sufficient free space, the drive H may be determined as the storage area. The administrator sets “root” for drive H
A directory “SHOMEI” is created under the directory, and the contents transferred by the file from the WWW server 21 are stored under the directory. As described above, the storage area of the content may be flexibly determined according to the system configuration of each distribution destination.

(3) Creation of Catalog Before describing the catalog creation operation, the contents and the catalog will be described with reference to FIG. Content is composed of one or more content files.
When one content is composed of a plurality of content files, the content file to be activated first is generally determined, and the other files are configured to be called from the file activated first. The content file started first is referred to as an initial content file here. In other words,
One content always has one initial content file. In the example of FIG. 5, three contents 50, 51, and 52 are shown.
I. “AVI” (reference numeral 52a), “TV.EXE” (reference numeral 50a), and “AIRCON.PPT” (reference numeral 51a) are the initial content files. The contents 50 to 52 include content description files 50b to 52b, which will be described later, and other content files 50b.
c, 50d, 51c, and the like.

There are various types of content, such as moving images, slides, and music, and an execution program is generally determined depending on the type. When the execution program corresponding to the type is started, the execution program reads the content file, and as a result, the content is executed. In some cases, the content file is in the form of an execution program, and the content is executed by executing the content file itself.

On the other hand, the catalogs stored in the catalog storage means 6 and 10 are lists of catalogs for each content, as shown in FIG. In the example of FIG. 5, for each of the three contents 50, 51, and 52, a list of contents (title), a summary of the contents, and a representative image selected from the contents are listed as a list. ing.

Based on the above description of the contents and the catalog, the operation of the catalog creation program 26 (FIGS. 2 and 3) will be described next with reference to FIGS. The catalog creation program is roughly divided into two operations: an identifier setting operation (identifier setting means 4) in FIG. 6 and a catalog creation operation (list creation means 5) in FIG. The details of the operation of setting the identifier will be described later, but in brief, as shown in FIG. 6, first, the content is read in step S1, then the identifier is set in step S2, and the identifier is set. Then, writing to the content is performed in step S3. The operation of creating a catalog will be described in detail later, but in brief, as shown in FIG. 7, the content is read in step S10, and then the catalog is created in step S11. Finally, the catalog is updated in step S12.

(A) Identifier Setting Operation Details of the identifier setting operation of FIG. 6 will be described. First, the content reading operation in step S1 of FIG. 6 will be described. The user creates the catalog creation program 26
Is started and the newly created content is designated, and the content file of the designated content is read.

Next, the operation of setting the identifier in step S2 in FIG. 6 will be described. The identifier is set by the catalog creation program 26. On the screen as shown in FIG.
After specifying the content, move the cursor to identifier area 6.
0a, and can be defined by inputting text (for example, “# 03”) from the keyboard. At this time, referring to the information of the catalog created in the past, if you try to set the same identifier as the identifier set for the different content in the past, detect it and give a warning to the user Then, it is possible to prevent the same identifier from being set to different contents by mistake. It is also conceivable that the program automatically allocates the identifier instead of the user inputting the identifier. For example, the identifier of the content to be registered first may be "0001" or the like, and the number may be increased each time a new content is registered.

Next, the writing operation to the contents in step S3 in FIG. 6 will be described. At the stage where the setting of the identifier is completed, when the button of “identifier setting” 60b is pressed on the screen of FIG. 8, the catalog creating program causes the content description file (FIG.
The codes 50b to 52b) are generated. In the example of FIG. 5, the content description files are three files 50b, 51b, and 52b named "INDEX.XDF".
Information of the identifier of the corresponding content (for example,
“# 01”, “# 02”, “# 03”) and information on the file name of the initial content file (for example, “SHOME
I. AVI "," TV.EXE "," AIRCON.P "
PT "). Further, in this file, the information of the list defined above may be stored at the same time.

