JP2001204001A - Moving picture distribution system, reproduction terminal and distributor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a moving picture distribution system including a distributor and a reproduction device, which can automatically distribute moving picture contents in response to the moving picture processing capability of the reproduction device. SOLUTION: In the moving picture distribution system including server 101 that distributes a moving picture program and a client 102 that accesses the server 101 to reproduce the moving picture program, the client 102 transmits its own capability information relating to the processing capability of the moving picture to the server 101, and the sever 101 decides a moving picture program not exceeding the processing capability of the client 102 and distributes the program to the client 102.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a moving image distribution system, a distribution device, and a playback terminal device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a distribution device for distributing a moving image program, and a moving image program (hereinafter referred to as a moving image) by accessing the distribution device. The present invention relates to a moving image distribution system that includes a reproducing apparatus that reproduces a moving image program in which a reproducing apparatus distributes a moving image program to a reproducing apparatus according to a moving image processing capability of a reproducing terminal apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the Internet, a terminal (distribution device) called a server for providing contents composed of characters and still images, and a terminal (reproduction terminal) called a client for sending a request to the server and sending predetermined contents. Device). The above content is called a web page, and is called HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol).
A request for a content, a response to the request, and a transmission of the content are performed based on a transmission protocol between the server and the client (col). In addition, the above-mentioned contents including characters and still images are written in HTML (Hyper Text Markup).
Language).

[0003] In addition, contents including characters include a medium called text. Content corresponding to a plurality of languages is prepared in the server in advance, and when the client transmits information indicating the language set for the content on the client side to the server using the above-described HTTP, The server transmits content corresponding to the language set on the client side to the client.

FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram for explaining a procedure in which a client requests text content from a server using HTTP and a procedure in which the server selects and transmits the content.

[0005] First, the client 1702 transmits the text content via the network 1709 to the server 1.
701. This request is made using an HTTP GET command 1706. This command 170
6 is abc. This is a transmission command for acquiring the content called paper from the server called org.

[0006] At the same time as the above request, the client 1702 receives the Accept-headers information 1 of the HTTP request header.
707 to the server. This Accept-headers information 17
Reference numeral 07 denotes a file for informing the server 1701 of a file type that can be accepted by the client 1702, and also includes information on a language set for content on the client 1702 side.

[0007] The server 1701 communicates with the Accept-headers.
Receiving and analyzing the information 1707,
Text contents 17 corresponding to the display capacity of the client corresponding to the display size and language set on the two sides
08 is sent to the client 1702.

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram for explaining a procedure in which a client requests text content from a server using HTTP and a procedure in which the client selects and receives content.

First, the client 1802 requests text content via the network 1812. This request is made using an HTTP GET command 1804. This command 1804 is abc. org
This is a transmission command for acquiring the content called paper on the server called.

On the other hand, the server 1801 sends to the client 1802 a version list 1806 relating to text contents corresponding to a plurality of languages prepared in advance. The version list 1806 describes the file name of the text of each version and information on the language in which the file name is described.

The client 1802 is connected to the server 18
01, a version in the same language as the language set for the content on the client 1802 side is selected from the version list 1806, and the file name of the selected version is stored in the server 18
Request for 01. Here, the transmission command 1809
Indicates that a version of paper_1 is selected from a plurality of versions of text content called paper.

The server 1801 sends paper_1 to the client 1802 in response to the request from the client 1802.

As described above, in the client, the format (HTM) used for the description of the text medium is used.
L or another format), a language, a character type, a compression method, and other attributes can be used to obtain desired content by exchange between the server and the client.
Media other than text include still images, videos, and audio.

Recently, contents including moving images have increased, but moving images do not constitute a part of a web page. The still image is displayed at the same time as displaying the web page. However, unlike a still image, a moving image is rarely displayed at the same time as a web page is displayed, and the user manually selects a hyperlink to the moving image written on the web page and manually selects the hyperlink. In most cases, moving images are displayed. In addition, as a method for handling multiple video coding methods, prepare video data in a format corresponding to each coding method on the server side, and specify multiple hyperlinks on the web page for each coding method. In general, a method of selecting and viewing moving image data of a format corresponding to a required encoding method by a user operation on the client side is common.

However, since a moving image has a much larger data amount than a text or a still image, it takes a considerable amount of time to download the entire moving image file to the client and then view it. Therefore, a mechanism is used in which a server reproduces moving image data on the client side while transmitting the moving image data to the client.

A mechanism for distributing a moving image in this way is called "striping". Since the streaming is to deliver a moving image in real time, the coding rate of the moving image must be adjusted to the transmission bandwidth of the transmission path. This transmission bandwidth is uniquely determined by the transmission path used by the user.
For example, when using a public telephone line, the transmission bandwidth is 5
6 kbps or less and ISDN (Integrated Services Di
In the case of a digital network, the transmission bandwidth is generally 64 kbps.

In order to cope with this situation, a plurality of moving image data (moving image data) corresponding to each transmission rate is prepared in the server, and a list of the prepared moving image data file names is sent from the server to the client. A system is adopted in which a client automatically selects moving image data having a transmission rate suitable for the client from a list of file names received from a server and requests the server for the file name.

FIG. 19 shows a structure of a plurality of moving image data (ie, moving image contents) prepared according to the transmission rate, and is a diagram showing a part of a scene description. The scene description 1901 includes three moving image data 1903,
1904 and 1905 are prepared, and a file name (video src) and a transmission rate (s
ystem-bitrate).

In a videophone or videoconference, H.264 is used before moving image data is transmitted and received between terminals in real time. 245
The information exchange of the processing capacity based on the standard is performed, and therefore, the transmission and reception can be performed by the data processing functions compatible with each other.

[0020]

As described above, in the text content distribution system, the server automatically transmits the text content according to the settings and processing functions on the client side by negotiation between the server and the client. A technique has been used in which a client automatically requests a server for text content according to its own settings and processing functions.

However, in the conventional moving image content distribution system, like the above-described text content distribution system, information exchange of moving image processing capability is performed between a client and a server using HTTP. Can not. For this reason, the client can automatically request a moving image from the server according to the transmission rate, but the client automatically changes the content of the moving image according to the processing capability (profile and level) of the moving image. Cannot be requested from the server. As a result, on the client side, there is a problem that the content of the moving image must be selected by the operation of the user.

Further, in the conventional moving image content distribution system, information on the processing capacity of the client required for processing the moving image content prepared on the server side and the number of moving images that can be simultaneously processed by the client. Can not be replaced. Further, in the conventional moving image distribution system, it is not possible to request the contents of the moving image according to the profile and the level.

Also, when transmitting moving image content to a portable terminal, the client (portable terminal) is transmitted in the same manner as when transmitting moving image content to a reproduction terminal device such as a computer.
Cannot distribute the contents of the moving image according to the processing capability of the moving image. In particular, mobile terminals that process moving images with dedicated hardware instead of general-purpose processors, if the distribution of moving image content that exceeds the processing capacity is received,
Dedicated hardware cannot operate properly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and a server for distributing a moving picture program is provided with a client for reproducing the moving picture program from the server, and the client is provided with a moving picture processing capability. It is an object of the present invention to provide a moving image distribution system, a distribution device, and a reproduction terminal device capable of automatically distributing a corresponding moving image content as a moving image program.

[0025]

A moving image distribution system according to the present invention (claim 1) includes a distribution device that distributes a moving image program and a reproduction terminal device that accesses the distribution device and reproduces the moving image program. A moving image distribution system having
The reproduction terminal device requests distribution of a moving image program to the distribution device and sends capability information relating to processing capability of a moving image in the reproduction terminal device. The distribution device transmits the capability information from the reproduction terminal device. Is analyzed, and a moving picture program that does not exceed the processing capability of the playback terminal device is distributed to the playback terminal device.

