JP2003046984A - METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING VoD SERVICE, VoD SERVICE PROVIDING PROGRAM, AND RECORDING MEDIUM WITH VoD SERVICE PROVIDING PROGRAM STORED THEREIN - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To maintain the serviceability of VoD and yet efficiently provide information. SOLUTION: A server transmits part of a program to a user terminal on a separate channel, and the user terminal receives the part of the program on the separate channel and reproduces the part. When the program is broadcast on a specified broadcasting channel, the user terminal detects the start of the program on the broadcasting channel and receives and stores the program. When the reproduction of the information on the separated channel ends, the user terminal reproduces the stored program on the broadcasting channel.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a VoD service providing method and system, a VoD service providing program, and a storage medium storing the VoD service providing program, and more particularly, from a video server accumulating programs via a network. The present invention relates to a VoD (Video on demand) service providing method and system for providing a program requested to a user terminal, a VoD service providing program, and a storage medium storing the VoD service providing program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art VoD (Video on Demand) has attracted attention as a service that allows a user to watch a desired program whenever he / she likes, as the communication network has been developed in recent years. VoD is
Usually, there is a video server for storing programs, which is connected to a user terminal via a network. The user terminal is, for example, a PC or a dedicated set top box,
It has functions such as transmitting a video request signal, receiving a video signal, and reproducing. VoD users, when they want to watch the program,
A request for the same program is sent to the video server through the terminal. As a result, the video server transmits the requested program to the requesting user terminal. Therefore, as compared with a broadcasting service in which a specific program is broadcast at a specific time, there is an advantage that the degree of freedom of the user is high, but on the other hand, information transmission must be performed for each user, which results in a high cost. There is.

For this reason, a method called quasi VoD is being studied. This does not mean that on-demand (upon request) program transmission is performed completely as shown in FIG. 9, but normally, by providing the same program on a plurality of channels, for example, by shifting by 15 minutes. If you wait up to 15 minutes, you can receive and listen to the desired program from the beginning. This simplest quasi-VoD has a problem that the number of required channels becomes enormous as the maximum waiting time is reduced. This problem is particularly noticeable when providing a long program.

Therefore, Kien A. Hua, Ying Cai, has been proposed as one of the methods for providing a program while suppressing the number of channels to a large number of users while maintaining the VoD service characteristics.
The paper `` Patching: a multicast techn '' by Simon Sheu
ique for true video-on-demand services '' (ACM Mult
There is a proposed method of imedia'98). In this method, a program is broadcast on a broadcasting channel, information provided by a user that could not be obtained on the broadcasting channel is provided using an individual channel, and the terminal storage function is used to achieve efficient VoD. It is a system. Figure 1
0 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0005] The terminal is a program A that is transmitted via the network.
Is requested to the video server (step 11). The video server receiving the request confirms the program on the broadcast channel (steps 12 and 13). Hereinafter, a case where the program is provided on the broadcast channel and the program A has already started will be described (FIG. 10, program A reception request 2).

The video server, which has confirmed that the program A is being broadcast on the broadcast channel, uses the individual channel for the portion from the beginning of the program to the reception request time point (FIG. 10, program A beginning 1). (Step 14). Then, the channel number of the individual channel for the distribution and the channel number of the broadcast channel which is broadcasting the program A are notified to the reception requesting terminal (step 15).

The terminal receiving the notification starts receiving both the broadcast channel and the individual channel (step 1).
6, step 18). First, broadcast channel information (program contents after the reception request time) is accumulated in the terminal and the information received on the individual channel is reproduced (step 19). By reproducing the information received on the individual channel, the program content from the beginning of the program to the reception request start time can be provided. The terminal detects the end of distribution on the dedicated channel (step 2
1) The reproduction of the accumulated broadcast channel information is started (step 22). By reproducing the broadcast channel information, the program content after the reception request time can be provided. By this point, if the broadcast on the broadcast channel of program A has finished,
The accumulation ends at that point (step 23, step 2)
4). If it has not ended, the accumulation continues and ends in the same way as the end of the program. Eventually, the reproduction of the stored information is also completed (step 25).

[0008]

However, the above-mentioned conventional individually provided information is different (the information length is different).
In such a system, the system becomes complicated, and it becomes complicated to deal with a delay in reception request.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points and has a VoD service providing method and system, a VoD service providing program, and a VoD that can efficiently provide information while having VoD serviceability. An object is to provide a storage medium storing a service providing program.

