JP2001320686A - Video contents distribution system, video contents distribution method, video contents distribution server and video contents reception terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a video contents distribution system by which a user can obtain an image with a reproduction viewer at an optional point of time and can momentarily recognize the tendency or outline of the entire contents. SOLUTION: A video contents reception terminal 20 makes a transmission request of video contents as video contents transmission control information to a video contents distribution server 10 that stores main text video information and its summary video information in cross-reference with the main text video information by each video contents, the video contents distribution server 10 transmits in a streaming way the main text video information and its summary video information of video contents making the transmission request in response to the transmission request of the video contents, the video contents reception terminal 20 receives the main text video information and the summary video information of the video contents sent in a streaming way, stores the received summary video information and displays the summary video image of the received main text video information on the basis of the stored summary video information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video content distribution system, a video content distribution method, a video content distribution server, and a video content receiving terminal capable of easily knowing the outline of video content distributed via a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a moving image is broadcast via a network such as the Internet, the moving image has an enormous amount of data as it is, and is usually transmitted after being compression-encoded. For example, MPEG (M
oving Picture Experts Group) system is known.

Conventionally, when transmitting MPEG data by satellite broadcasting or the like, only the MPEG data is transmitted, and what kind of program is broadcast is determined by an electronic program guide (EPG) comprising text information created in advance. Was provided separately. Only text information can be obtained by such an electronic program guide, and it is not possible to know the contents of the video.

[0004] Therefore, in this case, in order to be able to confirm what kind of program is available by displaying the image itself,
There has been no alternative but to combine several moving images, broadcast them as separate channels, and decode and display the channels. However, in this method, the reproduction of the MPEG data that has been viewed until then has to be interrupted.

[0005] As a current streaming technology, a stream display GUI as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 is used.
RealNetwork's RealPlayer ™ using Appl, Appl
e Company's QuickTime (trademark) is known. In these streaming technologies, reception buffering is performed as a measure against network congestion or delay that occurs during data transfer. However, when the slider of the playback position indicating device is moved to an arbitrary point, the buffering is not always performed to that point,
It was not possible to get an overview of the image at any time point.

Further, character strings (text) and pictures can be displayed as WWW (World Wide Web) contents.
Among them, icons are compact images used symbolically as their names suggest. Recently, Animation G
IF is popular, there are colorful and fun things,
Each of them is displayed by continuous data of a finite image.

[0007]

By the way, when a storage type video content (VoD: Video on Demand) is played back while being downloaded over a network, a portion beyond the content can be played back. Then, the user can grasp in advance the flow of the entire content and the outline, or can instantly search for only the desired portion.

[0008] However, conventional storage-type video content transmission / reception systems often include a stream type in which reproduction is started before the file of the entire content is downloaded, but transmission / reception is performed sequentially from the reproduction position. Even if the user wants to see a synopsis of the entire content during playback near the start position, the user has to wait for a long time since the part to be viewed has not been downloaded yet.

In view of such a conventional situation, an object of the present invention is to enable a user to obtain an image at any time with a playback viewer, and to instantly know the flow and outline of the entire content. A video content distribution system, a video content distribution method, a video content distribution server, and a video content receiving terminal.

[0010]

According to the present invention, there is provided a video content distribution system, comprising: a main video information storage unit for storing main video information of video content; and a video content storage unit for each video content stored in the main video information storage unit. A summary video information storage unit for storing the summary video information in association with the main video information, a control information receiving unit for receiving video content transmission control information, and a transmission control information received by the control information reception unit. Transmission control means for controlling transmission of video content; main video information transmission means and summary video information transmission means controlled by the transmission control means in accordance with the transmission control information, wherein the transmission control means The main video information transmission means and the summary video information transmission in response to a video content transmission request given as information. A video content distribution server for streaming transmission of the main video information of the video content requested to be transmitted and the summary video information thereof, a control information transmitting means for transmitting transmission control information of the content, Video information receiving means for receiving the main video information and the summary video information of the incoming video content, summary video information storing means for storing the summary video information received by the video information receiving means, and video information received by the video information receiving means The video content receiving terminal includes a main content video information and display control means for controlling display of the summary video information read from the summary video information storage means on a display screen.