A reproduction terminal device according to the present invention (claim 2) is a reproduction terminal device for accessing a distribution device for distributing a moving image program and reproducing the moving image program, and requests the distribution device for distribution of the moving image program. And a capability information transmitting unit for transmitting capability information relating to the processing capability of a moving image in the present reproduction terminal device to the distribution device.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the reproduction terminal device according to the second aspect, the capability information includes a name of a moving picture encoding method that the reproduction terminal device can use for decoding processing, and the reproduction terminal device The information includes at least one of a name indicating a class of a moving picture coding scheme usable for decoding processing and the number of moving picture data that can be decoded by the reproduction terminal device.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the reproduction terminal device according to the second aspect, the capability information includes a name of an audio encoding method that the reproduction terminal device can use for a decoding process, The information is information including at least one of a name indicating a class of an audio encoding method usable for decoding processing and the number of audio data that can be decoded by the reproduction terminal device.

The distribution device according to the present invention (claim 5)
A distribution device for distributing a moving image program, wherein a plurality of versions of video data encoded by different encoding methods are encoded for one moving image program in accordance with moving image processing capabilities of a plurality of playback terminal devices. A reproducing terminal device for reproducing the moving image program, analyzing capability information indicating a processing capability of a moving image in the reproducing terminal device, and analyzing the reproduction data from the plurality of versions of the video data; A video program having a version of video data that does not exceed the processing capability of the terminal device is selected, and the selected video program is delivered to the playback terminal device.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the distribution apparatus according to the fifth aspect, the data storage section is a plurality of versions of video data for the moving picture program, and the video data obtained by encoding the moving picture program as it is. , N video data obtained by separately encoding the moving image program into N (N is an integer greater than 1) moving images,
And at least one of video data obtained by encoding the moving picture program by a different encoding method.

The distribution device according to the present invention (claim 7)
A distribution device for distributing a moving image program, the reproduction terminal device reproducing the moving image program, based on capability information indicating a processing capability of a moving image in the reproduction terminal device, the reproduction terminal can reproduce the video A comparison unit for comparing the number M of data (M <N is an integer) and the number N of video data constituting the video program (N is an integer greater than 1); Is converted into a plurality of video data of M or less and distributed to the reproduction terminal device.

According to the present invention (claim 8), in the distribution apparatus according to claim 7, the number M of video data that can be reproduced by the reproduction terminal device is set to M = 1.

The distribution device according to the present invention (claim 9)
A distribution device for distributing a moving image program, the reproduction terminal device reproducing the moving image program, based on capability information indicating a processing capability of a moving image in the reproduction terminal device, the reproduction terminal can reproduce the video A comparison unit for comparing the number M of data (M <N is an integer) and the number N of video data constituting the video program (N is an integer greater than 1); M out of the video data
This is to select less than or equal to the video data and distribute it to the playback terminal device.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the distribution device according to the ninth aspect, the number M of video data that can be reproduced by the reproduction terminal device is set to M = 1.

A moving image distribution system according to the present invention (claim 11) is a moving image distribution system having a distribution device for distributing a moving image program and a reproduction terminal device for accessing the distribution device and reproducing the moving image program. In addition, the distribution device stores a plurality of versions of video data obtained by encoding each moving image program by a different version encoding method according to a moving image processing capability of a plurality of playback terminal devices. And a data storage unit storing a version list of information on processing capability for processing video data constituting each version of the video program, and responding to access to the video program by the playback terminal device. The version list is sent to the playback terminal device, and the playback terminal device is
The version list from the distribution device is analyzed, and a moving image program of a version not exceeding the processing capability of the reproduction terminal device is selected to request distribution.

[0036] A reproduction terminal device according to the present invention (claim 12) is a reproduction terminal device for accessing a distribution device for distributing a moving image program and reproducing the moving image program, and analyzes a version list from the distribution device. And a distribution request unit for selecting a video program of a version not exceeding the processing capability of the reproduction terminal device and requesting distribution of the selected video program. According to the moving image processing capability of the terminal device, information on the processing capability for processing each version of video data obtained by performing encoding processing on a single moving picture program using a different version of the encoding method is provided. This is a list.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the reproduction terminal device according to the twelfth aspect, the information relating to the processing capability includes a name of a moving picture encoding system for decoding the moving picture program, and a decoding of the moving picture program. This is at least one of a name indicating a class of a moving picture coding system to be converted, and the number of moving picture data constituting the moving picture program.

According to the present invention (claim 14), in the reproduction terminal device according to claim 12, the information relating to the processing capability is replaced with a name of an audio encoding method for decoding the moving picture program, and decoding of the moving picture program. At least one of a name indicating a class of an audio encoding system to be encoded and the number of audio data constituting the moving picture program.

A reproduction terminal device according to the present invention (claim 15) is a reproduction terminal device for accessing a distribution device for distributing a moving image program and reproducing the moving image program, and analyzes scene description data from the distribution device. And select a version of the video program that does not exceed the processing capability of the playback terminal device,
A distribution requesting unit for requesting distribution of the selected version of the moving image program, wherein scene description data from the distribution device is transmitted to one moving image program in accordance with the moving image processing capabilities of the plurality of playback terminal devices. At least, information on the processing capability for processing each version of video data obtained by performing the encoding process according to the different versions of the encoding method and the location information of the video data constituting the moving image program of each version are described at least. This is data describing the configuration of the moving picture program described above.

According to the present invention (claim 16), in the reproduction terminal device according to claim 15, the scene description data is
The attribute for evaluating the moving image processing capability is data including a description element indicating the number of moving images constituting the moving image program of each version.

A data structure for information exchange according to the present invention (claim 17) is a moving image distribution system having a distribution device for distributing a moving image program and a reproduction terminal device for accessing the distribution device and reproducing the moving image program. An information exchange data structure used when exchanging the capability information of the reproduction terminal device in the information, the information indicating the number of video data that can be decoded by the reproduction terminal device, and audio data that can be decoded by the reproduction terminal device The information includes at least one of the information indicating the number.

A data storage medium according to the present invention (claim 18) is a data storage medium storing a program for performing, by a computer, a reproduction terminal-side process for reproducing a moving picture program distributed from a distribution apparatus, The program includes a distribution request program for causing a computer to request the distribution device to distribute a moving picture program, and an information transmission program for transmitting, to the distribution device, capability information on a capability of processing on a reproduction terminal side. It is what it was.

A data storage medium according to the present invention (claim 19) is a data storage medium storing a program for performing a distribution process of distributing a moving image program to a reproduction terminal device by a computer, and stores the program. The computer stores, in the data storage unit, multiple versions of video data obtained by encoding different video coding schemes for one moving picture program in accordance with the moving image processing capabilities of the multiple playback terminal devices. A data storage program for analyzing the moving image program from a playback terminal device, and an analysis program for analyzing capability information indicating a processing capability of a moving image in the playback terminal device. From multiple versions of video data, a version not exceeding the processing capability of the playback terminal device And data selection program for selecting a video program having a down video data, computer,
And a distribution program for distributing the selected moving picture program to the reproduction terminal device.

A data storage medium according to the present invention (claim 20) is a data storage medium storing a program for performing, by a computer, a reproduction terminal side process for reproducing a moving picture program distributed from a distribution apparatus, The program, the computer, an analysis program for analyzing the version list from the distribution device, the computer, a selection program for selecting a version of the video program does not exceed the playback terminal processing capability, And a distribution request program for requesting the distribution of the selected moving image program. The computer displays a list of versions from the distribution device according to the moving image processing capabilities of the plurality of playback terminal devices. For each bar code obtained by performing the encoding process with a different version of the encoding method. It is obtained by the list of information regarding the processing capability for processing a down video data.

[0045]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. (Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a moving image distribution system according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 1A shows a configuration of a moving image distribution system, and FIG. 1B shows a data flow in the moving image distribution system.

The moving image distribution system 1000 according to the first embodiment requests distribution of moving image content (or a moving image program), transmits information on the processing capability of its own moving image, and distributes the information based on the processing capability. (Reproducing terminal device) 102 for reproducing the reproduced moving image content, and a server (distribution device) for analyzing the moving image processing capability of the client 102 and distributing the moving image content according to the moving image processing capability of the client 102 ) 10
1 and a network 109 connecting the server 101 and the client 102. The exchange between the server 101 and the client 102 is performed according to the arrows in the figure. Here, the server 101 is configured by a computer, and has a data storage unit that stores the plurality of versions of video data. The client 102 includes a computer, a mobile terminal, and the like. The network 109 includes a wireless network such as a public telephone line, ISDN, LAN, W-CDMA, and PHS.