[0010]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the principle of the present invention.

According to the present invention (Claim 1), in a VoD service providing method for providing a program content requested by a user terminal on a broadcasting system which can be received by an unspecified number of user terminals, the Vod server is: A part of a predetermined program of the program content is stored (step 1), a distribution request is received from the user terminal (step 2), and the broadcast channel which is the program start on the next broadcast channel is specified. (Step 3), the channel information including the channel number of the broadcast channel and the channel number of the individual channel for distributing a part of the stored program content is notified to the user terminal (Step 4), and the channel information is displayed in the user terminal. Is received (step 5), the Vod server
Part of the program content is transmitted to the user terminal on the individual channel (step 6), the user terminal receives and reproduces part of the program content on the individual channel (step 7), and the user terminal specifies the specified broadcast. When the program from the channel is broadcast, the program start of the broadcast channel is detected (step 8), the program content is received and stored (step 9), and when the reproduction of the information on the individual channel is completed, The program content of the accumulated broadcast channel is reproduced (step 10).

According to the present invention (claim 2), in a VoD service providing method for providing a program content requested by a user terminal on a broadcasting system that can be received by an unspecified number of user terminals, the Vod server is: The program content is divided into a head portion and a trailing portion other than the head portion, and further, the trailing portion is divided into a plurality of segments having the same data size in order from the head and numbered, and the divided segments are based on a certain rule. Grouping sequentially from the beginning to generate multiple segment groups, periodically transmitting the segment groups using different broadcast channels, receiving distribution requests from user terminals, and sending individual channels to the user terminals. To send the data at the beginning, and at the user terminal, stream the data distributed on the individual channel. In addition to the playback of the segments, the segment for one cycle which is being broadcast on the broadcast channel is downloaded in segment units, and immediately after the playback of the segments is completed, the operation of performing the playback of the downloaded segments in numerical order is performed. Repeat until the playback of the program content is completed.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the principle of the present invention.

The present invention (claim 3) provides a user terminal 200 for viewing a desired program and a program content requested by the user terminal 200 on a broadcasting system which can be received by an unspecified number of user terminals. Is a VoD service providing system including a VoD server 100 for
The VoD server 100 stores a part of a predetermined program content of a program and a request receiving means 110 that receives a distribution request from the user terminal 200.
And the channel information including the channel number of the broadcast channel which becomes the program start on the next broadcast channel and the channel number of the broadcast channel and the channel number of the individual channel for distributing a part of the stored program content, to the user terminal. And channel information notifying means 120 for notifying the user terminal 200, and individual channel information transmitting means 130 for transmitting a part of the accumulated program content of the individual channel to the user terminal, and the user terminal 200 makes a distribution request to the VoD server. Distribution request transmitting means 220 for transmitting, channel information receiving means 230 for receiving channel information from the VoD server, individual channel information reproducing means 275 for receiving and reproducing information on the individual channel notified by the channel information, and broadcast channel Program start detecting means 280 for detecting the start of the program
Broadcast program storage means 260 for receiving and storing the program content of the broadcast channel, and individual channel information reproducing means 27.
When the reproduction of information in 5 is completed, the broadcast program storage means 26
Broadcast channel information reproducing means 270 for reproducing the program content of the broadcast channel stored in 0.

The present invention (claim 4) provides a user terminal for viewing a desired program and a program content requested by the user terminal on a broadcasting system which can be received by an unspecified number of user terminals. Vo consisting of VoD server
In the D service providing system, the Vod server divides the program content into a head portion and a trailing portion other than the leading portion, and further divides the trailing portion into a plurality of segments having the same data size in order from the head and assigns a number. Dividing means to
Grouping means for grouping the divided segments in order from the beginning based on a certain rule to generate a plurality of segment groups; and broadcast channel transmitting means for periodically transmitting the segment groups using different broadcast channels, respectively. When the distribution request is received from the user terminal, the user terminal is provided with a data transmission unit that transmits the data of the head portion using the individual channel, and the user terminal is distributed from the Vod server on the individual channel. Downloading means for streaming reproduction of data and downloading segments of one cycle which are broadcast on the broadcast channel in segment units, and immediately after the end of segment reproduction, the segments downloaded during the segment reproduction are reproduced in numerical order. The operation of all program content Playback of having a reproduction means to repeat until the end.

