JP2003087764A - Video sound information distributing system and server and client therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a video sound information distributing system for mediating the contention of channel selection requests between clients so that all the clients in a network can equally select channels and can securely and continuously receive video sound information on a target channel. SOLUTION: An user interface 202 of a client 200A outputs channel selection request information CR and transmits the number of the target channel inputted by a remote controller R to a server 100A. When a channel selection managing part 104 receives the channel selection request information CR, it refers to a channel selection right table TA in a memory 103. When the channel selection right table TA includes ID of a channel selection request client or an idle line, the channel selection managing part 104 instructs an outer interface 102 to input video sound information SAV from the target channel by a channel selection control signal CS. Thus, the server 100A distributes the video sound information SAV of the target channel into the network 300.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video / audio information distribution system for processing video / audio information distributed by a server in a network by a client. In particular, the present invention relates to a video / audio information distribution system in which the number of channels of video / audio information that can be simultaneously distributed by a server is smaller than the number of clients in a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A video / audio information distribution system refers to a network constructed by using, as a server, a terminal for receiving video / audio information from an external channel, such as a television (TV) broadcast receiver. For example, in a condominium or a hotel, a common TV broadcast receiver delivers a TV broadcast program and a common VTR delivers a video software movie to a TV receiver installed in each of a plurality of rooms.
There, a common TV broadcast receiver and VTR serve as a server, and a plurality of TV receivers serve as clients to construct one video and audio information distribution system.

In recent years, furthermore, personal computers
Due to the rapid spread of (PC) and information home appliances, the above-mentioned video / audio information distribution system is realized at home as a home network. Here, the home network is a PC,
Printer, router, FAX, personal digital assistant (PDA), set top box (STB), digital television
(DTV) receiver, TV receiver, DVD player, etc., IEEE802.3, wireless LAN (IEEE802.11)
b or BlueTooth), IEEE1394, USB, a home network constructed by connecting with a power line or a telephone line. In the home network, for example, PC, STB,
The DTV receiver and the DVD player are P
The C and TV receivers form the above audiovisual information distribution system as clients.

In a video / audio information distribution system, video / audio information must be distributed from a plurality of channels in response to channel selection requests from a plurality of clients.
A conventional video / audio information distribution system is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-7.
Hard disk, such as the one disclosed in the 9720 publication
The storage of (HD) or the like is used to realize the distribution of audiovisual information in response to requests from a plurality of clients. Figure 14
Shows an example of such a conventional video and audio distribution system. In the video / audio information distribution system shown in FIG. 14, the external interface 1002 in the server 1000 receives TV broadcast through the antenna A. The external interface 1002 stores the video / audio information in the storage S for each channel.

Each of the clients 2000 uses the client controller 2002 to create information about the target channel (hereinafter referred to as channel selection request information).
Channel selection request information is network interface 20
01 is output to the network 300. The server controller 1003 receives the channel selection request information of the client 2000 from the network 300 and selects a plurality of channels based on them. The external interface 1002 is
Storage of audio / video information of multiple selected channels
It is read from S and output to the server interface 1001. The server interface 1001 multiplexes the input video / audio information of a plurality of channels and distributes the multiplexed information within the network 300.

The client 2000 receives multiplexed video / audio information from the network 300 through the network interface 2001. The video / audio information processing unit 2003 extracts the video / audio information of the target channel from the multiplexed video / audio information and reproduces it on the monitor 2004v and the speaker 2004a. In this way, the above-mentioned video / audio distribution system uses the storage to distribute the video / audio information from the plurality of channels requested by the plurality of clients.

Further, in the video / audio information distribution system, when channel selection requests from a plurality of clients conflict, the competition must be arbitrated. In the conventional video / audio distribution system, as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-200727, the server assigns the priority order for channel selection to the clients and arbitrates the competition of channel selection requests among a plurality of clients. To do. Figure 15 shows
An example of a conventional video and audio distribution system that performs such arbitration will be shown.

In the video / audio information distribution system shown in FIG. 15, the server controller 1003A selects a channel in accordance with channel selection request information from one of the clients 2010 (hereinafter referred to as client A), and the selected channel (hereinafter referred to as "channel A"). , Selected channel) to the external interface 1002. The external interface 1002 receives video / audio information from the selected channel by the tuner 1002a, for example. The received audiovisual information is distributed in real time in the network 300 through the server interface 1001. Network starting with client A 30
Any of the clients 2010 in 0 can receive the video / audio information distributed in the network 300.

When the server 1010 distributes the video / audio information from the selected channel, the user of the client 2010 (hereinafter, referred to as client B) different from the client A uses the user interface 2005, and the target channel different from the selected channel. Enter information about. The user interface 2005 creates channel selection request information from the input information and outputs it to the identification information adding unit 2006. The identification information addition unit 2006 adds the identification information of the client B and the priority order in channel selection to the channel selection request information.
After that, the channel selection request information is output to the network 300 by the network interface 2001.

The server controller 1003A receives the channel selection request information of the client B from the network 300 through the server interface 1001. At that time, the server controller 1003A compares the respective priorities of the clients A and B based on the respective channel selection request information. If the priority of the client A is higher than that of the client B, the server controller 1003A outputs information indicating rejection of the channel selection request to the client B. If the priority of the client A is lower than that of the client B, the target channel indicated by the channel selection request information of the client B is selected as a new selected channel. Further, a new selected channel is designated to the external interface 1002. In this way, the above-mentioned video / audio information distribution system assigns the priority order in channel selection to each of the clients 2010 in the network 300, and gives priority to the higher level client in channel selection. Thereby, channel selection contention is arbitrated.

