JP2002373155A - Contents distribution system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a contents distribution system capable of realizing high speed processing by reducing the dependency of software processing, and realizing the transfer of a two-way packet between a user and a contents server suitable for requested quality in a contents distribution network. SOLUTION: In this identifier cooperative type contents distribution system, an access device is provided with a means for performing the corresponding management of contents ID and the virtual network ID of a virtual network for transferring the contents and the corresponding management of the contents ID and a quality class in transferring the contents, and for performing the application of the quality identifier of the quality class to the packet of a contents distribution server connection request or a contents acquisition request transmitted from a user based on the contents ID applied to the packet and the transfer of the packet to the virtual network.

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 for performing distribution in accordance with the content of a content, and more particularly, to an identifier-linked system for providing content distribution for flexibly controlling quality and security for each content or each content provider. The present invention relates to a technology effective when applied to a content distribution quality control system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, content distribution is performed via a network such as the Internet. A user accesses a content distribution server for distributing content via the network, and transmits a content transmitted from the content distribution server. The content can be used by receiving and performing a reproduction process or the like in various devices.

FIG. 31 is a diagram showing an example of a content distribution system based on the prior art. The conventional system mainly includes content distribution servers 201 and 202 and a user management server 212 as server functions mainly having a role of information management.
And a content management server 211, a connection manager 283 mainly responsible for connection and network state management, a network configuration manager 281 and a quality manager 282, an access device 231 mainly responsible for information transfer, a content distribution server accommodating device 241, and 242, and data transfer devices 251 to 253. The content delivery network 271 is connected to the access device 231, the content delivery server accommodating devices 241 and 242, and the data transfer devices 251 to 253. Is formed.

[0004] Content distribution servers 201 and 202
Accumulates content to be provided to the user 221,
Upon receiving a content distribution server connection request or a content acquisition request from the user 221, the requested content is transmitted to the user 221 and the user management server 212
Manages user information and billing information of each user.

A content ID is assigned to each content, and a server ID is assigned to each content distribution server. The content management server 211 manages the correspondence between the content ID and the server ID of the content distribution server that stores the content. .

[0006] The network configuration manager 281 manages the configuration of the content distribution network 271, and provides the content distribution network 271 to each of the data transfer devices 251 to 253, the access device 231, and the content distribution server accommodating devices 241 and 242. Make the necessary settings to build

[0007] The quality manager 282 includes the content distribution server accommodating devices 241 and 242 and the access device 23.
1. Monitor the amount of information traffic or processing load handled by each of the data transfer devices 251 to 253 and the content distribution servers 201 and 202.

[0008] The access device 231 establishes a connection between the content distribution server and the user, and transfers information or content transmitted and received between the two. Data transfer device 2
Reference numerals 51 to 253 transfer information or contents transmitted and received between the access device 231 and the content distribution server accommodating device 241 or 242.

[0009] The content distribution server accommodating devices 241 and 242 are provided with the content distribution servers 201 and 2 respectively.
02 is accommodated, and the accommodation management is performed based on the management of the server ID. Transfers a content distribution server connection request or a content acquisition request sent from the data transfer device 252 to the content distribution server 201 or 202,
The content transmitted from the content distribution server 201 or 202 is transferred to the data transfer device 252.

[0010] A content distribution server connection request or a content acquisition request sent from the user 221 is first received by the connection manager 283. The connection manager 283 inquires of the content management server 211 about the server ID of the content distribution server storing the requested content based on the content request information included in these requests, and acquires the server ID. The connection manager 283 notifies the user 221 of the acquired server ID.

With the above-described functions of the respective devices, a method in which the user 221 acquires a certain content A from the content distribution server 201, for example, is as follows.

The user 221 sends an acquisition request to the connection manager 283 to acquire the content A.
The connection manager 283 sends the information of the content A to the content management server 211, and as a result, acquires the server ID of the content distribution server 201 in which the content A is stored from the content management server 211. The acquired server ID is transmitted from the connection manager 283 to the user 2
21 is notified.

In this series of operations, the connection manager 283 can authenticate the user 221 based on the information of the user 221 managed by the user management server 212. In this case, when the user authentication is successful, the connection manager gives the user 221 the server ID.
Notify.

When the user 221 receives the server ID for acquiring the content A, the user 221 receives the server ID.
01, and sends an acquisition request for content A. A server ID is assigned to the packet carrying the acquisition request as a destination, and the access device 231 and the data transfer device 25
1 to 253, and the content distribution server accommodation device 241
Transfers the content A acquisition request sent from the user 221 to the content distribution server 201 based on the server ID.

[0015] The content distribution server 201
When receiving the content A acquisition request from the user 21, the content A is transmitted to the user 221. The packet carrying the content A is given the user ID of the user 221 as a destination, and the content distribution server accommodating device 241,
Data transfer devices 251 to 253 and access device 23
1 is a content distribution server 20 based on the user ID.
Then, the content A transmitted from No. 1 is transferred to the user 221.

The accounting process for the user 221 for the acquisition of the content A by the user 221 is performed by, for example, the content management server 211 or the connection manager 283 managing the acquisition fee of the content A. This is realized by the connection manager 283 sending the user information, the information of the content A, and the fee of the content A to the user management server 212 based on the acquisition request of A.

However, in the above-mentioned conventional technology, there is no means for managing the quality class for each content or each user. Further, this quality class information is transmitted in the form of a quality identifier to each device that transfers content, such as the access device 231 for transferring content, the content distribution server accommodating devices 241 and 242, or the data transfer devices 251 to 253. Each device has no means for performing transfer for each quality class based on the quality identifier.

In addition, in the above-mentioned prior art, it is possible to distinguish a difference in security level for each content, since a user who is permitted to connect is different for each content. This is realized by performing encryption processing in the distribution server, and there is a problem that the processing amount of the content distribution server increases.

In order to solve the above problem, the present inventor has
According to Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-38865, which is a prior application of the present application,
We have proposed a technology that can reduce the processing amount of the content distribution server, maintain security for each content, and distribute the content with quality that meets the quality conditions of the content and the needs of the user.

That is, the present invention is a content-driven content distribution system for performing distribution in accordance with a content for which a distribution request has been made, wherein a user requesting acquisition of a content satisfies an acquisition permission condition of the content. In this case, the content is distributed by assigning a quality identifier indicating a quality class at the time of distributing the content and a virtual network ID for identifying a virtual route for distributing the content.

That is, the content management server manages the quality class for each content ID, and the connection manager notifies the access device of the quality class managed by the content management server. , A quality identifier of the quality class is assigned to the user packet transmitted from the server, and the content distribution network and the data transfer device transfer the user packet based on the quality identifier.

[0022] Also, for a content packet carrying the content sent from the content distribution server,
When the content distribution server or the content distribution server accommodating device assigns a quality identifier based on the quality class, the content distribution network and the data transfer device similarly transfer the content packet based on the quality identifier. As a result, quality reflecting the quality condition of the content can be provided.

Next, the user management server manages the quality class for each user, and the connection manager notifies the access device of the quality class managed by the user management server. Based on this, the access device assigns a quality identifier of the quality class to the user packet transmitted from the user-side processing device, and the content distribution network and the data transfer device transfer the user packet based on the quality identifier.

[0024] Also, for a content packet carrying the content sent from the content distribution server,
When the content distribution server or the content distribution server accommodating device assigns a quality identifier based on the quality class, the content distribution network and the data transfer device similarly transfer the content packet based on the quality identifier.

Next, when a new content is stored in the content distribution server, a virtual network in the content distribution network for the content is generated in the content distribution network, and at the same time, the content distribution server accommodating apparatus stores the content ID of the content. Alternatively, by managing the correspondence between the server ID of the content distribution server storing the content and the virtual network ID of the virtual network, the transfer method can be different for each content, and as a result, the security level for each content can be changed. Can be distinguished. Because security is distinguished by the content distribution network,
This can contribute to reducing the processing amount of the content distribution server. In addition, since the virtual network is generated for each content, it can be applied to quality class identification for each content.

In the above-described manner, the content is delivered by assigning the quality identifier indicating the quality class at the time of delivering the content and the virtual network ID for identifying the virtual route for delivering the content. In addition, it is possible to reduce the processing amount of the content distribution server, maintain security for each content, and distribute the content with a quality corresponding to the quality condition of the content and the needs of the user.

FIG. 2 shows a content-driven content distribution system based on the invention of the prior application. As shown in FIG. 2, the content distribution system of the prior application mainly includes a content distribution server 10 serving as a server function having a role of information management.
1 and 102, a user management server 112 and a content management server 111, a connection manager 183 mainly responsible for connection and network state management, a quality manager 182, an access device 131 mainly responsible for information transfer, and a content distribution server. It comprises devices 141 and 142 and data transfer devices 151-160.

A content distribution network 171 is formed by interconnecting the access device 131, the content distribution server accommodation devices 141 and 142, and the data transfer devices 151 to 160.

The content distribution servers 101 and 10
2 stores the content to be provided to the user 121, and sends the requested content to the user 121 by responding to the content distribution server connection request or the content acquisition request from the user 121.

The user management server 112 manages user information and billing information of each user. In this description, the user information is assumed to be a user ID and a user authentication password for a registered user.

A content ID is assigned to each content, and a device ID is assigned to each content distribution server accommodating device. The content management server 111 determines the content ID and the device ID of the content distribution server accommodating device accommodating the content. Manage correspondence.

The quality manager 182 includes the content distribution server accommodating devices 141 and 142 and the access device 13
1. Monitor the amount of information traffic or processing load handled by each of the data transfer devices 151 to 160 and the content distribution servers 101 and 102.

Here, consider a case where the content distribution system shown in FIG. 2 provides three contents A, B and C. Each content has content IDs A, B, and C, respectively, and the content distribution servers 101 and 10
2 are stored in both. In addition, a quality class is defined for each content, and content A is Hi
gh (quality identifier = 1), content B is Middle
(Quality identifier = 2), and the content C is Low (quality identifier = 3).

The data transfer devices 151 to 160 manage data transfer devices serving as next hops to which packets destined for each device ID or each user are to be transferred. This is a function equivalent to a device generally called Luke.

In addition to the above management, the data transfer devices 151, 154, 155 and 158 manage the virtual network ID = 172 for the content A. As a result, the data transfer devices 151, 154, 155, and 158 transfer only the packet in which the virtual network ID = 172 is described, and do not transfer the packet in which another virtual network ID is described.

The content distribution server accommodating device 141
Content ID = A, server ID = 101 of content distribution server 101 storing content A, and virtual network I
The correspondence with D = 172 is managed. Similarly, the content ID =
A, content distribution server 10 for storing content A
2 manages the correspondence between the server ID = 102 and the virtual network ID = 172.

Based on the method described above, the content A
Virtual network 172 is constructed on the content distribution network 171. Similarly, the virtual network 17 for the content B
3 and a virtual network 174 for the content C are constructed on the content distribution network 171.

Further, with the content distribution system of the prior application having the above functions, the content management server 1
Reference numeral 11 manages the correspondence between the content ID and the virtual network ID, the acquisition permission condition and the quality class for each content, in addition to the correspondence between the content ID and the device ID described above.