The content description files 50b-52
b and one or more content files including one of the initial content files 50a to 52a are treated as one content 50 to 52. CD-R
When the content is distributed by the OM, the catalog creation program 26 prints out an identifier label to be attached to the content. The identifier (for example, “# 03”) set for the content is printed on the identifier label. When the CD-ROM is delivered, the identifier label is attached to the case and delivered.

When the identifier is added to the content as described above, the identifier becomes the content description files 50b to 50b.
2b and a content description file 5
0b-52b are treated as one of a plurality of files constituting the contents 50-52.
Moving or duplicating 52 does not change the identifier. Also, the identifier label attached to the case is also CD-RO.
If the same label is attached when M is copied, it is invariant to the movement or copying of the contents 50 to 52.

(B) Creation of an inventory Next, an inventory is created for the content. here,
The three elements of the representative image, title, and summary are described as a list. The details of the operation of creating the catalog shown in FIG. 7 will be described. First, the content reading operation in step S10 in FIG. 7 will be described. When the user starts the catalog creation program 26 and designates the newly created content, the content file of the designated content is read.

Next, a description will be given of the operation of creating a list in step S11 in FIG. FIG. 8 is an example of a screen when a catalog is defined by the catalog creation program 26. First, the definition of the representative image will be described. In this example, the type of content is a moving image. At the stage where the user has designated the content, data is read from the content file and the first frame is displayed in the column 60c of the representative image. "Play" button 60 on screen
When d is pressed, the next frame is reproduced sequentially, and when the "stop" button 60e is pressed, the reproduction is stopped. When the "next frame" 60f is pressed, the display advances by one frame and stops, and when the "previous frame" 60g is pressed, the display returns to the previous frame and stops. When an appropriate screen is selected using these buttons, the screen is defined as a representative image.

Next, setting of a title and an abstract will be described. The title and the summary are defined as a list by moving a cursor to each area 60h and 60i on the screen of FIG. 8 and inputting an appropriate text from a keyboard.

When the user presses the "create catalog" button 60j, a catalog defined for this content, that is, a representative image, a title, and a summary are generated in HTML format. As shown in FIG. 5, a "select" button 55a is arranged in this list, and links to the content activation files 58 to 60 are made from the "select" button 55a. The content creation files 58 to 60 are also generated by the catalog creation program 26. The content activation files 58 to 60 include identifier information (for example, “# 0
1 ","# 02 ","# 03 ") and information on the file names of the content description files 50b to 52b of the corresponding content (for example," SHOMEI.AVI "," TV.E ").
XE "," AIRCON.PPT "). At this time, since the identifier information is read out from the content description files 50b to 52b of the corresponding content and set, the same identifier can be surely set in the catalog and the content. Next, the catalog update operation in step S12 in FIG. 7 will be described. The catalog updating operation updates the above-mentioned catalog by adding it to an existing catalog.

(4) Delivery of Catalog The catalog created as described above is registered in the distribution source WWW server 21. WW from user terminal 30 of distribution destination
When the user accesses the WWW server 21 using the W browser 34 and refers to the catalog, the catalog is delivered from the WWW server 21 to the user terminal 30 via the network 40, and the user displays the catalog on the screen and displays the catalog. You will be able to browse.

(5) Content Selection The user browses the catalog using the WWW browser 34,
Select appropriate content. The user clicks a “select” button 55a arranged in the area of the selected content on the screen. Since the "select" button 55a is linked to the content activation files 58-60, the helper program 35 that is previously associated with the content activation files 58-60 is activated.

FIG. 9 shows an operation flow of the helper program 35. As shown in FIG. 9, the outline of the operation of the helper program 35 is to read a content activation file in step S20, obtain an identifier and a file name in step S21, and then obtain a content file in step S22. Finally, the content is activated in step S23. Details of each processing shown in FIG. 9 will be described below.