[0011]

In the conventional video / audio distribution system shown in FIG. 14, the number of channel selection requests from the client 2000 that can be simultaneously executed by the server 1000 is the number of channels that can be simultaneously distributed by the server 1000. Limited to the upper limit of. As such, in a video / audio distribution system, there is generally a competition in channel selection between clients. The contention is arbitrated by assigning priorities in channel selection to each of the clients 2010 as described above in the conventional video / audio distribution system shown in FIG. 15, for example. However, in the above arbitration, the priority order in channel selection has to be preset for all clients in the network without duplication. Therefore, in the network including many clients, reduction of the time required for the initialization is prevented.

In the above arbitration, the priority of the client is fixed. As a result, the success rate of channel selection was biased to a specific client and was high. For example, in a video / audio information distribution system of an apartment or a hotel, all clients should be able to select channels equally. Therefore, the above arbitration was not preferable.

Further, clients with lower priority are often interrupted from receiving audiovisual information due to channel selection by higher clients. Therefore, in most clients, continuous reproduction or continuous recording of audiovisual information was uncertain.

The present invention can arbitrate the competition of channel selection requests among the clients so that all the clients in the network can equally select the channels and can surely continuously receive the video / audio information of the target channel. The purpose is to provide a video and audio information distribution system.

[0015]

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a video / audio information distribution system, comprising: (a) selecting a predetermined selected channel from a plurality of external channels by a predetermined upper limit or less, and selecting the selected channel. A server for receiving the video / audio information from each of the above and distributing it in the network; and (b) To receive the video / audio information distributed in the network by the server that exists in excess of the maximum number of selected channels. (A) (a) a network interface for communicating with the network; and (b) a channel by inputting information about the target channel from the outside. A channel selection request for creating selection request information and outputting the channel selection request information to the network through the network interface. The client has an input section; (B) (a) a server interface for communicating with the network; (b) an external interface for receiving video and audio information and outputting it to the server interface; (c) A memory for storing a channel selection right table indicating the presence / absence of a channel selection right for each client; and (d) referring to the channel selection right table when the channel selection request information is received through the server interface,
(1) If the channel selection right table indicates the possession of the channel selection right by the client that is the source of the channel selection request information (hereinafter referred to as the channel selection request client), the target specified by the received channel selection request information. The channel is determined to be the selected channel, and the channel selection control information for designating the determined selected channel is output to the external interface. If the number of clients that show ownership and are shown to hold channel selection rights by the channel selection table (hereinafter referred to as channel selection right holding clients) is smaller than the maximum number of selected channels, the channel selection request client Channel selection to indicate retention of channel selection Kwon and updates the table (hereinafter, grant channel choice for the channel selection request client, hereinafter), the channel selection management unit for, is the server has.

In the above video / audio information distribution system, the server determines the selected channel in accordance with the channel selection request information from the channel selection right possessing client. Therefore, the server guarantees the reliable channel selection to the client by giving the channel selection right. Further, the video / audio information of the channel requested by the client having the channel selection right is reliably delivered without interruption. Therefore, the client having the channel selection right can stably and continuously receive the video / audio information of the target channel.

When the number of selected channels is smaller than the upper limit number, the server gives the channel selection right to the channel selection request client. At this time, the channel selection management unit may grant the channel selection right to the channel selection request client up to the upper limit number of the selected channels in the order of receiving the channel selection request information. Thus, the server dynamically executes the channel selection right grant. As a result, all the clients can equally obtain the channel selection right.

In the above video / audio information distribution system, the client further includes (A) priority request information for requesting priority in channel selection, and a priority request unit for outputting to the network through the network interface. Included: (B) The channel selection management unit includes (a) the priority order based on the priority request information from each client, and (b) the item indicating the determined priority order in the channel selection right table. (C) When the number of clients having channel selection right is equal to the upper limit number of selected channels, the channel selection management unit
(a) Referring to the channel selection table, select the same number of clients as the upper limit of the number of selected channels from the clients having channel selection right and the clients requesting channel selection in order of priority, and (b) the selected clients. May be given a channel selection right.

As a result, the higher the priority is, the higher priority is given to the client to acquire the channel selection right. In this way, the above-mentioned video and audio information distribution system can both give the channel selection right to the client and assign the priority order in the channel selection. In particular, the priority request information may include information about the usage status of the client, such as identification information of the user of the client. At that time, the server can dynamically determine the priority order according to the usage status of the client. Therefore, the priority can be assigned to all clients equally. As a result, all the clients can equally obtain the channel selection right.

In the above video / audio information distribution system, (A) (a) a video / audio information processing unit for converting the video / audio information into a video signal of a predetermined resolution, and (b) a predetermined resolution according to the video signal. The client has a video display device for displaying video on the screen of (1), (B) the priority request unit calculates (a) the resolution ratio of the video signal to the screen, and creates the resolution ratio information. b) Include the resolution ratio information in the priority request information; (C) The channel selection management unit may determine the priority order based on the resolution ratio information.