Here, the server (distribution device) 101 encodes one moving image program according to the moving image processing capability of a plurality of clients (reproduction terminal devices) by using different versions of encoding methods. It is assumed that a plurality of versions of video data obtained by performing the conversion process are prepared in advance. That is, the server has a data storage unit that stores the plurality of versions of the video data.

The client 102 includes a distribution requesting unit for requesting the server to distribute a moving picture program, and a capability information transmitting unit for transmitting capability information relating to the processing capability of a moving image in the client to the server.

In the moving image distribution system 1000, information on the moving image processing capability of the client 102 is transmitted from the client 102 to the server 101, and the server 102 transmits moving image contents such as moving image contents and moving image programs corresponding to the client's moving image processing capability. Data is delivered to the client.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a first format of Accept-headers information including information on a moving image processing capability of a client, and shows a part of the Accept-headers information. Accept-headers information 201 includes Accept information 20
2. Accept-profile_level information 205 and Accept
-There is a field of media_number information 207.

In the field of the Accept information 202, a media type indicating an information expressing means and a subtype indicating an encoding method of the medium are specified. In this example,
Video for media type and mpeg for subtype
4 are designated respectively. Here, the media type identifier (video) is a media (information expressing means)
Is a moving image, and the subtype identifier (mpeg
4) means that the encoding method corresponding to the medium is MPEG (Mo
(ving Picture Experts Group) -4.

In the Accept-profile_level information 205, the function of the encoding method (mpeg4 in this example) specified by the subtype of the field of the Accept information 201 and a class indicating the rank of the function are specified. In this example, it is SIMPLE_L3. That is, profile is a simple profile, and the level is 3. Accept-medi
The a_number information 207 indicates the number of moving images that can be processed simultaneously. In this example, the number of moving images that can be processed simultaneously is four. That is, the Accept-headers of FIG.
The information 201 indicates that it is possible to simultaneously process four pieces of moving image data as long as the moving image data is encoded by SIMPLE_L3 of mpeg4.

FIG. 3A is a diagram for explaining information included in the Accept-headers information. The Accept-headers information includes MediaType information 301, Sub-type information 302, and a paramet including a profile level and a media number.
There is a field of er information 303.

First, the identifier (v
There are an (ideo) 304 and an identifier (audio) 305, which distinguishes the type of media. Sub-type information 302
Indicates an MPEG encoding method. HTTP
Then, the conventional identifier (video) and Sub-t of the identifier (audio)
Only the identifier (mpeg) is registered as the ype information, and the encoding method corresponding to the MPEG for the media type video or audio is mpeg1 or mpeg.
No distinction was made as to which of the two corresponded to eg2 or mpeg4. Therefore, in this example,
In the type information 302, the media specified by the MediaType information 301 is mpeg1, mpeg2, or
It describes which encoding method of mpeg4 is used.

The parameter information 303 includes profile_l
Evel information and media_number information are described. mpeg
In the four systems, there are moving image contents (media) that cannot be processed depending on the performance of the decoder, even if the media is encoded by the same encoding system. This is because the class of the encoding system based on the relationship between the profile that defines the classification of functions and the level that defines the amount of difference defined in the mpeg standard is the class of the media encoding system and the class of the decoder. This is because the class differs from the class of the encoding method that can be supported. Also, when the number of moving image contents (media) exceeds the number that can be simultaneously reproduced by the decoder, the decoder cannot process the content. Therefore, in this example, profile_level indicating the class of the encoding method is included in the parameter information 303.
Information and media_number information indicating the number of moving image contents (media) that can be played back simultaneously when the client adopts the mpeg4 encoding method.

As described above, in the Accept-headers information, the name of the moving picture coding method that can be used by the client for decoding processing and the class of the moving picture coding method that can be used by the client for decoding processing, which are the processing capabilities of the client, are described. The name and the number of moving image data (media) that can be decrypted by the client are described.

FIG. 3B is a diagram showing a second format of the Accept-headers information. In the Accept-headers information (second format), media type information, subtype information, profile_level information, and me
The dia_number information is described in one line.

Next, the operation will be described. In advance, the server 101 stores a plurality of versions of moving image data, each of which has been encoded by a different version encoding method, for one moving image content (or moving image program) in accordance with the moving image processing capabilities of the plurality of clients. Have it ready. That is, a plurality of versions of moving image data are stored in the data storage unit of the server 101.

First, the client 102 requests the server 101 for the contents of the moving image via the network 109 and sends the Accept-headers information 107 to the server 101 at the same time. This request is HTTP GET command 1
06. This command 106 is ab
c. This is a transmission command for acquiring the content of video on the server of org.

The server 101 receives the Accept-headers information 107 from the client 102, analyzes the processing capability of the moving image of the client 102, and selects the processing capability of the client 102 from the moving image data of the plurality of versions. Is selected as moving image content, and the selected moving image content 1
08 to the client 102.

FIG. 4 shows that the server 101 selects moving image data of a version corresponding to the moving image processing capability of the client 102 from a plurality of versions of moving image data prepared for one moving image content. FIG. 6 is a diagram (first flowchart) illustrating an algorithm to be performed.

First, the server receives the Accept-headers information shown in FIG. 2 or FIG. 3B from the client (step 401). In step 402, the server sets m described in the field of the Accept information in the Accept-headers information of the client received in step 401.
It is checked whether the edia-type information is the same as the type of media provided by the server, that is, indicates the type of media that the client can play. If it is a moving image medium that cannot be reproduced, the client is notified that there is no reproducible moving picture program (step 409), and the transmission is terminated (step 410).

In the case of a medium that can be played back by the client, the server specifies the subtype of the medium in the multiple versions of moving image data prepared for one moving image content on the server side by the above subtype information. It is confirmed whether or not there is moving image data encoded by the same encoding method as the encoding method (step 403). If there is no moving image data encoded by the same method, the server notifies the client that there is no reproducible moving image program (step 409), and ends the transmission (step 41).
0).

On the other hand, if there is moving image data encoded by the same method, the server sets the parameters profile_level and m
An evaluation value y of the moving image processing capability of the client is calculated from edia_number (step 404). At this time, similarly, an evaluation value z corresponding to the evaluation value y is calculated for each version also for a plurality of versions of moving image content prepared in the server.

Here, the calculation formula (I) is a calculation formula for obtaining the evaluation value y, and is created assuming that a maximum of 32 moving images (media) can be reproduced simultaneously.
The profile_level information indicates that if the function belonging to the class A is included in the function belonging to the class B,
The value (value) of e_level is smaller than the value (value) of profile_level of B.

For example, in MPEG-4, profile_leve
As shown in FIG. 14, the values (values) of l are 1, 2, and 3 in levels 1, 2, and 3 in the simple profile, and levels 1 and 2 in the core simple profile. The value of 2 is 3 each
3, 34.

In step 406, the server compares the evaluation value y obtained in step 404 with a plurality of evaluation values z obtained for each version, and among the plurality of evaluation values z, y ≧
It is confirmed whether or not there is an evaluation value z that is z, that is, if there is a version of the moving image content that can be reproduced within the range of the moving image processing capability of the client among a plurality of versions of moving image content prepared by the server.

If there is no evaluation value z that satisfies y ≧ z, it means that there is no moving image content of a version that can be reproduced by the client, and the server notifies the client that “there is no reproducible moving picture program” (step 40
9), end the transmission (step 410). And y ≧ z
If there is an evaluation value z such that, the server selects a version of the moving image content having the evaluation value z closest to the evaluation value y from among the versions of the moving image content having the evaluation value z satisfying y ≧ z And deliver it to the client (step 4
08), the transmission ends (step 410).

FIG. 5 is a block diagram for explaining a method in which the server generates a plurality of versions of moving image data from data of one moving image content (media). First, FIG. 5A is a diagram for describing a method of creating one moving image data by encoding data of one moving image content by one encoding method. Encoder 5
In 02, data of a moving image 501 including two fishes and a background is encoded, and one moving image data 503 is generated.