Further, the video content distribution method according to the present invention is characterized in that the video content is transmitted to a video content distribution server which stores main video information and its summary video information in association with the main video information for each video content. A video content transmission request is sent from the video content reception terminal as control information, and in response to the video content transmission request, the main video information and the summary video information of the requested video content are transmitted by streaming from the video content distribution server. The video content receiving terminal receives the main video information and the summary video information of the video content transmitted by streaming, saves the received summary video information, and receives the main video information based on the stored summary video information. Displaying a summary video of video information And it features.

A video content distribution server according to the present invention comprises: a main video information storage unit for storing main video information of video content; and a summary video information for each video content stored in the main video information storage unit. Summarizing video information storage means for storing video content in association with main video information, control information receiving means for receiving video content transmission control information, and transmitting video content in accordance with the transmission control information received by the control information receiving means. Transmission control means for performing control, main video information transmission means and summary video information transmission means controlled by the transmission control means in accordance with the transmission control information, wherein the transmission control means is provided as the transmission control information The main video information transmitting means and the summary video information transmitting means are controlled in response to a video content transmission request. Te, characterized by streaming transmission main video information and its summary video information there video content for transmission request.

[0013] Also, a video content receiving terminal according to the present invention comprises a control information transmitting means for transmitting transmission control information of video content, a video for receiving main video information of video content transmitted by streaming and a summary video information thereof. Information receiving means, summary video information storing means for storing the summary video information received by the video information receiving means, main video information received by the video information receiving means, and summary video information read from the summary video information storing means And a display control means for performing control for displaying on the display screen.

Further, a video content distribution system according to the present invention is characterized in that main video information storage means for storing moving picture data which has been compression-encoded as main video information of video content, and the video data stored in the main video information storage means. Summary video information storage means for storing a plurality of still image data obtained by reducing the image size generated at predetermined time intervals from the main video information of the video content in association with the main video information as the summary video information of the video content; Control information receiving means for receiving transmission control information of the content,
Transmission control means for controlling transmission of video content according to the transmission control information received by the control information receiving means; main video information transmission means and summary video information controlled by the transmission control means in accordance with the transmission control information Transmitting means for controlling the summary video information transmitting means in response to a transmission request of the summary video information given as the transmission control information, and transmitting the summary video information of each video content by streaming; Content distribution server, control information transmitting means for transmitting transmission control information of video content, video information receiving means for receiving main video information and summary video information of video content transmitted by streaming, and the video information receiving means Read from the main video information received by the Display control means for controlling display of the summary video information on a display screen, wherein the display control means is for selecting and selecting main video information in the hypertext display screen by displaying the summary video information received by the video information receiving means. And a video content receiving terminal that performs control to display as an icon.

[0015] In the video content distribution method according to the present invention, main image information and a plurality of still image data whose image size has been reduced are stored in association with the main image information as the main image information for each video content. The video content receiving terminal requests the video content distribution server to transmit the summary video information as the video content transmission control information, and distributes the summary video information of each video content to the video content according to the transmission request of the summary video information. Streaming transmission from the server, the video content receiving terminal side receives the summary video information of each video content streamed and transmitted,
The received summary video information is displayed as an icon for selecting and specifying main video information in a hypertext display screen.

Further, a video content distribution server according to the present invention stores main video information storage means for storing moving picture data which has been compression-encoded as main video information of video content, and the main video information storage means stores the video data. Summary video information storage means for storing a plurality of still image data obtained by reducing the image size generated at predetermined time intervals from the main video information of the video content in association with the main video information as the summary video information of the video content; Control information receiving means for receiving transmission control information of the content, transmission control means for performing transmission control of video content according to the transmission control information received by the control information receiving means,
A main video information transmitting unit and a summary video information transmitting unit controlled by the transmission control unit in accordance with the transmission control information, wherein the transmission control unit responds to a transmission request of the summary video information given as the transmission control information. And controlling the summary video information transmitting means to transmit the summary video information of each video content by streaming.

