JP2002044134A - Packet information transfer processing unit and stream information transfer processing unit and stream information transfer network service providing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance versatility and convenience of a broadcast service in a wired network. SOLUTION: In the stream information transfer processing unit (intervention router 2a) of this invention, a CPU 27 discriminates whether a packet received by network interfaces 21-24 is stream information, a start request packet, or an end request packet. When the packet is the start request packet, the CPU 27 registers its sender address to a broadcast management table 28 in cross- reference with a destination address read from the start request packet, also changes the sender address of the start request packet into its own address and transfers the start request packet. When the packet is the stream information, the CPU 27 refers to the broadcast management table 28 to specify the transmission destination and transfers the information to the destination. When the packet is the end request packet, the CPU 27 deletes the sender address registered in the broadcast management table 28. When the registration of the sender address is zero, the CPU 27 changes the sender address of the end request packet into its own address and forwards the packet.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a network construction technology for efficiently realizing a broadcast type communication which is currently performed by wireless using a wired network.
Particularly, a packet information transfer processing device suitable for realizing a multifunctional broadcast network and service equivalent to or better than broadcast communication performed wirelessly by effectively utilizing the wide band provided by optical fiber communication or the like. And a stream information transfer processing device and a stream information transfer network service providing method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the background of the digitization of television broadcasting and the spread of satellite broadcasting, demand for information distribution of stream systems such as television broadcasting and radio broadcasting is expected to increase significantly in the future. In addition, it is expected that various types of usage will appear as the number of broadcast providers or channels dramatically increases.

[0003] Conventional radio and television broadcasts have been performed mainly by radio. In wireless broadcasting, a broadcasting antenna is installed for each broadcasting station, and a radio signal emitted from the antenna is received by an antenna installed on a roof or the like of each home and guided to a receiver such as a radio or a television. Each receiver extracts a desired signal from a plurality of broadcast signals received by the antenna and reproduces the signal through a receiver or a loudspeaker.

[0004] In broadcasting via artificial satellites, radio broadcasting is carried out in a similar manner throughout Japan. As described above, in the broadcasting using radio, information transmission by radio is originally in a broadcasting form, and is excellent as a technique for providing information to many recipients in a broadcast manner, and is therefore popular.

[0005] However, in broadcasting using radio, the frequency band to be used is a frequency band of several tens megahertz to several gigahertz, and there is a limit in frequency-multiplexing a broadcast signal including a video signal. That is, the number of channels is limited by the frequency of radio waves used as carriers.

Further, radio waves are considered to be a finite resource, and the frequency bands that can be used by law are limited.
This has the problem that the number of available channels is further reduced. In addition, since broadcasting using wireless communication is one-way information distribution, it is difficult for an information transmitting side to accurately grasp the presence or absence of a receiver and the number of receivers.

As described above, in the conventional broadcasting, it is possible to efficiently transmit a broadcasting signal transmitted from a broadcasting station to a large number of viewers by using a radio wave propagating in the air.
However, such a broadcasting technique using wireless communication has a problem that a large number of channels cannot be used in principle because of the use of wireless communication.

There is another problem that the broadcast provider needs large-scale equipment such as a high-output transmitter and a satellite ground station to provide the broadcast. In addition, broadcasts so far were basically one-way (one-way) communication,
There was a problem that the broadcast provider could not obtain accurate information on the presence or absence of a receiver and the number of receivers.

[0009] On the other hand, in recent years, cable broadcasting or cable television broadcasting (CATV) for an area has become widespread. Originally, cable television was started to eliminate difficult-to-view areas due to radio interference, but recently, it has been used to view broadcasts that cannot be covered by wireless reception. For example, a foreign broadcast program is provided by a cable broadcast.

[0010] Like such a cable television broadcast,
By applying a wired distribution technology to a part of the information distribution mechanism used in broadcasting, the number of channels (the number of broadcasting stations) that can be received by the receiver can be significantly increased. This is because electromagnetic waves are confined in a closed space called a coaxial cable and transmitted, so that a wide frequency band can be used without being restricted by law.

[0011] In such CATV, the utilization technology in combination with the Internet in recent years has also been advanced, and in the environment surrounding wireless broadcasting, the spread of personal computers and the development of high-speed optical communication technology have been the background.
The use of wired networks, mainly the Internet, is rapidly advancing.

For example, in offices, networking of in-house operations is progressing, for example, office communications are made by e-mail. Also, at home, e-mail and the Internet have begun to be used for communication with the outside, bank balance inquiries, electronic shopping, and the like.

As described above, the fact that the network can be used in every scene of life largely depends on the increase in the capacity of the network by optical communication technology.

At first, the Internet was mainly used for transmitting text-based information (such as a homepage) as information transmission, but recently, it has begun to be used for transmitting broadcast-type information such as real audio and real video.

However, using the Internet,
In order to perform stream-based information transmission typified by moving images, the network bandwidth is not sufficient, and frame-based moving image distribution and communication of coarse images with a small number of pixels are mainly used.

As described above, there are various reasons why the image quality of a moving image used on the Internet is not high. One of the reasons is that the information transfer capacity at a terminal via a network is limited to moving images. Not enough to send the image. In addition, the fact that the network itself is not optimized for distributing broadcast content to a large number of terminals also limits the information transfer capacity.

In general, a communication network is composed of a plurality of communication nodes and communication links connecting the communication nodes. The communication node has a plurality of input / output terminals, and has a switching function for outputting an input signal to a desired output destination. Communication links also ensure communication between nodes.

Information flowing through a network when using the Internet or the like is a packet signal. In this case, the communication node performs a so-called routing process for switching the output destination of the signal for each packet.

In order to speed up such a network, it is effective to apply an optical communication system using an optical fiber as a transmission line. By applying an optical communication system using an optical fiber, the transmission capacity and the transmission distance can be dramatically increased as compared with the case where a conventional metal cable is used.

In order to increase the communication capacity between terminals, it is also important to increase the routing processing capacity in the communication node. Furthermore, it is also important to introduce a routing mechanism that prevents unnecessary signals from being transmitted to the network to suppress the information transfer capacity of other signals, in order to increase the communication capacity between terminals.

Hereinafter, it is considered that a stream signal (voice, image) is broadcast on a network used in the Internet.

All terminals desiring to receive a stream signal transmit a stream signal request signal to a stream signal transmission source. The signal source sends a stream signal to the source of the request signal.

In this way, the stream signal source transmits a plurality of stream signals corresponding to the number of requests to the network. This places a heavy load on the server that is the source of the stream signal.

[0024] Further, for the network, a plurality of the same stream signals pass through the same link and communication node, and there is a problem that the network utilization efficiency is reduced.

Communication performed via a network can be roughly classified into three types: unicast, multicast, and broadcast.

The unicast communication is a form in which communication is performed only between two arbitrary points connected to a network, and is a point-to-point communication like a telephone. In addition, multicast communication, among many terminals connected to the network,
This is a communication mode in which information is transferred to a plurality of terminals. Further, broadcast is a communication mode in which information is distributed to all terminals connected to a network.

FIG. 27 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a network for performing broadcasting or the like using unicast communication.

In FIG. 27, a broadcast station 271 and a plurality of broadcast receiver terminals 272a to 272f are connected to routers 273a to 273f.
273i and a network composed of links between routers.

Each terminal (broadcast receiver terminals 272a to 272f) that wants to receive a broadcast issues a broadcast transmission request to the broadcast station 271. The requested broadcast station 271 sends the requested broadcast receiver terminal 272a. The broadcast signal is transmitted by unicast to .about.272f.

When broadcasting is performed using the unicast communication in this manner, it is necessary for the broadcast station 271 to duplicate the broadcast signal for the number of receivers and individually transmit the signals to the receivers. Therefore, when the number of recipients increases, the broadcast station 2
The signal processing load on the 71 side increases.

The broadcast station 271 and each broadcast receiver terminal 2
Since a large number of the same signals flow through the links connecting the 72a to 272f, there arises a problem that the required transmission capacity increases.

For example, in the example of FIG. 27, the same signal flows on six channels on the link between the broadcast station 271 and the router 273a.
b, 273c, and 273d have two channels, and the link between the routers 273a and 273e has four channels.
In the links up to f and 273g, the same signal flows in three channels.

Therefore, broadcasting with a large number of recipients using unicast communication is naturally limited because a bottleneck occurs on the transmission side.

On the other hand, broadcasting using radio waves falls in the category of broadcasting. That is, the broadcast signal radiated from the transmitter is received by all receivers in an area where radio waves can reach. Then, a necessary broadcast signal is selected and reproduced in the receiver.

When such a broadcast is realized in a wired network, a signal is distributed to all terminals, so that there is a lot of information that is not received after all in the network, and the utilization efficiency of network resources is remarkably increased. The problem of lowering occurs.

In order to solve the problems in the unicast communication and the broadcast communication, the multicast communication in which information is transferred only to a plurality of terminals requiring the information is excellent as a form of broadcasting in a wired network.

FIG. 28 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a network for performing a processing operation of multicast routing.

In FIG. 28, a broadcast station 281 and a plurality of broadcast receiver terminals 282a to 282f are connected to a network via routers 283a to 283i for routing signal packets. A general routing technique for performing multicast in such a configuration is as follows.

First, in multicast routing,
A multicast group consisting of signal senders and signal receivers is formed. A unique address is assigned to this multicast group.

A broadcast receiver terminal 28 that wants to receive a broadcast signal
Each of 2a to 282f transmits a signal to the address of the multicast group to which the broadcast signal belongs, to declare that it also participates in the group. When stopping broadcast reception, a signal to leave the group is transmitted to the group address.

The broadcasting stations 281 participating in the group are:
By sending information to the group address,
Broadcast receiver terminals 282a-28 participating in the group
The information can be multicast to 2f.

Now, a router constituting such a network is called a multicast router, and this multicast router has a multicast group address and information on the terminals participating in each group.

Further, it has all the information of the routers participating in the same multicast group, further calculates in advance an optimum route (tree) for multicasting a signal between the routers, and calculates an optimum route between routers for each group. Each multicast router also has routing information.

When a signal is transmitted from a terminal (broadcasting station 281) participating in a certain group to the group, the multicast routers (283a to 283i) transmit the signal according to a route optimized for the group which the multicast router has. And transfers the signal to all terminals (broadcast receiver terminals 282a to 282f) participating in the group.