The resolution ratio indicates the ratio of the image display portion to the entire screen, and can be a measure for measuring the degree of interest of the client user to the image signal. That is, the greater the resolution ratio, the higher the degree of interest of the user to the video signal. In the above video / audio information distribution system, the server can determine the priority order of each client in the order of the resolution ratio. Therefore, clients used by interested users can generally get higher priorities. As a result, the client can easily obtain the channel selection right, and can reliably and continuously receive the video / audio information of the target channel. Thus, in the above-mentioned video / audio information distribution system, the server dynamically determines the priority order in channel selection in accordance with the usage status of each client. Thereby, the degree of interest of the user of each client can be reflected in the determination of the priority order. As a result, all the clients can equally obtain the channel selection right.

In the above video / audio information distribution system, the number of channel selection right possessing clients may be set to be equal to or more than the upper limit number of selected channels. At that time, the channel selection management unit (a) divides the channel selection right holding client into the channel selection requesting client and other channels based on the channel selection requesting information received from the channel selection right holding client within the predetermined time. , The number of each client is aggregated for each target channel and selected channel; (b) The corresponding target channel and selected channel are determined as a new selected channel in the order of the number of aggregated clients, and a new channel is created. Output the selection control information to the external interface; (c) Among the clients having the channel selection right, (1) the channel selection request client in which one of the newly selected channels is designated as the target channel, and (2) the new target. Channel selection that received audiovisual information from the original selected channel that belongs to the selected channel And possession client,
To newly give the channel selection right.

The number of clients that receive the video / audio information of the same channel can be a measure of the degree of interest of the client user to the video / audio information. The higher the number of clients, the higher the interest degree of the user. In the above video / audio information distribution system, the server determines the selected channel in the order of the number of clients as follows: b) The number of clients having the channel selection right, which has issued the channel selection request information with that channel as the target channel.
As a result, a client used by a highly interested user can generally select a channel, and can reliably and continuously receive the video / audio information of the target channel. Thus, in the above-described video / audio information distribution system, the server can reflect the interest level of the user of each client in the determination of the selected channel. As a result, all the clients can equally obtain the channel selection right.

A video / audio information distribution system according to another aspect of the present invention includes (a) selecting a predetermined selected channel from a plurality of external channels by a predetermined upper limit number or less, and selecting video / audio information from each of the selected channels. A server for receiving and delivering in the network, and (b) a plurality of clients for receiving the audiovisual information distributed by the server in the network, the number of which exceeds the maximum number of selected channels. (A) (a) A network interface for communicating with the network; (b) (1) Channel selection from the network through the network interface indicating that the client has the channel selection right. The right holding information and the channel upper limit number information indicating the upper limit number of the selected channels are received, and (2) the client Type a (c) information about the target channel from the outside; creates and stores channel selection right table, the indicating the presence or absence of a channel selection right for each preparative, channel selection right table management unit for
A channel selection request input unit for creating channel selection request information; and (d) when the channel selection request information is input, (1) hold the channel selection request information and refer to the channel selection right table; ) If the channel selection table shows ownership of channel selection by the client to which it belongs,
Alternatively, if the number of clients having the channel selection right is smaller than the upper limit number of the selected channels, the client has a channel selection right judgment unit for outputting the held channel selection request information to the network through the network interface; B) (a) Server interface for communicating with the network; (b) External interface for receiving video / audio information and outputting it to the server interface; (c) Receiving channel selection request information through the server interface. When (1) the channel selection control information for designating the target channel specified by the received channel selection request information as the selected channel is output to the external interface, and (2) the received channel selection request information is output. Create identifying information about the channel selection request client (D) (1) Input the identification information, (2) Create the channel selection right possession information for the channel selection request client indicated by the identification information, and (3) Channel selection right The server has a channel selection right granting unit for distributing the possessed information together with the channel upper limit number information into the network through the server interface.

In the above video / audio information distribution system, the channel selection right possessing client outputs the channel selection request information to the network. Alternatively, when the number of selected channels is smaller than the upper limit number, the client outputs channel selection request information to the network. That is, when the channel selection right is held, or when the number of selected channels is smaller than the upper limit number, the client can be the channel selection request client. Therefore, channel selection request contention does not occur between channel selection request clients. As a result, the channel selection request client is guaranteed a reliable channel selection. Furthermore, the audiovisual information of the target channel is not interrupted during the reception. Therefore, the channel selection request client can stably and continuously receive the video / audio information of the target channel.

The server distributes the channel selection right possession information for the channel selection request client in the network. Further, the client updates the channel selection right table based on the channel selection right possession information. At that time,
The channel selection right table management unit may update the channel selection right table so that the channel selection request client holds the channel selection right up to the upper limit number of selected channels in the order of input of the channel selection right holding information. . In this way, the acquisition of the channel selection right by the client is dynamically executed. As a result, all the clients can equally obtain the channel selection right.

Moreover, in the above-mentioned video / audio information distribution system, the client determines whether or not the channel selection right is present. Therefore, the number of channel selection request information distributed in the network is smaller than that in the system in which the server determines whether or not the channel selection request client has the channel selection right. Therefore, it is possible to shorten the time that the network is occupied by the distribution of the channel selection request information.