Further, the video content receiving terminal according to the present invention comprises a control information transmitting means for transmitting transmission control information of the video content, and a video for receiving the main video information and the summary video information of the video content transmitted by streaming. Information receiving means, and display control means for controlling display of the main video information received by the video information receiving means and the summary video information read from the summary video information storage means on a display screen, wherein the display control means comprises: And controlling the summary video information received by the video information receiving means to be displayed as an icon for selecting and specifying main video information on the hypertext display screen.

[0018]

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

The present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, for example, comprises a video content distribution server 10 connected via a network 1 such as the Internet and a plurality of video content receiving terminals 20, 30A, 30B. Applies to 100.

This video content distribution system 100
1, the video content distribution server 10 is connected to the network 1 via a router 11.

The video content receiving terminal 20 is connected to an Internet service provider 22 connected to the network 1 via a modem, an ISDN router 21 or the like. Further, the video content receiving terminals 30A and 30B are connected to the network 1 via a router 32 via a corporate LAN (Local Area Network).
work) or on-campus LAN.

The video content distribution server 10 is configured as shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, the CPU 1 connected via the bus 111
12, video interface circuit 113, network interface circuit 114, hard disk 11
5, a workstation comprising a memory 116, etc., wherein the network interface circuit 114
Is connected to the router 11.

The video content receiving terminal 20
As shown in FIG. 3, the CP connected via the bus 121
U122, decoder 123, video interface circuit 124, network interface circuit 125,
It comprises a hard disk 126, a memory 127 and the like. Note that each video content receiving terminal 30A,
30B is configured similarly to the video content receiving terminal 20 described above.

This video content distribution system 100
As shown in FIG. 4, the video content distribution server 10 generates summary video information indicating a flow and a synopsis of the entire content in advance for each moving image content stored on the hard disk 115, and converts the summary video information into main video information. Are stored in the hard disk 115 in association with
The main video information and the summary video information of the video content requested to be transmitted are transmitted on individual channels.

Here, moving picture contents handled by the video contents distribution system 100 are MPEG
(Moving Picture Experts Group) 1 or MPEG2 data containing moving image and audio data. A moving image is captured using a capture device or the like, and the MPEG data encoded by software or hardware encoder is It is stored in the hard disk 115 as main video information.

The video content distribution server 10 provides summary video information of the main video information of the moving image content as
A plurality of pieces of still image information obtained by cutting out an I picture, a P picture, and a B picture from the main video information, that is, the MPEG data, are stored.

In MPEG1 and MPEG2, an I picture holds information enough to create a still picture without referring to information of the preceding and succeeding frames, and a P picture is an I picture located in the past which is temporally closer. Or, a forward prediction coded image that can restore one image using a P picture, and a B picture is one image using an I picture or a P picture that is located in near past and future in time. Are MPEG-2 data and MPEG-2 data, which generally include I pictures, P pictures, and B pictures at regular intervals.

This video content distribution system 100
The video content distribution server 10 scans an MPEG data file stored as main video information of moving image content on the hard disk 115 from the beginning, cuts out I-pictures at regular intervals, for example, at 30-second intervals, and pauses for several seconds. The images are stored on the hard disk 115 as summary video information.

In this case, the I picture is found and extracted by scanning the header in the MPEG packet for the MPEG data file stored on the hard disk 115.

The I picture stores still picture data as one frame in a moving picture. In MPEG, the color of each pixel is basically represented by information of luminance Y, blue difference Cb, and red difference Cr.
, An RGB image for one screen is created, converted into a still image format expected by the video content receiving terminals 20, 30A, and 30B, and stored on the hard disk as summary video information.