In the multicast routing, by introducing such a routing mechanism, a signal transmitted to a group is transferred while being appropriately copied by a router.

Thus, in FIG. 28, the signal is copied and transferred from the broadcast station 281 to the receiver terminals 282a to 282f according to the previously calculated route.
The signal path extends to the receiver while branching appropriately so as to form a tree centered on the broadcast station.

As described above, in the multicast routing, a signal is transferred to a desired receiver along a previously calculated optimum route, so that a useless route does not occur in the network and a minimum necessary network resource is used. Multicast can be realized efficiently.

However, in this multicast routing, each router (multicast router) manages participation / leaving of a terminal from / to a group, and has optimal route information between routers for each group, and based on this information, a signal routing process. It is necessary to recalculate the optimal route every time a person who joins or leaves the group occurs.

According to such a mechanism, when the number of groups is greatly increased or the network is wide-area and a large number of routers are present in the network, the information to be held by each router increases, and the required memory capacity increases. And it takes time to calculate the optimal route.

The multicast mechanism is only for delivering information to a plurality of necessary terminals, and is not for guaranteeing the delivery by the terminal receiving the information transmitting an acknowledgment to the information sender. . If the delivery is guaranteed, there is a problem that the reception notification signal is concentrated on the information sender side.

[0051]

The problem to be solved is that in the prior art, in a wired network system,
When realizing a broadcast that is being performed wirelessly, for example, in a broadcast using unicast communication, when the number of receivers increases, the load of signal processing on the broadcast signal sender side increases, and the broadcast signal sender and A large number of the same signals will flow through the links connecting the networks, so that the required transmission capacity increases.

In broadcast using broadcast communication, since signals are distributed to all terminals, a large amount of information that is not received eventually exists in the network, and the utilization efficiency of network resources is significantly reduced. It is.

Furthermore, even in the case of broadcasting using multicast communication, if the number of groups that receive the broadcast increases significantly, or if the network becomes wide and a large number of routers exist in the network, each router should have The information is increased and the required memory capacity is increased, and the calculation of the optimum route takes time.

Further, the conventional multicast mechanism is only for distributing information to a plurality of necessary terminals. To guarantee the delivery, an acknowledgment signal is transmitted to the information sender in a concentrated manner. That is the point.

An object of the present invention is to solve these problems of the prior art, realize a multi-functional network, and diversify a broadcasting service and improve convenience. An object of the present invention is to provide a processing device and a method of providing a stream information transfer network service.

[0056]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a packet information transfer processing device according to the present invention, if a received packet is a predetermined information request packet, transmits a source address and a destination address of the packet. The address is read out, the source address is associated with each destination address and registered in a table in a storage device, and the source address in the information request packet is changed to its own address, and forwarded according to the destination address. If the identified packet is an information packet corresponding to the information request packet, the source address of the information packet is read out, the destination address having the same address as the source address is identified with reference to the table, and the identified destination address is identified. The source address associated with the source address is extracted, and the source address thus extracted is extracted. To forward the information packet the less as the destination.

Also, the stream information transfer processing device of the present invention is provided in a network for transferring stream information to a packet, and performs a transfer relay process of stream information, and determines whether a received packet is stream information, Whether the received packet is a start request packet for requesting to start receiving stream information or an end request packet for requesting to end receiving stream information is determined based on the packet type identification information attached to the packet. If so, the source identification information and the destination identification information of the start request packet are read out, the source identification information is associated with each destination identification information and registered in the storage device, and the source identification information in the received start request packet is received. To the identification information of the own device, and If the received packet is stream information addressed to the own device, the source identification information of the stream information is read out, and the same destination identification information registered in the storage device as the source identification information is specified. Extracts the source identification information registered in association with the specified destination identification information, forwards the received stream information with the extracted source identification information as the destination, and further sets the received packet as an end request packet. If there is, the source identification information and the destination identification information of the end request packet are read, and the source identification information registered in the storage device for each destination identification information is deleted, and the deletion is performed in this manner. If all source identification information registered in association with the destination identification information is lost, the source in the received end request packet Change the different information to the identification information of its own device to forward in accordance with the transmission destination identification information.

During the multicast communication, when the number of the same stream packets exceeds a predetermined number, the function of the stream information transfer processing device of the present invention is activated, and the stream information transfer processing device of the present invention activates the stream. During the signal transfer process, for example, if the ratio of the number of destination identification information becomes smaller than the predetermined number compared to the number of registered source identification information, the number of registered destination identification information is small. Is returned to multicast communication.

Further, each stream information transfer processing device comprises:
By determining whether the forward destination of the stream information is a terminal device and recording the number thereof, and notifying upstream, and recording the total of the number of terminal devices notified from downstream and notifying upstream, The number of actual receivers of stream information can be provided.

Also, it is confirmed whether or not the forwarded stream information has been received by all of the forward destinations, and the result of the confirmation is forwarded to the transmission source of the stream information. Reduce the number of.

Further, transmission history information for each stream information with respect to the directly connected terminal device is recorded and used for calculating the stream information billing.

Further, a desired broadcast band for each forward destination is registered, the maximum value is notified to the upstream as a desired broadcast band of the own apparatus, and when the stream information is forwarded, the desired broadcast band of the forward destination is satisfied. Compress and forward.

Further, the received stream information is stored in a storage device, and is forwarded in response to a reproduction request from a forward destination. At this time, the stream information is received from the transmission source and stored at the date and time based on the reservation request from the forward destination.

Further, a stream information transfer network service providing method of the present invention distributes broadcast contents and advertisement contents by stream information via a network having the above-mentioned stream information transfer processing apparatus. Based on the total number of terminal devices obtained by the device, an advertisement fee for advertisement content added to broadcast content distributed to each terminal device is calculated.

Also, the advertisement content is stored in the stream information transfer processing device in advance, the advertisement content is added to the broadcast content and distributed, and based on the total number of terminal devices determined by the stream information transfer processing device. Calculate the broadcast fee of the broadcast content and the advertising fee of the advertising content. The broadcasting fee is paid by the network operator to the broadcast content provider, and the advertising fee is paid by the advertising content provider to the network operator. pay.

Further, the advertiser of the advertisement content notifies the advertisement provider of distribution destination information for specifying a desired distribution destination of the advertisement content, and the advertisement provider calculates an advertisement fee of the advertisement content based on the distribution destination information and performs the advertisement. In addition to collecting from the content advertiser, the distribution destination of the advertisement content is specified based on the distribution destination information, the advertisement content is distributed to the stream information transfer processing device connected to the specified distribution destination, and the stream information transfer processing device specifies the distribution destination. The distributed advertisement content is distributed to the distributor in accordance with the distribution of the broadcast content in which the stored advertisement content is associated in advance, and the history information for each distribution is recorded. The number of distribution destinations for each broadcast content is obtained based on the recorded history information. It is calculated, and pay the calculated advertising fee to the provider of the broadcast content.

[0067]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a stream information transfer processing device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a network including the stream information transfer processing device in FIG.

The network shown in FIG. 2 transfers broadcast contents by packets, and includes a plurality of broadcast stations 1, a plurality of routers (denoted by "R" in the figure) 2 to 10, a plurality of receiver terminal devices. Each of the routers 2 to 10 has an intermediate router (described as “r” in the figure) 2 a to 10 a having a function as a packet information transfer processing device or a stream information transfer processing device of the present invention. Is connected.

In this example, the broadcast signal request, termination, delivery of the broadcast signal, and the like are performed through the mediation routers 2a to 10a. Each of the mediation routers 2a to 10a includes a network interface 21 to 24, a bus 25, a buffer 26, a CPU 27, as shown in FIG.
It is composed of a broadcast management table 28 and the like. A broadcast signal request, end, broadcast signal, and the like are input via the network interfaces 21 to 24, and are temporarily stored in the buffer 26.

In such a configuration, the mediation router 2a
Is the network interface 2 by the CPU 27.
Whether the packet received through 1 to 24 is stream information of a broadcast signal from a broadcast station, or a start request packet requesting start of reception of this broadcast signal or an end request packet requesting termination of reception of broadcast signal Is determined based on the packet type identifier assigned to the packet.

If the received packet is a start request packet, the CPU 27 reads the source identification information (requester address) and the destination identification information (broadcast station address) of the start request packet, and The requester address is associated with each address and registered in the memory as the broadcast management table 28, and the requester address in the received start request packet is changed to the identification information (own address) of the own device and forwarded according to the broadcast station address. .

If the received packet is a broadcast signal addressed to its own address, the CPU 27 reads out the source identification information (broadcast station address) of the broadcast signal packet and replaces the broadcast station address with the same broadcast station address. Each requester address specified on the broadcast management table 28 and registered in the broadcast management table 28 in association with the specified broadcast station address is extracted, and the received broadcast signal is forwarded to each requester address. .

Further, if the received packet is a termination request packet, the CPU 27 reads the source identification information (requester address) and the destination identification information (broadcasting station address) of the termination request packet,
In step 8, the requester address registered in association with this broadcast station address is deleted, and if this deletion removes all other requester addresses associated with the broadcast station address, the received end request The requester address in the packet is changed to its own address and forwarded.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of the broadcast signal broadcast management table in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of a broadcast signal packet received by the mediation router in FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of a start request packet and an end request packet received by the mediation router in FIG. 1.

The broadcast management table 28 shown in FIG.
The requester address of each broadcast received by the mediation router 2a is registered as a transfer destination list in association with each broadcast station address.

For example, in this example, corresponding to broadcast station A,
Requester addresses of a, b, c, d, e ... are registered, and the number of each requester address for each broadcast station address is registered as the number of transfer destinations. Information indicating whether or not a broadcast signal is being received is registered.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, in this example,
The broadcast signal and both the start request signal and the end request signal are packet signals transmitted and received on the Internet. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the broadcast signal packet is
Originally, a broadcast signal that is a continuous digital signal is packetized, and each packet contains a destination address, packet type identification information, a broadcast station address, and broadcast signal data.

As shown in FIG. 5 as a broadcast start / end request signal packet, a start request packet for requesting the start of broadcasting and an end request packet for requesting the end thereof include an address of a broadcasting station, an address of a request source, A packet type identifier indicating the type of request (broadcast start or broadcast end) is included.