FIG. 5B shows one moving image content as 3
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a method of dividing the moving image into three moving images and separately encoding data of each moving image to create three moving image data. Fish 504, 510 and background 507 obtained by dividing one moving image content are encoded by encoders 505, 511, 508, respectively, to generate three moving image data 506, 512, 509. Here, the encoders 505, 511, and 508 may perform encoding processing of the same encoding scheme or may perform encoding processing of different encoding schemes.

FIG. 5C is a diagram for explaining a method of creating three moving image data by encoding one moving image content using three different encoding systems. The data of the moving image 513 is encoded by encoders 514, 516, and 518 having different encoding systems, respectively.
Three pieces of moving image data 515, 517, and 519 are generated.

Although the media type of the data of each medium generated in this way is common to video, the subtype of each moving image data differs depending on the encoding system used for the encoding process. The profile_level differs depending on the class. Also, the media_number of the moving image content differs depending on how many moving images are encoded for one moving image content. The moving image data 506, 509, and 512 in FIG.
Since one moving image content is obtained by encoding it into three moving images, the media_number of the moving image content in the case shown in FIG. The moving image data 503, 515, 517, and 5 shown in FIGS.
Since 19 is obtained by encoding one moving image content as it is, the media_number of the moving image content in the case shown in FIGS. 5A and 5C is 1 respectively. As described above, in the server, the encoding method, profile_level, media_n
A plurality of different versions of moving image data of umber are generated.

As described above, the client uses the HTTP
And the coding method of the moving image (media) of the user and information on the number of moving images that can be processed simultaneously are described in the Accept-headers information and transmitted to the server. Information can be transmitted. In addition, the server side selects a version of moving image data corresponding to the moving image processing capability of the client from a plurality of versions of moving image data prepared for one moving image content and distributes the selected moving image data to the client. It is possible to transmit moving image data requiring a processing capability closest to the processing capability as moving image content, and to provide the highest quality moving image that can be processed on the client side. Also, if the moving image data provided by the server exceeds the moving image processing capability of the client, the server does not need to transmit the moving image data to the client, so that no excessive load is imposed on the client. .

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an algorithm for converting video data constituting the moving image content provided by the server, if necessary, into video data according to the moving image processing capability of the client and delivering the video data (second example). Is a flowchart). Here, it is assumed that the moving image contents prepared on the server side are all composed of K pieces of video data. In the distribution processing of the server, the processing in steps 601 to 603 is the same as the processing in steps 401 to 403 of the first flowchart shown in FIG.
Is performed in the same manner as the processing of

Then, the server checks whether there is any moving image content having a profile level that can be supported by the client among the moving image contents in the server (step 604). Specifically, the server checks whether there is a moving image content of a version that is equal to or less than the value of the profile level that the client can support.
At this time, if there is no corresponding moving image content, the server notifies the client that "there is no corresponding program" (step 609), and ends the transmission (step 610). On the other hand, if there is a corresponding moving image content, the server determines the number M of moving images that the client can reproduce simultaneously.
Is compared with the number K of videos constituting the moving image content (step 605).

When M ≧ K, that is, when the processing capability of the moving image of the client is higher than the processing capability required for processing any version of the moving image data among the moving image contents prepared on the server side. Distributes the highest quality version of the moving image content to the client (step 606), and ends the transmission (step 61).
0).

On the other hand, if M <K, the server converts the K video data into M or less video data so that the number of video data to be transmitted is equal to the number of video data that can be processed by the client. (Step 607). Then, the server distributes the M or less video data to the client (step 608), and ends the transmission (step 610).

FIG. 7 shows concretely the conversion processing performed by the server in step 607 of FIG. 6, that is, the conversion processing in which the number of video data constituting the moving image content becomes the number of video data that can be processed by the client. FIG. Here, the moving image contents prepared in the server are moving images 504 and 50 shown in FIG.
7 and 510, and the client can process two moving images at the same time. That is, in this case, the three moving image data 506, 5
Unless the process of converting 09 and 512 into two moving image data is performed, the client cannot reproduce the moving image program. Therefore, in this example, the moving image data 506 among the moving image data 506, 509, and 512 is transmitted to the client as it is, and the moving image data 509 and 512 are combined into one moving image data and then transmitted.

Next, a method of combining the moving image data 509 and 512 into one moving image data will be described. Decoder 7
01 and 702 decode the moving image data 509 and 512 to reproduce the background 703 and the fish 70, respectively.
Synthesizes the background 703 and the fish 70 into one moving image 70
5 is generated. Then, the encoder 706 outputs
4 encodes the combined moving image 705 and transmits the generated moving image data 707 to the client.

As described above, when the processing capability of the client is low, the server converts a plurality of moving image data into a number of moving image data corresponding to the processing capability of the client and transmits the data. Without this, it is possible to distribute the moving image content including the maximum number of moving image data that can be processed by the moving image processing capability of the client.

FIG. 8 shows a case where a moving image content provided by a server includes video data having a number of video data exceeding the processing capacity of a client. Diagram showing an algorithm for selecting and delivering video data of a number that can be processed by a client from data (third flowchart)
It is.

In this server distribution process, step 80
The processing in steps 1 to 806 is performed in the same manner as the processing in steps 601 to 606 of the second flowchart shown in FIG.

If the number (M) of video data that the client can process at a time is smaller than the number (K) of video data constituting the moving image content, the server sets the number of video data to be transmitted to the client. Is selected from the K video data so that the number of video data can be processed by the client (step 807). Then, the server delivers the selected video data to the client (Step 808). Although not shown, each piece of video data has priority information indicating the degree of importance of each piece of video data, and is transmitted from video data having a higher priority.

As described above, when the moving image processing capability of the client is low, the server selects the number of pieces of video data that can be processed by the client from the plurality of pieces of video data constituting the moving image content and sends the selected data to the client. By transmitting, the moving image content including the maximum number of video data that can be processed by the moving image processing capability of the client can be distributed without imposing an excessive burden on the client.

As described above, in the moving image distribution system according to the first embodiment, the client uses the HTTP to
The Accept-headers information describes the coding scheme of the moving picture of the client, information about the number of moving pictures that can be processed simultaneously, etc. and sends it to the server, so that information about the moving picture processing capability of the client is transmitted to the server. Can be. This allows the server to analyze the moving image processing capability of the client based on the received Accept-headers information, select a moving image content of a version corresponding to the moving image processing capability of the client, and distribute the selected moving image content to the client. As a result, it is possible to transmit the moving image content that requires the processing capability closest to the processing capability of the client, and to provide the highest quality moving image according to the processing capability of the client. Further, even in a terminal device such as a portable terminal that processes moving images with dedicated hardware, the dedicated hardware can be normally operated without malfunction. Also,
When the client does not have the ability to process the moving image provided by the server, the server does not need to transmit the moving image data to the client, so that it is possible to eliminate an excessive burden on the client.

If the moving image processing capability of the client is low, the server converts the moving image data to be transmitted to the client into moving image data matching the moving image processing capability of the client and transmits the moving image data. It is possible to distribute the highest quality moving image content that can be processed by the processing capability of the client without applying any processing.

When the moving image processing capability of the client is low, the server selects the number of pieces of video data that can be processed by the client from the plurality of pieces of video data constituting the moving image content and transmits the selected data to the client. Therefore, it is possible to distribute the moving image content including the maximum number of video data that can be processed by the processing capability of the client without imposing an excessive burden on the client. In the first embodiment, the case where the expression media is a moving image has been described, but the expression media is not limited to the moving image, and may be audio or other media.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a moving image distribution system according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. FIG. 9A shows a configuration of the moving image distribution system, and FIG. 9B shows a data flow in the moving image distribution system.

The moving image distribution system 2000 according to the second embodiment transmits a version list (or scene description) of moving image content (or a moving image program), and designates a video of a specified version based on the transmitted version list. A server (distribution device) 901 that distributes data as moving image content; and a request for distribution of moving image content to the server 901. Based on the version list sent from the server 901, the server 901 matches the moving image processing capability. A version of moving image content is designated, a client (reproducing device) 902 for receiving the version of video data transmitted from the server in response to the designation, and reproducing the moving image content, and a network 912 connecting the server 901 and the client 902. , And is constituted. In this system 2000, data is exchanged between the server 901 and the client 902 according to the flow indicated by the arrow in the figure.

