JP2002223425A - Contents distribution system and method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to efficiently distribute contents depending on a facility scale of the entire system. SOLUTION: A distribution reservation reception section 42 of a contents distribution server 4 receives reservation of contents distribution in advance from each end user terminal 1 and a distribution propriety discrimination section 44 discriminates the propriety of the distribution reservation on the basis of the contents distribution capability of the system. Then a distribution management section 43 manages the distribution reservation the possibility of reservation of which is discriminated by the distribution propriety discrimination section 44 and a contents distribution section 40 discriminates desired contents on the basis of the distribution reservation.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a content distribution system and method, and more particularly, to an end user terminal installed at each end user (user) home via a communication network such as the Internet from a content distribution server. The present invention relates to a content distribution system and method for distributing content desired by a user.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the spread of communication networks such as the Internet, an environment in which various homes can browse various digital contents via a communication network is already being prepared. Also, ISDN service and xDSL (xDi
(gital Subscriber Line) Transmission technology and other subscriber access systems with relatively high transmission capabilities have been developed, and further significant advances have been made in data compression technology, making it possible to deliver relatively large volumes of digital content. I have.
Against this background, video-on-demand (VD) for delivering video content desired by an end user (user) at a date and time desired by the end user is currently available.
Content distribution systems such as OD (Video on Demand) systems are being introduced.

A content distribution system such as a VOD system includes a content distribution server that stores a large number of video contents, an end user terminal (for example, STB: Set Top Box) provided at each end user's house, and a content distribution server. It comprises a server and a communication network connecting each end user terminal. When the end user browses the desired video content, the end user operates the end user terminal to select the desired video content and makes a distribution request to the content distribution server via the communication network. In response to this request, the content distribution server selects video content stored in advance,
The video content is transmitted to the requesting end user terminal via the communication network. Thus, the video content transmitted from the content distribution server is received by the end user terminal and is reproduced on the screen.

[0004]

However, in such a conventional content distribution system, since the distribution request content and the request date and time from each end user are different, the content distribution server side transmits from the end user terminal to the content distribution server. It was difficult to predict the number of connections in advance. Therefore, the content distribution request from the end user is less than the number of possible connections to the content distribution server supposed and prepared by the content distributor, and there is a problem that waste is caused by excessive capital investment. On the other hand, if there is a content distribution request exceeding the prepared number of connectable connections, a congestion state occurs and there is a problem that distribution cannot be performed efficiently. An object of the present invention is to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a content distribution system and a content distribution method capable of efficiently distributing content according to the facility scale of the entire system.

[0005]

In order to achieve such an object, a content distribution system according to the present invention comprises:
A digital content consisting of a content distribution server and a plurality of end-user terminals mutually connected via a communication network, and comprising video data and audio data requested by a user, is transmitted from the content distribution server via the communication network, A content distribution system for distributing to the end user terminal of the user, wherein the end user terminal is provided with a distribution reservation unit for reserving distribution of desired content to the content distribution server, and the content distribution server includes: A distribution reservation receiving unit that receives a distribution reservation of the content from the end user terminal, a distribution permission determination unit that determines whether the distribution reservation is possible based on the content distribution capability of the system, and the distribution permission determination unit determines that the reservation is permitted. And a delivery management unit for managing the delivery reservation It is provided with a content distribution unit for distributing desired contents based on the distribution reservation managing.

[0006] As a network configuration for distributing contents, a plurality of distributed arrangement servers are arranged between the contents distribution server and one or more end user terminals, and managed by the distribution management unit in the contents distribution server. A distributed distribution plan unit for instructing the content distribution unit to distribute content to be distributed to each end user terminal to a distributed arrangement server corresponding to the end user terminal based on the distribution reservation to be performed; A content storage unit for temporarily storing content distributed from the content distribution server, and a content distribution unit for distributing the content stored in the content storage unit to end user terminals serving as respective distribution request sources. May be provided.

As a specific configuration for distributing content in response to a distribution request from an end user, a distribution request receiving unit for receiving a content distribution request from the end user terminal to the content distribution server; And a download command unit for commanding the distributed server corresponding to the end user terminal serving as the distribution request source to distribute content to the end user terminal in response to the validity check of the distribution request based on the managed distribution reservation. Further provided, in the content distribution unit of each of the distributed arrangement server,
The corresponding content may be distributed to the end user terminal based on a content distribution command from the content distribution server.