Hereinafter, in the network of FIG. 2, the terminal devices 11 to 16 of the receiver request transmission of the broadcast signal to the broadcasting station 1 and start the reception of the broadcast signal. A flow from when the devices 11 to 16 request the broadcast station 1 to end the reception of the broadcast signal and when the reception of the broadcast signal ends will be described.

FIG. 6 shows the broadcast start of the broadcast station in FIG.
7 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example when an end request packet is received, FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the mediation router in FIG. 1, and FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating another operation example of the mediation router in FIG. Yes, FIG. 9
FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing an operation example of the mediation router on the network in FIG. 2.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the broadcasting station, if the received packet (step 601) is a packet for requesting the start of broadcasting (step 602), the broadcast signal packet sequence is sent to the network by directing it to the requester address. If the received packet is a broadcast end request packet (step 602), the transmission of the broadcast signal packet sequence to the requester address is stopped (step 604).

On the other hand, in FIG.
Router 2 connected to a
It has a function of identifying a broadcast start / end request packet shown in FIG. 5 and a broadcast signal packet shown in FIG. 4, and a function of transferring these signals to the mediation router 2a.

The operation of the mediating router 2a based on the broadcast start / end request packet transferred from the router 2 will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 7, the intermediary router 2a receives the broadcast start / end request packet (step 70).
1) Whether this input packet is a broadcast start request packet (step 702) or a broadcast end request packet (step 7)
03).

Broadcast start request packet (step 702)
In the case of, first, it is searched whether the same broadcast station address exists in the broadcast signal broadcast management table (step 702).
a). If the broadcast station address already exists in the management table, it means that someone else is receiving the broadcast signal, so store the broadcast signal requester's address in the broadcast management table and copy the corresponding broadcast signal packet. The data is copied and sent to the broadcast requester (step 702b), and 1 is added to the number of broadcast signals transmitted corresponding to the broadcast station address (step 702c).

If there is no broadcast station address in the broadcast management table, it indicates to the mediation router 2a that the signal request for the broadcast station address is new. The address and the requester address are registered in association with each other, and the requester address of the broadcast start request packet is rewritten to the address of the mediation router 2a and transmitted to the broadcast station address (step 702d).

Next, the case where the packet received by the mediation router 2a is a broadcast end request packet, in which case, the requester address in the broadcast management table is deleted,
The transfer of the broadcast signal to the broadcast termination request source is stopped (step 703a).

Also, the number of broadcast signal transmissions of the corresponding broadcast station address in the broadcast management table is reduced by 1 (step 70).
3b). As a result, when the broadcast signal transmission number becomes zero ("0"), the broadcast end request signal (packet) in which the requester address of the broadcast end request packet is rewritten to the address of the mediation router 2a is changed to the broadcast station address. And send it out (step 703c).

If the broadcast signal transmission number is 1 or more, it means that there is another person receiving the broadcast signal, and no further operation is performed (step 703d).

Next, the operation of the mediation router 2a when a broadcast signal request is received and a broadcast signal is actually input to the mediation router 2a will be described with reference to FIG.

The broadcast signal packet is continuously sent to the mediation router 2a while the broadcast is continued. If the broadcast signal packet input to the mediation router 2a is the first of a series of broadcast signal packets (step 801), the on-air identifier in the broadcast management table 28 shown in FIG. Then, based on the broadcast requester address list stored in the broadcast management table 28, the signal is copied (copied) by the number of requesters, and the destination of each broadcast signal packet is set to the broadcast requester address (step 802). Are rewritten and transmitted to the network (step 803).

The same operation is performed when the broadcast signal packet is another packet following the first packet (step 804). At this time, the on-air identifier in the broadcast management table 28 should be broadcasting.

Next, with reference to FIG. 9, a description will be given of the operation from when the receiver at the address a requests the signal of the broadcasting station at the address d until the reception actually starts.

First, the receiver sends a reception request packet to the broadcast station address d. The intermediary router (address B) in the network receives the request signal, stores the broadcast station address d, the request source address a, and the like in the broadcast management table 28 shown in FIG. 3, and then changes the request source address of the reception request packet. It is transmitted to the broadcast station address d as "B".

The transmitted reception request packet may pass through a plurality of intermediary routers before reaching the broadcast station address d. The example of FIG. 9 shows a case in which the packet passes through the intermediary router (2). .

The mediation router (2) performs the same operation as the mediation router (1), and sends out a broadcast start request packet whose request source address is C to the broadcast station address d.

When the broadcast station receives the broadcast start request packet in this way, it transmits a broadcast signal to the request source. This signal finally follows the path opposite to the path of the request signal and reaches the receiver.

It should be noted here that if there is another receiver who wants to receive the same broadcast station at each of the intermediary routers (1) and (2), the broadcast signal is copied and directed to the desired person. That is, a broadcast signal is transmitted. Therefore, as shown in the figure, when the receiver at the address a sends the broadcast end request signal to the broadcast station, another receiver receiving the same broadcast signal in the mediation router (1) is required. For example, only the broadcast signal transmission from the mediation router (1) to the receiver a is stopped, and the flow of other signals does not change.

According to the example (first example) described above,
The intermediary router connected to the router in the network shown in FIG. 2 accumulates information of the broadcast signal request / end signal passing through the router, and becomes a broadcast signal request source and requests the broadcast signal source to the broadcast signal source. By transmitting the signal, it is possible to prevent a large number of broadcast signal request signals from being concentrated on the broadcast signal transmission source.

In the first example, the mediating router connected to the router has a broadcast signal request signal sender list, and when a broadcast signal is received, the mediation router sends a broadcast signal requester to the broadcast signal requester based on the list. By providing a function of copying and transmitting a broadcast signal, it is possible to avoid duplication of broadcast signals flowing through the network and reduce the total amount of broadcast signals in the network.

In the first example, the mediation router acts as a proxy for a plurality of recipients and requests and receives a broadcast signal by itself. This is equivalent to realizing a multicast function of a broadcast signal based on unicast communication. Therefore, in the first example, the routing information over the entire network and the group management over the entire network are not required unlike the conventional multicast communication, so that the routing mechanism is simplified, and the memory capacity and calculation for realizing the multicast communication are eliminated. The amount can be reduced.

Next, a second embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a network capable of changing a signal distribution route by the stream information transfer processing device of the present invention.
11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the processing operation of the mediation router configuring the network at 0.

FIG. 10A shows the flow of a broadcast signal before executing the processing operation of the mediation router in FIG.
(B) shows the flow of the broadcast signal after the execution.

The starting point of the second example is that, as shown in FIG. 10A, the broadcast station 101 has a plurality of receivers 102-106.
This is a case where a broadcast signal is distributed by unicast communication toward. At this time, the broadcasting station 101 sends out broadcast signals for the receivers 102 to 106 to the network.

That is, the receivers receiving the broadcast from the broadcasting station 101 are the receivers 102 to 106, and the number is “5”.
Therefore, the broadcast station 101 must transmit five identical broadcast signals to the network.

As a result, the signal transmission load increases in the broadcast station 101, and a plurality of the same broadcast signals pass through the routers 107 to 111 and links in the network. Therefore, there is a problem that the network use efficiency is reduced.

In order to solve this, in the second example, as shown in FIG.
Using a, a plurality of identical broadcast signals passing through the routers 107 to 111 and the link are combined into one.

That is, as shown in FIG. 11, each of the mediation routers 107a to 111a is connected to the connected router 10a.
The broadcast station address and the destination address of the broadcast signal passing through 7 to 111 are monitored, and as in the first example, the broadcast station address and the destination address are used as a broadcast management table as shown in FIG. And the number of broadcast signals passed is stored in the broadcast management table, and these are sequentially updated based on the monitor information (step 110).
1).

In this broadcast management table, when the relay routers 107a to 111a detect that there are a plurality of destination addresses of the broadcast signal, that is, that the same broadcast signal is being sent to a plurality of destinations, Perform processing.

First, the mediation routers 107a to 111a
A broadcast start request signal is transmitted to the broadcast station 101 using its own address as a request source (step 1102).

In response to this, when a broadcast signal arrives from the broadcast station 101 to the relay routers 107a to 111a, each of the relay routers 107a to 111a transmits the broadcast signal to the broadcast station 1 until now.
01, the broadcast signals sent directly to the broadcast signal transmission destination address, that is, to each of the receiver terminal devices 102 to 106, are discarded, and the broadcast requesting the broadcast signal transmission destination addresses to the plurality of broadcast signal transmission destination addresses is performed. Generate an end request signal,
The broadcast signal is transmitted to the broadcast station 101 and the received broadcast signal is copied for the original broadcast signal transmission destination address (plural).
The copied broadcast signal is transmitted to these broadcast signal transmission destination addresses (step 1103).

The upper intermediate router 10 close to the broadcasting station 101
At 7a, upon receiving the broadcast end request signal, it confirms that there is no corresponding transfer destination address in the broadcast management table, and forwards the broadcast end request signal directly to the broadcast station 101. As a result, each of the mediation routers 107a-
Broadcast station 10 of a plurality of broadcast signals discarded in 111a
The transmission from 1 stops.

When the broadcast signal coming from the broadcast station 101 is switched to the broadcast signal whose destination address has been changed in the intermediate routers 107a to 111a, the time delay of both signals is monitored and the intermediate routers 107a to 111a monitor the time delay. By adjusting the buffering time of the broadcast signal, the loss of the signal is prevented from occurring at the time of switching.

By performing the above processing in each of the mediation routers 107a to 111a in the network, the
As shown in FIG. 10A, a broadcast signal distributed by unicast communication can be changed to a multicast-based broadcast signal distribution form as shown in FIG. 10B.

As described above, according to the second example,
It is possible to change the distribution of the broadcast signal performed based on the unicast communication to the distribution based on the multicast via the mediation routers 107a to 111a. Thereby, the same routers 107 to 111 in the network
Alternatively, since the same broadcast signal can be prevented from passing through the same link, there is an advantage that the network use efficiency is improved.

In the second example, when a plurality of identical broadcast signals pass through the routers 107 to 111, these signals are unified, so that the number of receivers is one.
When only a single broadcast signal passes through a large number of routers, there is an advantage that a situation in which the memory capacity of the broadcast management table of the intermediate router is insufficient can be avoided.

Next, a third embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing another configuration example of a network in which the distribution route of a signal can be changed by the stream information transfer processing device of the present invention.
13 is a flowchart illustrating a processing operation example of a mediation router configuring the network in FIG. 12;

FIG. 12A shows a state in which a broadcast signal is multicast based on the operations of the mediation routers 107a to 111a as the stream information transfer processing device of the present invention, and FIG. 12B shows a unicast-based broadcast signal. Each state of broadcast distribution is shown.