The connection manager 183 is a window for acquiring contents to the user, and first receives a contents distribution server connection request or a contents acquisition request sent from the user. In this description, the case where the user 121 acquires the content A will be described. The connection manager 183 receives the content A acquisition request sent from the user 121. The content A acquisition request includes the user ID and the user authentication password, and the connection manager 183 checks the user management server for user authentication.

If the user authentication is successful, the connection manager 183 checks with the content management server whether the user 121 satisfies the condition for permitting acquisition of the content A,
As a result, when the user 121 satisfies the acquisition permission condition, the connection manager 183 sends the content management server 1
Virtual network ID of content A managed by 11 = 17
2, the device ID selected from the device ID = 141 or the device ID = 142, and the quality class = High are notified to the access device 131. The connection manager 183 also notifies the user 121 of the device ID selected from the device ID = 141 or the device ID = 142.

Here, the method for selecting the device ID is as follows. The information manager manages the information traffic volume handled by the content distribution server accommodating devices 141 and 142, and selects the content distribution server accommodating device having a low traffic volume as the connection destination. This is done by making a selection. Here, it is assumed that the traffic volume of the content distribution server accommodating device 141 is small, and the access device 131 has the device ID = 1.
41 is to be notified.

As another method of selecting a device ID, a method of selecting a device ID of a content distribution server accommodating device accommodating a content distribution server having a small processing load among the content distribution servers 101 and 102 may be considered. Is added.

Upon receiving the notification of the device ID = 141, the user 121 thereafter gives the device ID = 141 as the destination of the content A request packet to be sent to the content distribution server 101.

On the other hand, virtual network ID = 172, device ID = 1
41 and the quality class = High, the access device 131 adds the virtual network ID =
At the same time as adding 172, the quality identifier = 1 is also added to the packet header, and the user packet is transferred to the virtual network 172. Thereby, the content A request packet is transmitted to the virtual network 1
72, the virtual network ID = 172 attached to the packet header and the device I at the same time as the transfer with high quality (for example, a low packet discard rate is guaranteed) based on the quality identifier = 1.
The content is transferred to the content distribution server accommodating device 141 based on the two IDs of D = 141.

The contents distribution server accommodating device 141
The content request packet from the user 121 is transferred to the content distribution server 101. In response to the content A request, the content distribution server 101 sends out the content A. The content distribution server accommodating device 141 has the quality class = H managed by the content management server 111.
Based on i.sub.h, the quality identifier = 1 is assigned to the packet header of the content packet carrying the content A, and the content packet is transferred to the virtual network 172. As a result, the content packet has a high quality on the virtual network 172 based on the quality identifier = 1, and the access device 1
31 and finally delivered to the user 121.

Here, the content distribution server accommodating device 1
The method of 41 assigning the quality identifier = 1 to the packet header of the content packet can also be realized by referring to the quality identifier = 1 assigned to the content request packet from the user 121 and copying this. Is added.

In addition, the operation of giving the quality identifier = 1 to the packet header of the content packet is also realized by the content distribution server 101 instead of the content distribution server accommodating device 141 in both of the realization methods. Add that.

The calculation and management of the acquisition fee generated when the user 121 acquires the content A is performed as follows. Connection manager 183 and user management server 112
And the user authentication performed between
After it is confirmed that the first content A acquisition permission condition is satisfied, the user management server 112 acquires the content A acquisition fee information from the content management server 111 and manages this information.

[0049]

In the above-mentioned prior invention, the connection manager 183 notifies the access device 131 of the virtual network ID, the quality class, and the selected device ID. Further, the quality class is notified to the content distribution server accommodation device 141. In this way, the access device and the content distribution server accommodating device can know the virtual network ID and the quality class to be assigned to the content A request packet and the content packet for the first time based on these notifications.

For this reason, in the access device or the content distribution server accommodating device, after the notification of the virtual network ID and the quality class from the connection manager, the preparation time until the actual giving operation can be performed by the user.
If the time is longer than the time when the request arrives, the virtual network ID and the quality class cannot be assigned to the content A request, resulting in an increase in connection delay or communication failure. Actually, when the giving operation is performed inside the apparatus for the first time triggered by a notification from the outside, the dependence of the software processing is generally large, and the high-speed processing is limited.

The shortening of the preparation time can be improved by improving the processing capability of the access device or the content distribution server accommodating device. However, shortening the preparation time greatly depends on the instantaneous processing load of the access device or the content distribution server accommodating device, so that it is difficult to take measures only by improving the processing capability.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a technology capable of reducing the dependence of software processing on a content distribution system and enabling high-speed processing.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of realizing transfer of packets in both directions between a user and a content server in a content distribution network in accordance with required quality.

The above and other objects and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

[0055]

The outline of the invention disclosed in the present application is briefly described as follows.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a content distribution server which stores at least one content and transmits the content in response to a content distribution server connection request or a content acquisition request, and management of a content ID assigned to each content. A content management server that manages the device ID of the content distribution server housing device that stores each content, manages the acquisition permission condition for each content, and manages the correspondence between the content ID and the device ID that stores the content; A content distribution server connection request or a content acquisition request sent from the user is received, and the received information and the traffic of the content distribution server accommodating device, access device, data transfer device, and content distribution server monitored by the quality manager are received. Volume or processing load A connection manager having means for specifying a device ID and notifying the user of the device ID, and a content distribution server connection request or a content acquisition request retransmitted from the user after the connection manager notifies the user of the device ID. An access device having means for transferring to the data transfer device based on the device ID of the destination, means for transferring the content transmitted from the data transfer device to the user, and the content distribution server, A content delivery server accommodating device having means for transferring a content delivery server connection request or a content acquisition request sent to a content delivery server, and a means for transferring a packet carrying content sent from the content delivery server to a data transfer device; Unit, multiple contents Means for managing a virtual network ID given to each virtual network formed in units of content providers or a plurality of content providers, and a content delivery server accommodating apparatus for receiving the content delivery server connection request or the content acquisition request. , The data transfer device having means for transferring the content on the virtual network toward the access device accommodating the destination user, the access device, and the content. A distribution server accommodation device, and a content distribution network formed by interconnecting the data transfer device;
A quality manager for monitoring at least an information traffic amount or a processing load amount handled by the content distribution server accommodating device, the access device, the data transfer device, or the content distribution server; A user management server that manages at least user information among the information, wherein the access device manages correspondence between a content ID and a virtual network ID of a virtual network to which the content is transferred; It manages the correspondence between the ID and the quality class when transferring the content, and based on the content ID given to the packet of the content distribution server connection request or the content acquisition request sent from the user, Of quality class A content distribution system having means to grant the quality identifiers and transfer to the virtual network.

According to a second invention, in the first content distribution system, the content distribution server accommodating apparatus manages correspondence between the content ID and a virtual network ID of a virtual network to which the content is transferred, and manages the content ID and the content. Manage the correspondence with the quality class when transferring
Assigning a quality identifier of the quality class to a packet carrying the content sent from the content distribution server based on the content ID assigned to the content distribution server connection request or the content acquisition request packet sent from the data transfer device. And means for performing transfer to the virtual network.

According to a third aspect, in the content distribution system according to the first or second aspect, the content distribution network and the data transfer device include a packet for a content distribution server connection request or a content acquisition request, and a content. It has means for performing a different transfer method for packets for each quality class on the virtual network based on the quality identifier.

According to a fourth aspect, in the content distribution system according to the first aspect, the content ID is a URL.
(Universal Resource Locator) or a part of the URL, the access device manages the correspondence of the virtual network ID and the quality class to the URL or part of the information of the URL, and receives a content distribution server connection request sent from the user or It has means for reading the URL attached to the packet of the content acquisition request, assigning a quality identifier of the quality class to the packet, and transferring the packet to the virtual network.

According to a fifth aspect, in the content distribution system according to the second aspect, the content ID is a URL.
Alternatively, the content distribution server accommodating device, which is a part of the URL, manages the correspondence of the virtual network ID and the quality class to the URL or a part of the information of the URL, and receives the content distribution server connection request transmitted from the data transfer device or A device having means for reading a URL assigned to a packet of a content acquisition request, assigning a quality identifier of the quality class to the packet carrying the content sent from the content distribution server, and transferring the packet to the virtual network. It is.

According to a sixth aspect, in the content distribution system according to the fourth or fifth aspect, quality class information for a packet of a content distribution server connection request or a content acquisition request and a packet carrying the content are stored in the URL. The access device reads both the quality class information for the content distribution server connection request or the content acquisition request packet in the URL, and reads the quality class information for the content distribution server connection request or the content acquisition request packet in the URL. Means for assigning a quality identifier of the quality class, and the content distribution server accommodating device, by reading the quality class information for the packet carrying the content in the URL, places the content sent from the content distribution server. Packet to, and has a means for applying a quality identifier of the quality classes.

That is, in the present invention, the access device and the content distribution server accommodating device are provided with the content I
It manages the correspondence between D and the virtual network ID and the correspondence between the content ID and the quality class. The content ID is added to a packet of a content distribution server connection request or a content acquisition request sent from the user.

When the access device receives the packet of the content distribution server connection request or the content acquisition request, the access device reads the content ID and responds to the packet.
A quality identifier of the quality class is assigned and transferred to the virtual network.

The content distribution server accommodating device also
When a packet for a content distribution server connection request or a content acquisition request is received, the content ID is read. However, the assignment of the quality identifier of the quality class performed by the content distribution server accommodating apparatus is performed on the content packet sent from the content distribution server.

By the above means, the quality identifier of the quality class can be assigned and transferred to the virtual network without depending on the notification from the outside, so that the dependency of the software processing can be reduced. As a result, high-speed processing becomes possible.

The access device can assign a quality identifier of the quality class to the packet of the content distribution server connection request or the content acquisition request and transfer the packet to the virtual network at a high speed. In addition, the content distribution server accommodating device can assign a quality identifier of the quality class and transfer the content packet to the virtual network at a high speed. Thus, it is possible to avoid an increase in connection delay or a situation in which communication is not possible.

The access device assigns a quality identifier of the quality class to the packet of the content distribution server connection request or the content acquisition request and transfers the packet to the virtual network. In order to provide a quality identifier of the quality class and transfer the packet to the virtual network, transfer of a packet in both directions between the user and the content server in the content distribution network is performed in accordance with the required quality of the content. Can be.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings together with embodiments (examples) according to the present invention.

[0068]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A schematic configuration of a content-driven content distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention is the same as the configuration of the invention shown in FIG.

The case where the content-driven content distribution system of this embodiment provides three contents A, B and C is considered. Each content has content IDs A, B, and C, respectively, and the content distribution server 101
And 102.

The data transfer devices 151 to 160 manage the correspondence between a base ID (or device ID) to be described later and a data transfer device as a next hop for transferring a packet to each base ID (or each device ID). ing. This is a function equivalent to a device generally called a router.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the content distribution servers 101 and 102 of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the content distribution server of this embodiment
U301, memory 302, magnetic disk device 303
, Input device 304, output device 305, CD-RO
An M device 306 and a communication device 307 are provided.

The CPU 301 is a device that controls the operation of the entire content distribution server. The memory 302 is a storage device that loads various processing programs and data for controlling the operation of the entire content distribution server.