[0008] As a validity check of the distribution request, the distribution reservation receiving unit of the content distribution server receives a reproducible period of the desired content at the time of distribution reservation from the end user terminal. The validity of the distribution request may be confirmed based on the reproducible period accepted in the distribution reservation. The content storage unit of the distributed arrangement server may delete the content whose reproducible period has elapsed from the stored content.

In the case where a TV program is handled as the content to be distributed, the content distribution system further includes a broadcast program recording section for recording a television broadcast program, and the distribution management section controls the television broadcast program by the distribution reservation. When the distribution of the broadcast program is reserved, the broadcast program recording section instructs the recording of the television broadcast program, and the content distribution section distributes the television broadcast program recorded by the broadcast program recording as content. You may.

[0010] A content distribution method according to the present invention comprises a content distribution server and a plurality of end user terminals connected to each other via a communication network.
A content distribution method for distributing content including video data and audio data requested by an end user from a content distribution server to an end user terminal of the end user via a communication network, wherein the end user terminal includes: The distribution of the desired content is reserved for the content distribution server, the content distribution server accepts the distribution reservation of the content from the end user terminal, and determines whether or not the distribution reservation is possible based on the content distribution capability of the system. , And manages distribution reservations determined to be reservable, and distributes desired content based on the managed distribution reservations.

[0011] When the content is actually distributed, the content to be distributed to each end user terminal is transmitted between the content distribution server and each of the end user terminals based on the distribution reservation managed by the content distribution server. Of a plurality of distributed deployment servers provided in a distributed deployment server corresponding to the end user terminal,
Each of the distributed distribution servers may temporarily store the content distributed from the content distribution server, and may distribute the stored content to the end user terminals that are the respective distribution request sources.

As a specific method for distributing the content in response to a distribution request from an end user, the content distribution server accepts a content distribution request from the end user terminal and performs the distribution based on a distribution reservation managed by the content distribution server. In response to the request validity check, the distribution server corresponding to the end user terminal that is the distribution request source is instructed to distribute the content to the end user terminal, and in each of the distributed servers, from the content distribution server The corresponding content may be distributed to the end user based on the content distribution command.

[0013] As a method of confirming the validity of the distribution request, the content distribution server accepts a reproducible period of the desired content at the time of the distribution reservation from the end user terminal, and receives the reproducible period accepted by the distribution reservation. The validity of the distribution request may be confirmed based on a period. Further, the distributed arrangement server may delete the content whose reproducible period has elapsed among the accumulated contents.

In the case where a TV program is handled as the content to be distributed, when the distribution of the television broadcast program is reserved in the distribution reservation, the television broadcast program is recorded, and the recorded television broadcast program is distributed as the content. You may make it.

[0015]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a content distribution system according to one embodiment of the present invention. The content distribution system includes a content distribution server 4 that stores a plurality of contents in advance, an end user home 6 where an end user terminal used by an end user (user) is installed, the content distribution server 4 and each end user home 6, Is provided on the Internet 9 connecting
A distributed placement server that temporarily stores content to be distributed from the content distribution server 4 to the end user home 6 and distributes the stored content to an end user terminal of the end user home 6 based on an instruction from the content distribution server 4 And 5. Hereinafter, a content distribution system using the Internet 9 will be described, but an access network using a cable television network, a mobile phone network, or the like may be used as a communication network.

First, a content distribution system according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a detailed block diagram of the content distribution system according to the first embodiment. End user home 6
, An end user terminal 1 and a content reproduction device 2 are installed. The end user terminal 1 has an Internet connection unit 1 for connecting to the Internet 9.
1. audio decoding unit 12 for decoding audio data received as content, video decoding unit 1 for decoding video data received as content
3. An audio output unit 17 for outputting an audio signal obtained by decoding and a video output unit 18 for outputting a video signal obtained by decoding are provided.

In addition, the end user terminal 1 includes a user authentication unit 14 for performing user authentication with respect to the content distribution server 4 and a distribution reservation unit for performing a reservation for application for content distribution with respect to the content distribution server 4. 1
5. A distribution request unit 16 for actually requesting the distribution of the reserved content to the content distribution server 4.
Is provided.

The end user can use the user authentication unit 14 of the end user terminal 1 installed in the end user home 6 to
It connects to the content distribution server 4 via the Internet 9 and performs authentication work of the end user. At this time, for example, if the end user terminal 1 has a function of a web browser, the user accesses the reception home page of the content distribution server 4 via the Internet connection unit 11 and receives the end user identification information (ID) registered at the time of the service contract. ), A personal identification number, and the like, so that the end user can be authenticated.