In the third example, contrary to the above-mentioned second example,
An operation of switching a broadcast signal that has been multicast based on the technique in the first example to broadcast signal distribution based on unicast communication is performed.

That is, it is assumed that the broadcast distribution by multicast shown in FIG. At this time, the receivers 102 to 102 receiving the broadcast signal from the broadcast station 101
106 is reduced, the number is 1 or very small,
Although not shown, if the number of other broadcast stations transmitting a broadcast signal is very large, the mediation routers 107a to 107a
The amount of information in the broadcast management table 1a increases, and processing may become slow or a memory shortage may occur.

In order to avoid this, in this example, the broadcast signals with a small number of recipients are changed to the distribution of the broadcast signals by unicast communication, and the mediation routers 107a to 107a are changed.
The load of 1a is reduced, and only broadcast signals with a large number of recipients are mediated within the range of the memory capacity of the broadcast management table.

That is, the mediation routers 107a to 111a
Starts the process of switching to the unicast communication as shown in FIG. 13 for a broadcast signal having a small number of recipients when the broadcast management table is about to overflow.

First, the mediation routers 107a to 111a
A broadcast signal start request signal is generated with the address of the transfer destination list of the corresponding broadcast signal listed in the broadcast management table as a request source, and transmitted to, for example, the broadcast station 101 (step 1301).

In response, a broadcast signal is transmitted from the broadcast station 101 or the mediation routers 107a to 111a on the route. Then, the mediation routers 107a to 111a
The broadcast signal transmitted to the transfer destination list is switched to a newly transmitted broadcast signal (step 1302).

After the switching, the intermediary routers 107a-111
“a” sends a broadcast end request signal having its own address as a request source to the broadcast station 101, and updates the broadcast management table to the information after the broadcast signal switching (step 1303).

By the above operation, the mediation routers 107a to 107a
The broadcast signal transmitted via the communication path 111a is transmitted to the routers 107-111 independently of the mediation routers 107a-111a.
Can be passed through.

In this example, when switching the broadcast signal coming from the broadcast station 101, the time delay between the two signals is monitored and the buffering time of the broadcast signal in the mediation routers 107a to 111a is adjusted. In order to prevent loss of signal at the time of switching.

Further, in this example, the distribution of the broadcast signal performed in the multicast communication is switched to the unicast communication.
It is easy to understand if we consider the case where 0 people communicate by videophone via a network.

That is, in this case, 500 pairs of people exchange broadcast signals one-to-one and bidirectionally.
It is most efficient to use unicast communication. This is because the same broadcast signal does not overlap in the network. Therefore, for the communication that should be performed by the unicast communication, the multicast communication via the mediation router is not performed, and the use of the unicast communication does not waste the memory and CPU power of the mediation router. Will be.

On the other hand, if a video conference was originally held between 100 people, but the number of participants was reduced to one-on-one, a video conference with 100 people was considered. Is most efficient in multicast communication via a mediation router, but when one-to-one or several participants are involved, the efficiency is better when unicast communication is used.

As described above, by using the third example in combination with the first and second examples, it is possible to adaptively unicast according to the number of recipients or the state of duplication of the broadcast signal in the network. Communication and multicast communication via an intermediate router can be switched. As a result, communication can be realized by efficiently using resources provided by the network and the mediation router.

As described above, according to this example, the resources provided by the network and the mediation router can be efficiently used by adaptively switching between multicast communication and unicast communication via the mediation router. There are advantages.

Next, as a fourth embodiment according to the present invention, there is described a technology in which a function for grasping the number of views is newly added in the broadcasting network based on the first to third examples. This will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the structure of the broadcast signal packet received by the stream information transfer processing device according to the present invention. FIG. 15 is received by the stream information transfer processing device according to the present invention. FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing another configuration example of a broadcast start request signal packet. FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing another configuration example of a broadcast end request signal packet received by the stream information transfer processing device according to the present invention.

First, as shown in FIG. 14, in this example, the broadcast signal packet includes the information (destination address, packet type identifier, broadcast station address, broadcast station address, broadcast address) used in the first to third examples. Signal data) and signal transmission source address information.

The signal transmission source address means the address of the transmission source of the broadcast signal when the broadcast signal is transmitted, and may be the address of the broadcast station itself or the address of the mediation router.

The broadcast start request signal packet shown in FIG. 15 additionally includes requester type information in addition to the broadcast station address, packet type identifier, and requester address. This requester type information is information for identifying whether the broadcast start request was made by a receiver or an intermediate router. In this case, an address space may be defined in advance for the mediation router, and all addresses of the mediation router may be allocated in the space.

In the broadcast end request signal packet shown in FIG. 16, in addition to the requester type information shown in FIG.
Add the signal source address. As the signal transmission source address, there are a broadcasting station itself and an intermediate router.

When the broadcast signal shown in FIG. 14, the broadcast start request signal shown in FIG. 15, and the broadcast end request signal shown in FIG. 16 are changed, the receiver, the mediating router and the broadcasting station can directly see where they are now. Is clear.
Therefore, it is possible to newly add various functions such as grasping the number of views described below.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the structure of the broadcast management table shown in FIG.

The difference between the broadcast management table 28a shown in FIG. 17 and the broadcast management table 28 shown in FIG. 3 is based on the difference between the broadcast signal transfer destination list and the receiver (transfer destination receiver list) in this example. It is separated into routers (forwarding mediation router list), and this forwarding mediation router list
The addition of the address (AA, AB, AC) of the transfer destination mediation router and the number of views (100, 50, 1000) of the mediation router, and the number of recipients in the recipient list as the total number of recipients And the total number of recipients (153, 3, 1000) in the transfer destination mediating router list.

Since each relay router has such a broadcast management table 28a, the number of views lower than the relay router as viewed from the broadcast station is always grasped.
Incidentally, whether the transfer destination is the receiver or the mediation router can be identified by using the broadcast start request signal packet shown in FIG. 15 when the broadcast start request signal is received.

When the number of recipients is changed in the mediation router, the broadcast management table 28a is updated and the mediation router management table change packet shown in FIG. Is sent.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the configuration of a relay router management table change packet used for updating the broadcast management table in FIG.

[0147] The intermediate router management table change packet of this example includes a signal source address, a broadcast station address, a packet type identifier, requester type information, requester address, change information, and the like.

When a change occurs in the broadcast management table 28a of each relay router, for example, when the total number of recipients increases or decreases, the content of the change is transmitted as a relay router management table change packet in FIG. Send to.

The intermediary router that has received the intermediary router management table change packet changes its own broadcast management table 28a in accordance with the contents of the change information, and sends out the intermediary router management table change packet further up from the broadcast station. I do.

By repeating the above operations, the mediation router directly connected to the broadcasting station or the broadcasting station itself can obtain information on the number of recipients in real time.

As described above, according to the fourth example, the broadcast management table 28a of the mediation router has information on the total number of recipients lower than the broadcast station, and when the change is made, the information is stored in the upper mediation router or broadcast. By sending the change information to the station itself, it is possible to easily monitor the total number of recipients in real time.

[0152] Such a grasp of the number of recipients is important information for measuring the advertising value when a broadcast program is viewed as an advertising medium, and based on the information on the number of recipients obtained in this example, the broadcast program is considered as an advertising medium. Advertisement price and the like can be determined.

Next, as a fifth embodiment according to the present invention, a description will be given of a technique in which a function for confirming delivery is newly added in a broadcasting network based on each of the first to fourth examples so far. .

In the case where the broadcast content is charged, it is important to check whether the broadcast reception requester has received the broadcast signal. Such a function can be realized as follows. In order to realize this example, the signal packets shown in FIGS. 14 to 16 and FIG. 18 are basically used.

First, upon receiving the broadcast signal, each receiver transmits a reception confirmation signal to the broadcast signal transmission source. For this purpose, a packet similar to the intermediary router management table change packet in FIG. 18 can be used. That is, the packet type identifier in the intermediary router management table change packet indicates the signal reception confirmation signal, and the requester type information may indicate whether the receiver is the receiver or the intermediary router.

In each mediation router, a plurality of broadcast signal transmission destinations generally exist for one broadcast signal. When receiving acknowledgment signals from all broadcast signal destinations,
The intermediary router transmits a reception confirmation signal to the intermediary router or the broadcast station higher in the broadcast station (that is, toward the broadcast signal transmission source address).

[0157] By doing so, the broadcast station receives the acknowledgment signal only when the signal has reached all the requested receivers, so it is necessary to check whether the broadcast signal has reached all the receivers. It is possible to do.

Each of the intermediary routers and the broadcasting stations periodically (or as necessary) transmits a reception confirmation request signal during transmission of the broadcast signal. The reception confirmation request signal is a signal requesting confirmation of whether or not all the receivers have received the signal.

As this signal, a packet similar to the intermediary router management table change packet in FIG. 18 can be used. That is, it is sufficient that the packet type identifier in the intermediary router management table change packet indicates that the signal is a signal reception confirmation request signal, and the requester type information indicates whether it is a broadcasting station or an intermediary router.

The mediation router that has received the signal reception confirmation request signal transmits the signal reception confirmation request signal to all the lower positions (that is, the broadcast signal transfer destinations) as viewed from the broadcasting station. Then, when the acknowledgment signals are returned from all the signal transfer destinations, the acknowledgment signals are sent to the higher order.

When the receiver receives the signal reception confirmation request signal, the receiver confirms that the broadcast signal has been received, and then transmits the signal reception confirmation signal to the signal transmission source. By performing the above operation by each of the mediation routers and the receivers, the reception confirmation is realized as needed.

According to the fifth example, since the signal reception confirmation operation is performed hierarchically via the mediation router, there is an advantage that the reception confirmation can be executed without causing a load concentration on the network or the server.

In a general broadcast or multicast, when an attempt is made to confirm reception, there is a problem that the reception confirmation signal is concentrated at the reception confirmation request source and the operation becomes inoperable. In this example, such a problem is avoided. be able to.

This is similar to, for example, the task of a school principal confirming the attendance of all students. In other words, in broadcast, multicast, or unicast communication, it is similar to the case where the principal requests all students to come to the principal's office to answer the attendance in the school broadcast. In this case, it is easy to imagine that all students will form a long line in front of the principal's office.