The magnetic disk device 303 is a storage device for storing the various processing programs and data. The input device 304 is a device that performs various inputs for distributing content. The output device 305 is a device that performs various types of output associated with content distribution.

The CD-ROM device 306 is a device for reading the contents of the CD-ROM in which the various processing programs are recorded. The communication device 307 is a device that communicates with another processing device via a network.

The content distribution server has a virtual network information update processing unit 311 and a content distribution processing unit 312.

The virtual network information update processing unit 311 is a processing unit for notifying the content distribution server accommodating device of the content ID of the new content and the virtual network ID. The content distribution processing unit 312 is a processing unit that distributes the content requested by the user-side processing device 121 to the content distribution server housing device.

A program for causing the content distribution server to function as the virtual network information update processing unit 311 and the content distribution processing unit 312 is recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, stored on a magnetic disk or the like, and then loaded into the memory. And executed. The recording medium for recording the program may be a recording medium other than the CD-ROM. The program may be installed from the recording medium to the information processing apparatus and used, or the recording medium may be accessed through a network to use the program.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the content management server 111 of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG.
The content management server 111 of the present embodiment
01, a memory 402, a magnetic disk device 403,
It has an input device 404, an output device 405, a CD-ROM device 406, and a communication device 407.

The CPU 401 is the content management server 1
11 is a device for controlling the entire operation. Memory 402
Is a storage device for loading various processing programs and data for controlling the operation of the entire content management server 111.

The magnetic disk device 403 is a storage device for storing the various processing programs and data. The input device 404 is a device that performs various inputs for managing content. The output device 405 is a device that performs various types of output associated with content management.

The CD-ROM device 406 is a device for reading the contents of a CD-ROM in which the various processing programs are recorded. The communication device 407 is a device that communicates with another processing device via a network.

The content management server 111 has a determination processing section 411, a determination result notification processing section 412, and an acquisition fee information transmission processing section 413.

The determination processing section 411 is a processing section for determining whether or not the user of the user-side processing device 121 that has transmitted the acquisition request for acquiring the content satisfies the content acquisition permission condition. When the user satisfies the acquisition permission condition, the determination result notification processing unit 412 includes a virtual network ID for identifying a virtual route for distributing the content and a content distribution for distributing the content. The processing unit notifies the connection manager 183 of the content distribution server accommodating apparatus accommodating the server and a base ID for identifying the apparatus. The acquisition fee information transmission processing unit 413 is a processing unit that transmits content acquisition fee information to the user management server 112 when the user satisfies the acquisition permission condition.

A program for causing the content management server 111 to function as the determination processing unit 411, the determination result notification processing unit 412, and the acquisition fee information transmission processing unit 413 is C
After being recorded on a recording medium such as a D-ROM and stored on a magnetic disk or the like, it is loaded into a memory and executed. The recording medium for recording the program is CD-R.
A recording medium other than the OM may be used. The program may be installed from the recording medium to the information processing apparatus and used, or the recording medium may be accessed through a network to use the program.

FIG. 5 shows the user management server 11 of this embodiment.
2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the user management server 112 according to the present embodiment includes a CPU 501,
Memory 502, magnetic disk device 503, input device 504, output device 505, CD-ROM device 506
And a communication device 507.

The CPU 501 controls the user management server 112
This is a device that controls the entire operation. The memory 502 is a storage device that loads various processing programs and data for controlling the operation of the entire user management server 112.

The magnetic disk device 503 is a storage device for storing the various processing programs and data. The input device 504 is a device that performs various inputs for managing user information. The output device 505 is a device that performs various types of output associated with management of user information.

The CD-ROM device 506 is a device for reading the contents of a CD-ROM in which the various processing programs are recorded. The communication device 507 is a device that communicates with another processing device via a network.

The user management server 112 has a user authentication processing unit 511 and a charging management processing unit 512.

The user authentication processing unit 511 sends the acquisition request for acquiring the content to the user-side processing device 1.
21 is a processing unit that authenticates whether or not the user No. 21 is a legitimate user who is qualified to use the content distribution system.

The accounting management processing unit 512 is a processing unit that performs accounting processing of the content using the acquired fee information transmitted from the content management server 111, and the acquired fee information is managed by the user management server 112. This is a processing unit that manages charging information by taking into account an acquisition fee corresponding to a user's required quality class.

A program for causing the user management server 112 to function as the user authentication processing unit 511 and the charging management processing unit 512 is recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, stored on a magnetic disk or the like, and then loaded into a memory. Shall be executed. The recording medium for recording the program may be a recording medium other than the CD-ROM.
The program may be installed from the recording medium to the information processing apparatus and used, or the recording medium may be accessed through a network to use the program.

FIG. 6 shows the user-side processing device 12 of this embodiment.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of No. 1. As shown in FIG. 6, the user-side processing device 121 of the present embodiment includes a CPU 601 and
Memory 602, magnetic disk device 603, input device 604, output device 605, CD-ROM device 606
And a communication device 607.

The CPU 601 includes the user-side processing device 121
This is a device that controls the entire operation. The memory 602 is a storage device for loading various processing programs and data for controlling the operation of the entire user-side processing device 121.

The magnetic disk device 603 is a storage device for storing the various processing programs and data. The input device 604 is a device that performs various inputs for requesting content distribution. The output device 605 is a device that performs various outputs in response to a content distribution request.

The CD-ROM device 606 is a device for reading the contents of a CD-ROM in which the various processing programs are recorded. The communication device 607 is a device that performs communication with another processing device via a network.

[0097] The user-side processing device 121 has an acquisition request processing unit 611 and a content request processing unit 612.

The acquisition request processing unit 611 transmits an acquisition request for acquiring the content to the connection manager 183, and connects the notification of the base ID of the content distribution server accommodating apparatus accommodating the content distribution server for distributing the content. This is a processing unit received from the manager 183. The content request processing unit 612 is connected to the connection manager 1
The processing unit transmits the content request packet to which the base ID notified from 83 is added to the access device 131.

A program for causing the user-side processing device 121 to function as the acquisition request processing unit 611 and the content request processing unit 612 is recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, stored on a magnetic disk or the like, and then loaded into the memory. And executed. The recording medium for recording the program may be a recording medium other than the CD-ROM. The program may be installed from the recording medium to the information processing apparatus and used, or the recording medium may be accessed through a network to use the program.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the access device 131 of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 7, the access device 131 of this embodiment includes a CPU 701 and a memory 7
02, a magnetic disk device 703, and an input device 704
, An output device 705, a CD-ROM device 706, and a communication device 707.

The CPU 701 is a device for controlling the operation of the access device 131 as a whole. The memory 702 is a storage device that loads various processing programs and data for controlling the operation of the entire access device 131.

The magnetic disk device 703 is a storage device for storing the various processing programs and data. The input device 704 is a device that establishes a connection between the content distribution server and the user and performs various inputs for transferring information or content transmitted and received between the two.

The output device 705 is a device for performing various outputs accompanying the transfer of the information or content. CD-R
The OM device 706 is a device for reading the contents of a CD-ROM in which the various processing programs are recorded. Communication device 7
Reference numeral 07 denotes a device that communicates with another processing device via a network.

The access device 131 includes a content request transfer processing section 711 and a content transfer processing section 712.
And

The content request transfer processing section 711 assigns a quality identifier indicating the quality class of the virtual network ID notified from the connection manager 183 to the content request packet transmitted from the user-side processing device 121, To the data transfer device on the virtual network identified by the virtual network ID. The content transfer processing unit 712 is a processing unit that transfers the content transferred from the data transfer device to the user-side processing device 121 that has requested the content.

A program for causing the access device 131 to function as the content request transfer processing section 711 and the content transfer processing section 712 is recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, stored on a magnetic disk or the like, and then loaded into the memory. Shall be executed. The recording medium for recording the program may be a recording medium other than the CD-ROM. The program may be installed from the recording medium to the information processing apparatus and used, or the recording medium may be accessed through a network to use the program.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the content distribution server accommodating apparatuses 141 and 142 of the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 8, the content distribution server accommodating device of the present embodiment includes a CPU 801, a memory 802, a magnetic disk device 803, an input device 804, and an output device 80.
5, a CD-ROM device 806, and a communication device 807.

[0108] The CPU 801 is a device for controlling the operation of the entire content distribution server accommodating device. Memory 802
Is a storage device for loading various processing programs and data for controlling the operation of the entire content distribution server accommodation device.

The magnetic disk device 803 is a storage device for storing the various processing programs and data. The input device 804 is a device that performs various inputs for accommodating and managing the content distribution server. The output device 805 is
It is a device that performs various outputs in accommodating and managing the content distribution server.

The CD-ROM device 806 is a device for reading the contents of a CD-ROM in which the various processing programs are recorded. The communication device 807 is a device that communicates with another processing device via a network.

Also, the content distribution server accommodating device
It has a virtual network ID update processing unit 811 and a content transfer processing unit 812.

When starting a new content distribution service, the virtual network ID update processing section 811 propagates a virtual network ID generation notification of the content to the data transfer device to notify the virtual network ID, and notifies the virtual network ID of the specific content. When ending the content distribution service, the processing unit transmits a virtual network ID deletion notification of the content to the data transfer device to delete the virtual network.

The content transfer processing unit 812 instructs the content distribution server to distribute the content requested by the content request packet, receives the content from the content distribution server, assigns the virtual network ID and the quality identifier, The processing unit transfers the data to the data transfer device on the virtual network identified by the virtual network ID.

The content distribution server accommodating apparatus is connected to the virtual network I
A program for functioning as the D update processing unit 811 and the content transfer processing unit 812 is recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, stored on a magnetic disk or the like, and then loaded into a memory and executed. The recording medium for recording the program may be a recording medium other than the CD-ROM. Further, the program may be installed and used in the information processing apparatus from the recording medium,
The program may be used by accessing the recording medium through a network.

FIG. 9 shows a data transfer device 151 according to this embodiment.
It is a figure which shows schematic structure of -160. As shown in FIG. 9, the data transfer device according to the present embodiment includes a CPU 901,
Memory 902, magnetic disk device 903, input device 904, output device 905, CD-ROM device 906
And a communication device 907.

The CPU 901 is a device for controlling the operation of the entire data transfer device. The memory 902 is a storage device that loads various processing programs and data for controlling the operation of the entire data transfer device. The magnetic disk device 903 is a storage device that stores the various processing programs and data.

The input device 904 is a device for performing various inputs for transferring a packet to which a virtual network ID and a quality identifier are added. The output device 905 is a device that performs various types of output associated with the transfer of a packet to which a virtual network ID and a quality identifier have been added.

[0118] The CD-ROM device 906 is a device for reading the contents of the CD-ROM in which the various processing programs are recorded. The communication device 907 is a device that communicates with another processing device via a network.

The data transfer device has a virtual network transfer processing unit 911. The virtual network transfer processing unit 911 transfers the content request packet transferred from the access device 131 and the content transferred from the content distribution server accommodating devices 141 and 142 to the data transfer device on the virtual network identified by the virtual network ID. This is a processing unit for sequentially transferring data with the quality identified by the quality identifier and transmitting the data to the content distribution server accommodating apparatus or the access apparatus 131 at the destination.