Then, the video content distribution server 10 in the video content distribution system 100
A client or video content receiving terminal 20,
When there is a transmission request for moving image content from 30A, 30B, the main video information and the summary video information of the requested moving image content are transmitted on individual channels (or protocols).

Here, the software system of the video content distribution server 10 is shown in FIG. 5, and the software system of the video content receiving terminals 20, 30A, 30B is shown in FIG. 10 and video content receiving terminal 2
0, 30A, 30B applications are HTTP
(Hyper Text Transfer Protocol), RTSP (Real Time
Streaming Protocol) and RTCP (RTP Control Protocol)
The control message is transmitted and received according to l), and the application of the video content distribution server 10
When a client sends a request for video content,
The main video information of the video content requested to be transmitted, ie, MPEG data, is transmitted as a UDP packet according to UDP (User Datagram Protocol), and the summary video information
TCP according to CP (Transmission Control Protocol)
Send as a packet.

The client, that is, the application of the video content receiving terminal 20, 30A, 30B receives the summary video information transmitted as a TCP packet from the video content distribution server 10 and the main video information transmitted as a UDP packet, ie, MPEG data. To receive.

It should be noted that the main video information is also TC
You may make it transmit and receive as a P packet. Also,
Port numbers can be assigned to different numbers.

The video content receiving terminals 20, 30A,
30B is a source IP unicast address or IP
It is assumed that the multicast addresses and their port numbers have been confirmed in advance, and the MPEG data is received as normal video / audio data.

With respect to the summary video information, preparations are made for reception for some channels, and, for example, application programs are activated for the number of channels whose reception contents are to be confirmed. UNIX (registered trademark) or Wi
On a multitask OS such as Windows (registered trademark), these application programs operate in parallel, and images can be displayed on a screen in parallel. If only a still image is received and displayed as the summary video information, it does not consume much computer resources, so that there is no problem in operating it in parallel.

In the video content distribution system 100 having such a configuration, a session is performed according to the procedure shown in FIG.

That is, when a session starts, first, a video content transfer request is sent from the video content receiving terminal of the client to the video content distribution server 10 by RTSP (step S1).

Here, as shown in FIG. 8, the application of the video content receiving terminal 20 receives the G video close to a moving image display screen displaying a main video, ie, an MPEG image.
The UI screen 200 is displayed. On the GUI screen 200, a host name display window 201, a port number display window 202,
Content menu display window 203, various operation buttons 20
4A to 204E, a playback position operation slider 205, a playback position display window 206, an encode rate display window 207,
A slider 208 for volume adjustment and a slider 209 for volume balance adjustment are provided. When the user selects a video content from the content menu displayed on the content menu display window 203 and operates the playback operation button 204A, the application of the video content receiving terminal 20 requests transmission of the moving image content selected by the user. Is performed on the video content distribution server 10.

Then, the video content distribution server 10
Receives the transfer request from the client, starts the transfer of the main video information of the moving image content requested to be transmitted, and also starts the transfer of the summary video information (step S2).

The transfer of the summary video information having a small amount of information is completed in a short time (step S3). The application of the video content receiving terminal 20 can display the summary video when the summary video information arrives on the receiving summary video information channel.

The main video information having a large amount of information is continuously transferred (step S4), whereby a moving image can be displayed on the video content receiving terminal 20 of the client.

During the transfer of the main video information, the pause parameter pa is set to "0" (step S).
5).

Then, the occurrence of an event is detected in this state (step S6).

If the event detected in step S6 is an operation of the pause button, it is determined whether pa == 0, that is, whether the pause parameter pa has been set to "0" (step S7). .

If the result of the determination in step S6 is YES, that is, if the pause parameter pa is set to "0", a pause state is set. That is, the transfer of the main video information is stopped to stop displaying the moving image (step S8). And the pause parameter p
"a" is set to "1" (step S9), and the process returns to step S6 to detect the occurrence of the event again.