On the other hand, in the fifth example, the mediation router corresponds to the teacher in charge and the teacher in charge of the grade. If the principal asks the grade leader to check the attendance of all students, the grade master will take over the request, and the teacher will confirm the attendance in his class, report to the grade leader, The procedure is for the grade leader to report to the principal.

Thus, it can be easily understood that the latter can perform the attendance confirmation much more efficiently and in a shorter time than the former.

Next, as a sixth embodiment according to the present invention, a technique in which a function for charging a pay content is newly added in a broadcasting network based on the first to fifth examples described above. , FIG. 19 and FIG.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing another configuration example of the stream information transfer processing device according to the present invention, and FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of the receiver information management table in FIG.

In FIG. 19, for example, the recipient 102,
Router 110 directly connected to 103, 191-193
20 is provided with a receiver broadcast management table 190 having the contents shown in FIG.

In the sixth example, each of the recipients 102, 10
3, 191 to 193 are assumed to always receive broadcast signals via the mediation router 110b. this is,
This corresponds to the case where the Internet provider has an intermediate router as a router for connecting with customers, and when a network connection is made via a subscriber telephone line, a telephone line such as an exchange or a subscriber termination device. This is equivalent to the case where an intermediary router is connected to a router located at the boundary between the network and the network.

First, as described above, in this example, in the broadcast network, all receivers are set so as to always receive the broadcast signal via the mediation router. This is achieved, for example, by connecting the mediation router 110b to the router 110 which is a boundary between the receivers 102, 103 and the network, and requesting a broadcast start / end request signal from the receivers 102, 103 and a broadcast signal to the receivers 102, 103. Are all mediation routers 11
This is realized by controlling the signal flow so that the signal flow is performed through Ob.

The intermediary router 110b connected to the receivers 102, 103 is connected to all the connected receivers 102, 10
3 are stored in the receiver broadcast management table 190. That is, the receivers 102 and 103 transmit the broadcast start request and measure the time when the broadcast signal reception is actually started and the time when the broadcast end request signal is transmitted or the broadcast itself is ended, and the receiver 102 and 103 transmit and receive the broadcast signal as reception record information. Information management table 1
90.

As shown in FIG. 20, the reception record information recorded in the receiver information management table 190 includes a receiver (subscriber) name, a receiver (subscriber) information, a broadcast station name, a broadcast pay / free type, Receiving fee (including information on flat rate or hourly fee), broadcast reception start date and time, date and time, reception time,
Further, in the case of a fee, there are payment information such as a calculated reception fee, a billing method thereof, a payment method, and a payment record.

The broadcasting station refers to the receiver information management table 19 and independently charges and sets a reception fee for the receiver, or the network provider determines whether the broadcasting station and the receiver Enter and act for payment.

As described above, according to the sixth example, the receiver always receives the broadcast signal via the intermediate router, and further, the intermediate router to which the receiver is connected receives the broadcast signal. The reception history information for each user is recorded, and based on this record, processing such as reception fee calculation, billing, and settlement can be performed.

By recording the reception history in the network as described above, it becomes possible to charge according to the reception time. In conventional wireless broadcasting, there was no mechanism for obtaining the time at which the broadcast was received by the receiver, and therefore, it was not possible to charge for each time in this way.

[0177] Further, telephone charges and the like are uniquely determined depending on the time and the type of contracted line, and cannot be changed in accordance with the type of information contained therein. However, in the sixth example, the intermediary router obtains the fee for each content of the broadcast station in advance and records it as a recipient history together with the reception time, so that the fee for each program can be calculated. It becomes possible to charge close to the satisfaction of the user.

It should be noted that the charge information for each content can be obtained by embedding the charge / free and reception charge information of the content in the header information of the broadcast signal and reading the information by the mediation router.

Next, as a seventh embodiment according to the present invention, in a broadcasting network based on each of the above examples, a technique in which a mediating router has a function of making the capacity of a broadcast signal variable is described with reference to FIGS. This will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 21 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a mediation router and a network configuration example having a function of making the capacity of a broadcast signal variable. FIG. 22 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a broadcast management table in FIG. FIG.

In FIG. 21, the mediation router 21 of the present example
1 shows the flow of a broadcast signal according to 1a and 212a.

Generally, a stream signal such as an audio signal and a video signal is originally an analog signal, but is digitized and used for recording, processing, communication and the like. These stream signals digitized in this way can be compressed by limiting the (temporal, spatial) frequency band of the original signal or by assigning short digital codes to frequently occurring analog values.

JPEG (Joint Photographic Coding Ex)
pert Group), MPEG (Moving Picture Expert Grou)
Various signal compression techniques such as p) and wavelet transform are standardized and used. By using such a compression technique, for example, the required signal bandwidth immediately after digitizing the original signal is 100 megabits per second (100 Mbps).
Can be compressed from 1/10 to 1/30.

The example shown in FIG. 21 is characterized in that each of the mediation routers 211a and 212a is provided with such a compression processing circuit and compresses an input broadcast signal as needed.
That is, if the broadcast signal transmitted from the broadcast station 210 is 15
It is assumed that the transmission speed is 5 Mbps.

[0185] The broadcast signal to be transmitted to the receiver differs from receiver to receiver depending on the line capacity between the receiver and the intermediate router, the input signal capacity of the broadcast signal reproducing device owned by the receiver, and the like. Here, it is assumed that the broadcast signal is 6 Mbps to the receiver 214 and 64 kbps to the receiver 216.

The mediation router 212a of the router 212 to which these receivers 214 and 216 are connected has a band variable processing unit 212b having a signal compression processing function, and the broadcast management table 212c has the configuration shown in FIG. like,
The desired broadcast capacity for each receiver is stored. The information may be obtained by first including information on the desired broadcast capacity in the broadcast signal request signal transmitted by the receiver.

The mediation router 212a determines the desired broadcast capacity of each broadcast signal receiver and the lower-order mediation router from the destination recipient list (bandwidth Mbps) and the destination mediation router list (bandwidth Mbps) in the broadcast management table 212c. Then, a broadcast signal request signal having the maximum value as the desired broadcast capacity is transmitted to the broadcast station.

When a broadcast signal is input, a desired broadcast capacity is checked for each receiver in the transfer destination receiver list and each transfer list in the lower transfer destination transfer router list in the broadcast management table 212c. After performing signal compression to satisfy the capacity, the broadcast signal is distributed to each requester.

When the capacity of the broadcast signal originally transmitted by the broadcasting station is equal to or smaller than the desired broadcast capacity, the broadcast signal is transmitted to the requester as it is.

When the signal request signal is transmitted and the broadcast signal is actually received as described above, as shown in FIG. 21, a broadcast signal having a necessary minimum signal capacity is provided on each link in the network. Will flow.

When the desired signal band is changed or the broadcast station changes the broadcast signal band in the middle of the broadcast, the intermediate router management table change packet shown in FIG.
What is necessary is just to update the broadcast management tables 211c and 212c.

As described above, according to the seventh example, each of the mediation routers 211a and 212a transmits the information on the desired signal capacity of each signal requester to the band variable processing units 211b and 212b having the signal band compression circuit. Broadcast management tables 211c and 212c, and compresses and transmits an input broadcast signal in accordance with a requester's desired signal capacity, thereby distributing only a minimum necessary broadcast signal through a network. it can. Therefore, the broadcast signal can be distributed using the network efficiently.

Next, as an eighth embodiment of the present invention, in a mediation router, especially in a mediation router directly connected to a receiver, a broadcast having a large number of viewings or a receiver among broadcast signals passing through the mediation router is determined in advance. A technique for recording a requested broadcast and then transmitting the broadcast in response to a request from a receiver will be described.

First, a broadcast recording request signal, a broadcast reproduction request signal, and a reception reservation signal are defined. These signals are
It has the same information as the broadcast start request signal in FIGS. 5 and 15, and can identify that the packet type identifier is a recording request, a reproduction request, or a reception reservation signal.

A receiver who wants to record a predetermined broadcast signal in a certain time zone sends a recording request signal to a broadcasting station. This signal is received by the intermediate router connected to the receiver, and the content is recorded. Then, the mediation router serves as a request source and sends a reception reservation signal to the broadcasting station.

Upon receiving the reception reservation signal, the upper-level mediation router writes the reception reservation contents in the broadcast management table,
The reception reservation signal is transmitted to the broadcasting station. By repeating the above, when the reception reservation information is received by the broadcast station, the information is stored in the memory in the broadcast station, and based on this information, the broadcast station transmits the broadcast signal to the designated destination at the designated date and time. .

Upon receiving the broadcast request from the designated broadcast station at the designated date and time, the mediation router receiving the recording request stores the broadcast signal in a memory in the mediation router. On the other hand, the receiver sends the reproduction request signal to the broadcasting station at an appropriate time after the mediation router records the broadcast signal.

This reproduction request signal is received by the mediation router connected to the receiver, and the mediation router transmits the corresponding recorded broadcast to the receiver while reproducing the corresponding recorded broadcast.

Since the mediation router counts the number of recipients in the broadcast management table, broadcast content having a large number of recipients is recorded in the mediation router, and reproduced when a request is made later. You can also do so.

As described above, according to the eighth example, although the mediating router has the function of storing the broadcast content, it is a network that originally transfers real-time signals. Even if the time is different, the broadcast signal can be distributed. This has the advantage that the broadcast station can distribute the broadcast content to more recipients.

Next, as a ninth embodiment of the present invention, a service providing method according to the present invention using the broadcast network shown in the first to eighth examples will be described.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation example of a conventional broadcast service providing method in a broadcast network.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation example of the broadcast service providing method in the stream information transfer processing network according to the present invention.

First, a conventional broadcast service providing mode using wireless communication will be described with reference to FIG. Broadcasting station 231
Broadcasts a program produced by the broadcast production company 232 or its own station widely (mainly) using the radio broadcast 230. Recipients 233 to 235 can receive and enjoy these programs free of charge.

[0204] An advertiser 236 called a sponsor bears the cost of producing a broadcast program and the cost of transmitting a broadcast signal of the broadcast station 231. The advertiser 236 is a company or an individual. Instead of paying for program production and broadcasting costs, the advertiser 236 produces commercials through the advertising agency 237 and the like to widely promote and disseminate the company itself or its own products. 231 broadcasts commercials produced between programs to be broadcast. As a result, the company itself or its products can be transmitted to the program recipient 23
It can be widely advertised in 3-235.