The data transfer device is connected to the virtual network transfer processing unit 911.
It is assumed that a program for functioning as is recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, stored on a magnetic disk or the like, and then loaded into a memory and executed. The recording medium for recording the program may be a recording medium other than the CD-ROM. The program may be installed from the recording medium to the information processing apparatus and used, or the recording medium may be accessed through a network to use the program.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the network configuration manager 181 of this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 10, the network configuration manager 1 of the present embodiment
81 is a CPU 1001, a memory 1002, a magnetic disk device 1003, an input device 1004, an output device 1005, a CD-ROM device 1006, a communication device 1
007.

The CPU 1001 is a device for controlling the operation of the entire network configuration manager 181. The memory 1002 is a storage device that loads various processing programs and data for controlling the operation of the entire network configuration manager 181.

The magnetic disk device 1003 is a storage device for storing the various processing programs and data.
The input device 1004 is a device that performs various inputs for managing the configuration of a network such as a virtual network. Output device 10
Reference numeral 05 denotes an apparatus that performs various types of output associated with management of the network configuration.

The CD-ROM device 1006 is a device for reading the contents of a CD-ROM in which the various processing programs are recorded. The communication device 1007 is a device that performs communication with another processing device via a network.

Also, the network configuration manager 181
Has a virtual network ID update processing unit 1011 and a virtual network information update processing unit 1012.

The virtual network ID update processing unit 1011 notifies each data transfer device of the virtual network ID of the content when starting a new content distribution service, and terminates the specific content distribution service. And a processing unit for deleting the virtual network ID of the content from each data transfer device.

The virtual network information update processing unit 1012 notifies the content distribution server accommodating device of the content ID of the new content and the virtual network ID, and deletes the content ID and the virtual network ID of the specific content from the content distribution server accommodating device. This is a processing unit.

The network configuration manager 181 is connected to the virtual network ID update processing unit 1011 and the virtual network information update processing unit 1
The program to function as 012 is CD-RO
After being recorded on a recording medium such as M and stored on a magnetic disk or the like, it is assumed to be loaded into a memory and executed. The recording medium for recording the program may be a recording medium other than the CD-ROM. The program may be installed from the recording medium to the information processing apparatus and used, or the recording medium may be accessed through a network to use the program.

FIG. 11 shows the quality manager 18 of this embodiment.
2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of FIG. As shown in FIG. 11, the quality manager 182 of the present embodiment includes a CPU 1101
, A memory 1102, a magnetic disk drive 1103,
Input device 1104, output device 1105, CD-RO
An M device 1106 and a communication device 1107 are provided.

The CPU 1101 has the quality manager 182
This is a device that controls the entire operation. The memory 1102 is
A storage device for loading various processing programs and data for controlling the operation of the entire quality manager 182.

The magnetic disk device 1103 is a storage device for storing the various processing programs and data.
The input device 1104 is a device that performs various inputs for managing the information traffic amount of the content distribution server accommodation device and the processing load amount of the content distribution server.

The output device 1105 is a device for performing various outputs accompanying the management of the information traffic amount and the processing load amount. The CD-ROM device 1106 is a device for reading the contents of a CD-ROM in which the various processing programs are recorded. The communication device 1107 is a device that communicates with another processing device via a network.

The quality manager 182 has a site selection processing unit 1111. Base selection processing unit 1111
Is a processing unit for notifying the base ID of a content distribution server accommodating device accommodating a content distribution server accommodating a small amount of information traffic or a content distribution server accommodating a low processing load.

The quality manager 182 is connected to the site selection processing unit 1
The program to function as 111 is CD-RO
After being recorded on a recording medium such as M and stored on a magnetic disk or the like, it is assumed to be loaded into a memory and executed. The recording medium for recording the program may be a recording medium other than the CD-ROM. The program may be installed from the recording medium to the information processing apparatus and used, or the recording medium may be accessed through a network to use the program.

FIG. 12 shows the connection manager 18 of this embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of No. 3; As shown in FIG. 12, the connection manager 183 of the present embodiment includes a CPU 1201
, A memory 1202, a magnetic disk device 1203,
Input device 1204, output device 1205, CD-RO
An M device 1206 and a communication device 1207 are provided.

The CPU 1201 is connected to the connection manager 183
This is a device that controls the entire operation. The memory 1202 is
A storage device that loads various processing programs and data for controlling the operation of the entire connection manager 183.

The magnetic disk device 1203 is a storage device for storing the various processing programs and data.
The input device 1204 is a device that receives an acquisition request for acquiring content and performs various inputs for notifying the virtual network ID and the base ID.

The output device 1205 is a device that performs various outputs in accordance with the notification of the virtual network ID and the base ID. CD-R
The OM device 1206 is a device that reads the contents of a CD-ROM in which the various processing programs are recorded. The communication device 1207 performs communication with another processing device via a network.

The connection manager 183 has a confirmation request processing unit 1211 and a reception result notification processing unit 1212.

The confirmation request processing unit 1211 receives the acquisition request for acquiring the content, and the user of the user-side processing device 121 that has transmitted the acquisition request is a legitimate user who is qualified to use the content distribution system. A user authentication request for authenticating whether or not there is a user management server 1
12, a processing unit for transmitting a confirmation request to the content management server 111 as to whether the user satisfies the content acquisition permission condition.

The reception result notification processing unit 1212 notifies the access device 131 of the virtual network ID and the base ID notified from the content management server 111, and notifies the user-side processing device 121 of the notified base ID. When the user authentication is unsuccessful or when the user information does not satisfy the content acquisition permission condition, this is a processing unit that sends a connection disable notification to the user-side processing device 121.

The connection manager 183 is connected to the confirmation request processing unit 1
The program for functioning as the reception unit 211 and the reception result notification processing unit 1212 is recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, stored on a magnetic disk or the like, and then loaded into a memory and executed. The recording medium for recording the program may be a recording medium other than the CD-ROM. The program may be installed from the recording medium to the information processing apparatus and used, or the recording medium may be accessed through a network to use the program.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an outline of information managed by each device of the present embodiment and an information transmission / reception relationship between the devices. The information managed by each device and the information transmission / reception relationship between the devices when the content A is stored in the content distribution servers 101 and 102 will be described below with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, a description will be given assuming that a different virtual network is generated for each content. However, it is assumed that a different virtual network is generated for each content provider, that is, for each content distribution server accommodating apparatus, and a different virtual network is used for each content provider. Is also good.

When the content A is transmitted to the content distribution server 10
1 and 102, the virtual network ID update processing unit 1011 of the network configuration manager 181 notifies the data transfer apparatuses 151, 154, 155 and 158 of the virtual network ID for content A = 172, and the data transfer apparatus 151 , 154, 155 and 158 are virtual network ID = 1
72 is managed. Thereby, the data transfer device 151,
154, 155, and 158 transfer only packets in which virtual network ID = 172 is described, and do not transfer packets in which other virtual network IDs are described.

Further, the network configuration manager 181
By notifying the content ID = A and the virtual network ID = 172 from the virtual network information update processing unit 1012 to the content distribution server accommodation device 141, the content distribution server accommodation device 141
The correspondence between the server ID = 101 of the content distribution server 101 storing the content A and the virtual network ID = 172 is managed.

In the same manner, the content distribution server accommodating device 142 has the content ID = A, and the server ID of the content distribution server 102 storing the content A.
= 102 and virtual network ID = 172 are managed.

With the above processing, the virtual network 172 for the content A is generated on the content distribution network 171. Further, a virtual network 173 for the content B and a virtual network 174 for the content C are generated on the content distribution network 171 by the same processing as described above.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a second example of the notification of the content ID and the virtual network ID to the content distribution server accommodating apparatus of the present embodiment and the notification of the virtual network ID to the data transfer apparatus. As shown in FIG. 14, the content I for the content distribution server accommodation device 141 (or 142)
The notification of D = A and the virtual network ID = 172 is not sent from the network configuration manager 181, but the virtual network information update processing unit 3 of the content distribution server 101 (or 102).
11 to the content distribution server accommodating device 141 (or 142).

In addition, the data transfer device 15
1, 154, 155, and 158 are notified of the virtual network ID for content A = 172, not from the network configuration manager 181, but from the content distribution server 101.
(Or 102), the virtual network ID update processing unit 8 of the content distribution server accommodation device 141 (or 142)
11 to the data transfer device 158, the virtual network ID = 172.
, And thereafter, from the data transfer device 158 to the data transfer devices 154 and 155, and further, to the data transfer device 154.
(Or 155) to the data transfer device 151 by transmitting the virtual network ID = 172.

In the present embodiment, the content distribution server accommodating apparatuses 141 and 142
It is unambiguously defined by the base ID indicating the position on the top.

The user management server 112 manages user information. The user information indicates, for example, a user ID, a user authentication password, a required quality class, a personal preference, and the like regarding a registered user. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the information managed by the user management server 112 is a user ID related to a registered user, a user authentication password, and a required quality class.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a sequence example from the content acquisition request to the content acquisition according to the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 15, the connection manager 18
Reference numeral 3 denotes a window for content acquisition for the user-side processing device 121, and first receives a content distribution server connection request or a content acquisition request sent from the user-side processing device 121.

In this embodiment, the user-side processing device 121
Is assumed to acquire the content A, the connection manager 183 receives the content A acquisition request sent from the user-side processing device 121. The content A acquisition request includes the user ID and the user authentication password, and the connection manager 183 sends the request to the user management server 11
Step 2 confirms user authentication.

If the user authentication is successful, the connection manager 183 checks with the content management server whether the user of the user-side processing device 121 satisfies the condition for permitting acquisition of the content A, and as a result, the user When the condition is satisfied, the connection manager 183 determines that the virtual network ID = 172 of the content A managed by the content management server 111 and the site ID = 141 or the site ID.
= The access point 131 selected from the base ID selected from 142.
Notify. The connection manager 183 also notifies the user-side processing device 121 of a site ID selected from the site ID = 141 or the site ID = 142.

Here, the method of selecting the base ID is such that the quality manager 182 observes the information traffic volume handled by the content distribution server accommodation devices 141 and 142, and selects the content distribution server accommodation device with a low traffic volume as the connection destination. It is done by doing. Here, it is assumed that the traffic volume of the content distribution server accommodation device 141 is small, and the access device 131 has the base ID = 14.
1 shall be notified. When selecting the site ID, the site ID of the content distribution server accommodating apparatus accommodating the content distribution server with a small processing load among the content distribution servers 101 and 102 may be selected.

Upon receiving the notification of the base ID = 141, the user-side processing device 121 thereafter
The base ID = 141 is assigned as the destination of the content A request packet to be transmitted to No. 1.

On the other hand, the access device 131 has a virtual network ID.
= 172 and the base ID = 141, the virtual network ID = 172 is assigned to the destination of the content A request packet transmitted from the user-side processing device 121, and the user packet is transferred to the virtual network 172. I do. Accordingly, the content A request packet is transferred to the content distribution server accommodating apparatus 141 via the virtual network 172 based on the two IDs of the virtual network ID = 172 and the base ID = 141 assigned to the destination.