The operation of reading the content start file in step S20 of FIG. 9 will be described. When the helper program 35 is started, first, the corresponding content start files 58 to 60 are read. Next, the operation of acquiring the identifier and the file name in step S21 in FIG. 9 will be described.
The contents of the read content activation files 58 to 60 are analyzed, and the information of the target content identifier and the file names of the content description files 50b to 52b are obtained. For example, in the example of “attachment of lighting fixture”, the identifier is “# 01” and the file name is “INDEX.XDF”.

Next, in step S22 of FIG. 9, the content is positioned based on the information of the identifier obtained in step S21. As described above, the directory for storing the distributed content differs depending on the distribution destination. In the example of FIG. 4, each directory under the “root” directory of the drive H and the “root” directory of the drive I
Each directory under the directory is a directory storing contents. The contents description files 50b-52 are searched in order under these directories.
Search for b. In the above example, the target content description file is a file whose file name is “INDEX.XDF” and whose identifier is “# 01”. The search is terminated when a content description file satisfying this condition is found. In this example, the target content description file can be found under the “SHOMEI” directory under the “root” directory of the H drive.

If a target content description file cannot be found in a predetermined directory, a message prompting insertion of a CD-ROM is output. If the identifier is # 01,
The message is "Please insert CD-ROM # 01"
And so on. The user looks at the identifier label affixed to the case of the CD-ROM and lists the case with the identifier # 01, and stores the CD-ROM in the case into the CD-ROM drive 3.
Attach to 1.

When a CD-ROM is loaded, a CD-RO
The files in M are positioned on the file system of the use terminal 30. The user terminal 30 uses a CD-
The ROM is mounted on the “D” drive, and the file name of the target content description file is “INDE”.
X. XDF ”, a file“ INDEX.XDF ”is searched for in the root directory of the“ D ”drive. If the file is found, this becomes the content description file of the target content.

When the search for the content description file is completed, the initial content files 50a to 52a (FIG. 5) are located based on the contents of the content description file. The file name “SHOMEI.AVI” of the initial content file is described in the content description file. Here, the content description file and the initial content file are stored in the same directory.
The "SHOMEI.AVI" file under the "SHOMEI" directory under the "oot" directory is the initial content file.

Next, the content starting operation in step 23 of FIG. 9 will be described. The initial content file positioned as described above is executed by a predetermined method determined for each type of content. For example, if the type of the content is a moving image, a moving image reproducing program is started, and the position of the initial content file is designated to instruct the start of the content.

(6) Execution of Content The content is executed by the operation of the helper program 35 described above.

As described above, according to the present invention, if the user selects a content by referring to the catalog displayed on the screen, the content can be executed in conjunction with the content selection operation. In addition, since the identifier set for each content of the catalog is set based on the identifier set in the content description file, the same identifier is surely set.

When an identifier is newly set for a content, if the same identifier as an identifier already set for another content is checked so as not to be set, the same identifier is set for a different content. can do.

Further, if the catalog creation program reads the content to be newly registered, extracts a representative image from the content, and registers the representative image in the catalog, the trouble of newly creating the representative image can be omitted.

When the user tries to use the content, the delivery of the content has already been completed, so that the time for the user to wait for the delivery of the content can be reduced. Also,
The catalog is delivered from the distribution source when the user refers to the catalog using a WWW browser, so that the user can always refer to the latest catalog.

The administrator of the distribution destination can freely determine the storage location of the content according to the free space of the storage area of the server. Further, the storage location can be changed as needed at any time.

Embodiment 2 In the first embodiment described above, in the configuration of FIG. 2, the administrator of each distribution destination needs to perform the work of receiving the CD-ROM mailed from the distribution source and arranging it on the shelf, and in the configuration of FIG. The administrator of the distribution destination needs to transfer the file newly registered in the distribution source WWW server using the network and store it in an appropriate directory of the server. In this embodiment, Fig. 8 shows an example in which the administrator of the distribution destination can distribute the content without performing any special operation every time the content is newly registered. Since the operation other than the content delivery means is the same as that of the first embodiment, the description is omitted here, and the main configuration and the like are basically the same as those of the first embodiment. 1 to 9 will be referred to.