The present invention (Claim 5) is executed by a VoD server for providing a program content requested by a user terminal for viewing a desired program on a broadcasting system which can be received by an unspecified number of user terminals. A VoD service providing program, which is a storage process for storing a predetermined part of program content in storage means, a request reception process for receiving a distribution request from a user terminal, and a program start on the next broadcast channel. Identify the broadcast channel
A channel information notification process for notifying a user terminal of channel information including a channel number of the broadcast channel and a channel number of an individual channel for distributing a part of the accumulated program content, and a program content of the accumulated individual channel. And a dedicated channel information transmission process for transmitting a part to the user terminal.

The present invention (Claim 6) is executed by a VoD server for providing a program content requested by a user terminal for viewing a desired program content on a broadcasting system which can be received by an unspecified number of user terminals. VoD service providing program for dividing a program content into a head portion and a succeeding portion other than the head portion, and further dividing the succeeding portion into a plurality of segments having an equal data size from the head and assigning numbers to the segments. And a grouping process for grouping the divided segments in order from the beginning based on a certain rule to generate a plurality of segment groups, and a broadcast channel transmission for periodically transmitting the segment groups using different broadcast channels. When a process and a delivery request from a user terminal are received, the user terminal receives the delivery request. To, and a data transmission process for transmitting data of the head portion by using a dedicated channel.

The present invention (Claim 7) is a VoD service providing program executed by a user terminal for viewing program content provided by a VoD server on a broadcasting system which can be received by an unspecified number of user terminals. VoD
A delivery request sending process that sends a delivery request to the server,
A channel information receiving process for receiving channel information from the VoD server, an individual channel information reproducing process for receiving and reproducing information on an individual channel notified by the channel information, and a program start detecting process for detecting a program start of a broadcast channel. When the broadcast program storage process of receiving the program content of the broadcast channel and storing it in the storage means and the reproduction of the information in the individual channel information reproduction process are finished, the program content of the broadcast channel stored in the storage means is reproduced. And a broadcast channel information reproduction process.

The present invention (Claim 8) is a VoD service providing program executed by a user terminal for viewing program content provided from a VoD server on a broadcasting system which can be received by an unspecified number of user terminals. The streaming process of data distributed from the Vod server on an individual channel and the download process of downloading a segment of one cycle broadcast on the broadcast channel in segment units, and immediately after the segment playback is finished, during the segment playback. It has a reproduction process of repeating the operation of reproducing the downloaded segments in the order of the numbers assigned to the segments until the reproduction of all program contents is completed.

The present invention (Claim 9) is executed by a VoD server for providing a program content requested by a user terminal for viewing a desired program on a broadcasting system which can be received by an unspecified number of user terminals. A storage medium storing a VoD service providing program, a storage process for storing a predetermined part of program content in a storage unit, a request reception process for receiving a distribution request from a user terminal, and a next broadcast channel. A channel information notifying process for specifying a broadcast channel which is the start of a program in, and notifying the user terminal of the channel information including the channel number of the broadcast channel and the channel number of the individual channel for distributing a part of the stored programs, , Individual channel information transmission for transmitting a part of accumulated individual channel program content to user terminal And a process.

According to the present invention (claim 10), a VoD server for providing a program content requested by a user terminal for viewing a desired program content on a broadcasting system which can be received by an unspecified number of user terminals is executed. VoD
A storage medium storing a service providing program,
Divide the program content into the beginning part and the subsequent part, and
Further, a dividing process of dividing the subsequent portion into a plurality of segments having the same data size in order from the beginning and assigning a number thereto, and the divided segments are grouped in order from the beginning based on a certain rule to form a plurality of segment groups. And a broadcast channel transmission process of periodically transmitting the divided segment groups using different broadcast channels, respectively, and when receiving a distribution request from the user terminal, individually And a data transmission process for transmitting the data of the head portion using the channel.

The present invention (Claim 11) stores a VoD service providing program executed by a user terminal for viewing program content provided from a VoD server on a broadcasting system which can be received by an unspecified number of user terminals. A medium, which is a distribution request transmission process for transmitting a distribution request to the VoD server, a channel information reception process for receiving channel information from the VoD server, and an individual unit for receiving and reproducing information on an individual channel notified by the channel information. Channel information reproduction process, program start detection process for detecting program start of broadcast channel, broadcast program accumulation process of receiving program contents of broadcast channel and accumulating in storage means, and reproduction of information in individual channel information reproduction process , The broadcast channels stored in the storage means And a broadcast channel information reproducing process for reproducing the program content.