The content distribution server accommodating device 141
The content request packet from the user-side processing device 121 is transferred to the content distribution server 101. In response to the content A request, the content distribution server 101 sends out the content A. The content A includes the content distribution server accommodation device 141, the virtual network 172, and the access device 131.
And is delivered to the user-side processing device 121 via

In the following, in the content-driven content distribution system of the present embodiment, the processing procedure of each device from a content acquisition request to content acquisition will be described.

FIG. 16 shows the user-side processing device 1 of this embodiment.
21 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a first embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 16, the acquisition request processing unit 611 of the user-side processing device 121 transmits an acquisition request for requesting acquisition of content to the connection manager 183, and distributes the content to a content distribution server that distributes the content. A process of receiving a notification of the base ID of the server accommodating device from the connection manager 183 is performed. The content request processing unit 61
The access device 131 transmits the content request packet to which the base ID notified from the connection manager 183 has been assigned.
Perform processing to send to.

In step 1601, the user-side processing device 12
The acquisition request processing unit 611 checks whether or not the acquisition request of the content desired by the user has been input from the user together with the user ID and the user authentication password.
Proceed to 602. In step 1602, the received content acquisition request is transmitted to the connection manager 183 via the communication device 607 and the network. Here, even when a connection request to the content distribution server is input, the content distribution server connection request is transmitted to the connection manager 183, and similar processing is performed.

FIG. 17 shows the connection manager 18 of this embodiment.
13 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of No. 3; As shown in FIG. 17, the confirmation request processing unit 12 of the connection manager 183
11 issues a user authentication request and a confirmation request as to whether or not the user satisfies the content permission condition. Also, the reception result notification processing unit 1212 transmits the virtual network ID and the site I notified from the content management server 111.
D is notified to the access device 131 and the user-side processing device 121.

At step 1701, the connection manager 183
The confirmation request processing unit 1211 checks whether the acquisition request of the content desired by the user is received together with the user ID and the user authentication password from the communication device 1207 and the user side processing device 121 via the network, and receives the acquisition request. If so, the process proceeds to step 1702.

In step 1702, a user authentication request for authenticating whether or not the user of the user-side processing device 121 that has transmitted the acquisition request is a legitimate user who is qualified to use the content distribution system is sent to the user ID and the user. The password is transmitted to the user management server 112 via the communication device 1207 and the network together with the authentication password.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the user authentication processing of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 18, the user authentication processing unit 511 of the user management server 112
Performs a process of authenticating whether or not the user of the user-side processing device 121 that has transmitted the acquisition request for acquiring the content is a legitimate user who is qualified to use the content distribution system.

In step 1801, the user management server 11
The second user authentication processing unit 511 transmits a user authentication request for authenticating whether or not the user of the user-side processing device 121 that has transmitted the content acquisition request is an authorized user who has a use qualification for the content distribution system. Then, it is determined whether the user authentication request has been received from the connection manager 183 via the communication device 507 and the network together with the user authentication password. If the user authentication request has been received, the process proceeds to step 1802.

In step 1802, user authentication is performed using the received user ID and user authentication password. In step 1803, the result of the user authentication is checked, and if it is confirmed that the user is an authorized user having the use qualification for the content distribution system, the process proceeds to step 1804, and the user authentication is unsuccessful. If there is, the process proceeds to step 1805.

In step 1804, the processing result indicating that the user is confirmed to be a valid user who is qualified to use the content distribution system is transmitted to the connection manager 183 via the communication device 507 and the network.
Send to Also, in step 1805, a processing result indicating that the user authentication was unsuccessful is transmitted to the communication device 50.
7 and to the connection manager 183 via the network.

At step 1703, the connection manager 183
The confirmation request processing unit 1211 checks whether the processing result of the user authentication request is received from the user management server 112 via the communication device 1207 and the network.
If the processing result indicates that the user is an authorized user who is qualified to use the content distribution system, the process proceeds to step 1704, and if the user authentication is unsuccessful, Is Step 170
Proceed to 8.

At step 1704, a request for confirming whether the user satisfies the content acquisition permission condition is transmitted to the content management server 111 via the communication device 1207 and the network.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the content management server 111 of this embodiment. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 9, the determination processing unit 411 of the content management server 111 performs processing for determining whether or not the user satisfies the content acquisition permission condition, and the determination result notification processing unit 412 determines that the user When the permission condition is satisfied, a process of notifying the virtual network ID and the base ID to the connection manager 183 is performed.

In step 1901, the determination processing unit 411 of the content management server 111 checks whether or not the user of the user-side processing device 121 that has transmitted the acquisition request for acquiring the content satisfies the content permission condition for the content. It is determined whether a request has been received from the connection manager 183 via the communication device 407 and the network.
Go to 02.

In step 1902, the content of the content acquisition permission condition is read from the magnetic disk device 403, and the user has applied for distribution of the content, has paid the usage fee of the content, has received the usage fee of the content. It is checked whether or not the content acquisition permission condition such as that the user has reached the usable age is satisfied. If the user satisfies the content acquisition permission condition, the process proceeds to step 1903.

In step 1903, the judgment result notification processing section 4
12 inquires the quality manager 182 of a base ID for identifying a content distribution server accommodating apparatus accommodating a content distribution server for distributing the content.

The site selection processing section 1 of the quality manager 182
The 111 selects a content distribution server accommodating device that accommodates a content distribution server accommodating a small amount of information traffic to be handled or a content distribution server accommodating device accommodating a content distribution server with a low processing load, and notifies the content management server 111 of its base ID.

In step 1904, the determination result notification processing unit 412 of the content management server 111 receives the base ID notified from the quality manager 182, and
A virtual network ID for identifying a virtual route for distributing the content from the content distribution server accommodating device is read from the magnetic disk device 403. Step 1905
Then, the read virtual network ID and the received base I
D is notified to the connection manager 183 via the communication device 407 and the network.

If it is determined in step 1902 that the user does not satisfy the acquisition permission condition for the content, the flow advances to step 1906. In step 1906, a processing result indicating that the acquisition permission condition is not satisfied is transmitted. Connection manager 18 via device 407 and network
Notify 3.

At step 1705, the connection manager 183
The confirmation request processing unit 1211 checks whether the processing result of the acquisition permission condition confirmation request is received from the content management server 111 via the communication device 1207 and the network, and as a result of the acquisition permission condition confirmation processing, When it is confirmed that the content acquisition permission condition is satisfied, the process proceeds to step 1706. When the user information does not satisfy the content acquisition permission condition, the process proceeds to step 1708.

At step 1706, the reception result notification processing unit 1
Reference numeral 212 denotes a virtual network ID notified from the content management server 111 together with the processing result of the acquisition permission condition confirmation request.
And the access point 131 to the access device 131 via the communication device 1207 and the network. In step 1707, the notified base ID is notified to the user-side processing device 121 via the communication device 1207 and the network.

In step 1708, the communication apparatus 1 sends a connection disable notification indicating that the user authentication is unsuccessful or that the user does not satisfy the content acquisition permission condition.
207 and the user-side processing device 121 via the network
Send to

At step 1603, the user-side processing device 12
In response to the content acquisition request, the first acquisition request processing unit 611 sends the base ID of the content distribution server accommodating apparatus accommodating the content distribution server that distributes the content to the connection manager 183 via the communication device 607 and the network. It is checked whether or not it has been received from the server.
Go to 04.

In step 1604, the content request processing section 612 gives the base ID notified from the connection manager 183 to the content request packet requesting distribution of the content desired by the user, and transmits the content request packet to the communication device 607 and the communication device 607. A process for transmitting to the access device 131 via the network is performed.

FIG. 20 shows the access device 131 of this embodiment.
6 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of FIG. As shown in FIG. 20, the content request transfer processing unit 711 of the access device 131 assigns a virtual network ID to the content request packet transmitted from the user-side processing device 121 and transfers the packet to the data transfer device on the virtual network. I do. The content transfer processing unit 712 performs a process of transferring the content transferred from the data transfer device to the user-side processing device 121 that has requested the content.

In step 2001, it is checked whether or not a content request packet for requesting content distribution has been received from the user-side processing device 121 via the communication device 707 and the network. Proceed to 2002.

In step 2002, the content request transfer processing section 711 of the access device 131 checks whether or not the virtual network ID and the site ID have been received from the communication device 707 and the connection manager 183 via the network. Step 2 if you have received
In step 2003, the received virtual network ID and base ID are stored in the magnetic disk device 703. In step 2003, the process proceeds to step 2004.

In step 2004, the virtual network I stored in the magnetic disk device 703 is referred to by referring to the site ID given to the received content request packet.
From D, the virtual network ID corresponding to the base ID assigned to the content request packet is read and assigned to the content request packet. In step 2005, the content request packet provided with the virtual network ID is transferred to a data transfer device on the virtual network identified by the virtual network ID.

FIG. 21 shows the data transfer device 15 of this embodiment.
It is a flowchart which shows the processing procedure of 1-160. As shown in FIG. 21, the virtual network transfer processing unit 911 of each of the data transfer devices 151 to 160 performs a process of transferring a content request packet or content to a data transfer device on a virtual network identified by the virtual network ID. .

In step 2101, the virtual network transfer processing section 911 of the data transfer device checks whether a content request packet for requesting content distribution has been received.
If a content request packet has been received, the process proceeds to step 2102.

In step 2102, the virtual network ID notified from the virtual network ID update processing unit 1011 of the network configuration manager 181 is read from the magnetic disk device 903.

In step 2103, the virtual network ID assigned to the received content request packet or content is compared with the read virtual network ID, and the virtual network ID assigned to the content request packet is read. If it matches any of the virtual network IDs, the process proceeds to step 2104. In step 2104, the received content request packet is transferred to the next data transfer device or content distribution server accommodating device according to the destination and the routing information.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the content distribution server accommodating apparatuses 141 and 142 of this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 22, the content transfer processing units 812 of the content distribution server accommodation devices 141 and 142 instruct the content distribution server to distribute the content requested by the content request packet, and receive the content from the content distribution server. Then, a process of assigning a virtual network ID and transferring the data to a data transfer device on the virtual network is performed.

In step 2201, the content transfer processing section 812 of the content distribution server accommodating apparatus transmits a content request packet for requesting content distribution to the communication device 8
07 and whether it has been received from the data transfer device via the network. If a content request packet has been received, the process proceeds to step 2202.

In step 2202, the server ID of the content distribution server that distributes the content requested by the content request packet is set to the magnetic disk device 803.
And sends the received content request packet to the content distribution server with the server ID.
7 and via the network to instruct the content distribution server to distribute the content requested by the content request packet.

The content distribution processing unit 312 of the content distribution server that has received the content distribution instruction distributes the requested content to the content distribution server accommodating device.

At step 2203, the content transfer processing section 81 of the content distribution server accommodating apparatuses 141 and 142
2 checks whether the content requested by the content request packet has been received from the content distribution server instructed to distribute the content via the communication device 807 and the network, and if the content has been received, proceeds to step 2204. move on.

In step 2204, the virtual network ID corresponding to the content is read from the magnetic disk device 803 from the virtual network ID notified from the virtual network ID update processing unit 1011 of the network configuration manager 181, and the received content is read. To be given. Here, the virtual network ID assigned to the content request packet may be assigned to the content. Step 2
In 205, the content provided with the virtual network ID is transferred to a data transfer device on the virtual network identified by the virtual network ID.