The end user can make a reservation for content distribution using the distribution reservation section 15 of the end user terminal 1. At the time of reservation, reservation is made for two items, for example, a content name and a period during which the end user desires to receive or reproduce the content distribution. The reproducible period is set to, for example, one day, three days, one week, one month, or one year. When making a reservation for content distribution, the content distribution server 4 described below determines whether to accept or reject the content distribution.
The result is notified to the end user.

With respect to the content for which the reservation has been accepted, the end user must be within the reproducible period previously applied for.
A distribution request can be made from the distribution request unit 16 of the end user terminal 1 to the content distribution server 4. At this time, for example, if the end user terminal 1 has a web browser function, the user accesses the reception homepage of the content distribution server 4, selects the reserved content, and stores the content file in the end user home 6. It can be downloaded from the distributed server 5 located nearby.

The content reproducing apparatus 2 installed in the end user home 6 has an audio reproducing section 2 for reproducing an audio signal output from the audio output section 17 of the end user terminal 1.
1. A video reproducing unit 22 for reproducing a video signal output from the video output unit 18 of the end user terminal 1 is provided. As the content reproducing device 2, for example, a TV receiving device or a video monitor device can be considered when reproducing a video signal, and a speaker or an audio device can be considered when reproducing an audio signal.

The end user terminal 3 is a terminal connected to the content distribution server 4 via the Internet 9 and located at a place other than the end user home 9, and is assumed to be, for example, an information processing device such as a computer or a mobile phone. You. By using this end user terminal 3, it is possible to make a reservation for content distribution from a place other than the end user home 6. The end user terminal 3 is provided with a user authentication unit 31 similar to the user authentication unit 14 of the end user terminal 1 installed in the end user home 6, and connects to the content distribution server 4 to authenticate the end user. I do. The end user terminal 3 is provided with a distribution reservation unit 32 similar to the distribution reservation unit 15 of the end user terminal 1, and can connect to the content distribution server 4 to make a reservation for content distribution.

The content distribution server 4 includes a content distribution unit 40 for distributing the content via the Internet 9 to the distributed server 5 closest to the end user, the end user terminal 1 installed at the end user home 6, or the end user home. 6, a user authentication unit 41 for performing end user authentication when the end user connects to the content distribution server 4 by using the end user terminal 3 installed in a place other than the end user 6, and a distribution reservation for receiving a content distribution reservation from the end user The receiving unit 42 manages a distribution plan for end users for distributing contents from the distributed arrangement server 5 to the end users, and, as a content distribution capability of the entire contents distribution system, a hard disk usage rate (accumulation) of each distributed arrangement server 5 Rate), by end-user terminal 1 Distribution management unit 43 the number of simultaneous accesses to the distributed server 5, and the expected service band from distributed server 5 to the end user's home 6 manages every time
Is provided.

The content distribution server 4 determines whether or not content distribution is possible in response to a content distribution reservation from an end user, based on an end user distribution plan of a distribution management unit 43 and a distribution availability determination unit 44. A distributed distribution planning unit 45 that plans content distribution from the content distribution server 4 to the distributed server 5 in advance, and stores personal information of the end user (for example, information such as name, address, telephone number, and the nearest distributed server). A user management unit 46 for managing, a content storage unit 47 for storing a content file of content to be distributed to the end user, a distribution request receiving unit 48 for receiving a content distribution request from the end user, and a content distribution request from the end user. Download of the desired content to the end user terminal 1 of the end user. The load, the end-user terminal 1
Is provided with a download command unit 49 for instructing the distributed arrangement server 5 corresponding to.

Here, the operation of the distribution permission / non-permission determining section 44 for determining whether or not the content can be distributed to the end user will be described. The distribution management unit 43 that manages the schedule of the content distribution reservation includes, as the content distribution capability of the entire system, an expected hard disk usage rate (accumulation rate), an expected number of accesses from end users, and a distributed location for each distributed location server 5. End user home 6 from server 5
The expected usage bandwidth of the communication line up to the time is grasped every hour. The expected hard disk usage and the expected number of accesses can be derived from the distribution plan for end users. Also, as the expected use band, if it is a band used in the content distribution system, it can be derived from a distribution plan for end users. The used bandwidth information obtained from the network side may be added to the consideration. For these three points, threshold values are set in advance, and if the value is less than the threshold value, content distribution is possible. If the value is equal to or greater than the threshold value, content distribution is not performed.