In the above video / audio information distribution system, the client further includes (A) priority request information for requesting priority in channel selection, and a priority request unit for outputting to the network through the network interface. Include; (B) (a) Input priority request information from each of the clients through the server interface, (b) determine priority based on the input priority request information,
(c) The server further has a priority management unit for delivering priority update information including the determined priority to the network through the server interface; (C) the channel selection right table management unit; Enter the priority update information and update the item in the channel selection right table indicating the priority; (D) When the number of clients having the channel selection right is equal to the upper limit number of the selected channels, the channel selection right determination unit ,
(a) With reference to the channel selection right table, (b) If a channel selection right possessing client with a lower priority than the belonging client is detected, channel selection request information is output to the network; (E) Channel When inputting the selection right possession information, the channel selection right table management unit (a) holds the channel selection right by the client indicated by the channel selection right possession information, and (b) the channel selection right with the lowest priority. The channel selection right table may be updated to indicate that the holding client does not hold the channel selection right.

As a result, in the channel selection right table of each client, the channel selection right holding client having the lowest priority among them is replaced with the new channel selection request client. As a result, the higher the priority is, the higher priority is given to the client to acquire the channel selection right. In this way, the above-mentioned video / audio information distribution system can both give the channel selection right to the client and assign the priority order in the channel selection. In particular, the priority request information may include information about the usage status of the client, such as identification information of the user of the client. At that time, the server can dynamically determine the priority order according to the usage status of the client. Therefore, the priority can be assigned to all clients equally.

In the above video / audio information distribution system, (A) (a) a video / audio information processing unit for converting the video / audio information into a video signal of a predetermined resolution, and (b) a predetermined resolution according to the video signal. The client further has an image display device for displaying an image on the screen of (1), (B) the priority requesting unit calculates the resolution ratio of the image signal to the screen, creates resolution ratio information, and outputs the resolution ratio. Information may be included in the priority request information.

The resolution ratio indicates the ratio of the image display portion to the entire screen, and can be a measure for measuring the degree of interest of the client user to the image signal. That is, the greater the resolution ratio, the higher the degree of interest of the user to the video signal. In the above video / audio information distribution system, the server can determine the priority order of each client in the order of the resolution ratio. Therefore, clients used by interested users can generally get higher priorities. As a result, the client can easily obtain the channel selection right, and can reliably and continuously receive the video / audio information of the target channel. Thus, in the above-described video / audio information distribution system, the server dynamically determines the priority order in channel selection in accordance with the usage status of each client. Thereby, the degree of interest of the user of each client can be reflected in the determination of the priority order.
As a result, all the clients can equally obtain the channel selection right.

In the above video / audio information distribution system, (A) the channel selection request input unit externally inputs the target reception time of the video / audio information from the target channel to create reception time request information, and the reception time request information is generated through the network interface. Output the reception time request information to the network; (B) (a) receive the reception time request information through the server interface, and (b) create a correspondence table between the client and the target reception time based on the received reception time request information. A reception time request management unit for creating, storing, and outputting (c) reception reservation client information for designating a client corresponding to the target reception time for each target reception time in the correspondence table. The server further has; (C) The channel selection right giving unit is indicated by the reception reservation client information when the reception reservation client information is input. It may be to create a channel selection rights reserved information about the client. Thus, the client can reserve the server to acquire the channel selection right at the target reception time. Therefore, each client does not have to keep monitoring the availability of the selected channel.

In the above video / audio information distribution system, the client may have a channel menu display section.
The channel menu display section refers to the channel selection table, and (A) includes all the channels when the client to which the user belongs has channel selection rights; (B) otherwise selects the selected channel; indicate. Thereby, the user of the client can easily understand the selectable channels from the channel menu. Further, all channels are displayed in the channel menu of the channel selection right possessing client. Therefore, the user of the client can easily grasp the presence or absence of the channel selection right from the number of channels displayed in the channel menu.

In the above video / audio information distribution system, (A) (a) (1) When the channel selection right table is updated by the channel selection right table management section to show that the client to which the user belongs has the channel selection right, (2) When the measurement time reaches the first threshold value, the reception end notice information is distributed in the network through the network interface, and at the same time, the input permission signal is output, and (3)
When the measurement time exceeds the first threshold and reaches the second threshold, the input prohibition signal is output, and (4) When the reset signal is input from the outside, the reception continuation information is distributed to the network through the network interface. And (b) (1) Permitting the reception time extension request signal to the outside during the period from the input of the input enable signal to the input of the input prohibition signal, and (2) the reception time extension request. The client may further have a reception time extension request signal input unit for outputting a reset signal to the timer when a signal is input. At that time, further; (B) the channel selection right table management unit updates the channel selection right table so as to indicate that the client of the transmission source does not hold the channel selection right when (a) the reception end notice information is input, (b) When inputting the reception continuation information, if the number of clients holding the channel selection right is smaller than the maximum number of selected channels, the channel selection right is indicated by the client that is the sender of the reception continuation information. You may update the table.

In the above-mentioned video / audio information distribution system, when the channel selection right possessing client maintains the channel selection right for a time equal to the first threshold value from the acquisition, the channel selection right is temporarily released. Thereby, another client can transmit the channel selection request information until the original client having the channel selection right transmits the reception continuation information. In this way, the holding time of the channel selection right by one client can be limited, and the chances of acquiring the channel selection right for each client can be equalized.

When the channel selection right holding client releases the channel selection right once the time equal to the first threshold has passed, the server distributes the video / audio information received by the original channel selection right holding client. continue. Therefore, when the original channel selection right possessing client can continuously acquire the channel selection right, the audiovisual information from the original channel can be continuously received while the channel selection right is once released.