Here, the server (distribution device) encodes one moving image program in different versions according to the moving image processing capabilities of the plurality of clients (reproduction terminal devices). It is assumed that a plurality of versions of video data are prepared in advance, and a version list (or scene description) indicating information on processing capacity required for processing each version of video data is prepared in advance. . That is, the server has a data storage unit that stores the plurality of versions of the video data and the version list (or scene description) of the information regarding the processing capability. Then, in the moving image distribution system 2000, information on the processing capacity required for processing the video data of each version prepared on the server side is transmitted from the server as a version list to the client. Based on the table, a moving image content (or a moving image program) suitable for the processing capacity of the user is selected, and a distribution request of the selected version of the video data (moving image content) is made to the server.

FIG. 10 is a view showing a version list of moving image contents sent from the server 901 to the client 902. In this version list, file names 1003, 10
06, 1009, and media type / subtype 1004, 1007, 1010 for each file.
And media numbers 1005 and 1008 are described in a line.

Next, the operation will be described. The client 902 requests the content of the moving image from the server 901 via the network 912. This request is made using an HTTP GET command 904. This command 904 is abc. This is a transmission command for acquiring the content of video on the server of org. Upon receiving the request 904 from the client 902, the server 901 transmits a list of multiple versions of moving image content prepared for one moving image content in advance (the version list of the moving image content shown in FIG. 10) 1001 to the client 902. send.

The client 902 selects a file name of a version corresponding to its own moving image processing capability based on the version list received from the server 901 and requests the server 901 for the selected file name. In this example,
In the version list of FIG. 10, the version video_1 is selected from the moving image content video. The server 901 distributes the moving image content having the file name video_1 to the client 902 in response to a request from the client 902.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an algorithm in which a client selects a moving image content of a version corresponding to its own moving image processing capability from a version list received from a server and requests distribution thereof (fourth flowchart). ).

The client receives the version list shown in FIG. 10 from the server (step 1101). The client confirms from the version list received in step 1101 whether or not there is a moving image content of a version processed by the encoding method supported by the client (step 1102). This check is performed using the media type and subtype of each version. At this time, if there is no moving image content of a version processed by the corresponding encoding method, the client ends the access (step 1109). If there is a version of the moving image content processed by the corresponding encoding method, the client proceeds to step 1102 in the previous step.
For each version of the moving image content corresponding to the above, the evaluation value y relating to the moving image processing capability is calculated from each profile_level and media_number. Similarly, the client also calculates an evaluation value z relating to its moving image processing capability (step 1103).

Here, the calculation formula (I) is a formula for calculating the evaluation value y. This calculation formula is created assuming that a maximum of 32 moving images can be reproduced simultaneously. Profile_level is the profile_level of A when the function belonging to class A is included in the function belonging to class B.
The value of l is smaller than the value of profile_level of B. When profile_level is not specified as shown in FIG. 10, calculation is performed using the most basic mode.

Next, the client compares the values of y and z (step 1105), and if there is no version of moving image content satisfying y ≦ z, terminates the access (step 1109). If there is a moving image content of a version satisfying y ≦ z, a request is made to the server for a version of the moving image content having a y value closest to the z value among the moving image contents of a version satisfying y ≦ z. (Step 1107).

Thereafter, the moving image content distributed from the server is received and reproduced (step 1108), and the access is terminated (step 1109).

As described above, the server transmits to the client a version list listing information on the moving picture encoding method and the number of simultaneously processable moving pictures for each version. Client can be informed of the processing power required to process a version of moving image content. Further, the client receives the version list of the moving image content from the server, and based on the received version list, selects and requests the server to select a version of the moving image content corresponding to the moving image processing capability of the client. The server is
It is possible to provide the highest quality moving image content of a version that can be processed by the processing capability of the client. When the moving image content provided by the server exceeds the moving image processing capability of the client, the server does not need to transmit the moving image data to the client. There is no hindrance.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a scene description sent from the server to the client. A scene description indicates how to arrange a plurality of media in space and on a time axis. The scene description includes media (text, audio, still image, video, etc.) constituting a certain scene or content. Etc.) is written. When the time to display a predetermined medium comes, the client automatically accesses the server data based on the location information. A typical scene description is SMIL (Synchronized Multimedia Integration L).
anguage). SMIL is the same markup language as HTML, and is compatible with moving images.

In the scene description 1301 shown in FIG. 13A, a tag <switch> 1303 and a tag </ switch> 131
3, information on a plurality of versions of moving image content (moving image data) created for one moving image content is described, and tags <par> 1304 and tags </
par> 1309, or tag <par> 1310 and tag </ p
Between ar> 1311, information of the moving image content of each version is described. In particular, each tag <par> 13
04- and 1310 as attributes, system-profile_level information of each version of moving image content and system-media
_number information is described. Also, tag <par>
1304 and tag </ par> 1309 or tag <par>
A tag <video> 1305 to tag <video> 1308 or a tag <video> 1312 described between 1310 and a tag </ par> 1311 is information of video data constituting moving image content of each version. The video data of the number described between each tag <par> and tag </ par> is simultaneously decoded when the version of the moving image content is reproduced.

That is, the client sets the tag <switch> 1
Of the multiple versions of the moving image content described between the tag 303 and the tag </ switch> 1313, system-profile_level information or system-media_number written as an attribute in each tag <par> 1304, 1310.
Using the information as a criterion, an optimal version of moving image content can be selected.

The scene description 1302 shown in FIG.
Instead of using tag <par>, each tag <video> 1
315 to <video> 1317 describe information of moving image content of each version as an attribute.

The client specifies the tag <switch> 1314
And tags </ switch> 1318, each tag <vide
o> 1315, 1316, 1317, system-profile_level information or system-media described as an attribute
Based on the _number information as a criterion, an optimal version of moving image content is selected.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an algorithm in which a client selects a version of moving image content in accordance with its moving image processing capability based on a scene description received from a server and requests distribution thereof (fifth flowchart). ). The basic processing flow of the client's distribution request is the same as that of the fourth flowchart shown in FIG. 11, but here, instead of the version list shown in FIG. 10, the client distribution is performed based on the scene description shown in FIG. A request is made. A scene description including profile_level information and media_number information is transmitted to the client. Thus, the client can select and receive the optimal moving image content and reproduce the moving image content without any trouble.

First, the client checks the state shown in FIG.
The scene description shown in (b) is received (step 120).
1). The client receives the scene description 1301 shown in FIG. 13A (or FIG.
Check each tag <par> (or the attribute of the version of each medium) of (or 1302) (step 120)
2). Subsequent processing in steps 1203 to 1210 corresponds to step 110 in the flowchart shown in FIG.
Steps 2 to 1109 are the same as the processing.

That is, the client performs step 12
From the plurality of versions described in the scene description checked in 02, a version that is compatible with the encoding method that can be supported by the client and that can be processed by the moving image processing capability of the client is selected (step 120).
3, 1204, 1206), and requests the server to transmit the moving image content of the optimal version selected from the versions (step 1208). Thereafter, the client receives and reproduces the moving image content distributed from the server (Step 1209), and terminates the access (Step 1210).

As described above, the server sets pr for each version.
Since the scene description in which the ofile_level information and the media_number information are described is transmitted to the client, it is possible to teach the client the capabilities necessary for processing the moving image content prepared on the server side. The client also
The server receives a scene description in which profile_level information and media_number information are described from the server, selects a moving image content of a version corresponding to the moving image processing capability of the client from the received scene description, and selects the moving image content of the selected version. Request from the server,
It is possible to provide the client with the highest quality moving image content that requires the processing capacity closest to the processing capacity of the client. Also, if the moving image content provided by the server exceeds the moving image processing capability of the client, the server does not need to transmit the moving image content to the client. I can't call it.

As described above, in the moving image distribution system according to the second embodiment, the server provides, for each version, a version list in which information such as the coding method of the moving image and the number of moving images that can be processed simultaneously is described. By transmitting the table or the scene description to the client, the client can be informed of the processing capability required for the processing corresponding to each of a plurality of versions of the moving image content prepared on the server side. As a result, the client can select moving image content suitable for the moving image processing capability of the client from the received version list or scene description, and request the server for the moving image content. For this reason, the server can provide the client with the highest quality moving image content that requires the processing capability closest to the processing capability of the client. Further, even when a moving image is processed by dedicated hardware such as a portable terminal, the dedicated hardware can operate normally without malfunction.