In such a conventional broadcasting service, it was difficult to know how many people actually watched a program or a commercial. For this reason, a technique of monitoring the program viewing status of some receivers and statistically estimating the total number of viewers based on the status is used. Based on the information (called audience rating) obtained in this manner, the program The number of views was estimated, and advertising expenses were calculated.

In such a conventional broadcasting service technology,
Because only the estimated number of commercial views was known, it was often difficult to show a clear causal relationship between commercial broadcasts and increased sales of their products. Also,
It was difficult to advertise only to those likely to buy the product.

[0207] Therefore, for example, sports equipment companies are now sponsoring sports programs and advertising commercial customers who are interested in sports by inserting commercials of their products in the middle of the programs.

FIG. 24 shows a broadcast service providing mode according to the ninth example. In the broadcast network 240 provided with a mediation router (stream information transfer processing device) in this example (described as “stream signal network” in the figure) 240,
Of the number of viewers (recipients 243 to 2
45) can be monitored in real time.

By providing the number of viewers to the advertising agency 247, the advertiser 246, and the like, it is possible to calculate the advertising fee with higher accuracy. For the advertiser 246, there is an advantage that the advertisement fee can be paid according to the actual number of viewers, and that the advertisement cost corresponding to the advertising effect can be paid.

Also, the broadcast station 241 and the broadcast production company 242
As the number of viewers increases, the advertiser 246 can be billed for an advertising cost that is higher than the program production cost, and therefore, there is an advantage that more revenue can be expected by providing a good program.

[0211] Since the receivers 243 to 245 remain free in either form, the total number of viewers can be either the conventional broadcasting service method or the broadcasting service method of the present embodiment. does not change.

As described above, according to this example, there is an advantage that a broadcasting service satisfying an advertiser and a broadcasting station can be provided by introducing an advertisement fee based on the actual number of viewers. Note that the ninth example is based on the premise that the broadcast network described in the first to eighth examples is used. However, if the actual number of viewers can be measured even with another broadcast providing method, the ninth example will be described. A broadcast service based on the nine examples can be provided.

Next, as a tenth embodiment of the present invention,
Another service providing method according to the present invention using the broadcast network shown in the first to eighth examples will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 25 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an intermediary router for executing another broadcast service providing method in the stream information transfer processing network according to the present invention, and a configuration example of a network having the same. , FIG.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of a commercial management table in FIG.

The broadcasting network shown in FIG. 25 supports the Internet for broadcasting. Therefore, in the broadcast network of the present example, the broadcast area is not limited to the range where radio waves can reach as in the related art, and receivers around the world connected to the network are to be received.

In such a case, if the conventional broadcasting service providing method is used, for example, a commercial effect in which a Japanese commercial of a local store is distributed to an American receiver in the American countryside cannot be expected to have an advertising effect. Comes out.

In the tenth example, instead of the conventional broadcasting service providing method in which the advertiser 258 and the advertising agency 259 pay the advertisement fee for the broadcasting program of the broadcasting station 251 or the broadcasting production company 252, the tenth example is different from the conventional broadcasting service providing method. The advertiser 258 provides a service providing method in which the receivers 253 to 257 bear a broadcast reception fee or a communication network usage fee.

Each of the recipients 253 to 257 has an obligation to receive a certain amount of commercials of the advertiser 258 instead of having the advertiser 258 bear the broadcast reception fee or the broadcast network usage fee. That is, a broadcast network (described as “stream signal network” in the figure) 25
This is a service form in which 0 businesses distribute advertisements.

First, in the broadcast network 250 of the present example, the receivers 253 to 257
It is assumed that the broadcast is received via the router 250a provided with the router b. As described in the sixth example, this corresponds to a case where the Internet provider has a mediating router for connecting to the customer, and a case where the network connection is made via a subscriber telephone line. Corresponds to the case where an intermediary router is connected to a router, such as an exchange or a subscriber terminating device, located at the boundary between the telephone line and the network.

In this example, the relay router 250b connected to the recipients 253 to 257 has a commercial storage memory 250c, and a plurality of commercial contents can be stored in the commercial storage memory 250c. .

Further, the mediating router 250b stores a commercial management table 250d whose configuration example is shown in FIG.

When the receiver turns on the television or radio, or during the time when the power is on but the broadcast is not being received, the mediation router 250b refers to the commercial management table 250d, and Recipient 253-2
To 57, the commercial content stored in the commercial storage memory 250c is transmitted.

The broadcast program transmitted by the broadcast station 251 is provided with a commercial time zone at fixed time intervals, and in this time zone, the commercial storage memory 250c of the mediation router 250b is provided.
The commercial content stored in the recipient 25
4,256.

At that time, a signal notifying the start and end of the commercial time is broadcasted in the broadcast signal on the same route as the broadcast signal, and the relay router 250b is used by using this information.
Of the commercial content stored in the commercial storage memory 250c or the broadcast signal transmitted from the broadcasting station 251 is controlled.

As described above, in the broadcast service providing method of the present example, commercial contents are stored in the mediation router 250b connected to the receiver, and the receivers 253 to 253 are stored.
The commercial contents in the intermediation router 250b are transmitted to the receivers 253 to 257 according to the usage status of the service 57.

Further, the mediation router 250b has information for each recipient shown in the commercial management table 250d of FIG. That is, the information includes a receiver (subscriber) name, receiver (subscriber) information, sponsor names (single or plural), commercial viewing history, and the like. Recipient (subscriber) information
It contains information related to the recipient, such as the recipient's address, age, occupation, family structure, and hobbies.

The advertiser 258 or the advertising agency 259 shown in FIG. 25 specifies the recipients 254 and 256 suitable for the customer layer based on such recipient information and transmits a commercial.

This corresponds to the commercial management table 250
In the sponsor name of the recipient information in d, the advertiser 258
The name or the corresponding commercial name is posted, and the intermediary router 250b realizes this by transmitting commercial content stored in advance in the commercial storage memory 250c to the receiver based on this information.

[0229] In this example, the advertiser 258 pays the network operator of the broadcast network 250 an advertisement fee or a sponsor fee corresponding to the number of recipients. The network operator applies the advertising fee to the network usage fee of the recipients 254 and 256, the cost of storing the content in the mediation router 250b, and the cost of delivering the content to the recipient.

[0230] Further, the network operator operates the broadcast station 2
51 or a broadcast fee according to the number of receivers for the broadcast program is paid. Then, the broadcasting station 251 can receive an advertisement fee directly from the advertiser 258 and broadcast a commercial in the middle of the program, as well as receive a broadcast fee according to the number of receivers from the network operator in addition to this. it can.

Even in the case where the advertisement fee is received from the advertiser 258 and the commercial is broadcast during the program as in the conventional case, the commercial content is stored in the mediation router 250b, and the receiver can specify a specific program or program in the mediation router 250b. Only when a broadcast station is being received, control can be performed so that previously designated commercial content is transmitted to the receiver.

As a result, the commercial content is not repeatedly transmitted to the network every commercial time zone, so that the network use efficiency can be improved.

Advertiser 258, broadcasting station 251, receiver 25
For 3 to 257, a corresponding network usage fee is paid according to the contract bandwidth, the usage time, and the like, as in the past. However, in the case of the broadcast station 251, that is, the stream information sender, the network usage fee decreases as the number of views increases, and if the number of views further increases, the broadcast fee is received from the network operator.

[0234] This is because, from the viewpoint of a network operator, excellent broadcast program transmission increases the number of recipients and reception time, and is expected to increase network usage fees. Pay.

According to this example, for the receiver, the advertiser sponsors the receiver, so that an expensive high-speed network (generally, a video signal distribution network requires a high-speed network) is inexpensive. There is an advantage that it can be used (mainly for signal reception).

As a result, if the number of recipients increases, the value of the broadcast network as an advertising medium increases. Also,
Broadcasting stations have the advantage of being able to generate income according to the number of recipients, and thus increasing their income by providing popular programs.

Further, since the commercial distribution is performed via the mediation router, the number of commercial recipients, the receiving area, the program for broadcasting the commercial, the timing for transmitting the commercial to the recipient, and the like can be freely set. This makes it possible to diversify the form of advertisement. For example, it is possible to have ten friends around the world broadcast an advertisement (commercial) of a company that they have started for 10,000 yen.

As described above, in this example, an advertisement that has been conventionally paid by a large company or the like with a large amount of advertising fee is replaced by an advertisement (commercial) that is suitable for cost-effectiveness by diversifying the advertising form. ) Can be easily transmitted. Therefore, there is an effect that the entire advertising market can be increased by using this example.

Further, for a network operator, a high-speed network service, which was conventionally expensive and has no customer, can be provided to general recipients at low cost by an advertisement fee.
There is an advantage that network usage increases.

In this example, a service on a broadcast network is assumed. However, as in this example, a service (advertisement or commercial) providing technology in which an intermediary router connected to a receiver substitutes for an advertisement is static. The present invention can be applied to other services using a network, such as an image-based Internet.

Next, as an eleventh embodiment according to the present invention, an example will be described in which the contents of the above-described tenth example are made more specific.

In this case, an advertisement providing service company intervenes between the advertiser and the broadcasting station. The advertisement providing service company first receives an advertisement application from an advertiser. At that time, the advertiser must provide the advertising purpose (company image promotion, company product promotion, information dissemination, etc.), advertising period, advertising period, desired advertising recipient image (product demographic, age, residence, native language, And the number of recipients of the advertisement, etc. are provided to the advertisement providing service company.

The advertisement providing service company calculates the advertisement fee based on the number of advertisement recipients and the advertisement range (geographical) and collects it from the advertiser. The advertising content is a still image, a moving image, a sound, or the like, and is provided by an advertiser by himself or after being produced by an advertising production company and then provided to an advertisement providing service.

[0244] The advertisement providing service company has information on the recipient who receives the broadcast via the network. The recipient information may be obtained by using the recipient information recorded in the mediation router, as shown in the tenth example, or by providing the recipient itself with an advertisement providing service company. You may be asked to provide a request to run an advertisement. It is assumed that some recipients may wish to actively receive advertisements for their interests.