The server of the video / audio information distribution system according to the present invention comprises: (a) a server interface for communicating with a network; (b) a selected upper limit number of selected channels among a plurality of external channels. An external interface for receiving the video / audio information from the server and outputting it to the server interface; (c) a memory for storing a channel selection right table showing the presence or absence of the channel selection right for each client in the network; and (d ) When receiving the channel selection request information from the client through the server interface, refer to the channel selection right table, and (1) if the channel selection request table indicates that the channel selection request client holds the channel selection right, it is received. The target channel specified by the channel selection request information is the selected channel Determined, the channel selection control information for designating the selected channel determined, the output to the external interface, (2)
If the channel selection right table indicates that the channel selection request client does not hold the channel selection right, and
If the number of clients having channel selection right is smaller than the upper limit number of selected channels, the channel selection management unit for giving the channel selection right to the channel selection request client is provided.

The above server determines the selected channel according to the channel selection request information from the client having the channel selection right. Therefore, the server guarantees the reliable channel selection to the client by giving the channel selection right. Further, the video / audio information of the channel requested by the client having the channel selection right is reliably delivered without interruption. Therefore, the client having the channel selection right can stably and continuously receive the video / audio information of the target channel.

When the number of selected channels is smaller than the upper limit number, the server grants the channel selection right to the channel selection request client. At this time, the channel selection management unit may grant the channel selection right to the channel selection request client up to the upper limit number of the selected channels in the order of receiving the channel selection request information. Thus, the server dynamically executes the channel selection right grant. As a result, the channel selection right can be equally given to all the clients.

In the above server, (A) the channel selection management unit inputs (a) priority request information for requesting the priority in channel selection from each of the clients, and (b) the input priority. Priority is determined based on the priority request information, and (c) an item indicating the determined priority is created in the channel selection right table; When the channel selection management unit is
(a) Referring to the channel selection table, select the same number of clients as the upper limit of the number of selected channels from the clients having channel selection right and the clients requesting channel selection in order of priority, and (b) the selected clients. May be given a channel selection right.

As a result, the higher the priority is, the higher priority is given to the client to acquire the channel selection right. In this way, the above server can both give the channel selection right to the client and assign the priority in the channel selection. In particular, the priority request information may include information about the usage status of the client, such as identification information of the user of the client. At that time, the server can dynamically determine the priority order according to the usage status of the client. Therefore, the priority can be assigned to all clients equally.

In the above server, when the number of the clients having the channel selection right is equal to or more than the upper limit number of the selected channels, the channel selection management unit (a) receives from the clients having the channel selection right received within the predetermined time. Based on the channel selection request information, the channel selection right possessing client is divided into the channel selection request client and the others, and the number of each client is totaled for each target channel and selected channel; (b) Total number of clients In descending order of priority, the corresponding target channel and selected channel are determined as new selected channels, and new channel selection control information is output to the external interface; A channel selection request client that specifies one of the selected channels as the target channel, (2) The channel selection right possessing client that has received the audiovisual information from the original selected channel belonging to the new selected channel,
A channel selection right may be newly given to.

The number of clients that receive the video / audio information of the same channel can be a measure of the degree of interest of the client user to the video / audio information. The higher the number of clients, the higher the interest degree of the user. The server can select the selected channels in the order of the number of channel selection right possessing clients that receive the video / audio information. As a result, clients used by interested users can generally choose a channel,
In addition, the audiovisual information of the target channel can be surely continuously received. In this way, the server can reflect the interest level of the user of each client in determining the selected channel. As a result, the channel selection right can be equally given to all the clients.

The client of the video / audio information distribution system according to the present invention communicates with (A) (a) a network, and (b) selects a predetermined number or less of selected channels belonging to a plurality of channels outside the network. A network interface for receiving from the network the audiovisual information distributed by the server in the network; (B) (a) Channel selection distributed by the server in the network and indicating possession of the channel selection right by the client in the network. (C) A channel selection right table management unit for receiving and retaining the right possession information from the network through the network interface, and (b) creating and storing a channel selection right table indicating the presence or absence of the channel selection right for each client; Input information about the target channel from the outside,
A channel selection request input unit for creating channel selection request information; and (D) when the channel selection request information is input, (a) hold the channel selection request information and refer to the channel selection right table; ) If the channel selection table shows ownership of channel selection by the client to which it belongs,
Alternatively, if the number of clients whose channel selection right is indicated by the channel selection right table (hereinafter referred to as “channel selection right holding client”) is smaller than the maximum number of selected channels, the held channel selection request information is sent to the network. A channel selection right judging unit for outputting through a network interface.

When the channel selection right is held or the number of selected channels is smaller than the upper limit number, the above client outputs the channel selection request information to the network and can become the channel selection request client. Therefore, channel selection request contention does not occur between channel selection request clients. As a result, the channel selection request client is guaranteed a reliable channel selection. Furthermore, the audiovisual information of the target channel is not interrupted during the reception. Therefore, the channel selection request client can stably and continuously receive the video / audio information of the target channel.

The server distributes the channel selection right possession information for the channel selection request client in the network. Further, the client updates the channel selection right table based on the channel selection right possession information. At that time,
The channel selection right table management unit may update the channel selection right table so that the channel selection request client holds the channel selection right up to the upper limit number of the selected channels in the order of inputting the channel selection right holding information. .. In this way, the acquisition of the channel selection right by the client is dynamically executed. As a result, all the clients can equally obtain the channel selection right.

Moreover, the client determines whether or not it has the channel selection right. Therefore, the number of channel selection request information distributed in the network is smaller than that in the system in which the server determines whether or not the channel selection request client has the channel selection right. Therefore, it is possible to shorten the time that the network is occupied by the distribution of the channel selection request information.