The present invention (Claim 12) stores a VoD service providing program executed by a user terminal for viewing program content provided from a VoD server on a broadcasting system which can be received by an unspecified number of user terminals. A medium, which is a medium, performs streaming reproduction of data distributed from the Vod server on an individual channel, and also downloads a segment of one cycle broadcast on a broadcast channel in segment units, and immediately after the reproduction of the segments ends, And a playback process of repeating the playback of the segments downloaded during the segment playback in the order of the numbers assigned to the segments until the playback of all program contents is completed.

As described above, in the present invention, the beginning portion of the program content is stored on the VoD server and transmitted to the user terminal through the individual channel, and the user terminal transmits the program content provided through the individual channel. Play only the beginning part, then receive the broadcast program content provided by the broadcast channel, store it until the beginning part of the program content provided by the individual channel is finished, and finish the playback. By reproducing the broadcast program content at that point, the ratio of information distribution in the broadcast increases, so that the efficiency can be improved.

[0025]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

In the following embodiments, since it is effective to carry out the broadcasting by the quasi VoD, the description will be made on the assumption that the quasi VoD is applied as the broadcasting channel, but the quasi VoD does not necessarily have to be applied by the broadcasting channel.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 3 shows a system configuration according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

The system shown in FIG.
0, user terminal 200, individual channel network 700, and broadcast network 800.

The VoD server 100 includes a distribution request receiving unit 1
10, a channel information transmitter 120, an information distributor 130,
It is composed of a storage device 140 and a clock 150.

The storage device 140 stores a predetermined part of the program content (the beginning of the program (moving picture / audio)).

The distribution request receiving unit 110 includes the user terminal 20.
Receive a distribution request from 0.

The channel information transmitter 120 notifies the user terminal 200 of the channel information that the user terminal 200 should receive.

The information distribution unit 130 distributes a part of predetermined information stored in the storage device 140.

The user terminal 200 has a distribution request input section 21.
0, distribution request transmitter 220, channel information receiver 23
0, broadcast channel receiver 240, individual channel receiver 2
50, storage unit 260, reproduction unit 270, individual channel transmission end detection unit 280, broadcast channel program start detection unit 29
0, a display unit 295.

The distribution request input section 210 inputs a distribution request from the user.

The distribution request transmission unit 220 transmits the input distribution request to the VoD server 10 via the individual channel network 700.
Send to 0.

The channel information receiving section 250 receives channel information from the VoD server 100 on an individual channel.

The broadcast channel receiving section 240 includes a broadcast network 80.
The program is received via 0 and stored in the storage unit 260.

The individual channel receiving section 250 receives the program content (a part) of the individual channel via the individual channel network 700.

The storage unit 260 stores the program content received via the broadcasting network 800. The reproduction unit 270 reproduces the program content of the individual channel or the broadcast channel.

The individual channel transmission end detecting section 280 detects the end of transmission on the individual channel.

The broadcast channel program start detector 290 detects the start of the broadcast channel program. The display unit 295 displays the content reproduced by the reproduction unit 270.

The broadcast network 800 and the individual channel network 700 in the figure may be in the same network but different in logical channel.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described.

First, as a preparation step, the program is divided into two parts. The first part is the storage unit 14 of the VoD server 100 so that the VoD server 100 may deliver the data via an individual channel.
Accumulate to 0. The remaining part is broadcast on the broadcast channel. When the quasi VoD is applied, the length of the beginning of the program is preferably set to the program broadcasting period.

FIG. 4 is a sequence chart of the VoD service providing operation according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Step 101) The user terminal 200
The distribution request input unit 210 is used to input a distribution request, and the distribution request transmission unit 220 is used to make a request to the VoD server 100 via the individual channel network 700.

Step 102) VoD Server 100
The distribution request receiving unit 110 receives the distribution request from the user terminal 200.

Step 103) VoD Server 100
Refers to the clock 150 in the channel information transmitting unit 120, and specifies the broadcast channel which is the program start on the next broadcast channel.

Step 104) Channel information transmitter 1
20 notifies the user terminal 200 of the distribution request source of the channel number of the broadcast channel and the channel number of the individual channel for distributing the beginning part of the program content to the user terminal 200.

Step 105) The user terminal 200
In the channel information receiving unit 230, the VoD server 10
The broadcast channel and individual channel notification received from 0 are received.