In this embodiment, the content delivery means 7 (FIG. 1) automatically detects newly registered content and delivers the newly registered content from the distribution source to the distribution destination. This function can be realized by operating a differential distribution program that performs the following operation at a preset time interval such as once a day, for example, on the server 36 (FIG. 3) of the distribution destination. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a content delivery operation by the difference delivery program (content delivery means 7).

In FIG. 10, first, in step S30, the difference distribution program accesses the distribution source WWW server 21 and acquires the latest catalog information. Next, in step S31, for each content described in the obtained catalog, it is sequentially checked whether the content is already stored in the distribution destination server 36. This corresponds to the content description files 50b-52 corresponding to the identifiers of the content set in the catalog.
b (see Fig. 5, file name is "INDEX.XDF")
Can be confirmed by checking whether the file exists under a predetermined directory of the server 36. Next, in step S32, the content that cannot be confirmed to be stored in the distribution destination server 36 in step S31 is determined as a newly registered content,
Deliver content. The delivery of the content is performed by transmitting the identifier to the WWW server 21 of the distribution destination and requesting the delivery of the content. The transferred content may be stored in an appropriate directory in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

According to this embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained, and further, the administrator of the distribution destination does not need to perform any special work every time a new content is registered. However, the content can be automatically delivered.

[0073]

According to the present invention, there is provided a distribution source content storing means for storing content to be distributed, an identifier setting means for adding an identifier to the content, and information of the identifier added by the identifier setting means from the content. A catalog creating means for reading and creating an inventory of contents including identifier information; a distribution catalog storage means for creating and storing a catalog in which the catalogs output by the inventory creation means are arranged; and a distribution source storage means for storing the catalog. Content delivery means for delivering the distributed content together with the identifier, a catalog delivery means for delivering the catalog stored in the distribution source catalog storage means together with the identifier of each content, and a distribution destination for storing the content delivered by the content delivery means together with the identifier. Content storage means and catalog delivery means Distribution catalog storing means for storing the catalog delivered by the user together with the identifier of each content, a catalog displaying means for displaying the catalog stored in the distribution catalog storing means, and a designated catalog in the catalog displayed by the catalog displaying means. Identifier acquiring means for acquiring an identifier of the specified content, content locating means for locating the designated content by comparing the identifier acquired by the identifier acquiring means with the identifier stored in the distribution destination content storing means, and content locating means And a content execution system that executes the content positioned by the user.If the user refers to the catalog displayed by the catalog display unit and selects the required content, Knowledge of the selected content Child, the content positioning means positions the content according to the obtained identifier, and the content execution means executes the positioned content, so that the content is executed in conjunction with the selection operation performed on the catalog by the user. be able to. Also, the identifier setting means sets an identifier for the content, and the catalog creating means outputs a catalog including the information of the identifier, so that the same identifier is set for both the catalog and the content in which the catalog is arranged. And the user can surely find the desired content.

The content delivery means stores the content in a portable storage medium and delivers the content. Therefore, which CD-ROM is driven by the user in response to the selection operation performed on the catalog. Is displayed on the screen, the content can be easily executed by attaching the CD-ROM to the drive.

Further, the identifier setting means includes a printing unit for printing an identifier label on which an identifier to be attached to a portable storage medium is described, and the content positioning means stores the identifier acquired by the identifier acquiring means. Since the present invention is provided with a presenting unit for presenting and prompting the user to mount the portable storage medium to which the corresponding identifier label is attached, the user can easily use the identifier label attached to the CD-ROM. The corresponding CD-ROM can be found.

Further, since the content delivery means transfers the content from the distribution source content storage means to the distribution destination content storage means using the communication line, the delivery time can be shortened and timely delivery is performed. be able to.