In step 2101, the virtual network transfer processing section 911 of the data transfer device checks whether or not the content distributed by the content request packet has been received. If the content request packet or the content has been received, the process proceeds to step 2102. Proceed to.

In step 2102, the virtual network ID notified from the virtual network ID update processing unit 1011 of the network configuration manager 181 is read from the magnetic disk device 903.

In step 2103, the virtual network ID assigned to the received content is compared with the read virtual network ID, and the virtual network ID assigned to the content is determined to be one of the read virtual network IDs. If they match, the process proceeds to step 2104. Step 2104
Then, the received content is transferred to the next data transfer device or access device 131 according to the destination and the routing information.

In step 2006, the content transfer processing section 712 of the access device 131 checks whether or not the content requested to be distributed by the content request packet has been received from the data transfer device via the communication device 707 and the network. , The process proceeds to step 2007. Step 2007
Then, the content is transferred to the user-side processing device 121 which has requested the distribution of the received content.

At step 1605, the user-side processing device 12
The first content request processing unit 612 checks whether or not the content requested to be distributed by the content request packet is received from the access device 131 via the communication device 607 and the network. Proceed to 1606. Step 16
At 06, the received content is output to the output device 605, and the content is used.

If the response to the content acquisition request is received in step 1603 and the user has not been successfully authenticated or has received a connection disable notification indicating that the user does not satisfy the content acquisition permission condition. Proceeding to step 1607, in step 1607, a message indicating that connection is not possible is displayed on the output device 605, and the process ends.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of a charging process relating to content acquisition according to the present embodiment. Calculation and management of the acquisition fee generated when the user-side processing device 121 acquires the content A is performed as follows.

After confirming that the user authentication performed between the connection manager 183 and the user management server 112 is successful and that the content A acquisition permission condition of the user-side processing device 121 is satisfied, the content management server 11
1, the acquisition fee information transmission processing unit 413 transmits the acquisition fee information of the content to the user management server 112, and the accounting management processing unit 512 of the user management server 112 acquires the acquisition fee information of the content A from the content management server 111. This information is managed, and a billing process is performed based on the acquired fee information.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing an operation example of another apparatus which is executed when the content A of this embodiment is deleted from the content distribution server. Referring to FIG. 24, a description will be given, with reference to FIG. 24, of the simultaneous operation of another device that deletes the content A from the content distribution servers 101 and 102 when the distribution service of the content A is terminated.

The virtual network 172 on the content distribution network 171 is deleted by the virtual network ID update processing unit 1011 of the network configuration manager 181 by the data transfer device 15.
This is executed by deleting the virtual network ID = 172 managed by 1, 154, 155 and 158.

Also, the network configuration manager 181
The virtual network information update processing unit 1012 of the content server manages the content ID = A and the server ID = 101 (or 1) managed by the content distribution server accommodation device 141 (or 142).
02) and the corresponding information of the virtual network ID = 172, the content ID managed by the content management server 111 =
The correspondence management information between A and the virtual network ID = 172, the correspondence management information between the content ID = A and the base ID = 141 (or 142), the quality class information of the content A, and the acquisition permission condition information are deleted. With the above operation, the service of the content A is terminated.

[0209] The content distribution server accommodating device 14
1 virtual network ID update processing unit 811 to data transfer device 1
58 is notified of the deletion of the virtual network ID = 172, and thereafter,
From the data transfer device 158 to the data transfer devices 154 and 1
55, the virtual network 172 may be deleted by transmitting a deletion notification of the virtual network ID = 172 from the data transfer device 154 (or 155) to the data transfer device 151.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing a sequence example when the user authentication of this embodiment is unsuccessful. As illustrated in FIG. 25, in the present embodiment, when the user authentication of the user-side processing device 121 is unsuccessful, the reception result notification processing unit 1212 of the connection manager 183 determines that there is no connection, and To send a notification that connection is not possible.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing a sequence example when the content acquisition permission condition of the present embodiment is not satisfied. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 26 as in FIG. 25, if the user information does not satisfy the condition for permitting acquisition of the content A, the reception result notification processing unit 121 of the connection manager 183
2 judges that there is no connection, and sends a notice of connection failure to the user-side processing device 121.

As described above, according to the content-driven content distribution system of the present embodiment, a content is distributed by assigning a virtual network ID for identifying a virtual route for distributing the content. The content can be distributed while reducing the processing amount of the distribution server and maintaining security for each content.

A content-driven content distribution system according to an embodiment for distributing content in consideration of the quality class of each content will be described below.

FIG. 27 is a diagram showing an example of a sequence from content request to content acquisition in consideration of a quality class for each content according to the present embodiment. This embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

In this embodiment, it is also assumed that the content distribution system shown in FIG. 2 provides three contents A, B, and C and is stored in both the content distribution servers 101 and 102. The information managed by each device is the same as that shown in FIG. However, the quality class of each content is set as High (Content identifier = High).
1), the content B is Middle (quality identifier =
2) Content C is Low (quality identifier = 3).

The operation from the time when the user-side processing device 121 makes a content acquisition request to the time when the content distribution server accommodating device 141 is selected as the selected base is the same as in the above-described embodiment.

The connection manager 183 manages the virtual network I of the content A managed by the content management server 111.
D = 172, base ID = 141, and quality class = Hi
gh is notified to the access device 131. The connection manager 183 also notifies the user-side processing device 121 of the base ID = 141.

Upon receiving the notification of the base ID = 141, the user-side processing device 121 thereafter
The base ID = 141 is assigned as the destination of the content A request packet to be transmitted to No. 1.

On the other hand, virtual network ID = 172, base ID = 1
41 and the quality class = High, the access device 131 assigns the virtual network ID = 172 to the destination of the content A request packet transmitted from the user-side processing device 121 and, at the same time, assigns the quality identifier =
1 is also added to the packet header, and the user packet is transferred to the virtual network 172.

Thus, the content A request packet is transferred on the virtual network 172 with high quality (for example, a low packet discard rate is guaranteed) based on the quality identifier = 1, and at the same time, the virtual network ID = 172 assigned to the destination. And base ID =
Based on the two IDs 141, the content is delivered to the content distribution server accommodating device 141.

The content distribution server accommodating device 141
The content request packet from the user-side processing device 121 is transferred to the content distribution server 101. In response to the content A request, the content distribution server 101 sends out the content A. Content distribution server accommodation device 141
Is based on the quality class = High managed by the content management server 111, and the quality identifier =
1 and transfer the content packet to the virtual network 172. As a result, the content packet is transferred to the access device 131 on the virtual network 172 with high quality based on the quality identifier = 1, and finally, the user-side processing device 12
1 is delivered.

Here, the content distribution server accommodating device 1
When 41 assigns the quality identifier = 1 to the packet header of the content packet, the user-side processing device 121
It is also possible to refer to the quality identifier = 1 assigned to the content request packet from, and copy this. Also, in both of the above two realization methods, the content distribution server 101 may perform the process of assigning the quality identifier = 1 to the packet header of the content packet, instead of the content distribution server accommodating device 141.

As described above, according to the content distribution system of the present embodiment, a quality identifier indicating a quality class for each content when distributing the content, and a virtual identifier for identifying a virtual route for distributing the content. Since the content is distributed by assigning the network ID, it is possible to reduce the processing amount of the content distribution server, maintain security for each content, and distribute the content with a quality corresponding to the quality condition for each content. .

The following describes a content-driven content distribution system according to an embodiment for distributing content in consideration of quality classes for each content and each user.

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing an example of a sequence from content request to content acquisition in consideration of a quality class for each content and each user according to the present embodiment. Also in the present embodiment, the content-driven content distribution system of FIG. 4 provides three contents A, B, and C, and the quality class of each content is High for the content A (content quality identifier = 1), and Middle for the content B. The content quality identifier = 2) and the content C are Low (content quality identifier = 3), and indicate, for example, the degree of the packet discard rate. It is assumed that each content is stored in both the content distribution servers 101 and 102. The information managed by each device is the same as that shown in FIG.

The quality class for each user is Premium.
Assume that there are two classes: (user quality identifier = 1) and Normal (user quality identifier = 2), for example, indicating the degree of bandwidth guarantee. Since there are three quality classes for each content, a total of six quality classes are obtained by combining these. Each of these six quality classes is High-Premium (quality identifier = 1
1), High-Normal (quality identifier = 12),
Middle-Premium (quality identifier = 21),
Middle-Normal (quality identifier = 22), L
ow-Premium (quality identifier = 31), Low-
Normal (quality identifier = 32) is assumed.

The user-side processing device 121 is assumed to be a user who wants to receive high-quality content because a high fee may be paid, and the quality class for each user is Premi.
um (user quality identifier = 1).

The operation from the time when the user-side processing device 121 makes a content acquisition request to the time when the content distribution server accommodating device 141 is selected as the selected base is the same as in the above-described embodiment.

The connection manager 183 manages the virtual network I of the content A managed by the content management server 111.
D = 172, the base ID = 141 and the quality class of each content = High are stored in the content management server 1
11 and the quality class = Premium information for each user of the user-side processing device 121 managed by the user management server 112.
12.

As a result, the connection manager 183 combines the quality class for each content = High with the quality class for each user = Premium, and the quality class = High.
Determine h-Premium. After the determination, the connection manager 183 notifies the access device 131 of the virtual network ID = 172, the site ID = 141, and the quality class = High-Premium. Further, the connection manager 183 notifies the user-side processing device 121 of the base ID = 141.

On the other hand, the content distribution server accommodating device 14
1, the quality class for each content managed by the content management server 111 = High, and the quality class for each user managed by the user management server 112 = P
quality class = High-Pr
Determine the ium.

Upon receiving the notification of the base ID = 141, the user-side processing device 121 thereafter
This may be realized by referring to the quality identifier = 11 assigned to the content request packet from the destination of the content A request packet to be transmitted to the unit 1 and copying this. In addition, the process of assigning the quality identifier = 11 to the packet header of the content packet is performed by the content distribution server accommodating device 141 in both of the two implementation methods.
May be performed by the content distribution server 101.

On the other hand, virtual network ID = 172, base ID = 1
41 and the notification of the quality class = High-Premium, the access device 131 assigns the virtual network ID = 172 to the destination of the content A request packet transmitted from the user-side processing device 121 and, at the same time, assigns the quality identifier = 11 is also added to the packet header, and the user packet is transferred to the virtual network 172.

Thus, the content A request packet is
Data transfer devices 151, 15 based on quality identifier = 11
4 and 158, the virtual network 172 is transferred on the virtual network 172 in order to guarantee high quality (for example, guaranteeing a wide band with a low packet discard rate) and the virtual network ID = 172 assigned to the destination.
And the base ID = 141, the content is delivered to the content distribution server accommodating device 141.

[0235] The content distribution server accommodating device 141 comprises:
The content request packet from the user-side processing device 121 is transferred to the content distribution server 101. In response to the content A request, the content distribution server 101 sends out the content A.

The content distribution server accommodating device 141
Based on the determined quality class = High-Premium, a quality identifier = 11 is assigned to the packet header of the content packet carrying the content A, and the content packet is transferred to the virtual network 172. As a result, the content packets are transferred to the data transfer devices 158, 154, 1
51, and passes through the virtual network 172 in the order of
To the user-side processing device 121 while guaranteeing high quality.