When a content distribution reservation is newly made by an end user, the hard disk usage of the distributed deployment server increases due to this, the number of simultaneous accesses to the distributed deployment server at the reserved time, and the distribution increase due to the content distribution. With respect to the three values of the expected bandwidth of the communication line from the arrangement server to the end user, it is examined whether or not each of the three values exceeds the threshold value. Then, it is determined whether to accept or reject the content distribution reservation from the end user based on a predetermined criterion for integrating these three values, for example, a criterion for determining whether all three values are exceeded.

A plurality of distributed allocation servers 5 are arranged in a service providing area so as to accommodate one or more end user terminals 1 located in a region within a certain spatial range from each distributed allocation server 5. Is done. Each of the distributed arrangement servers 5 is stored in the content storage unit 51 for storing content reserved by an end user belonging to the area where the server is accommodated, and is stored in the content storage unit 51 in response to an instruction from the content distribution server 4. Content distribution unit 52 that distributes the content to the end user terminal 1
Are provided.

By providing one distributed server 5 for a plurality of end users, when a distribution request of the same content is received from a plurality of end users accommodated in the same distributed server 5, the distributed The content file can be shared in the arrangement server 5. The distributed servers 5 are distributed according to the regional distribution of end users. This makes it possible to avoid the control of the communication line when distributing the content file, and to configure a network that allows the end user to download the content in a shorter time.

The contents stored in the distributed arrangement server 5 are deleted when the reproducible period applied by the end user has expired. At this time, the distributed server 5
The content distribution unit 52 examines the reproducible period based on the distribution plan of each content notified in advance from the content distribution server 4, and deletes the corresponding content according to the termination. Note that the content distribution server 4
Then, the reproducible period of the content stored in each distributed arrangement server 5 may be checked, and a content erasure command may be transmitted to the distributed arrangement server 5 upon completion. As described above, since the content whose reproducible period has expired is deleted, an increase in the hard disk usage rate (accumulation rate) in the content storage unit 51 can be suppressed, and the content distribution capability of the entire system can be effectively used.

The end user terminal 1 and the end user terminal 3 are composed of an information processing device such as a computer.
U, memory, hardware such as a signal processing circuit, and software for controlling these hardware cooperate,
Each function is realized. Further, the content distribution server 4 and the distributed arrangement server 5 are composed of a network server device based on an information processing device such as a computer.
U, memory, hardware such as a signal processing circuit, and software for controlling these hardware cooperate,
Each function is realized.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram illustrating a content distribution method according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating processing inside the content distribution server. First,
The end user operates the end user terminal 1 to perform a service application / pre-registration procedure. In response,
A content distribution service application is made by transmitting necessary various information from the user authentication unit 14 of the end user terminal 1 to the content distribution server 4 (step 10).
0). In the content distribution server 4, this service application is accepted by the user authentication unit 41, and the user management unit 46
, A new user is registered, and the end of the service registration is notified to the end user terminal 1 (step 101). At this time, as means for authentication confirmation, for example, user identification information (ID) or a password may be given to an end user, and this may be registered in the user management unit 46.

[0032] The end user, the end user terminal 1
Alternatively, when an operation for making a content distribution reservation is performed at the end user terminal 3, the end user terminal 1
User authentication unit 14 or the user authentication unit 3 of the end user terminal 3 installed in a place other than the end user home 6.
1 requests the content distribution server 4 for user authentication (step 102). In response, in the content distribution server 4, the user authentication unit 41 performs authentication confirmation. This operation is performed in conjunction with the user management unit 46. Then, the user authentication unit 41 determines whether the result of the authentication check is valid or not from the end user terminal 1 or the end user terminal 3.
Is notified (step 103). At the time of content distribution reservation, if the end user terminal 1 or the end user terminal 3 has, for example, a function of a web browser, the user accesses the reception homepage of the content distribution server 4 and inputs a user ID and a password. User authentication by the user authentication unit 41 and the user management unit 46 can be received.

Subsequently, when an operation for applying for a distribution reservation is performed at the end user terminal 1 or the end user terminal 3 by the end user, the distribution reservation unit 15 of the end user terminal 1 or the end user terminal 3 is operated. The distribution reservation unit 32 makes an application to the content distribution server 4 for a distribution reservation for setting a content name to be used and a reproducible period of the content (step 104).
In the content distribution server 4, after the distribution reservation receiving unit 42 receives an application for distribution reservation from the end user,
The user management unit 46 checks the address of the end user and confirms the distributed server 5 used by the end user. Then, the distribution management unit 4 determines whether the distribution
After verifying whether or not the reservation can be accepted in conjunction with Step 3, the distribution reservation accepting unit 42 notifies the acceptance or rejection of the reservation application (step 105).