When the moving image content provided by the server exceeds the moving image processing capability of the client, the server does not transmit the moving image data to the client, so that an excessive load is imposed on the moving image processing of the client. Can be eliminated.

In the second embodiment, the case has been described where the expression media is a moving image, but the expression media may be audio or other media.

Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the case where the HTTP protocol is used has been described. However, the communication protocol is not limited to this. H.245 protocol may be used. In this case as well, Using the H.245 protocol, the processing capability of the client and the capability required to process content prepared on the server side can be exchanged between the server and the client. In this information exchange, the number of moving images that can be simultaneously processed by the client and the number of moving image contents of a plurality of versions prepared on the server side can be exchanged between the server and the client. .

Further, in Embodiment 1 or 2,
Processing to determine whether a version of moving image content that can be processed on the client side is prepared on the server side (steps 404 and 406 in FIG. 4 and step 1 in FIG. 11)
103, 1105, steps 1204, 120 in FIG.
6) are evaluation values y, z calculated based on the formula (I).
Is not limited to the method using, among the versions prepared in the server, whether there is a version that can be processed on the client side, profile information, level information, and medea_nu
The determination may be performed by individual determination processing for each mber information.

For example, the flowchart of the server distribution processing shown in FIG. 15 is the same as the flowchart of the server distribution processing in FIG.
And the processing of step 408 are replaced with profile information determination processing (step 404a), level information comparison determination (step 404b), medea_number information determination processing (step 404c), and program transmission processing (step 404d). .

Processing for Determining Profile Information (Step 404)
In a), it is determined whether or not there is a version that can be processed by the client among the versions prepared in the server based on the profile information. finish.

If it is determined in step 404a that there is a version that can be processed by the client, it is determined whether there is a version that can be processed by the client among the versions prepared in the server based on the level information. Is determined (step 404b), and if there is no version that can be processed by the client, the server distribution process ends.

If it is determined in step 404b that there is a version that can be processed by the client, medea_nu
Based on the mber information, it is determined whether or not there is a version that can be processed by the client among the versions prepared in the server. If there is no version that can be processed by the client, the distribution process of the server ends.

If it is determined in step 404c that there is a version that can be processed by the client, a high-quality version of the moving picture program is sent to the client when the client can process (step 404d).

Further, a processing program for performing processing of a moving image by a computer in a server (distribution device) or a client (reproduction terminal device) constituting the moving image distribution system described in each of the above embodiments by a floppy (registered) By recording the data on a data storage medium such as a trademark (trademark) disk, the processing of moving images in the server (distribution device) or client (reproduction terminal device) described in each of the above embodiments can be simplified by software in an independent computer system. Can be implemented.

FIG. 16 shows a server (distribution device) or a client (reproduction terminal device) in the moving image distribution system according to the first and second embodiments, in which a floppy disk storing a program for performing a distribution process or a reproduction process is used. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a case where the function is realized by software.

FIG. 16 (b) shows the appearance, cross-sectional structure, and floppy disk of the floppy disk as viewed from the front, and FIG. 16 (a) shows an example of the physical format of the floppy disk as the recording medium body. . The floppy disk FD is housed in a case F, and a plurality of tracks Tr are formed concentrically from the outer periphery toward the inner periphery on the surface of the disk, and each track is divided into 16 sectors Se in an angular direction. ing. Therefore, in the floppy disk storing the program, data as the program is recorded in an area allocated on the floppy disk FD.

FIG. 16C shows a configuration for recording and reproducing the program on the floppy disk FD. When recording the program on the floppy disk FD, data as the program is written from the computer system Cs via the floppy disk drive. When the distribution device or the reproduction terminal device is constructed in a computer system by a program in a floppy disk, the program is read from a floppy disk by a floppy disk drive and transferred to the computer system.

The data recording medium is not limited to a floppy disk.
Any card, ROM cassette, or the like that can record the program may be used.

[0124]

As described above, according to the moving image distribution system according to the present invention (claim 1), a distribution device that distributes a moving image program, and a reproduction terminal that accesses the distribution device and reproduces the moving image program In the moving image distribution system having the device, the reproduction terminal device requests distribution of the moving image program to the distribution device and sends capability information on the processing capability of the moving image in the reproduction terminal device. And analyzing the capability information from the playback terminal device and distributing a moving image program that does not exceed the processing capability of the playback terminal device to the playback terminal device. The video program according to the processing capacity of the client can be automatically distributed without imposing an excessive burden on the client).

According to the reproduction terminal device of the present invention (claim 2), it relates to a distribution request unit for requesting a distribution device that distributes a moving image program to distribute a moving image program, and a processing capability of a moving image in the reproduction terminal device. A distribution device (server) for transmitting the capability information to the distribution device;
Then, it becomes possible to automatically distribute a moving image program according to the processing capability of the reproduction terminal device (client).

According to the present invention (Claim 3), Claim 2
In the playback terminal device described above, the capability information may include a name of a moving picture coding system that the playback terminal device can decode, a name indicating a class of a moving image coding system that the playback terminal device can decode, and Since the information includes at least one of the number of possible moving image data, it is possible to transmit information on the moving image processing capability of the client to the server.

According to the present invention (claim 4), claim 2
In the playback terminal device described, the capability information, the name of the audio encoding system that the playback terminal device can decode,
Since the information including at least one of the name indicating the class of the audio encoding system that can be decoded by the playback terminal device and the number of audio data that can be decoded by the playback terminal device, the information on the audio processing capability of the client is Can be communicated to the server.

According to the distribution apparatus of the present invention (claim 5), according to the moving image processing capabilities of the plurality of reproduction terminal apparatuses,
For one video program, a data storage unit storing a plurality of versions of video data encoded by different versions of the coding scheme is provided. From the playback terminal device for playing back the video program, Analyzing the capability information indicating the processing capability of the moving image, selecting a video program having a video data version not exceeding the processing capability of the playback terminal device from the plurality of versions of video data, and selecting the selected video program Since the distribution is performed to the reproduction terminal device, the distribution device (server) can automatically execute the moving image program that requires the processing capability closest to the moving image processing capability of the client without imposing an excessive load on the reproduction device (client). Can be distributed in a targeted manner.

According to the present invention (claim 6), claim 5
In the distribution device described, the data storage unit, as a plurality of versions of video data for the video program,
Video data obtained by encoding the video program as it is, N video data obtained by separately encoding the video program into N (N is an integer greater than 1) moving images, and the video program Of the video data obtained by encoding the video data according to the different encoding schemes. The video data corresponding to the moving picture program can be distributed.

[0130] According to the distribution apparatus of the present invention (claim 7), the reproduction terminal apparatus can reproduce the moving picture program based on the capability information indicating the processing capability of the moving image in the reproduction terminal apparatus. A comparison unit for comparing the number M of video data reproducible by the apparatus (M <N is an integer greater than N) with the number N of video data constituting the video program (N is an integer greater than 1); In this case, since the N video data is converted into a plurality of M video data or less and then distributed to the reproduction terminal device, the number of video data can be reproduced from the distribution device (server) to the reproduction terminal device (client). Can be prevented from being distributed.

According to the present invention (claim 8), claim 7
In the distribution device described above, since the number M of video data that can be reproduced by the reproduction terminal device is M = 1, it is possible to prevent the distribution device (server) from distributing two or more video data to the reproduction terminal device. it can.

According to the distribution apparatus of the present invention (claim 9), the reproduction terminal is provided based on capability information indicating a processing capability of a moving image in the reproduction terminal from a reproduction terminal for reproducing a moving picture program. A comparison unit for comparing the number M of video data reproducible by the apparatus (M <N is an integer greater than N) with the number N of video data constituting the video program (N is an integer greater than 1); At this time, M or less video data is selected from the N video data and distributed to the reproduction terminal device. Therefore, the distribution device (server) can reproduce more than the reproducible number of data to the reproduction terminal device (client). Can be prevented from being distributed.