Step 106) The information distribution unit 130
The beginning of the program content is read from the storage device 140 and delivered to the user terminal 200 via the individual channel network 700.

Step 107) The user terminal 200
The individual channel receiving section 250 starts reception of the individual channel program content, and the reproducing section 270 reproduces the received individual channel program content.
Display at 95.

Step 108) Within the reproduction time of the individual channel information, the broadcast of the program is started from the broadcast channel notified above.

Step 109) In the user terminal 200, the broadcast channel program start detection section 290 detects the broadcast. During reproduction of the individual channel information, the broadcast channel information is received by the broadcast channel receiving section 240 and accumulated in the accumulating section 260.

Step 110) VoD Server 100
Ends transmission of the dedicated channel. Step 111)
The user terminal 200 includes the dedicated channel transmission end detection unit 2
At 80, the end of distribution on the individual channel is detected, and the individual channel reception is stopped.

Step 112) When the reproduction of the information of the individual channel is completed, the reproduction of the program content of the broadcast channel stored in the storage section 260 is started.

Step 113) The transmission of the program content of the selected broadcast channel ends.

Step 114) The accumulation of the program content of the broadcast channel in the user terminal 200 ends at the same time as the program ends.

Step 115) In the user terminal 200, the reproduction of the program content accumulated in the accumulating section 260 is also ended.

FIG. 5 shows the situation of distribution by the individual channel / broadcast channel in the first embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, in the broadcast channels 1 to 5, the rear part of the program 1 is provided in quasi VoD. In response to a distribution request from the user terminal 200, on an individual channel,
The beginning of the program is provided to each user. In the figure, in response to the first reception request, the beginning portion of the program 1 is provided on the individual channel 1, and the user terminal 200 receives this and the broadcast channel 1 before the beginning portion of the program 1 ends.
The reception of the latter part of the program in (3) starts. Then, the broadcast channel 1 is continuously received until all the latter part of the program is received.

In FIG. 5, for the second distribution request, the beginning of the program 1 is provided on an individual channel other than the individual channel 1. Hereinafter, it is the same as the first reception request.

In the third distribution request, since the individual channel 1 is free, the beginning of the program 1 is provided on the individual channel 1. Hereafter, like the first distribution request, the rear end reception of the program on the broadcast channel (broadcast channel 4) is started before the end of the reception at the beginning of the program, and is received until the end of the program.

[Second Embodiment] In the above-described first embodiment, the reproduction speed of the program contents is usually
Although it is the same as the transmission speed of the broadcast channel, the present embodiment assumes that the transmission speed of the broadcast channel exceeds the reproduction speed of the program content.

FIG. 6 shows a system configuration according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

The system shown in FIG.
0, a user terminal 400, and a network 500 connecting them. The network 5
In 00, the individual channel network and the broadcast network are one network, and different logical channels are used.

The VoD server 300 includes a content dividing section 310, a grouping section 320, and a distribution request receiving section 33.
0, a data transmission unit 340.

The content dividing unit 310 divides the program content into a head portion and a succeeding portion other than the head portion, and further divides the succeeding portion into segments of the same data size from the head in order, and gives numbers in order.

The grouping unit 320 performs a grouping process on the segments divided by the content dividing unit 310 in segment units.

The distribution request receiving section 330 has the user terminal 40.
Receive a distribution request from 0.

The data transmission section 340 periodically transmits the k-th segment group on the broadcast channel k. Further, when a distribution request is issued from the user terminal 400, the divided data of the head portion is distributed using the individual channel.

The user terminal 400 has the distribution request transmission unit 41.
0, download unit 420, reproduction unit 43, display unit 440
And a storage unit 450.

The distribution request transmission unit 410 sends the distribution request to Vo.
It is transmitted to the D server 300.

The download unit 420 is the VoD server 3
Broadcast channel data from 00 is downloaded to the storage unit 450.

The reproducing section 430 reproduces the data distributed from the VoD server 300 by the individual channel, and also streaming reproduces the segment broadcast by the broadcast channel and downloaded in the accumulating section 450.

The storage unit 450 stores the data of the broadcast channel downloaded by the download unit 420.