The accepted content distribution reservation is stored and managed by the distribution management unit 43 as a distribution plan for end users. Then, based on the distribution plan for the end user, a distributed distribution plan is performed by the distributed distribution plan unit 45 so that the reserved content is distributed to the distributed arrangement server 5 by the start of the reproducible period, and the distributed storage plan 47 Delivery is instructed. Thereby, the reserved content stored in the content storage unit 47 is distributed from the content distribution unit 40 to the distributed arrangement server 5 corresponding to the reserved end user.

Thereafter, when an operation for making a content distribution request is performed by the end user at the end user terminal 1, as in steps 102 and 103 for making a content distribution reservation described above, the end user terminal 1 User authentication is performed by the user authentication unit 14 (steps 106 and 107). Subsequently, the end user operates the end user terminal 1 to specify a content name or the like and makes a distribution request for the content whose reservation has been accepted. Here, if the distribution request is within the reserved reproducible period, the distribution request section 16 of the end user terminal 1 issues a content distribution request to the content distribution server 4 (step 108).

In the content distribution server 4, the distribution request is received by the distribution request receiving unit 48 and an inquiry is made to the distribution management unit 43. If this distribution request is valid according to the distribution reservation and is accepted by the distribution management unit 43,
The download instruction unit 49 instructs the distributed server 5 to distribute contents to the end user terminal 1. In response, the distributed arrangement server 5 reads out the content distributed from the content distribution server 4 earlier and stored in the content storage unit 51, and distributes the content file from the content distribution unit 52 (step 1).
09). Thereby, the requested content is downloaded to the end user terminal 1 via the Internet 9.

In the end user terminal 1, the data in the downloaded content file is transmitted to the audio decoding unit 1.
2 and the video decoding unit 13 decodes the audio signal and the video signal. Then, these audio signals and video signals are output from the audio output unit 17 and the video output unit 18 to the content reproduction device 2. Thus, the desired content is reproduced and output to the end user by the audio reproduction unit 21 and the video reproduction unit 22 of the content reproduction device 2.

As described above, in the first embodiment, each end user terminal 1
Since the distribution reservation of the content is received in advance, the propriety of distribution is determined based on the content distribution capability of the system, and the desired content is distributed based on the reservation of the distribution permission. Is different, the content distribution server 4 can predict the number of connections from the end user to the content distribution server in advance. Therefore, since the number of connections from the end user to the content distribution server can be easily controlled, unnecessary capital investment can be suppressed, congestion can be avoided in advance, and content can be efficiently distributed according to the facility scale of the entire system. it can.

Also, a distributed location server 5 is provided between the content distribution server 4 and the end user terminal 1, and the content reserved for distribution from the end user terminal is distributed to the distributed arrangement server 5 in advance and stored. Since the distribution is performed from the distributed arrangement server 5 to the end user terminal 1, the concentration of processing to the content distribution server 4 can be reduced, and the resources of the entire system can be efficiently used. Furthermore, in response to a distribution request from the end user terminal 1 to the content distribution server 4 after the distribution reservation, the content distribution command is issued from the content distribution server 4 to the distributed distribution server 5. Need not be provided with a function of processing access from the end user terminal 1, the configuration of the distributed server 5 can be simplified, and an inexpensive system can be configured.

The content distribution server 4 accepts a reproducible period of the content at the time of reserving the content distribution by the end user, and in response to a distribution request from the end user terminal 1 during the reproducible period, the distributed arrangement server. 5, the content can be downloaded at any time during the reproducible period, and a content distribution service flexibly corresponding to the end user can be provided. Furthermore, as the content stored in the distributed server 5 is deleted as the reproducible period elapses, the limited storage amount of the distributed server 5 can be efficiently used.

Next, a content distribution system according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a detailed block diagram of a content distribution system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the first embodiment, a case has been described as an example where general digital content such as video data and audio data previously stored in the content distribution server 4 is distributed. In the present embodiment, a case will be described as an example where a television broadcast program (hereinafter, referred to as a TV program) is distributed from the content distribution server 4 as content.

As shown in FIG. 5, the functional block diagram of the content distribution system according to this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, and is the same as or equivalent to the content distribution system of FIG. Are denoted by the same reference numerals. In the present embodiment, the content distribution server 4
In order to distribute the V program as content, the content distribution server 4 is provided with a TV program recording unit 50 for receiving and recording a TV program requested by an end user.