According to the present invention (claim 10), in the distribution device according to claim 9, since the number M of video data that can be reproduced by the reproduction terminal device is set to M = 1, the distribution device (server) Thus, it is possible to prevent two or more pieces of video data from being distributed to the playback terminal device.

According to the moving picture distribution system according to the present invention (claim 11), the distribution apparatus can be used for one moving picture program in accordance with the moving picture processing capabilities of a plurality of reproduction terminal apparatuses.
In addition to storing a plurality of versions of video data obtained by encoding according to different versions of the encoding schemes, a version list of information regarding processing capacity for processing video data constituting the moving image program of each version is stored. A data storage unit for transmitting the version list to the playback terminal device in response to access to the video program by the playback terminal device; Is analyzed to select a version of the moving picture program that does not exceed the processing capability of the playback terminal device and request distribution thereof, so that the playback terminal device (client)
In this embodiment, the moving image program of the version selected on the client side can be distributed to the distribution device.

According to the reproduction terminal device of the present invention (claim 12), the version list from the distribution device is analyzed, and a moving picture program of a version not exceeding the processing capability of the reproduction terminal device is selected and selected. And a distribution request unit for requesting distribution of the selected moving image program. The version list from the distribution device is provided for each moving image program according to the moving image processing capability of the plurality of playback terminal devices. Is a list of information on the processing capability for processing each version of video data obtained by performing the encoding process according to the encoding method of (1). The moving image program can be distributed to the distribution device.

According to the present invention (claim 13), in the reproduction terminal device according to claim 12, the information on the processing capability is replaced by a name of a moving picture encoding system for decoding the moving picture program, The name indicates the class of the moving picture coding system for decoding the moving picture data and the number of moving picture data constituting the moving picture program. Ability information to the client.

According to the present invention (claim 14), in the reproduction terminal device according to claim 12, the information relating to the processing capability is replaced by the name of an audio encoding method for decoding the video program, the video program The name indicates the class of the audio encoding system for decoding and the number of audio data constituting the video program, so that at least one of them is necessary for processing audio prepared on the server side. Ability information can be taught to clients.

[0138] According to the playback terminal device of the present invention (claim 15), the scene description data from the distribution device is analyzed, and a moving picture program of a version not exceeding the processing capability of the playback terminal device is selected. And a distribution requesting unit for requesting distribution of a moving image program of a given version. The scene description data from the distribution device is provided for each moving image program in accordance with the moving image processing capabilities of a plurality of playback terminal devices. At least information on the processing capability for processing the video data of each version obtained by performing the encoding process according to the encoding method of the different version and the location information of the video data constituting the moving picture program of each version are described. Since the data describes the configuration of the moving picture program, the playback terminal device (client) selects the data on the client side. It is possible to deliver a version of the video program to the distribution apparatus.

According to the present invention (claim 16), in the reproduction terminal device according to claim 15, the scene description data is used as an attribute for evaluating a moving image processing capability, and the moving picture program of each version is transmitted. Since the data includes description elements indicating the number of moving images to be composed, it is possible to inform the client of capability information necessary for processing moving images prepared on the server side.

According to the data structure for information exchange according to the present invention (claim 17), a distribution device for distributing a moving picture program,
An information exchange data structure used when exchanging capability information of a reproduction terminal device in a moving image distribution system having a reproduction terminal device that accesses the distribution device and reproduces a moving image program, wherein the reproduction terminal device performs decoding. Since at least one of the information indicating the number of possible moving image data and the information indicating the number of audio data that can be decoded by the playback terminal device is included, the moving image and the sound prepared by the distribution device (server) are included. Capability information necessary for processing the information can be provided to the playback device (client).

According to the data storage medium of the present invention (claim 18), a program for performing a reproduction terminal side process for reproducing a moving picture program distributed from a distribution device by the computer is provided by the computer. The program includes a distribution request program for requesting the distribution of a moving image program to the distribution device, and an information transmission program for transmitting, by the computer, the capability information on the processing capability of the reproduction terminal to the distribution device. In addition, a playback terminal device (client) capable of automatically distributing a moving picture program according to the processing capability of the playback terminal device (client) can be realized by software.

According to the data storage medium of the present invention (claim 19), a program for performing a distribution process of distributing a moving image program to a reproduction terminal device by a computer is provided.
A computer stores a plurality of versions of video data obtained by encoding different moving picture programs for one moving picture program in accordance with moving image processing capabilities of a plurality of playback terminal devices in a data storage unit. A data storage program for analyzing the capability information indicating a processing capability of a moving image in the playback terminal device from a playback terminal device for playing back the moving picture program; A data selection program for selecting a video program having a video data version not exceeding the processing capacity of the playback terminal device from the video data of the version, and a computer distributing the selected video program to the playback terminal device And a distribution program for the playback device. Realizing, by software, a distribution device (server) capable of automatically distributing a video program requiring the processing capability closest to the moving image processing capability of the client without imposing an excessive burden on the client) Can be.

According to the data storage medium of the present invention (invention 20), a program for performing a reproduction terminal side process for reproducing a moving picture program distributed from a distribution device by the computer is provided by the computer. An analysis program for analyzing the version list from the computer, a computer for selecting a video program of a version that does not exceed the playback terminal processing capability, and a computer, And a distribution request program for requesting the distribution, and the version list from the distribution device, for one video program according to the moving image processing capability of the plurality of playback terminal devices,
Since it is a list of information on processing capacity for processing each version of video data obtained by performing encoding processing by different versions of the encoding method,
A reproduction terminal device (client) capable of distributing the moving image program of the version selected on the client side to the distribution device can be realized by software.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining a moving image distribution system according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a first format of Accept-headers including information on a moving image processing capability of a client.

FIG. 3A is a diagram for explaining information included in Accept-headers, and FIG. 3B is a diagram for explaining Accept-headers.
It is a figure showing the 2nd form of.

FIG. 4 illustrates a moving image distribution system according to a first embodiment, in which a server has moving image data of a version corresponding to a moving image processing capability of a client from a plurality of versions of moving image data prepared for one moving image content by a server. FIG. 7 is a first flowchart of an algorithm for selecting moving image content.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a method of creating a plurality of versions of moving image data from one moving image content.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a moving image distribution system according to a first embodiment, in which moving image data constituting moving image content provided by a server is converted into moving image data according to the moving image processing capability of a client, if necessary, and distributed. FIG. 10 is a second flowchart of the algorithm for performing the algorithm.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a method of converting the number of moving images constituting moving image content into the number of moving images that can be processed by a client.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a moving image distribution system according to a first embodiment in which a moving image content provided by a server includes a number of pieces of video data exceeding the processing capability of a client; FIG. 14 is a third flowchart of an algorithm for selecting and delivering video data of a number that can be processed by a client from the video data to be configured and delivering the selected video data.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram for explaining a moving image distribution system according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a list of moving image content versions sent from a server to a client in the moving image distribution system according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an algorithm of a moving image distribution system according to the second embodiment in which a client selects a moving image of a version corresponding to its own moving image processing capability from a version list received from a server and requests distribution of the moving image; It is a four flowchart figure.

FIG. 12 is an algorithm in which a client selects a version of a moving image according to its own moving image processing capability from a scene description received from a server and requests distribution in the moving image distribution system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Fifth
It is a flowchart figure.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a scene description transmitted from a server to a client. In particular, FIG. 13A is a diagram showing an example in which the information of each version of the moving image is described as an attribute of <par>, and FIG. It is a figure which shows the example described as.

FIG. 14 is a profil specified in the MPEG-4 standard.
It is a figure showing the value of e_level.

FIG. 15 is for profile information, level information, and medea_number information in place of steps 404, 406, and 408 of selecting moving image content based on the evaluation result using calculation formula (I) in the first embodiment. It is a flowchart figure which shows the distribution process of the server including the step 404a-404d which selects a moving image content based on an individual determination result.