FIG. 7 shows an example of division of program content according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, V
The content division unit 310 of the oD server 100 divides the program content into two parts, a head part and a subsequent part other than the head part in advance. After that, the succeeding part is divided into a plurality of segments having the same data size in order from the beginning. In this embodiment,
When the data size of the head portion is N and the ratio of the transmission speed of each broadcast channel to the content reproduction speed is R (> 1),
The division is performed so that the segment size M is N × R / 2 or less. Also, at the same time as dividing each segment, as shown in the figure, numbering is also performed in order from the beginning in segment units.

In some cases, the data size of the last segment corresponding to the last part of the program content may be smaller than the data size of other segments. In such a case, the data size of the last segment is treated as one segment while keeping the data size small. Furthermore, the segment divided as described above into the kth group is

[0079]

[Equation 1] In order to generate a segment group including one or more continuous segments so as to be included therein, grouping processing is sequentially performed in segment units. In some cases, the number of segments included in the final n-th segment group is

[0080]

[Equation 2] In some cases, it may be less than
The number of segments included in the nth segment group is treated as one segment group with a small number.

Next, the VoD server 100, as shown in FIG. 8, sets the k-th segment group to the broadcast channel k.
To periodically transmit (k = 1, 2, ...). When there is a reception request from the user, the data transmission unit 340 of the VoD server 100 distributes the above-mentioned data at the beginning using an individual channel. The reproduction unit 430 of the user terminal 200
The data distributed on the individual channel is streamed and reproduced, and the download unit 420 downloads the segment of one cycle broadcast on the broadcast channel 1 in segment units. Start downloading the segment.

On the other hand, as soon as the streaming reproduction is completed in the reproducing section 430, the segments downloaded during the streaming reproduction are continuously reproduced in numerical order.

Thereafter, the user terminal 200 waits until the reproduction of the segment broadcast on the broadcast channel k ends.
The operation of downloading a segment for one cycle that is being broadcast on the broadcast channel k + 1 and starting the playback of the downloaded segment immediately after the playback of the segment is completed until the playback of the program content is completed. repeat. As described above, a system capable of providing an on-demand service while reducing the required bandwidth is realized.

Further, the operations of the VoD server and the user terminal in the above-described embodiment are constructed as a program, and V
It can be installed in a computer used as an oD server or a user terminal, or distributed through a network. In addition, the constructed program is stored in a hard disk device connected to a computer used as a VoD server or a user terminal, a portable storage medium such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk, or a CD-ROM to store the present invention. The present invention can be easily realized by installing the program when it is carried out.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and various modifications and applications are possible within the scope of the claims.

[0086]

As described above, according to the present invention, only the beginning portion of the program content is distributed on the individual channel, and the other information is broadcast by the broadcast channel.
Since most of the information distribution is performed by broadcasting while having the serviceability of D, an efficient system can be provided.

Further, the server only delivers fixed information (the beginning part of the program content) to the user terminal, which can be easily realized.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the principle of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a principle configuration diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a system configuration diagram according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sequence chart of a VoD service providing operation according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[Fig. 5] Fig. 5 is a diagram showing a situation of distribution via an individual channel / broadcast channel according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an example of division of program content according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a system configuration diagram according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining transmission of a segment group according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining quasi VoD in the conventional technique.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining information distribution in a conventional technique.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a VoD providing operation according to a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 VoD server 110 request receiving means, distribution request receiving section 120 channel information notifying means, channel information transmitting section 130 individual channel information transmitting means, information distributing section 140 accumulating section 150 clock 200 user terminal 210 distribution request transmitting section 220 distribution request transmitting means , Distribution request transmitting unit 230 channel information receiving unit, channel information receiving unit 240 broadcast channel receiving unit 250 individual channel receiving unit 260 program start accumulating unit, accumulating unit 270 broadcast channel information reproducing unit, reproducing unit 275 individual channel information reproducing unit 280 individual Channel transmission end detection unit 290 Program start detection unit, broadcast channel program start detection unit 295 Display unit 300 VoD server 310 Content division unit 320 Grouping unit 330 Distribution request reception unit 340 Data transmission unit 400 User terminal 410 Distribution request Transmission section 420 Download section 430 Reproduction section 440 Display section 450 Storage section 500 Network 700 Individual channel network 800 Broadcast network