Since the content delivery means delivers the content in response to the registration of new content, when the user needs the content, the delivery of the content has already been completed and the waiting time is reduced. The catalog delivery means delivers the catalog when the user tries to refer to the catalog, so that the user can always refer to the latest catalog.

Further, the content delivery means includes one of the contents in the distribution source contents storage means and the catalog in the distribution source catalog storage means, and the contents in the distribution destination content storage means and the catalog in the distribution destination catalog storage means. By comparing with either one of
Detecting that new content has been registered in the distribution source content storage means and distributing the newly registered content, the content distribution means compares the distribution source content with the distribution destination content. Detects that new content has been registered, and automatically distributes the newly registered content, so that it is not necessary to distribute the content when newly registering the content.

Further, the identifier setting means refers to the identifiers of the respective contents already stored in the distribution source catalog storage means and sets the identifiers for newly registered contents so as not to overlap with the identifiers. Therefore, the identifier setting means sets the identifier of the content to be newly registered so as not to overlap with the identifier of the already registered content, so that it is possible to reliably prevent the same identifier from being set for different contents. Can be.

Further, the catalog creating means reads the content to be newly registered, extracts a representative image from the content, adds it to the catalog as a catalog of the content, and stores it in the distribution source catalog storage means. A catalog can be easily created without creating a representative image again.

Also, a distribution source content storing step of storing the distribution target content in the storage device of the distribution source, an identifier setting step of adding an identifier to the content,
A catalog creation step of reading the information of the identifier added in the identifier setting step from the content and creating an inventory of the content including the identifier information, and creating a catalog by arranging the inventory created in the inventory creation step, A distribution source catalog storage step of storing in the second storage device;
A content delivery step of delivering the content stored in the storage device together with the identifier in the distribution source content storage step, and a catalog delivery step of delivering the catalog stored in the second storage device together with the identifier of each content in the distribution source catalog storage step And a distribution destination content storing step of storing the content distributed in the content distribution step together with the identifier in the third storage device of the distribution destination, and a catalog distributed in the catalog distribution step together with the identifier of each content in the fourth distribution destination. Obtaining the catalog stored in the storage device of the distribution destination, storing the catalog stored in the distribution destination catalog storage process, and acquiring the identifier of the designated content in the catalog displayed in the catalog display process Identifier acquisition process and identification Executing a content positioning step of positioning the designated content by comparing the identifier obtained in the obtaining step with the identifier stored in the third storage device in the distribution destination content storing step, and executing the content positioned in the content positioning step And a content execution step of performing the content distribution step, the user selects the required content by referring to the displayed catalog, the identifier of the selected content is obtained, and the obtained identifier is obtained. , And the positioned content is executed, so that the content can be executed in conjunction with the selection operation performed on the catalog by the user. In addition, in the identifier setting step, an identifier is set for the content, and in the catalog creation step, a catalog including the information of the identifier is output. Can be set, and the user can surely find the target content.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a content distribution system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a specific configuration of the content distribution system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing another example of a specific configuration of the content distribution system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an internal configuration of a distribution source content storage unit and a distribution destination content storage unit.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a catalog and contents.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation (setting of an identifier) of a catalog creation program.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the catalog creation program (creation of a catalog).

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a screen of a catalog creation program.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the helper program.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an operation of a content delivery unit according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional information presentation system.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a configuration of another conventional information presentation system.