[0245] The advertisement providing service company determines the recipient of the advertisement for each advertiser in consideration of the recipient information thus obtained and the desire of the advertiser. Then, the advertisement content of the advertiser and the necessary information such as the receiver for transmitting the advertisement content, the transmission period, the time, and the program are transferred to the mediation router to which the determined receiver is connected.

[0246] The mediation router transmits the advertisement content to the designated recipient based on the information from the advertisement providing service company. In addition, the mediation router transmits the advertisement content, monitors which broadcast program the receiver has received while watching the advertisement, and records the history.

[0247] The advertisement providing service company collects data on the programs viewed by the advertisement receiver from the intermediary router, and calculates the number of views for each program viewed by the advertisement receiver. Then, the advertisement providing service company pays an advertisement fee for a broadcast station or a broadcast program according to the number of views.

In the advertisement providing method according to the eleventh example described above, the advertisement fee flows to the broadcasting station as in the past, but the advertisement is surely provided to the intended recipient of the advertiser. Also, the point that an advertisement fee is paid to a broadcasting station according to the number of viewing of a broadcast program is greatly different from the conventional one.

Further, according to this example, the advertisement method for broadcasting is diversified. For example, the advertisement fee is an advertisement fee according to the number of recipients. Therefore, if the number of recipients is small, the advertisement fee is low, and even an individual can easily request an advertisement.

[0250] Further, since the recipient can be specified, the use form of the advertisement can be diversified. For example, a commercial offer for one person, such as an individual as a medium for sending a message to a lover on the lover's birthday, a private store offering commercials to dozens of households in the town, or a travel agency in Japan living in Los Angeles. Advertisement of guide recruitment for 100 people or university 18 years old
It is possible to advertise the university only to 500,000 households in Japan where 19-year-old university examinees live. Such diversification of the use of advertisements means that the market for providing advertisements increases.

[0251] In addition, there is an advantage for the receiver that the advertisement of his / her interest can be received. For example, I want to buy a car next time, so I want to advertise a car, go to a college graduation trip and want to advertise for a travel agency, or I am a hobby of wind surfing, so I am a commercial of a surf shop or manufacturing company involved. Or to receive the latest computer company commercials because they are interested in computers. This will increase the number of broadcast network users.

[0252] Further, the broadcasting station has the advantage that the broadcasting area spreads all over the world, and that an advertisement income according to the number of views can be expected. Being able to earn advertising revenue based on the number of views has the advantage that even if a good program is produced and broadcast, it can be earned regardless of the size of the broadcasting station.

For example, if one individual sends a movie review program from home, the reputation calls a reputation and 100 million people watch the program worldwide, resulting in an ad revenue of several billion yen. . This is advantageous for the network provider in that the number of broadcasting stations and the number of receivers increase, and the revenue from the network usage fee increases.

As described above, according to the advertisement providing service method of the present example, the advertisement is reliably provided to the intended recipient of the advertiser, the desired advertisement is received by the recipient, and the advertisement is provided according to the number of broadcast programs viewed. By paying the advertising fee to the broadcasting station, the advertiser can expect the effect corresponding to the advertising fee, the receiver can obtain the desired information from the advertisement, and the broadcasting station can see the broadcast content This has the advantage that revenue can be expected to increase, and that network operators can expect to increase their network usage fee revenue.

In this example, a service on a broadcast network is also assumed. However, as in this example, a service (advertisement or commercial) providing technology in which a mediation router connected to a receiver substitutes for an advertisement is as follows. The present invention can also be applied to other services using a network such as the still image-based Internet.

As described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 26, in the stream information transfer processing device of this example, first, in the first example, the mediation router connected to the router in the network By accumulating information on the broadcast signal request / end signals that pass through and transmitting the broadcast signal request signal to the broadcast signal transmission source as the broadcast signal request source, a large number of broadcast signal request signals are transmitted to the broadcast signal transmission source. And the intermediate router has a broadcast signal request signal sender list, and upon receiving a broadcast signal, duplicates and transmits the broadcast signal to the broadcast signal requester based on this list. By having the function, duplication of broadcast signals flowing through the network can be avoided, and the total amount of broadcast signals in the network can be reduced.

In the second example, the distribution of the broadcast signal performed on the basis of the unicast communication is changed to the distribution on the basis of the multicast via the intermediary router, whereby the same router or the same link in the network is provided. Can be prevented from passing through a plurality of identical broadcast signals, so that network utilization efficiency is improved.

According to the third example, the resources provided by the network and the mediation router can be efficiently used by adaptively switching between the multicast communication and the unicast communication according to the present invention.

Further, according to the fourth example, the broadcast management table of the mediation router has information on the total number of lower-order recipients as viewed from the broadcast station. , The number of all recipients can be easily monitored in real time.

Further, according to the fifth example, by performing the stream signal reception confirmation operation hierarchically via the mediation router, the reception confirmation can be performed without causing a load concentration on the network or the server.

In the sixth example, the receiver always receives the broadcast signal via the mediation router, and further records reception history information for each receiver in the mediation router to which the receiver is connected. Then, by performing processing such as reception fee calculation, billing, and settlement based on this record, charging according to the reception time becomes possible.

In the seventh example, each intermediate router has a signal band compression circuit (band variable processing unit), and the broadcast management table has information on the desired signal capacity of each signal requester. By compressing and transmitting the broadcast signal in accordance with the requester's desired signal capacity, only the minimum necessary broadcast signal is circulated in the network, and the broadcast signal can be distributed efficiently using the network.

In the eighth example, since the mediation router stores the broadcast content, the broadcast signal can be distributed even if the receiving time of the receiver differs from the broadcasting time.

In the broadcast service providing method as the stream information transfer network service providing method according to the present invention shown in the ninth example, the advertiser and the broadcaster are introduced by introducing an advertisement fee based on the actual number of viewers. Broadcasting services satisfying the station can be provided.

Also, according to the tenth and eleventh examples, the distribution of the advertising form is advanced by enabling the distribution of the advertising content for each recipient by using the mediation router.
The advertising market can be increased.

The present invention is not limited to the examples described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 26, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, in the present embodiment, the mediation routers 2a to 2a as packet information transfer processing devices or stream information transfer processing devices of the present invention.
0a is connected to the outside of each of the routers 2 to 10, but it is also possible to provide each of the intermediate routers 2a to 10a inside of each of the routers 2 to 10.
10 may be a packet information transfer processing device or a stream information transfer processing device of the present invention.

In the eighth example, the higher-order mediation router that has received the reception reservation signal writes the contents of the reception reservation in the broadcast management table, and also sends the reception reservation signal to the broadcasting station. Repeatedly, the broadcast station receives the reservation information and stores it in the memory. Based on this information, the broadcast station sends the broadcast signal to the designated destination at the designated date and time. After receiving the received reservation contents in the broadcast management table, the higher-order intermediate router transmits the start request signal of the broadcast signal instead of sending the reception reservation signal to the broadcast station, and immediately transmits the request signal from the broadcast station. Alternatively, the broadcast signal may be transmitted, received and stored in the intermediary router, and a retransmission request from the receiver may be waited.

The packet in the present invention includes an ATM.
(Asynchronous Transfer Mode) cells are also included. In this case, an ATM switch is used as a router.

[0269]

According to the present invention, even when wireless broadcasting is realized in a wired network system,
For example, it is possible to avoid such a problem that the load of signal processing on the broadcast signal sender side increases with an increase in the number of receivers, as in the broadcast using the conventional unicast communication. It is possible to avoid a problem that the required transmission capacity is increased due to a large number of the same signals flowing through the connecting links.

In the conventional broadcast using broadcast communication, since signals are distributed to all terminals, a large amount of information that is not received eventually exists in the network, and the use efficiency of network resources is significantly reduced. It is also possible to avoid such a problem as performing.

That is, it is possible to avoid duplication of broadcast signals flowing through the network, to reduce the total amount of broadcast signals in the network, and to distribute broadcast signals performed on the basis of unicast communication via an intermediate router. By changing to the multicast-based distribution mode, it is possible to avoid passing the same broadcast signal through the same router or the same link in the network. By adaptively switching the cast communication, resources provided by the network and the mediation router can be used efficiently.

Further, in the broadcast using the conventional multicast communication, if the number of groups receiving the broadcast increases significantly, or if the network becomes wide and a large number of routers exist in the network, the information that each router should have And the required memory capacity increases, and it is possible to avoid such a problem that the calculation of the optimum route takes time.

Further, it is possible to avoid a problem that the reception notification signal is transmitted to the information sender side in a concentrated manner when the delivery is guaranteed as in the conventional multicast.

[0274] Further, multifunctional network can be realized, and diversification of broadcast service and improvement of convenience can be realized.

For example, since the total number of receivers can be easily monitored in real time, a broadcast charge or an advertisement charge based on the actual number of viewers can be calculated, and a broadcast service satisfying an advertiser or a broadcast station can be provided. is there. In addition, by recording reception history information for each broadcast receiver and performing processing such as reception fee calculation, billing, and settlement based on the recording, billing according to the reception time becomes possible.

Also, the broadcast signal can be compressed and transmitted according to the desired signal capacity of the transmission destination, and only the minimum necessary broadcast signal can be circulated through the network, and the broadcast signal can be efficiently utilized by using the network. Can be delivered.

[0277] In addition, broadcast contents can be stored and distribution can be started in response to a request from a receiver.
Even if the receiving time and the broadcasting time of the receiver are different, the broadcasting signal can be distributed.

[0278] Further, it is possible to distribute advertisement contents for each recipient, to promote diversification of advertisement forms, and to increase the advertisement market.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a stream information transfer processing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a network including the stream information transfer processing device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of a broadcast signal broadcast management table in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of a broadcast signal packet received by the mediation router in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of a start request packet and an end request packet received by the mediation router in FIG. 1;

6 is a flowchart showing an operation example when a broadcast start / end request packet of the broadcast station in FIG. 2 is received.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the mediation router in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating another operation example of the mediation router in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram showing an operation example of the mediation router on the network in FIG. 2;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a network capable of changing a signal distribution route by the stream information transfer processing device of the present invention.

11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing operation of a mediation router configuring the network in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing another configuration example of a network capable of changing a signal distribution route by the stream information transfer processing device of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing operation of an intermediate router configuring the network in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing another configuration example of a broadcast signal packet received by the stream information transfer processing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing another configuration example of a broadcast start request signal packet received by the stream information transfer processing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing another configuration example of the broadcast end request signal packet received by the stream information transfer processing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing another configuration example of the broadcast management table shown in FIG. 3;

18 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of a relay router management table change packet used for updating the broadcast management table in FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing another configuration example of the stream information transfer processing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of a recipient information management table in FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a block diagram showing a configuration example and a network configuration example of a mediation router having a function of making the capacity of a broadcast signal variable.