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Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A VoD service providing method for providing a program content requested by a user terminal on a broadcasting system which can be received by an unspecified number of user terminals, wherein a Vod server is a program content predetermined. A part of the program is stored, a distribution request is received from the user terminal, a broadcast channel that is the program start on the next broadcast channel is specified, and the channel number of the broadcast channel and the stored program content The user terminal is notified of channel information including a channel number of an individual channel for distributing a part, the user terminal receives the channel information, and the Vod server uses the individual channel for a part of the program content. Transmitting to a user terminal, the user terminal receiving a part of the program content on the dedicated channel When the program from the specified broadcast channel is broadcast, the user terminal detects the program start of the broadcast channel, receives and stores the program content, and A method of providing a VoD service, characterized in that when the reproduction of information is completed, the programs of the accumulated broadcast channels are reproduced. 2. A VoD service providing method for providing a program content requested by the user terminal on a broadcasting system which can be received by an unspecified number of user terminals, wherein a Vod server has the program content at the head portion thereof. Other than the above, and further divides the subsequent part into a plurality of segments of equal data size from the beginning and assigns numbers, and the divided segments are grouped in order from the beginning based on a certain rule. Generating a plurality of segment groups, the segment groups are periodically transmitted using broadcast channels different from each other, receiving a distribution request from the user terminal, to the user terminal using an individual channel, The data at the beginning is transmitted, and the user terminal stores the data distributed on the dedicated channel. In addition to reaming reproduction, a segment of one cycle broadcast on a broadcast channel is downloaded in segment units, and immediately after the reproduction of the segment is completed, the operation of performing the reproduction of the downloaded segments in the order of the numbers, A method of providing a VoD service, characterized by repeating until the reproduction of all program contents is completed. 3. A user terminal for viewing a desired program on a broadcasting system which can be received by an unspecified number of user terminals,
A VoD service providing system comprising a VoD server for providing a program content requested from the user terminal, wherein the VoD server is a storage means for storing a part of a predetermined program content of a program. A request receiving means for receiving a distribution request from the user terminal, a broadcast channel which is a program start on the next broadcast channel, and a channel number of the broadcast channel and a part of the stored program content. Channel information notifying means for notifying the user terminal of channel information including the channel number of the individual channel to be distributed, and individual channel information transmitting means for transmitting a part of the accumulated program content of the individual channel to the user terminal And a distribution request transmitting unit that transmits a distribution request to the VoD server. A channel information receiving means for receiving the channel information from the VoD server; an individual channel information reproducing means for receiving and reproducing information on an individual channel notified by the channel information; and detecting a program start of the broadcast channel. Program start detecting means, broadcast program accumulating means for receiving and accumulating the program content of the broadcast channel, and reproduction of information by the individual channel information reproducing means is completed and accumulated in the broadcast program accumulating means. A VoD service providing system comprising: broadcast channel information reproducing means for reproducing program content of a broadcast channel. 4. A user terminal for viewing a desired program on a broadcasting system which can be received by an unspecified number of user terminals,
A VoD service providing system including a VoD server for providing a program content requested from the user terminal, wherein the Vod server divides the program content into a head portion and a subsequent portion other than the head portion.
Further, a dividing unit that divides the subsequent portion into a plurality of segments having the same data size in order from the beginning and assigns a number, and the divided segments are grouped in order from the beginning based on a certain rule to form a plurality of segment groups. Grouping means for generating, a broadcast channel transmitting means for periodically transmitting the segment groups using different broadcast channels, and, when a distribution request is received from the user terminal, an individual channel is provided to the user terminal. Data transmission means for transmitting the data of the head part using the user terminal, wherein the user terminal performs streaming reproduction of the data distributed from the Vod server on the individual channel, and one cycle broadcast on a broadcast channel. Download hands to download minute segment by segment When the playback ends immediately after the segment, the operation to reproduce segments downloaded during the Sengumento reproducing said numerical order, the reproduction of all the program content and having a reproduction means for repeated until the end of Vo