When the end user requests distribution of a TV program to be broadcasted, for example, not only the program name, the channel, and the recording time zone, but also the period during which the end user can receive the distribution of the recorded video file, A reproducible period (for example, one day, three days, one week, one month, one year, etc.) is set. On the other hand, for the reserved TV program, the end user can operate the end user terminal 1 and issue a distribution request in the same manner as in the case of requesting the content distribution described above. At this time, for example, if the end user terminal 1 is equipped with a web browser function, the user selects the reserved content through the reception homepage of the content distribution server 4 and stores the recorded video file in the distributed arrangement server near the end user home 6. 5 can be downloaded.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram illustrating a content distribution method according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating processing inside the content distribution server. First,
The end user operates the end user terminal 1 to perform a service application / pre-registration procedure. In response,
A content distribution service application is made by transmitting necessary various information from the user authentication unit 14 of the end user terminal 1 to the content distribution server 4 (step 10).
0). In the content distribution server 4, this service application is accepted by the user authentication unit 41, and the user management unit 46
, A new user is registered, and the end of the service registration is notified to the end user terminal 1 (step 101). At this time, as means for authentication confirmation, for example, user identification information (ID) or a password may be given to an end user, and this may be registered in the user management unit 46.

The end user sets the end user terminal 1
Or, when an operation for making a content distribution reservation is performed at the end user terminal 3, the end user terminal 1
User authentication unit 14 or the user authentication unit 3 of the end user terminal 3 installed in a place other than the end user home 6.
1 requests the content distribution server 4 for user authentication (step 102). In response, in the content distribution server 4, the user authentication unit 41 performs authentication confirmation. This work is performed in conjunction with the user management unit 46. Then, the user authentication unit 41 determines whether the result of the authentication check is valid or not from the end user terminal 1 or the end user terminal 3.
Is notified (step 103). At the time of content distribution reservation, if the end user terminal 1 or the end user terminal 3 has, for example, a function of a web browser, the user accesses the reception homepage of the content distribution server 4 and inputs a user ID and a password. User authentication by the user authentication unit 41 and the user management unit 46 can be received.

Subsequently, when the end user performs an operation for applying for a program recording reservation at the end user terminal 1 or the end user terminal 3, the end user terminal 1
From the distribution reservation unit 15 or the distribution reservation unit 32 of the end user terminal 3 to the content distribution server 4 to apply for a program recording reservation for setting the name of a TV program to be recorded, a channel, a time zone, and a reproducible period of the content. Is performed (step 114). In the content distribution server 4, the distribution reservation receiving unit 42 receives an application for program recording reservation from the end user, and then the user management unit 46
The address of the end user is collated, and the distributed arrangement server 5 used by the end user is confirmed. Then, after the distribution acceptability determining unit 44 verifies whether the reservation can be accepted in cooperation with the distribution management unit 43, the delivery reservation accepting unit 42 notifies the acceptance or rejection of the reservation application (step 10).
5).

The accepted TV program reservation is stored and managed by the distribution management unit 43 as a distribution plan for end users. The reserved TV program is recorded by the TV program recording unit 50 based on the distribution plan for the end user, and the recorded TV program file is passed to the content storage unit 47 and stored. Then, a distribution plan is performed so that the TV program file is distributed to the distributed arrangement server 5 by the start of the reproducible period, and a distribution instruction is given to the content storage unit 47. Thereby, the TV programs stored in the content storage unit 47 are distributed from the content distribution unit 40 to the distributed arrangement server 5 corresponding to the reserved end user.

After that, when the end user performs an operation for making a TV program distribution request at the end user terminal 1, similarly to the above steps 102 and 103 for making a content distribution reservation, the end user terminal 1 is operated. The user is authenticated by the user authentication unit 14 (step 1).
06,107). Subsequently, the end user operates the end user terminal 1 to designate a TV program name or the like and makes a distribution request for a TV program whose reservation has already been accepted. Here, if the distribution request is within the reserved reproducible period, the distribution request section 16 of the end user terminal 1 requests the content distribution server 4 to distribute the TV program (step 118).

In the content distribution server 4, the distribution request is received by the distribution request receiving unit 48, and an inquiry is made to the distribution managing unit 43. If this distribution request is valid according to the distribution reservation and is accepted by the distribution management unit 43,
The download instruction unit 49 instructs the distributed server 5 to distribute contents to the end user terminal 1. In response to this, the distributed arrangement server 5 reads out the TV program distributed from the content distribution server 4 earlier and stored in the content storage unit 51, and distributes the file from the content distribution unit 52 (step 119). ).
Thereby, the requested TV program is downloaded to the end user terminal 1 via the Internet 9.