Priority order request information for outputting priority order request information for requesting the priority order in channel selection to the network through the network interface,
May be included in the above client. At that time, (A) the channel selection right table management unit inputs (a) priority update information including the priority determined based on the priority request information from each of the clients by the server, and (b) Update the item in the channel selection right table indicating the priority order; (B) When the number of clients having the channel selection right is equal to the upper limit number of the selected channels, the channel selection right judgment unit refers to the channel selection right table, If a channel selection right possessing client having a lower priority than the belonging client is detected, the channel selection request information is output to the network; (C) When the channel selection right possessing information is input, the channel selection right table management unit However, (a) the channel selection right held by the client indicated by the channel selection right holding information, and (b) the channel with the lowest priority. Update channel selection right table as shown unstored and channel selection rights by channel selection rights reserved client, respectively.

As a result, in the channel selection right table of each client, the channel selection right holding client having the lowest priority among them is replaced with the new channel selection request client. As a result, the higher the priority is, the higher priority is given to the client to acquire the channel selection right. In this way, the above client can both obtain the channel selection right and assign the priority in the channel selection. In particular, the priority request information may include information about the usage status of the client, such as identification information of the user of the client. At that time, the server can dynamically determine the priority order according to the usage status of the client. Therefore, the priority can be assigned equally to all the clients.

(A) A video / audio information processing unit for converting the video / audio information into a video signal of a predetermined resolution; and (b)
The client may further include a video display device including a screen having a predetermined resolution and displaying a video on the screen according to a video signal. At that time, the priority request section
It is also possible to calculate the resolution ratio of the video signal with respect to the screen, create resolution ratio information, and include the resolution ratio information in the priority request information.

The resolution ratio indicates the ratio of the image display portion to the entire screen, and can be a measure for measuring the degree of interest of the client user to the image signal. That is, the greater the resolution ratio, the higher the degree of interest of the user to the video signal. For the above clients, the server can determine the priority order according to the size of the resolution ratio. Therefore, clients used by interested users can generally get higher priorities. As a result, the client can easily obtain the channel selection right, and can reliably and continuously receive the video / audio information of the target channel. In this way, the client causes the server to determine the priority order in channel selection by dynamically corresponding to each usage state. Thereby, the degree of interest of the user of each client can be reflected in the determination of the priority order by the server. As a result, all the clients can equally obtain the channel selection right.

In the above client, the channel selection request input section inputs the target reception time of the video / audio information from the target channel from the outside to create reception time request information,
You may output to a network through a network interface. Thus, the client can reserve the acquisition of the channel selection right at the target reception time with respect to the server. Therefore, each client does not have to keep monitoring the availability of the selected channel.

The above client may further include a channel menu display section. The channel menu display section refers to the channel selection table, and (a) displays a channel menu that includes all channels when the client to which it belongs holds the channel selection rights, and (b) otherwise selects the selected channel. indicate. The user of the client can easily understand the selectable channels from the channel menu. Further, all channels are displayed in the channel menu of the channel selection right possessing client. Therefore, the user of the client can easily grasp the presence or absence of the channel selection right from the number of channels displayed in the channel menu.

The above client starts clocking when (a) (1) the channel selection right table is updated by the channel selection right table management section to show that the client to which it belongs holds the channel selection right, and (2) ) When the measurement time reaches the first threshold, the reception end notice information is delivered to the network through the network interface, and at the same time, the input permission signal is output, and (3) the measurement time exceeds the first threshold and the second (4) A timer for outputting an input prohibition signal when the threshold value is reached, and (4) delivering reception continuation information to the network through the network interface when a reset signal is input from the outside; and (b) (1) ) Allow the input of the reception time extension request signal to the outside for the period from the input of the input enable signal to the input of the input disable signal, and (2)
It may further include a reception time extension request signal input unit for outputting a reset signal to the timer when the reception time extension request signal is input. At that time, the channel selection right table management unit updates the channel selection right table to indicate that the client of the transmission source does not own the channel selection right when (a) the reception end notice information is input, and (b) continues receiving. At the time of input of information, if the number of clients having the channel selection right is smaller than the upper limit number of the selected channels, the channel selection right table is updated so as to indicate the holding of the channel selection right by the client of the transmission source of the reception continuation information.

The above-mentioned client is once released from the channel selection right when a time equal to the first threshold value has elapsed from the acquisition of the channel selection right. Thereby, another client can transmit the channel selection request information until the original client having the channel selection right transmits the reception continuation information.
In this way, the holding time of the channel selection right by one client can be limited, and the chances of acquiring the channel selection right for each client can be equalized.

[0056]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings with reference to its preferred embodiments.

<< First Embodiment >> FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a video / audio information distribution system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The video / audio information distribution system according to the first embodiment includes a server 100A, a client 200A, and a network 300. Network 300 consists of server 100A and client 2
It is a data transmission medium that connects with 00A. The network 300 is, for example, IEEE802.3, wireless LAN
(IEEE802.11b or BlueTooth), IEEE1394, US
B, built with power lines or telephone lines.