D service providing system. 5. A VoD service providing program executed by a VoD server for providing a program content requested by a user terminal for viewing a desired program content on a broadcasting system which can be received by an unspecified number of user terminals. A storage process for storing a predetermined part of the program content in the storage means, a request reception process for receiving a distribution request from the user terminal, and a broadcast channel at which the program starts on the next broadcast channel. A channel information notifying process for notifying the user terminal of channel information including a channel number of the broadcast channel and a channel number of an individual channel for distributing a part of the accumulated program content, and the accumulated individual Individual channel information transmission for transmitting a part of the program content of the channel to the user terminal A VoD service providing program having a communication process. 6. A VoD service providing program executed by a VoD server for providing a program content requested by a user terminal for viewing a desired program content on a broadcasting system which can be received by an unspecified number of user terminals. , The program content is divided into a head part and other subsequent parts, and the subsequent part is divided into a plurality of segments of equal data size in order from the head, and a numbering process is performed, and the divided segments are divided into segments. A grouping process for generating a plurality of segment groups by grouping them sequentially from the beginning based on a certain rule; a broadcast channel transmission process for periodically transmitting the segment groups using different broadcast channels; and the user terminal. When a distribution request is received from the A VoD service providing program, comprising: a data transmission process for transmitting the data of the head portion using a channel. 7. A VoD service providing program executed by a user terminal that views program content provided from a VoD server on a broadcasting system that can be received by an unspecified number of user terminals, wherein a distribution request is sent to the VoD server. A distribution request transmitting process for transmitting, a channel information receiving process for receiving the channel information from the VoD server, an individual channel information reproducing process for receiving and reproducing information on an individual channel notified by the channel information, and the broadcast A program start detection process for detecting the start of a program on a channel; a broadcast program storage process for receiving the program content of the broadcast channel and storing it in a storage means; and after the reproduction of information in the individual channel information reproduction process is completed, Broadcast channel programs stored in storage means A VoD service providing program having a broadcast channel information reproducing process for reproducing contents. 8. A VoD service providing program executed by a user terminal for viewing a program content provided from a VoD server on a broadcasting system which can be received by an unspecified number of user terminals, wherein the Vod server is provided on the individual channel. Downloading process of streaming reproduction of data distributed from the segment and downloading segment of one cycle which is broadcast on the broadcast channel in segment units, and of the segment downloaded during segment reproduction immediately after the end of reproduction of the segment. A VoD service providing program, comprising: a reproduction process of repeating the operation of performing reproduction in the order of numbers assigned to the segments until reproduction of all program contents is completed. 9. A VoD service providing program executed by a VoD server for providing a program content requested by a user terminal for viewing a desired program content on a broadcasting system which can be received by an unspecified number of user terminals is stored. A storage medium for storing a predetermined part of the program content in the storage means, a request receiving process for receiving a distribution request from the user terminal, and a program start on the next broadcast channel. A channel information notifying process for specifying the broadcast channel, and notifying the user terminal of the channel information including the channel number of the broadcast channel and the channel number of the individual channel for distributing a part of the stored program content, A part of the accumulated program content of individual channels is transmitted to the user terminal. Storage medium storing VoD service providing program characterized by having a dedicated channel information transmitting process. 10. A VoD service providing program executed by a VoD server for providing a program content requested by a user terminal for viewing a desired program content on a broadcasting system which can be received by an unspecified number of user terminals is stored. It is a storage medium that divides the program content into the beginning part and the subsequent part,
Further, the subsequent part is divided into a plurality of segments having the same data size in order from the beginning, and a numbering process is performed. And a broadcast channel transmission process of periodically transmitting the divided segment groups using broadcast channels different from each other, and when receiving a distribution request from the user terminal, to the user terminal, A storage medium storing a VoD service providing program, comprising: a data transmission process for transmitting the data of the head portion using an individual channel. 11. A storage medium storing a VoD service providing program executed by a user terminal that views program content provided from a VoD server on a broadcasting system that can be received by an unspecified number of user terminals. A distribution request transmission process for transmitting a distribution request to a server, a channel information reception process for receiving the channel information from the VoD server, and an individual channel information reproduction for receiving and reproducing information on the individual channel notified by the channel information. A process, a program start detection process for detecting the start of a program on the broadcast channel, a broadcast program storage process for receiving the program content of the broadcast channel and storing it in storage means, and a reproduction of information in the individual channel information reproduction process. Are stored in the storage means. And a broadcast channel information reproducing process for reproducing the program content of the broadcast channel. 12. A storage medium storing a VoD service providing program executed by a user terminal for viewing a program content provided from a VoD server on a broadcasting system which can be received by an unspecified number of user terminals, A process of streaming reproduction of data distributed from the Vod server on a channel and downloading a segment of one cycle which is broadcast on a broadcast channel in segment units, and immediately after the reproduction of the segment is finished, the segment is being reproduced. A storage medium storing a VoD service providing program, which has a reproduction process of repeating the operation of reproducing the downloaded segments in the order of the numbers assigned to the segments until the reproduction of all program contents is completed.