In the end user terminal 1, the TV program in the downloaded content file is decoded into an audio signal and a video signal by the audio decoding unit 12 and the video decoding unit 13. Then, these audio signals and video signals are transmitted from the audio output unit 17 and the video output unit 18 to the content reproduction device 2.
Output to As a result, the desired TV program is reproduced and output to the end user by the audio reproduction unit 21 and the video reproduction unit 22 of the content reproduction device 2.

As described above, in the second embodiment, in addition to the configuration of the first embodiment, the TV recorder 50 is provided in the content distribution server 4, and based on the TV program recording reservation from the end user. Since the TV recording unit 50 records the TV program and distributes it in the same manner as the content in the first embodiment, the same operation and effect as those in the first embodiment can be obtained. As in the case of contents such as movies and the like, TV programs desired by end users can be distributed, and a wide range of content distribution services can be provided. As a result, there is an effect that it is no longer necessary for the individual to own the content reproduction device (video deck) as in the related art, and it is not necessary for the individual to own and manage the storage medium (eg, video tape, DVD, etc.).

[0052]

As described above, according to the present invention, the end user terminal is provided with a distribution reservation section for reserving distribution of desired content to the content distribution server, and the content distribution server is provided with the end reservation terminal. A distribution reservation receiving unit that receives a distribution reservation of the content from the user terminal, a distribution permission determination unit that determines whether the distribution reservation is possible based on the content distribution capability of the system, and the distribution determination unit determines that the reservation is permitted. A distribution management unit that manages a distribution reservation and a content distribution unit that distributes desired content based on the distribution reservation managed by the distribution management unit are provided. The content distribution server makes a content distribution reservation from each end user terminal in advance. Acceptance, determines whether distribution is possible based on the system's content distribution capability, and In which it was to deliver the Nozomi content. Thus, even if the contents of the distribution request from each end user terminal are different, the content distribution server can predict the number of connections from the end user to the content distribution server in advance.
Therefore, since the number of connections from the end user to the content distribution server can be easily controlled, unnecessary capital investment can be suppressed, congestion can be avoided in advance, and content can be efficiently distributed according to the facility scale of the entire system. it can.

Further, a TV recording unit is provided in the content distribution server, and based on a TV program recording reservation from an end user, the TV recording unit records the TV program and distributes the TV program in the same manner as general digital contents. Thus, the TV program desired by the end user can be distributed in the same manner as the content such as a movie, and a wide range of content distribution services can be provided. As a result, there is an effect that it is no longer necessary for the individual to own the content reproduction device (video deck) as in the related art, and it is not necessary for the individual to own and manage the storage medium (eg, video tape, DVD, etc.).

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a content distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a content distribution system according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram illustrating a content distribution method according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating processing inside the content distribution server according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a content distribution system according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram illustrating a content distribution method according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating processing inside a content distribution server according to the second embodiment;

[Description of Signs] 1 ... end user terminal, 2 ... content playback device, 3 ...
User terminal, 4 ... Content distribution server, 5 ... Distributed server, 6 ... User terminal, 9 ... Internet, 11 ...
Internet connection unit, 12 ... Audio decoding unit, 13 ...
Video decoding unit, 14: User authentication unit, 15: Distribution reservation unit, 16: Distribution request unit, 17: Audio output unit, 18: Video output unit, 21: Audio reproduction unit, 22: Video reproduction unit, 31 ...
User authentication unit, 32: distribution reservation unit, 40: content distribution unit, 41: user authentication unit, 42: distribution reservation reception unit, 4
3 ... Distribution management unit, 44 ... Distribution availability determination unit, 45 ... Distributed distribution planning unit, 46 ... User management unit, 47 ... Content storage unit, 48 ... Distribution request reception unit, 49 ... Download instruction unit, 50 ... TV program recording Unit, 51 ... content storage unit,
52 ... Content distribution unit.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Yoji Kurusu 2-3-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Shoichi Furushiro Babacho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka No. 3-15 No. 15 F-term in Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (reference) 5B075 KK02 PQ05 5C052 AA03 AB02 AB03 AC08 CC01 CC06 DD04 5C064 BA01 BA07 BB07 BC07 BC16 BC18 BC20 BC23 BC27 BD02 BD07 BD08 BD09