The server 100A receives a television broadcast through the antenna A, such as a set top box or a digital television receiver. Alternatively, the video / audio information is captured from the digital video camera V, such as a personal computer or a television receiver with a digital video terminal. In this way, the server 100A is connected to the external channel, selects some of them, and inputs the video / audio information. At that time, the selected external channel is called a selected channel. The video / audio information of the selected channel may be stored in the external storage S for each channel. Further, the server 100A reads the video / audio information of the selected channel in real time or from the storage S and delivers it to the network 300. Server 100
There may be two or more A in the network 300.

A plurality of clients 200A are present in the network 300 and receive the video / audio information distributed from the server 100A. The client 200A reproduces the received video / audio information, for example, like a display of a personal computer or a television receiver. Or, for example, V
It records on a magnetic tape or a DVD like a TR or a DVD recorder. In the video / audio information distribution system according to the first embodiment, the client 200 in the network 300 is particularly used.
The total number of A is larger than the total number of selected channels (hereinafter, referred to as the upper limit number of selected channels) that can be simultaneously distributed by all the servers 100A in the network 300.

<Server 100A> The configuration and operation of the server 100A will be described below. The server interface 101 communicates with the network 300. Especially the client 200A
The channel selection request information CR is received from the network 300 and is output to the channel selection management unit 104. Further, the multiplexed video / audio information SAV is input from the external interface 102 and distributed within the network 300.

The external interface 102 is connected to the antenna A or the digital video camera V and receives video / audio information from each. A tuner 102a is connected to the antenna A and receives a television broadcast. Tuner 102a
Decodes the television signal and separates the multiplexed audiovisual information for each channel. The digital video camera V may be another video / audio reproducing device such as a VTR or a DVD player.

Further, the external interface 102 is the antenna A.
Alternatively, video / audio information received from a plurality of external channels such as a digital video camera V is recorded in the storage S for each channel. The storage S is, for example, a VTR, a hard disk drive (HDD) or a DVD recorder,
It is a large-capacity data recording device.

The external interface 102 selects the external channel designated by the channel selection control information CS as the selected channel. Here, a unique number is assigned to each external channel in advance. The channel selection control information CS indicates the number of the external channel to be selected as the selected channel. The external interface 102 multiplexes the selected channels in a predetermined format and outputs the multiplexed video / audio information SAV to the server interface 101. Here, the upper limit number of selected channels that can be multiplexed is
Let N. Therefore, the server 100A can simultaneously deliver the video / audio information from up to N selected channels.

The memory 103 is preferably RAM and provides a working memory area in the server 100A. In particular, the channel selection right table TA for the channel selection management unit 104
To provide a recording area for.

The channel selection management unit 104 receives the channel selection request information CR from the network 300 through the server interface 101. At that time, a channel selection right table TA is created in the memory 103 based on the received channel selection request information CR. Figure 2 shows the channel selection right table TA
Indicates. The channel selection management unit 104 decodes the identification number (ID) of the channel selection request client and the target channel number from the input channel selection request information CR. Furthermore, the decrypted information is stored in the channel selection right table TA.
Write in one line. In FIG. 2, as an example, for the client A, which is the channel selection request client, the ID and the target channel number are the channel selection right table.
Written on the first line of the TA. Here, “client A” in the “client ID” item is client A
And the number in the "target channel" item indicates the channel number.

The number of rows of the channel selection right table TA is equal to the upper limit number N of selected channels. The channel selection management unit 104 repeats the above writing every time the channel selection request information CR is received, the number of times equal to the upper limit number N of the selected channels. As a result, the channel selection right table TA records the channel selection request clients up to the upper limit number N in the transmission order of the channel selection request information CR.

The channel selection request client recorded in the channel selection right table TA can specify a selected channel to the server 100A as described later. Therefore,
The channel selection request client recorded in the channel selection right table TA is called a channel selection right possessing client. Furthermore, “record the ID of the client 200A in the channel selection right table TA” is set to “client 200A
"Granting channel selection right to the client", and "recording the ID of the client 200A in the channel selection table TA" is called "acquisition of channel selection right by the client 200A".

The channel selection right table TA may be not only the one shown in FIG. 2 but also a correspondence table of all the clients 200A in the network 300 and the numbers of their target channels. At that time, for example, the client 200A whose number is written in the item of the target channel may be regarded as the channel selection right possessing client. In addition, an item indicating the possession of the channel selection right may be provided.

Upon receiving the channel selection request information CR, the channel selection management section 104 determines the selected channel as follows. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a process of determining a selected channel by the channel selection management unit 104. (Step S
1) Upon receiving the channel selection request information CR, the channel selection management unit 104 decodes the channel selection request client ID and the target channel number from the channel selection request information CR.

(Step S2) The channel selection management unit 104 refers to the channel selection right table TA, and checks whether the ID of the channel selection request client decrypted in step S1 is recorded in the channel selection right table TA. .. If it is recorded, the process branches to step S3, and if not, the process branches to step S4.

(Step S3) The channel selection management section 104
The target channel decoded in step S1 is determined as the selected channel. The number of the selected selected channel is transmitted to the external interface 102 by the channel selection control information CS.

(Step S4) The channel selection management unit 104
The number of written rows of the channel selection right table TA, that is, the number of channel selection right holding clients, is obtained and compared with the upper limit number N of the selected channels. If the number of clients having the channel selection right is smaller than the upper limit number N, the process branches to step S5, and otherwise to step S6.

(Step S5) The channel selection management unit 104 gives the channel selection right to the channel selection request client. Since the number of clients having the channel selection right is smaller than the upper limit number N of the selected channels, the channel selection management unit 104 can give a new channel selection right. After that, the channel selection management unit 104 executes step S3.