If the result of the determination in step S6 is NO, that is, if the pause parameter pa is set to "1", the suspension is released. That is,
The transfer of the main video information is started, and a moving image is displayed from the position of the slider 205 for operating the reproduction position (step S
10). Then, the pause parameter pa is set to “0” (step S11), and the process returns to step S6 to detect the occurrence of the event again.

If the event detected in step S6 is the operation of the slider 205 for operating the playback position, the transfer of the main video information is stopped to stop the display of the moving image (step S12), and the pause parameter is set. pa is set to "1" (step S13). Then, the position of the moved slider 205 is detected (step S1).
4) A still image based on the summary video information corresponding to the detected position of the slider 205 is displayed on the moving image display screen 220 (step S15), and the process returns to step S6 to detect the occurrence of the event again.

That is, the video content receiving terminal 20
When the user moves a knob included in the playback position operation slider 205 with a mouse or the like, the application adjusts the summary video display of the moving image content. At this time, the position of the knob indicates the reproduction position of the entire moving image content on the time axis, and the application of the video content receiving terminal 20 responds to the position of the knob by adjusting the reproduction time / total time of the video content. It is displayed in the reproduction position display window 206.

If the event detected in step S5 is the operation of the transfer completion / stop button 204B, the video content distribution server 10 ends the transfer of the main video information (step S16), and Is released and the connection is closed (step S17),
End the session.

Here, the video content distribution server 10
Prepares two types of summary video information, for example, for high image quality and low image quality, as the above summary video information, and according to a user's request or according to the status of the network 1,
The two types of summary video information may be selectively transmitted.

Further, in the video content distribution system 100, the number of recipients may be one or more. In this case, M
Performs PEG data communication. At this time, not all the recipients participate at the same time, and the recipient who joins from the middle can instantly know the outline of the moving image content transmitted so far by reproducing the above summary video information. .

In the above description, transmission on the IP network has been described. However, for the transmission of MPEG data, a broadcasting network such as a CATV network, a terrestrial television broadcasting network or a satellite broadcasting network, or an ATM network, an ISDN network, or the like. A communication network such as a wireless communication network may be used, and a telephone line network, an ISDN network, a frame relay network, or the like may be used for transmitting the summary video information. They may be different channels in the same communication network or may be completely separate communication networks.

In the video content distribution system 100 having such a configuration, the video content distribution server 10
Sends the summary video information together with the main video information of the video content for which transmission has been requested in response to a transfer request from the client. Thereby, the outline of the main video information can be easily and quickly known.

Here, the video content distribution server 10 in the video content distribution system 100 is
In response to a transfer request from the client, the function to send the summary video information together with the main video information of the video content for which transmission has been requested, and the summary video information consisting of a plurality of reduced-size still images for each video content By transmitting the summary video information of a plurality of video contents as a stream in response to a transfer request from the client in advance, as shown in FIG. , Icon 2
31A to 231F have a function of displaying each summary video information. With this function, an image display portion is embedded in the browser 230 as a plug-in application, and each piece of summary video information is displayed as a part of a hypertext.

As described above, by displaying each piece of summary video information as an icon in the browser 230 or the like of the video content receiving terminal, the client can quickly check each content when there is a large amount of video content. The user can select a desired video content without trouble.

[0057]

As described above, according to the present invention, the video content distribution server sends the summary video information together with the main video information of the video content requested to be transmitted in response to the transfer request from the client. Even if the main video information, that is, the MPEG data is not decoded, the outline of the main video information can be easily and quickly known by looking at the summary video information.

Further, according to the present invention, when the video content distribution server multicasts stream type content, the video content distribution server summarizes together with the main video information of the moving image content requested to be transmitted in response to a transfer request from the client. By sending the video information, the receiver who participates from the middle can play back the summary video information to instantly know the outline of the moving image content transmitted so far.