FIG. 22 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a broadcast management table in FIG. 21.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation example of a conventional broadcast service providing method in a broadcast network.

FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation example of a broadcast service providing method in a stream information transfer processing network according to the present invention.

FIG. 25 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a mediation router that executes another broadcast service providing method in the stream information transfer processing network according to the present invention, and a configuration example of a network including the same.

FIG. 26 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of a commercial management table in FIG. 25;

FIG. 27 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a network that performs broadcasting or the like using unicast communication.

FIG. 28 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a network that performs a processing operation of multicast routing.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: broadcast station, 2 to 10: router ("R"), 2a to 10
a: mediation router (“r”), 11 to 16: recipient terminal device, 21 to 24: network interface, 25:
Bus, 26: buffer, 27: CPU, 28, 28a:
Broadcast management table, 101: broadcast station, 102 to 106,
191 to 193: recipient, 107 to 111: router (“R”), 107a to 111a, 110b: intermediary router (“r”), 190: recipient information management table, 21
0: broadcast station, 211, 212: router, 211a, 21
2a: Mediation router, 212b: Band variable processing unit, 211
c, 212c: broadcast management table, 213 to 217: recipient, 230: radio broadcast, 231: broadcast station, 232: broadcast production company, 233 to 235: recipient, 236: advertiser, 237: advertising agency, 240 : Broadcast network (“stream signal network”), 241: broadcast station, 242: broadcast production company, 243 to 245: receiver,
246: advertiser, 247: advertising agency, 250: broadcast network ("stream signal network"), 25
0a: router (“R”), 250b: mediation router (“r”), 250c: commercial storage memory, 25
0d: commercial management table, 251: broadcast station, 2
52: Broadcast production company, 253-257: Recipient, 25
8: Advertiser, 259: Advertising agency, 271: Broadcasting station, 2
72a to 27f: broadcast receiver terminals, 273a to 273
i: router, 281: broadcast station, 282a to 28f: broadcast receiver terminal, 283a to 283i: router.

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. A packet information transfer processing device provided in a network for performing packet transfer and performing a relay process of packet transfer, wherein the received packet is a predetermined information request packet, or the information request packet is Means for determining whether the packet is an information packet corresponding to the packet based on the packet type identification information given to the packet, and, if the received packet is the above-mentioned information request packet, transmission source identification information of the information request packet and transmission The destination identification information is read, the source identification information is associated with the destination identification information and registered in the storage device, and the source identification information in the received information request packet is changed to the identification information of the own device and transmitted. Means for forwarding in accordance with the destination identification information, and if the received packet is the information packet, the information packet The transmission source identification information of the packet is read out, the transmission destination identification information registered in the same storage device as the transmission source identification information is specified, and the transmission source identification information registered in association with the specified transmission destination identification information is identified. Means for extracting and forwarding the received information packet with the extracted transmission source identification information as a transmission destination. 2. A stream information transfer processing device provided in a network for transferring stream information to a packet and performing a transfer relay process of the stream information, wherein a received packet is the stream information, Means for determining whether the packet is a start request packet for requesting reception start or an end request packet for requesting end of reception of the stream information based on the packet type identification information added to the packet, and the received packet being the start request packet Then, the source identification information and the destination identification information of the start request packet are read out, and the source identification information is registered in the storage device in association with the destination identification information for each of the destination identification information. Change the source identification information to the own device's identification information and send the destination identification information Means, and if the received packet is stream information addressed to the own device,
The transmission source identification information of the stream information is read, the transmission destination identification information registered in the same storage device as the transmission source identification information is specified, and the transmission source identification information registered in association with the specified transmission destination identification information Means for extracting the received stream information with the extracted source identification information as the destination, and, if the received packet is the end request packet, the source identification information of the end request packet and the destination If the identification information is read out and the transmission source identification information registered in the storage device for each transmission destination identification information is deleted, and the deletion eliminates all the transmission source identification information associated with the transmission destination identification information, Means for changing the source identification information in the received end request packet to the identification information of the own apparatus and forwarding the same in accordance with the destination identification information. Stream information transfer processing apparatus, characterized in that. 3. A stream information transfer processing device provided in a network for transferring stream information in a packet and performing a transfer relay process of the stream information, comprising: means for counting the number of the same stream information which is unicast-transferred. If the counted number of the same stream information is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the storage device associates each destination identification information of the same stream information with the source identification information of the same stream information and stores the same in the storage device. Means for registering, and generating and forwarding a start request packet for requesting start of reception of the stream information using the transmission source identification information registered in the storage device as a transmission destination and the identification information of its own device as transmission source identification information And the transmission source identification information registered in the storage device as the transmission destination and the transmission destination identification information as the transmission source. Means for generating and forwarding an end request packet for requesting the end of reception of the stream information, and, if the source identification information of the received stream information addressed to the own device is registered in the storage device, the stream information is Means for forwarding to the destination identification information registered in the storage device in association with the transmission source identification information; and transmitting the transmission source identification information registered in the storage device to the transmission destination and the transmission source identification information. Upon receiving the end request packet with the transmission destination identification information registered in association with the transmission source, the transmission destination identification information is deleted from the registration of the storage device, and the deletion is associated with the transmission source identification information. If all of the received destination identification information is lost, the source identification information in the received end request packet is changed to the identification information of the own apparatus and the destination identification information is changed. Therefore stream information transfer processing apparatus characterized by having means for forwarding. 4. The method according to claim 2, wherein: 4. The stream information transfer processing device according to claim 3, wherein the number of transmission sources of the stream information registered in the storage device and a request source of the stream information associated with each transmission source. Is counted, and it is determined whether the set of the transmission source and the request source registered in the storage device satisfies a predetermined condition based on the counted number. Means for deleting from the registration, the end request packet having the identification information of its own device as the source identification information, and the identification information of the request source having been deregistered as the source identification information, to the transmission source having the registration deleted. Means for generating and forwarding the start request packet and the start request packet. 5. The stream information transfer processing device according to claim 2, wherein said stream information to be registered in said storage device is a terminal device for determining whether a forward destination is a terminal device. Notifying the number of the terminal devices registered in the storage device to the source of the stream information, the number of terminal devices notified from the forward destination of the stream information and the number of terminal devices registered in the storage device Means for notifying the total of the stream information to the source of the stream information. 6. The stream information transfer processing device according to claim 2, wherein said stream information forwarded to a forward destination of said stream information registered in said storage device is said forward destination. A stream information transfer processing device, comprising: means for confirming whether or not all of the stream information has been received; and means for forwarding a confirmation result packet indicating the result of the confirmation by the means to the source of the stream information. 7. The stream information transfer processing device according to claim 2, wherein transmission history information including a transmission date and time and a transmission time for each of the stream information to a directly connected terminal device is stored. A stream information transfer processing device, comprising: means for acquiring and registering the stream information in the storage device; and means for performing accounting calculation of the stream information based on the transmission history information and registering the stream information in the storage device. 8. The stream information transfer processing device according to claim 2, wherein a desired broadcast band notified from a forward destination of the stream information is registered in the storage device for each forward destination. Means for determining the maximum value of each desired broadcast band and notifying the source of the stream information to the source of the stream information as a desired broadcast band of the own apparatus; and when forwarding the received stream information, the forward registered in the storage device. Means for compressing the signal of the stream information to be forwarded so as to satisfy the desired broadcast band. 9. The stream information transfer processing device according to claim 2, wherein the stream information received corresponding to the start request packet and the end request packet is stored in a storage device. And a means for reading and forwarding the stream information stored in the storage device in response to a reproduction request from a forward destination of the stream information. 10. The stream information transfer processing device according to claim 2, wherein the stream information is stored at a reserved date and time based on a reservation request from a forward destination of the stream information. Means for receiving information from a source of the stream information and storing the information in a storage device, and means for reading and forwarding the stream information stored in the storage device in response to a reproduction request from a forward destination of the stream information. A stream information transfer processing device comprising: 11. A service providing method for distributing broadcast content and advertisement content by using the stream information via a network including the stream information transfer processing device according to claim 2. An advertisement fee for the advertisement content to be added to the broadcast content distributed to each terminal device is calculated based on the total number of terminal devices obtained by the stream information transfer processing device according to item 5. Stream information transfer network service providing method. 12. A service providing method for distributing broadcast content and advertisement content based on the stream information via a network including the stream information transfer processing device according to any one of claims 2 to 10, wherein The stream information transfer processing device stores the advertisement content in the storage device in advance, and reads and distributes the advertisement content associated with the broadcast content from the storage device with the distribution of the broadcast content. The broadcast fee of the broadcast content distributed to each terminal device and the advertisement content added to the broadcast content and distributed based on the total number of terminal devices obtained by the stream information transfer processing device according to item 5. Advertisement fee is calculated, and the calculated advertisement fee for the advertising content is A stream information transfer network service providing method, wherein the provider pays the broadcast content of the broadcast content to the provider of the broadcast content. 13. A service providing method for distributing broadcast content and advertisement content based on the stream information via a network including the stream information transfer processing device according to any one of claims 2 to 10, wherein The advertiser of the advertisement content notifies the advertisement provider of distribution destination information for specifying a desired distribution destination of the advertisement content, and the advertisement provider calculates an advertisement fee of the advertisement content based on the distribution destination information, and While collecting from the advertiser of the content, specifying the distribution destination of the advertisement content based on the distribution destination information, distributing the advertisement content to the stream information transfer processing device connected to the specified distribution destination, and Stored in the storage device of the information transfer processing device, and the stream information transfer processing device In accordance with the distribution of the broadcast content in which the stored advertisement content is associated in advance, the advertisement content is read from the storage device and distributed, and the history information for each distribution is stored in the storage device of the stream information transfer processing device. And the advertisement provider obtains the number of distribution destinations for each of the broadcast contents based on the history information recorded in the storage device of the stream information transfer processing device. According to the number of distribution destinations, A method for providing a stream information transfer network service, comprising: calculating an advertisement fee for the broadcast content; and paying the calculated advertisement fee to the broadcast content provider.