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A digital content comprising a content distribution server and a plurality of end user terminals interconnected via a communication network and comprising video data and audio data requested by a user, is communicated from the content distribution server. A content distribution system that distributes to a user end user terminal via a network, wherein the end user terminal has a distribution reservation unit that reserves distribution of desired content to the content distribution server, A content distribution server, a distribution reservation receiving unit that receives a distribution reservation of the content from the end user terminal, a distribution permission determination unit that determines whether the distribution reservation is possible based on the content distribution capability of the system, and a distribution permission determination unit. A distribution management unit that manages a distribution reservation determined to be reservable in Content distribution system characterized by having a content delivery unit for delivering the desired content based on the distribution reservation managed by the distribution management unit. 2. The content distribution system according to claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of distributed arrangement servers provided between the content distribution server and one or more of the end user terminals. A distributed distribution planning unit that instructs the content distribution unit to distribute content to be distributed to each end user terminal to a distributed arrangement server corresponding to the end user terminal based on a distribution reservation managed by the distribution management unit. Each of the distributed distribution servers includes a content storage unit that temporarily stores content distributed from the content distribution server, and an end-user terminal that is a distribution request source of the content stored in the content storage unit. And a content delivery unit for delivering content to the content delivery system. M 3. The content distribution system according to claim 2, wherein the content distribution server is configured to receive a distribution request received by the end user terminal and a distribution request managed by the distribution management unit. A download instructing unit that instructs a distributed server corresponding to an end user terminal serving as a distribution request source to distribute content to the end user terminal in accordance with the validity check of the distribution request based on the distribution request. A content distribution system, wherein the content distribution unit of the arrangement server distributes a corresponding content to the end user terminal based on a content distribution command from the content distribution server. 4. The content distribution system according to claim 3, wherein the distribution reservation receiving unit of the content distribution server receives a reproducible period of the desired content at the time of the distribution reservation from the end user terminal; Is a content distribution system for confirming the validity of the distribution request based on the reproducible period accepted in the distribution reservation. 5. The content distribution system according to claim 3, wherein the content storage unit of the distributed arrangement server deletes the content whose reproducible period has elapsed among the stored contents. system. 6. The content distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the content distribution system further includes a broadcast program recording unit that records a television broadcast program, and wherein the distribution management unit performs the television broadcast by the distribution reservation. When the distribution of the program is reserved, the broadcast program recording unit instructs recording of a television broadcast program, and the content distribution unit includes:
A content distribution system, which distributes a television broadcast program recorded by the broadcast program recording as content. 7. A content distribution server comprising a content distribution server and a plurality of end user terminals connected to each other via a communication network, wherein a content comprising video data and audio data requested by an end user is transmitted from the content distribution server to the communication network. A content distribution method for distributing the desired content to the end user terminal of the end user via the content distribution server. It accepts a content distribution reservation from a user terminal, determines whether or not the distribution reservation is possible based on the content distribution capability of the system, manages the distribution reservation determined to be reservable, and sets a desired distribution reservation based on these managed distribution reservations. Content that is characterized by delivering content Tsu delivery method. 8. The content distribution method according to claim 7, wherein the content distribution server transmits the content to be distributed to each end user terminal based on the distribution reservation managed by the content distribution server and each of the end user terminals. Of a plurality of distributed servers provided between the distributed user servers, the distributed server corresponding to the end-user terminal, and each distributed server temporarily stores the content distributed from the content distribution server. And distributing the stored content to end-user terminals that are the respective distribution request sources. 9. The content distribution method according to claim 8, wherein the content distribution server receives a content distribution request from the end user terminal, and responds to the validity confirmation of the distribution request based on the managed distribution reservation. Commanding the distributed server corresponding to the end user terminal that is the distribution request source to distribute the content to the end user terminal, wherein each of the distributed servers responds based on the content distribution command from the content distribution server. A content distribution method for distributing content to the end user. 10. The content distribution method according to claim 9, wherein the content distribution server receives a reproducible period of the desired content at the time of the distribution reservation from the end user terminal, and receives the reproducible period received by the distribution reservation. A content distribution method, wherein the validity of the distribution request is confirmed based on a period. 11. The content distribution method according to claim 9, wherein the distributed arrangement server deletes the content whose reproducible period has elapsed among the stored contents. 12. The content distribution method according to claim 7, wherein, when distribution of a television broadcast program is reserved by the distribution reservation, the television broadcast program is recorded and the recorded television is recorded. A content distribution method characterized by distributing a John broadcast program as content.