Further, according to the present invention, the video content distribution server creates summary video information composed of a plurality of reduced-size still images for each moving image content, and responds to a transfer request from a client. By transferring each summary video information of a plurality of video contents as a stream and displaying each summary video information as an icon in a browser or the like of a video content receiving terminal, the client can be provided with a large amount of video content. In addition, each content can be quickly checked, and a desired video content can be selected without trouble.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a video content distribution system to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a video content distribution server in the video content distribution system.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of an information receiving terminal in the video content distribution system.

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing a data flow in the video content distribution system.

FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing a software system of the video content distribution server.

FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing a software system of the information receiving terminal.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a session procedure in the video content distribution system.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a moving image display screen and a GUI screen displayed by an application of the video content receiving terminal.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hypertext display screen including icons transferred as a stream.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a conventional stream display GUI.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a conventional stream display GUI.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 network, 10 video content distribution server, 11, 21, 32 router, 20, 30A, 30B
Video content receiving terminal, 111, 121 bus, 11
2,122 CPU, 113,124 Video interface circuit, 114,125 Network interface circuit, 115,126 Hard disk, 11
6,127 memories, 123 decoder

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A main video information storage unit for storing main video information of video contents, and summary video information for each video content stored in the main video information storage unit is stored in association with the main video information. Summary video information storage means, control information receiving means for receiving video content transmission control information, transmission control means for performing video content transmission control in accordance with the transmission control information received by the control information receiving means, and transmission A main video information transmitting means and a summary video information transmitting means controlled in accordance with the transmission control information by the control means, wherein the transmission control means
The main video information transmitting means and the summary video information transmitting means are controlled in response to the video content transmission request given as the transmission control information, and the main video information of the requested video content and the summary video information are streamed. A video content distribution server for transmitting, control information transmitting means for transmitting transmission control information of the video content, video information receiving means for receiving main video information and summary video information of the video content transmitted by streaming, and the video Summary video information storage means for storing the summary video information received by the information reception means, and control for displaying on the display screen the main video information received by the video information reception means and the summary video information read from the summary video information storage means Content receiving terminal comprising display control means for performing And a video content distribution system. 2. The video content distribution server, wherein the main video information storage means stores video data compressed and encoded as main video information of video content, and the summary video information storage means stores the video data. 2. The video content distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the still image data generated every predetermined period from the data is stored as the summary video information in association with the main video information. 3. The compression-encoded moving image data is M
PEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) data,
The summary video information storing means stores still image data generated by extracting a frame of an I picture from moving image data of MPEG data as the summary video information in association with the main video information. Item 3. The video content distribution system according to Item 2. 4. The display control means in the video content receiving terminal designates the summary video information read out from the summary video information storage means, so that the contents of the main video information at an arbitrary point in time are converted into the summary video information. 2. The video content distribution system according to claim 1, wherein control is performed to display the summary video on the display screen. 5. A video content transmission terminal, which stores main video information and its summary video information in association with the main video information for each video content, transmits the video content from a video content receiving terminal as video content transmission control information. In response to the transmission request of the video content, the main content video information of the video content requested to be transmitted and the summary video information thereof are transmitted by streaming from the video content distribution server. Receiving the main video information and the summary video information of the video content transmitted by streaming, storing the received summary video information, and displaying the summary video of the received main video information based on the stored summary video information; Characteristic video content distribution method. 6. A main video information storage unit for storing main video information of video contents, and a summary video information for each video content stored in the main video information storage unit is stored in association with the main video information. Summary video information storage means, control information receiving means for receiving video content transmission control information, transmission control means for performing video content transmission control in accordance with the transmission control information received by the control information receiving means, A main video information transmitting means and a summary video information transmitting means controlled by the control means in accordance with the transmission control information, wherein the transmission control means responds to a video content transmission request given as the transmission control information, and The main part of the video content requested to be transmitted by controlling the video information transmitting means and the summary video information transmitting means Video content delivery server, wherein the streaming transmits the image information and the digest video information. 7. The main video information storage means stores video data compressed and encoded as main video information of video content, and the summary video information storage means reads the video data at predetermined time intervals from the video data. 7. The video content distribution server according to claim 6, wherein the generated still image data is stored as the summary video information in association with the main video information. 8. The compression-encoded moving image data is M
PEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) data, and the summary video information storage means corresponds to the main video information as still video data generated by extracting a frame of an I picture from moving image data of MPEG data as the summary video information. The video content distribution server according to claim 7, wherein the server stores the video content. 9. A control information transmitting means for transmitting transmission control information of video contents, a video information receiving means for receiving main video information and summary video information of video contents transmitted by streaming, and the video information receiving means And a display for controlling display of the main video information received by the video information receiving means and the summary video information read from the summary video information storing means on a display screen. A video content receiving terminal, comprising: a control unit. 10. The display control means, by designating the summary video information read from the summary video information storage means, displays the contents of the main video information at an arbitrary time as a summary video based on the summary video information. The video content receiving terminal according to claim 9, wherein the video content receiving terminal performs control for displaying the video content. 11. A main video information storage unit for storing moving image data compressed and encoded as main video information of video content, and a predetermined period from the main video information of video content stored in the main video information storage unit. Summary video information storage means for storing a plurality of still image data, each of which has a reduced image size, generated as a summary video information of the video content in association with the main video information, and control information for receiving transmission control information of the video content Receiving means, transmission control means for controlling transmission of video content in accordance with the transmission control information received by the control information receiving means, and main video information transmitting means controlled by the transmission control means in accordance with the transmission control information And a summary video information transmitting means, wherein the transmission control means is required to be provided as the transmission control information. A video content distribution server for controlling the summary video information transmitting means in response to the video information transmission request and streaming transmission of the summary video information of each video content, and a control information transmitting means for transmitting video content transmission control information Video information receiving means for receiving the main video information and the summary video information of the video content transmitted by streaming, and the main video information received by the video information receiving means and the summary video read from the summary video information storage means Display control means for performing control for displaying information on a display screen, wherein the display control means displays the summary video information received by the video information receiving means in a hypertext display screen with an icon for selecting designation of main video information. A video controller consisting of a video content receiving terminal that controls Tenz delivery system. 12. A video content distribution server, which stores main video information and a plurality of still image data of reduced image size as summary video information for each video content in association with the main video information, sends the video content to a video content distribution server. The video content receiving terminal requests transmission of the summary video information as transmission control information. In response to the transmission request of the summary video information, the video content distribution server streaming-transmits the summary video information of each video content. A video receiving the summary video information of each video content streamed on the terminal side and displaying the received summary video information as an icon for selecting and specifying main video information in a hypertext display screen; Content delivery method. 13. A main video information storage means for storing moving picture data which has been compression-encoded as main video information of video content, and a predetermined period from the main video information of video content stored in said main video information storage means. Summary video information storage means for storing a plurality of still image data of reduced image sizes generated for each video content as summary video information of the video content in association with main video information, and control information for receiving transmission control information of the video content Receiving means; transmission control means for controlling transmission of video content according to the transmission control information received by the control information receiving means; main video information transmitting means controlled by the transmission control means in accordance with the transmission control information And summary video information transmission means, wherein the transmission control means is provided as the transmission control information. By controlling the digest video information transmitting means in response to a transmission request summary video information, the video content distribution server, wherein the video summary information for each video content streaming transmission. 14. A control information transmitting means for transmitting transmission control information of video content, a video information receiving means for receiving main video information and summary video information of video content transmitted by streaming, and said video information receiving means. And display control means for controlling display of the summary video information read from the summary video information storage means on the display screen, the display control means comprising: the summary received by the video information reception means. A video content receiving terminal for performing control to display video information as an icon for selecting and specifying main video information in a hypertext display screen.