FIGS. 16 (a), (b) and (c) illustrate a data storage medium for storing a program for realizing the processing of the moving picture distribution system in each of the above-described embodiments by a computer system. FIG.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a conventional system in which a server selects and transmits content when a client requests text content from a server.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a conventional system in which a client selects content when the client requests text content from a server.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a part of a conventional scene description showing a configuration of each moving image content of a plurality of moving image data prepared according to a transmission rate.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101,901,1701 server 102,902,1702 client 104,907 video program selection processing 109,912,1709 network 1000,2000 video distribution system

Claims (20)

[Claims] 1. A moving image distribution system comprising: a distribution device that distributes a moving image program; and a reproduction terminal device that accesses the distribution device and reproduces the moving image program, wherein the reproduction terminal device includes: A request for distribution of a moving picture program and transmission of capability information relating to the processing capability of a moving image in the reproduction terminal device. The distribution device analyzes the capability information from the reproduction terminal device, A moving image distribution system for distributing a moving image program that does not exceed the processing capability to the reproduction terminal device. 2. A reproduction terminal device for accessing a distribution device for distributing a moving image program and reproducing the moving image program, comprising: a distribution request unit for requesting the distribution device to distribute the moving image program; And a capability information transmitting unit that transmits capability information relating to image processing capability to the distribution device.
A reproduction terminal device characterized by the above-mentioned. 3. The reproduction terminal device according to claim 2, wherein the capability information is a name of a moving image encoding method that the reproduction terminal device can use for decoding processing, and a moving image encoding method that the reproduction terminal device can use for decoding processing. A playback terminal device comprising at least one of a name indicating a class of an encoding method and the number of moving image data that can be decoded by the playback terminal device. 4. The reproduction terminal device according to claim 2, wherein the capability information includes a name of an audio encoding method that the reproduction terminal device can use for decoding processing, and an audio encoding method that the reproduction terminal device can use for decoding processing. A playback terminal device including at least one of a name indicating a class of an encoding method and the number of audio data that can be decoded by the playback terminal device. 5. A distribution device for distributing a moving image program, wherein a plurality of reproduction terminal devices encode a plurality of reproduction terminal devices by encoding each moving image program by a different version of an encoding system. A data storage unit for storing the video data of each version, from a reproduction terminal device for reproducing the moving picture program, analyzing capability information indicating a processing capability of a moving image in the reproduction terminal device; A distribution apparatus for selecting a video program having video data of a version not exceeding the processing capability of the reproduction terminal device from among them, and distributing the selected video program to the reproduction terminal device. 6. The distribution device according to claim 5, wherein the data storage unit includes a plurality of versions of video data obtained by directly encoding the moving image program as a plurality of versions of video data for the moving image program, (N is an integer greater than 1), and at least one of N video data obtained by separately encoding moving images and video data obtained by encoding the moving image program by a different encoding method. A distribution device characterized by being stored. 7. A distribution device for distributing a moving image program, wherein the reproduction terminal device is configured to reproduce the moving image program based on capability information indicating a processing capability of a moving image in the reproduction terminal device. And a comparison unit for comparing the number M (M <N of integers) of reproducible video data with the number N (N is an integer greater than 1) of video data constituting the moving picture program. And transmitting the N video data to the playback terminal device after converting the N video data to a plurality of M or less video data. 8. The distribution device according to claim 7, wherein the number of video data reproducible by the reproduction terminal device is M.
Is a distribution device, wherein M = 1. 9. A distribution device for distributing a moving image program, wherein the reproduction terminal device is configured to reproduce the moving image program based on capability information indicating a processing capability of a moving image in the reproduction terminal device. And a comparison unit for comparing the number M (M <N of integers) of reproducible video data with the number N (N is an integer greater than 1) of video data constituting the moving picture program. A delivery device that selects M or less video data from the N video data and delivers the selected video data to the playback terminal device. 10. The distribution device according to claim 9, wherein the number M of video data that can be reproduced by the reproduction terminal device is M.
Is a distribution device, wherein M = 1. 11. A moving image distribution system having a distribution device that distributes a moving image program and a reproduction terminal device that accesses the distribution device and reproduces the moving image program, wherein the distribution device includes a plurality of reproduction terminal devices. A plurality of versions of video data obtained by encoding with different versions of the encoding method are stored for one moving image program in accordance with the moving image processing capability of each moving image program, and the video constituting each version of the moving image program is stored. A data storage unit for storing a version list of information relating to processing capacity for processing data, and transmitting the version list to the playback terminal device in response to access to the video program by the playback terminal device; Wherein the playback terminal device analyzes the version list from the distribution device, and the playback terminal device It is a request to deliver select the version of the video program does not exceed the definitive processing capability, moving image distribution system, characterized in that. 12. A reproduction terminal device for accessing a distribution device for distributing a moving image program and reproducing a moving image program, wherein a version list from the distribution device is analyzed to exceed a processing capability of the reproduction terminal device. And a distribution requesting unit for requesting distribution of the selected moving image program, and a list of versions from the distribution device, one according to the moving image processing capability of the plurality of playback terminal devices. A list of information relating to processing capabilities for processing video data of each version obtained by performing encoding processing on the moving picture program according to different versions of the encoding method, respectively. apparatus. 13. The reproduction terminal device according to claim 12, wherein the information on the processing capability is a name of a moving picture encoding method for decoding the moving picture program, and a moving picture encoding method for decoding the moving picture program. A playback terminal device, which is at least one of a name indicating a system class and the number of pieces of moving image data constituting the moving image program. 14. The reproduction terminal device according to claim 12, wherein the information on the processing capability is a name of an audio encoding method for decoding the moving image program, and an audio encoding method for decoding the moving image program. A playback terminal device, which is at least one of a name indicating a system class and the number of audio data constituting the moving picture program. 15. A reproduction terminal device for accessing a distribution device for distributing a moving image program and reproducing a moving image program, wherein scene analysis data from the distribution device is analyzed and the processing capability of the reproduction terminal device is not exceeded. A distribution requesting unit for selecting a version of the moving image program and requesting distribution of the selected version of the moving image program, wherein the scene description data from the distribution device corresponds to a moving image processing capability of a plurality of reproduction terminal devices. , Information on the processing capability for processing each version of video data obtained by performing encoding processing on a single moving picture program using a different version of the encoding method, and configuring each version of the moving picture program. A playback terminal characterized by data describing the configuration of the video program, wherein at least location information of the video data is described. Location. 16. The playback terminal device according to claim 15, wherein the scene description data is a description indicating the number of moving images constituting the moving image program of each version as an attribute for evaluating moving image processing capability. A playback terminal device comprising an element. 17. Information used when exchanging capability information of a reproduction terminal device in a moving image distribution system having a distribution device that distributes a moving image program and a reproduction terminal device that accesses the distribution device and reproduces the moving image program. An exchange data structure, comprising: at least one of information indicating the number of video data that can be decoded by the playback terminal device and information indicating the number of audio data that can be decoded by the playback terminal device. Characteristic information exchange data structure. 18. A data storage medium storing a program for performing, by a computer, a reproduction terminal-side process for reproducing a moving image program distributed from a distribution device, the program comprising: A data storage medium, comprising: a distribution request program for requesting distribution of a program; and an information transmission program for causing a computer to transmit capability information on processing terminal-side processing capability to the distribution device. 19. A data storage medium storing a program for performing a distribution process of distributing a moving image program to a reproduction terminal device by a computer, wherein the computer executes a moving image processing on a plurality of reproduction terminal devices. A data storage program for storing, in a data storage section, multiple versions of video data obtained by encoding different video coding schemes for one video program in accordance with the capability, and An analysis program for analyzing capability information indicating a processing capability of a moving image in the reproduction terminal device from a reproduction terminal device for reproducing a program; and a computer configured to execute the reproduction terminal device from the plurality of versions of video data. Video programs with a version of video data that does not exceed the processing capacity of And data selection program, computer, data storage medium, characterized in that the video program mentioned above selected are those comprising a distribution program for distributing to the reproducing terminal. 20. A data storage medium storing a program for performing, by a computer, a reproduction terminal-side process for reproducing a moving image program distributed from a distribution apparatus, wherein the program is executed by a computer. An analysis program for analyzing the version list; a selection program for the computer to select a video program of a version that does not exceed the processing capability of the playback terminal side; and a computer for distributing the selected video program. And a distribution request program to be requested. The version list from the distribution device includes encoding of different versions for one moving image program in accordance with the moving image processing capabilities of a plurality of reproduction terminal devices. For processing each version of video data obtained by performing encoding processing according to the system Data storage medium, which is a list of information about the force.