Here, the content distribution server accommodating device 1
41 assigns a quality identifier = 11 to the packet header of the content packet,
This may be realized by referring to the quality identifier = 11 assigned to the content request packet from No. 1 and copying this. In addition, the content distribution server 101 may perform the process of assigning the quality identifier = 11 to the packet header of the content packet, instead of the content distribution server accommodating device 141 in both of the above-mentioned two realization methods.

The calculation and management of the acquisition fee generated when the user-side processing device 121 acquires the content A is performed as follows. After it is confirmed that the user authentication performed between the connection manager 183 and the user management server 112 is successful and that the content A acquisition permission condition of the user-side processing device 121 is satisfied, the user management server 112
Of the content management server 11
1. Acquisition fee information of the content A is acquired from
The accounting information of the user is managed in consideration of the acquisition fee corresponding to the required quality class of the user-side processing device 121 managed by the user.

As described above, in the present embodiment, content can be provided with a quality that meets the quality conditions of the content and the needs of the user. Also, the security level can be distinguished for each content, and the content can be distributed in consideration of the distribution restriction condition requested by the content provider. In the prior art, the security distinction is performed by the processing of the content distribution server. On the other hand, the security distinction according to the present embodiment is realized by the function of the content distribution network. It is possible to contribute, and the surplus processing operation can be allocated to, for example, an increase in the number of simultaneous content accesses.

As described above, according to the content-driven content distribution system of the present embodiment, the quality identifier indicating the quality class for each content and each user when distributing the content, and the virtual route for distributing the content. Since the content is distributed by assigning a virtual network ID for identifying the content, the processing amount of the content distribution server is reduced, and security for each content is maintained.
It is possible to distribute the content with a quality that meets the quality conditions of the content and the needs of the user.

Embodiment 1 The system configuration of Embodiment 1 of the present invention is the same as that of FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the content distribution system according to the first embodiment mainly includes content distribution servers 101 and 102, a user management server 112, a content management server 111, Manager 183, Quality Manager 182, which plays the role of managing the state of networks and networks,
It is mainly composed of an access device 131 which plays a role of information transfer, content distribution server accommodating devices 141 and 142, and data transfer devices 151 to 160. In addition, a content distribution network 171 is formed by interconnecting the access device 131, the content distribution server accommodation devices 141 and 142, and the data transfer devices 151 to 160.

Content distribution servers 101 and 102
Accumulates content to be provided to the user 121,
By responding to the content distribution server connection request or the content acquisition request from the user 121, the requested content is transmitted to the user 121.

The user management server 112 manages user information and billing information of each user. In the first embodiment, the user information will be described as a user ID and a user authentication password for a registered user.

A content ID is assigned to each content, and a device ID is assigned to each content distribution server accommodating device. The content management server 111 determines the content ID and the device ID of the content distribution server accommodating device accommodating the content. Manage correspondence.

The quality manager 182 includes the content distribution server accommodating devices 141 and 142, the access device 13
1. Monitor the amount of information traffic or processing load handled by each of the data transfer devices 151 to 160 and the content distribution servers 101 and 102.

As described above, the basic operation of the content distribution system of the present invention is the same as that of the invention of the prior application.

Here, consider a case where the content distribution system of FIG. 2 provides a distribution service of three contents A, B and C. The content IDs of the contents A, B, and C are defined as URLs of the respective contents, and the respective URLs are www.A.com/contentA, www.B.com/conten.
tB and www.C.com/contentC. It is assumed that each content is stored in both the content distribution servers 101 and 102. It is assumed that contents A, B, and C are transferred on virtual networks 172, 173, and 174, respectively. In addition, it is assumed that there are two types of quality classes, and that the contents A and B belong to a high quality class (quality identifier = 1) and the content C belongs to a standard class (quality identifier = 2).

The data transfer devices 151 to 160 serve as next hops to which packets destined for each device ID or each user are to be transferred.
Manages a data transfer device serving as a next hop to which a packet addressed to each device ID or each user is to be transferred. This is a function equivalent to a device generally called Luke.

The data transfer devices 151, 154, 155 and 158 manage the virtual network ID = 172 for the content A. Thereby, the data transfer devices 151, 154,
155 and 158 transfer only the packet in which the virtual network ID = 172 is described, and do not transfer the packet in which another virtual network ID is described.

The access device 131 sets the U
RL www.A.com/contentA and virtual network ID = 172,
Also manages the correspondence between www.A.com/contentA and quality identifier = 1.

Also, the content distribution server accommodating device 14
1 is the URL of the content A, www.A.com/contentA
And a content distribution server 10 storing the content A
1 manages the correspondence between server ID = 101, www.A.com/contentA, virtual network ID = 172, www.A.com/contentA, and quality identifier = 1. Content distribution server accommodation device 14
Similarly, for www.A.com/contentA, the server I of the content distribution server 102 storing the content A
D = 102, www.A.com/contentA and virtual network ID = 17
2. Manage the correspondence between www.A.com/contentA and quality identifier = 1.

Based on the method described above, the content A
Virtual network 172 is constructed on the content distribution network 171. Similarly, the virtual network 17 for the content B
3 and a virtual network 174 for the content C are constructed on the content distribution network 171.

[0253] Further, the content management server 111 stores the URL of each content and the device I that stores the content.
D and the acquisition permission conditions for each content are managed.

FIG. 29 shows a user 121 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a sequence from when a content acquisition request is issued to when content is acquired.

As shown in FIG. 29, the connection manager 18
Reference numeral 3 denotes a window for acquiring content to the user, and first receives a content distribution server connection request or a content acquisition request sent from the user. In the first embodiment, a case where the user 121 acquires the content A will be described. The content A acquisition request sent from the user 121 is transmitted to the connection manager 1
83 receives. The content A acquisition request includes the URL of the content A, the user ID, and the user authentication password, and the connection manager 183 checks the user authentication with the user management server.

When the user authentication is successful, the connection manager 183 checks with the content management server whether the user 121 satisfies the condition for permitting the acquisition of the content A,
As a result, when the user 121 satisfies the acquisition permission condition, the connection manager 183 sends the content management server 1
Device ID = 141 or device ID = 142 of the content distribution server accommodating device accommodating the content A managed by the user 11
Notify.

Here, the method of selecting the device ID is as follows. The information manager manages the information traffic volume handled by the content distribution server accommodating devices 141 and 142, and selects the content distribution server accommodating device having a low traffic volume as the connection destination. This is done by making a selection. Here, it is assumed that the traffic volume of the content distribution server accommodation device 141 is small, and it is assumed that the user 121 is notified of the device ID = 141.

As another method of selecting a device ID, a method of selecting a device ID of a content distribution server accommodating device accommodating a content distribution server having a small processing load among the content distribution servers 101 and 102 may be considered. Is added.

Upon receiving the notification of the device ID = 141, the user 121 assigns the device ID = 141 as the destination of the content A request packet sent to the content distribution server 101. The request packet is also provided with the URL of the content A.

Upon receiving the content A request packet, the access device 131 reads the URL given to the packet, and assigns the virtual network ID to the packet.
= 172 and a quality identifier = 1, and forwards the packet to the virtual network 172. Thus, the content A request packet is transferred on the virtual network 172 with high quality (for example, a low packet discard rate is guaranteed) based on the quality identifier = 1, and at the same time, the virtual network ID = 172 added to the packet header is used. The content is delivered to the content distribution server accommodating device 141 based on the two IDs of the device ID = 141.

The content distribution server accommodating device 141
The arriving content A request packet is transferred to the content distribution server 101. At this time, the content distribution server accommodating apparatus 141 reads the URL assigned to the content A request packet, and thereby, a virtual network ID = 172 and a quality identifier to be assigned to the packet carrying the content A sent from the content distribution server. = 1 is known in advance.

In response to the content A request, the content distribution server 101 sends out a packet carrying the content A. The content distribution server accommodation device 141 assigns a virtual network ID = 172 and a quality identifier = 1 to the packet, and transfers the packet to the virtual network 172. Thereby, the packet carrying the content A is transmitted to the virtual network 17.
2, the data is transferred to the access device 131 with high quality based on the quality identifier = 1, and finally delivered to the user 121.

Here, the content distribution server accommodating device 1
The method of assigning the virtual network ID and the quality identifier to the packet header of the packet carrying the content A is performed by referring to the virtual network ID and the quality identifier assigned to the content A request packet and copying the same. It is added that this is also realized.

A method of giving a quality identifier = 1 to a packet header of a packet carrying content A is as follows.
Instead of the content distribution server accommodating device 141,
It is added that the content distribution server 101 can also realize the above.

Calculation and management procedure of acquisition fee generated when user 121 acquires content A, user 121
The procedure when the user authentication is not successful and the procedure when the user information does not satisfy the condition for permitting acquisition of the content A may be the same as the invention of the prior application.

Embodiment 2 The configuration of a content distribution system according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention is the same as that of the prior application shown in FIG. 2, and its basic operation is the same as that of Embodiment 1 described above. is there.

In the second embodiment, a case is considered in which the content distribution system of FIG. 2 provides a content distribution service of content A. It is assumed that the content A is stored in both the content distribution servers 101 and 102. The content ID of the content A is contentA.

The quality class for the content A request packet is different from the quality class for the packet carrying the content A. The content A request packet is a standard class (quality identifier = 2), and the packet carrying the content A is high. It belongs to the quality class (quality identifier = 1).

The content ID of the content A, the content A request packet, and the information of the quality class of the packet carrying the content A are described in a part of the URL of the content A, and the URL of the content A is set to www.A.com/ class_up =
normal.class_down = high / contentA. That is, contentA described last represents the content ID of the content A, class_up = normal indicates that the quality class of the content A request packet is the standard class,
class_down = high indicates that the quality class of the packet carrying the content A is a high quality class.

As in the first embodiment, the data transfer device 1
51, 154, 155 and 158 manage the virtual network ID = 172 for the content A. As a result, the data transfer devices 151, 154, 155 and 158
Only the packet in which D = 172 is described is transferred, and the packet in which another virtual network ID is described is not transferred.

The access device 131 manages the correspondence between the content A, which is the content ID of the content A, and the virtual network ID = 172. Further, the content distribution server accommodating device 141 stores the content ID “content
Correspondence between tA and virtual network ID = 172, contentA and server I of content distribution server 101 storing content A
The correspondence with D = 101 is managed. Similarly, for the content distribution server accommodating device 142, contentA and the virtual network I
It manages the correspondence between D = 172 and the correspondence between contentA and the server ID = 102 of the content distribution server 102 that stores the content A.

[0272] The content management server 111 manages the correspondence between the content ID of each content and the device ID accommodating the content, and the acquisition permission condition for each content.

The sequence from when the user 121 makes a content acquisition request to when content is acquired in the second embodiment is basically the same as in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 29, as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 30, the connection manager 18
Reference numeral 3 denotes a window for acquiring content to the user, and first receives a content distribution server connection request or a content acquisition request sent from the user.

In the second embodiment, a case where the user 121 acquires the content A will be described. User 1
The procedure from when the user 21 transmits the content A acquisition request to when the user authentication is successful and the device ID = 141 is notified to the user 121 is the same as in the first embodiment.