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 distribution source system, 2 distribution destination system, 3 distribution source content storage means, 4 identifier setting means, 5 catalog creation means, 6 distribution source catalog storage means, 7 content distribution means, 8 catalog distribution means, 9 distribution destination content storage means 10, distribution destination catalog storage means, 11 catalog display means, 12 identifier acquisition means, 13 content positioning means, 14 content execution means.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (72) Koji Wakimoto, 2-3-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Mitsui Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Junshiro Kanda 2-3-2, Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Mitsubishi Electric Corporation F-term (reference) 5B085 AC01 AE00 5B089 GA11 GB03 JA33 KA13 KB07 KC22 LB14

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. Distributing source content storing means for storing content to be distributed, identifier setting means for adding an identifier to the content, and information of the identifier added by the identifier setting means from the content. An inventory creating means for reading and creating an inventory of the content including the information of the identifier; a distribution source catalog storage means for creating and storing a catalog in which the inventory output by the inventory creation means are arranged; A content delivery unit that delivers the content stored in the storage unit together with the identifier; a catalog delivery unit that delivers the catalog stored in the distribution source catalog storage unit together with the identifier of each content; and the content delivery unit. The delivered content together with the identifier is Destination catalog storage means for storing the catalog delivered by the catalog delivery module together with the identifiers of the contents, and the catalog stored in the destination catalog storage means. Catalog display means for displaying; identifier acquisition means for acquiring an identifier of a designated content in the catalog displayed by the catalog display means; identifier and distribution destination content storage means acquired by the identifier acquisition means A content distribution system, comprising: content positioning means for positioning a designated content by comparing the content with the identifier stored in the content storage means; and content execution means for executing the content positioned by the content positioning means. . 2. The contents distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the contents distribution means stores the contents in a portable storage medium and distributes the contents. 3. The identifier setting means includes a printing unit for printing an identifier label on which the identifier to be affixed to the portable storage medium is described. 3. The content distribution system according to claim 2, further comprising: a presentation unit that presents the acquired identifier, and prompts a user to mount a portable storage medium to which the corresponding identifier label is attached. . 4. The content delivery unit according to claim 1, wherein the content delivery unit transfers the content from the distribution source content storage unit to the distribution destination content storage unit using a communication line. Content distribution system as described. 5. The content delivery means delivers content when new content is registered, and the catalog delivery means delivers the catalog when a catalog is referenced. A content distribution system according to any one of claims 1 to 4. 6. The content delivery means includes one of a content in the distribution source content storage means and a catalog in the distribution source catalog storage means, and a content in the distribution destination content storage means and the distribution destination catalog. Detecting that new content has been registered in the distribution source content storage means by comparing the content with one of the catalogs in the storage means, and delivering the newly registered content. The content distribution system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: 7. The identifier setting means refers to identifiers of respective contents already stored in the distribution source catalog storage means and sets identifiers for newly registered contents so as not to overlap with the identifiers. The content distribution system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein: 8. The catalog creating means reads the content to be newly registered, extracts a representative image from the content, adds the representative image to the catalog as a catalog of the content, and stores it in the distribution source catalog storage means. The content distribution system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein: 9. A distribution source content storage step of storing distribution target content in a distribution source storage device, an identifier setting step of adding an identifier to the content, and the identifier added in the identifier setting step Reading out the information from the content and creating an inventory of the content including the information of the identifier; and creating a catalog by arranging the inventory created in the inventory creation step, and creating a second catalog of the distribution source. A distribution source catalog storing step of storing in the storage device; a content distribution step of distributing the content stored in the storage device together with the identifier in the distribution source content storing step; The catalog stored in the storage device is stored together with the identifier of each of the contents. A catalog delivery step of delivering, a delivery destination content storage step of storing the content delivered in the content delivery step together with the identifier in a third storage device of a delivery destination, and a catalog delivery step in the catalog delivery step. A distribution destination catalog storage step of storing in the fourth storage device of the distribution destination together with the identifier of each of the contents; a catalog display step of displaying the catalog stored in the distribution destination catalog storage step; An identifier obtaining step of obtaining an identifier of a designated content in the displayed catalog; and the identifier stored in the third storage device in the storing of the identifier and the distribution destination content obtained in the identifier obtaining step. The specified content is checked against the identifier. A content distribution method, comprising: a content positioning step of positioning; and a content execution step of executing the content positioned in the content positioning step.