Upon receiving the notification of the device ID = 141, the user 121 thereafter gives the device ID = 141 as the destination of the content A request packet to be sent to the content distribution server 101. The request packet is also provided with the URL of the content A.

When receiving the content A request packet, the access device 131 reads contentA and class_up = normal from the URL assigned to the packet, and assigns the virtual network ID = 172 and the quality identifier = 2 to the packet. And transfers the packet to the virtual network 172. Thus, the content A request packet is transmitted on the virtual network 172 based on the quality identifier = 2,
At the same time as the transfer with the appropriate quality defined in 72, the virtual network ID = 172 added to the packet header and the device I
The content is transferred to the content distribution server accommodating device 141 based on the two IDs of D = 141.

[0278] The content distribution server accommodating device 141
The arriving content A request packet is transferred to the content distribution server 101. At this time, by reading contentA and class_dom = high from the URL assigned to the content A request packet, the content distribution server accommodating apparatus 141 reads the contentA and the class_dom = high, thereby providing a virtual network to be attached to the packet carrying the content A sent from the content distribution server. Know in advance ID = 172 and quality identifier = 1.

[0279] In response to the content A request, the content distribution server 101 sends out a packet carrying the content A. The content distribution server accommodation device 141 assigns a virtual network ID = 172 and a quality identifier = 1 to the packet, and transfers the packet to the virtual network 172. Thereby, the packet carrying the content A is transmitted to the virtual network 17.
2, the data is transferred to the access device 131 with high quality based on the quality identifier = 1, and finally delivered to the user 121.

As described above, the invention made by the present inventors is described below.
Although specifically described based on the embodiment, the present invention
It is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be variously modified without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0281]

The effects obtained by the representative ones of the inventions disclosed in the present application will be briefly described as follows. According to the present invention, it is possible to assign a quality identifier of a quality class and transfer the quality class to a virtual network without depending on an external notification, so that the degree of dependence on software processing can be reduced. This enables high-speed processing.

Also, the access device assigns a quality identifier of a quality class to the packet of the content distribution server connection request or the content acquisition request and transfers the packet to the virtual network. Since the quality identifier of the quality class is assigned and the packet is transferred to the virtual network, it is possible to realize the transfer suitable for the required quality in the content distribution network for the bidirectional packet between the user and the content server.

Also, by assigning the quality class information in each direction to the packet of the content distribution server connection request or the content acquisition request, it is possible to cope with the case where the required quality differs in both directions.

Also, since the quality class and the virtual network can be identified from the information in the packet only in the direction from the user to the content distribution server, the quality class and the virtual network can be identified in the direction from the content distribution server to the user as in the HTTP protocol. When the URL is not assigned (or when it is not guaranteed that the URL is always assigned), the quality control of the content distribution and the virtual network distribution work effectively.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a sequence from a content request to a content acquisition in a content distribution system of a prior application according to first and second embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of a content-driven content distribution system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of content distribution servers 101 and 102 according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a content management server 111 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a user management server 112 according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a user-side processing device 121 according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an access device 131 according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a content distribution server accommodation device 1 according to the present invention.
It is a figure which shows the schematic structure of 41 and 142.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of data transfer devices 151 to 160 according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 shows a network configuration manager 1 according to the present invention.
It is a figure showing the schematic structure of 81.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a quality manager 182 according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a connection manager 183 according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an outline of information managed by each device according to the present invention and an information transmission / reception relationship between the devices.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a second example of the notification of the content ID and the virtual network ID to the content distribution server accommodating device according to the present invention and the notification of the virtual network ID to the data transfer device.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a sequence from a content acquisition request to content acquisition according to the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the user-side processing device 121 according to the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a connection manager 183 according to the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a user authentication process according to the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the content management server 111 according to the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the access device 131 according to the present invention.

FIG. 21 shows data transfer devices 151 to 160 according to the present invention.
6 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of FIG.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the content distribution server accommodating apparatuses 141 and 142 according to the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of a charging process related to content acquisition according to the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating an operation example of another device performed when deleting the content A from the content distribution server according to the present invention.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing an example of a sequence when user authentication according to the present invention is unsuccessful.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing a sequence example when the content acquisition permission condition according to the present invention is not satisfied.

FIG. 27 is a diagram showing a sequence example from a content request to content acquisition in consideration of a quality class for each content according to the present invention.

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing an example of a sequence from content request to content acquisition in consideration of a quality class for each content and each user according to the present invention.

FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating an example of a sequence from when a user makes a content request to when content is acquired according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 30 is a diagram illustrating an example of a sequence from when a user makes a content request to when content is acquired according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 31 is a diagram showing an example of a content distribution system based on a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

101, 102: Content distribution server 111: Content management server 112: User management server 121: User side processing device 131: Access device 141, 142: Content distribution server accommodating device 151-160: Data transfer device 171: Content distribution network 172 174 virtual network 181 network configuration manager 182 quality manager 183 connection manager 301 CPU 302 memory 303 magnetic disk device 304 input device 305 output device 306 CD
-ROM device 307 communication device 311 virtual network information update processing unit 312 content distribution processing unit 401 CP
U 402 memory 403 magnetic disk device 404 input device 405 output device 406 CD-ROM device 407 communication device 411 determination processing unit 412 determination result notification processing unit 413 acquisition charge information transmission processing unit 501 CP
U 502 Memory 503 Magnetic disk device 504 Input device 505 Output device 506 CD-ROM device 507 Communication device 511 User authentication processing unit 512 Billing management processing unit 601 CPU 602 Memory 603 Magnetic disk device 604: input device 605: output device 606: CD
-ROM device 607 communication device 611 acquisition request processing unit 612 content request processing unit 701 CP
U 702 memory 703 magnetic disk device 704 input device 705 output device 706 CD-ROM device 707 communication device 711 content request transfer processing unit 712 content transfer processing unit 801 CPU 802 memory 803 magnetic disk Device 804 ... Input device 805 ... Output device 806 ... CD
-ROM device 807 communication device 811 virtual network ID update processing unit 812 content transfer processing unit 901 CP
U 902 Memory 903 Magnetic disk device 904 Input device 905 Output device 906 CD-ROM device 907 Communication device 911 Virtual network transfer processing unit 1001 C
PU 1002 Memory 1003 Magnetic disk device 1004 Input device 1005 Output device 1006 CD-ROM device 1007 Communication device 1011 Virtual network ID update processing unit 1012 Virtual network information update processing unit 1101 CPU 1102 Memory 1103 ... Magnetic disk device 1104 ... Input device 1105 ... Output device 1106 ... C
D-ROM device 1107 communication device 1111 base selection processing unit 1201 CPU 1202 memory 1203 magnetic disk device 1204 input device 1205 output device 1206 C
D-ROM device 1207: communication device 1211: confirmation request processing unit 1212: reception result notification processing unit 201, 02
... Content delivery server 211 ... Content management server 212 ... User management server 221 ... User 231 ... Access device 241,242 ... Content delivery server accommodating device 251 to 253 ... Data transfer device 271 ... Content delivery network 281 ... Network configuration manager 282 ... Quality Manager 283: Connection manager

Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Ichikawa 2-3-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo F-term in Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (reference) 5B017 AA07 BA06 CA16 5B085 AC04 AE00 BA07 BG03 BG07

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A content distribution server for storing at least one content and transmitting the content in response to a content distribution server connection request or a content acquisition request, and managing a content ID assigned to each content. A content management server that manages the device ID of the content distribution server accommodating device accommodating each content, manages the acquisition permission condition for each content, and manages the correspondence between the content ID and the device ID accommodating the content; Receives a content distribution server connection request or a content acquisition request sent from
A device ID is specified based on each traffic volume or processing load of the content distribution server accommodating device, the access device, the data transfer device, and the content distribution server monitored by the quality manager, and the device ID is notified to a user. Means for transferring a content distribution server connection request or content acquisition request resent from the user to the data transfer device based on the destination device ID after the connection manager notifies the user of the device ID. And an access device having means for transferring the content sent from the data transfer device to the user; and accommodating the content distribution server, and transmitting a content distribution server connection request or a content acquisition request sent from the data transfer device to the content distribution server. Means to transfer and Content distribution server accommodating device having means for transferring a packet carrying content sent from a content distribution server to a data transfer device, and a virtual network formed in content units, multiple content units, content provider units, or multiple content provider units Means for managing the virtual network ID assigned to the content delivery server, means for transferring the content distribution server connection request or the content acquisition request to the destination content distribution server accommodating apparatus on the virtual network, Towards access devices that accommodate users
The data transfer device having means for transferring on the virtual network; a content distribution network formed by interconnecting the access device, the content distribution server accommodating device, and the data transfer device; A quality manager that monitors at least the information traffic amount or processing load amount handled by the content distribution server accommodating device, the access device, the data transfer device, or the content distribution server; and user information and charging information. And a user management server that manages at least user information, wherein the access device manages a correspondence between a content ID and a virtual network ID of a virtual network that transfers the content, When transferring the content Based on the content ID assigned to the content distribution server connection request or the content acquisition request packet sent from the user, the quality identifier of the quality class is assigned to the packet. A content distribution system comprising means for performing transfer to the virtual network. 2. The content distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the content distribution server accommodating device has a content ID.
And the corresponding virtual network ID of the virtual network to which the content is to be transferred, the correspondence management between the content ID and the quality class at the time of transferring the content, and a content distribution server connection request or content acquisition sent from the data transfer device. Content I attached to request packet
A content delivery system, comprising: means for assigning a quality identifier of the quality class to a packet carrying a content sent from the content delivery server based on D and transferring the packet to the virtual network. 3. The content distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the content distribution network and the data transfer device transfer a packet of a content distribution server connection request or a content acquisition request, and a packet carrying the content to the virtual network. A content distribution system comprising means for performing a different transfer method for each quality class based on the quality identifier. 4. The content distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the content ID is a URL (Universal R).
(esource Locator) or a part of the URL, the access device manages the correspondence of the virtual network ID and the quality class to the URL or part of the information of the URL, and requests a content distribution server connection request or content acquisition sent from the user. URL attached to the request packet
And a means for reading the packet and assigning a quality identifier of the quality class to the packet and transferring the packet to the virtual network. 5. The content distribution system according to claim 2, wherein the content ID is a URL or a URL.
And the content distribution server accommodation device is
Virtual network ID for some information of RL or URL
And manages the correspondence of quality classes, reads the URL attached to the packet of the content distribution server connection request or the content acquisition request sent from the data transfer device, and responds to the packet carrying the content sent from the content distribution server. A content distribution system comprising means for assigning a quality identifier of the quality class and transferring the quality class to the virtual network. 6. The content distribution system according to claim 4, wherein both the quality class information for the packet of the content distribution server connection request or the content acquisition request and the quality class information for the packet carrying the content are included in the URL. The access device reads the quality class information for the content distribution server connection request or the content acquisition request packet in the URL, so that the quality class of the quality class for the content distribution server connection request or the content acquisition request packet is read. The means for assigning an identifier, and the content distribution server accommodating apparatus, read the quality class information for the packet with the content in the URL, and perform the processing for the packet with the content sent from the content distribution server. Content distribution system characterized by having a means for applying a quality identifier of said quality class.