(Step S6) Since there is no blank line in the channel selection right table TA, the channel selection management unit 104 sends the channel selection request information to the channel selection request client.
Communicate information that indicates CR rejection.

When the channel selection management unit 104 inputs a signal indicating the end of reception of the video / audio information (hereinafter referred to as a reception end signal) from the channel selection right possessing client, the channel selection information is selected by the channel selection right possessing client. Delete from rights table TA. In this way, another client 200A is given an opportunity to acquire the channel selection right.

<Client 200A> Below, the client
The configuration and operation of 200A will be described. The network interface 201 communicates with the network 300.
In particular, the multiplexed video / audio information SAV from the server 100A is received from the network 300 and output to the video / audio information processing unit 203. Further, the channel selection request information CR or the reception end signal is input from the user interface 202, and the network 300
Output to the server 100A through.

The user interface 202 converts a command from a user into an electric signal through an input device such as a remote controller R, a keyboard, a mouse or a touch panel.
For example, the user inputs the reception target channel number to the user interface 202 using the remote controller R. At that time, the user interface 202 creates channel selection request information CR based on the input target channel number and outputs it to the network interface 201. In addition, the user uses the remote control R
Instruct to 02. Then user interface 202
Creates a reception end signal and outputs it to the network interface 201.

The video / audio information processing unit 203 separates the video / audio information of the target channel from the input multiplexed video / audio information SAV. Further, the video / audio information is decoded and separated into a video signal SV and an audio signal SA. The video signal SV is reproduced as video on the display 204v, and the audio signal SA is a speaker.
It is played as audio at 204a. Alternatively, the video / audio information may be recorded on a magnetic tape, a hard disk, a DVD, or the like by a VTR, an HDD, a DVD recorder, or the like.

As described above, in the video / audio information distribution system according to the first embodiment, the server 100A gives the channel selection request to the channel selection request client in the order of input of the channel selection request information CR. Further, the server 100A determines the selected channel according to the channel selection request information CR from the channel selection right possessing client. Therefore, the client 200A can surely select the target channel by acquiring the channel selection right. In addition, continuous reception of the target channel can be stably maintained. Further, in the first embodiment, the server 100A is any client 200 in the network 300.
Channel selection right is given equally to A. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the number of channel selection opportunities from being concentrated only on a specific client.

Second Embodiment FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a video / audio information distribution system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Here, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1, and the description in the first embodiment is applied to those components.

In the second embodiment, the client 210A has a resolution ratio information creating section 205. The resolution ratio information creation unit 205 inputs the screen resolution of the display 204v and the resolution of the video signal SV from the video / audio information processing unit 203, respectively. Furthermore, the resolution ratio of the video signal SV to the screen is calculated, and the resolution ratio information OR is created based on the result. The created resolution ratio information OR is output to the server 110A through the network interface 201.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a screen D and a video display area W of the display 204v in the clients A, B, C and E of the clients 210A. FIG. 5A is a schematic diagram of the client A. In the client A, the screen D of the display 204v has a resolution of 1280 × 720 pixels, and the video display area W has a resolution of 320 × 240 pixels. FIG. 5B is a schematic diagram of the client B. On client B, the screen of display 204v
D has a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels and the video display area W is 6
It has a resolution of 40 x 480 pixels. FIG. 5C is a schematic diagram of the client C. In client C,
The screen D of the display 204v has a resolution of 840 × 600 pixels, and the video display area W has a resolution of 320 × 240 pixels. FIG. 5D is a schematic diagram of the client E. In client E, screen D of display 204v is 1
It has a resolution of 280 x 720 pixels. The image display area W coincides with the entire screen D.

The video / audio information processing unit 203 sets the resolution of the video signal SV in accordance with the resolution of the video display area W. Therefore, the resolution ratio of the video signal SV to the screen D is equal to the resolution ratio of the video display region W to the screen D, that is, the area ratio. The area ratio of the video display region W to the screen D can be a measure of the degree of interest in the video for each client user. That is, the greater the proportion of the image display area W in the entire screen D, the higher the interest of the user in the image. For example, in FIG. 5, each of the users of client B and client C can generally be considered to have a higher interest in the video than the user of client A. Furthermore, it can be generally considered that the user of the client E has a higher interest in the image than any of the users of the clients A to C.

In the server 110A, the channel selection management unit 104a
Through the server interface 101 to the client 210
Input the resolution ratio information OR from each of A. The channel selection management unit 104a determines the priority of channel selection based on the resolution ratio information OR by the clients 210 in the network 300.
For each A, assign as follows: Figure 6
(a) shows a list of the ID of the client 210A, the resolution ratio, and the priority order, that is, the priority order list L. The priority list L is stored in the memory 103 by the channel selection management unit 104a.
Created in. The channel selection management unit 104a decodes the resolution ratio from the resolution ratio information OR and writes it in the priority list L. At that time, the resolution ratio is set to 0 for the client 210A that has not transmitted the resolution ratio information OR.

The channel selection management unit 104a uses the priority list.
The resolution ratios in L are compared, and the priority order is determined such that the higher the resolution ratio, the higher the rank. In FIG. 6A, the client E having the maximum resolution ratio is assigned the first priority. Further, the second rank is assigned to the client B, the third rank is assigned to the client C, and the fourth rank is assigned to the client A in the order of the resolution ratio. In addition, an absolute lowest priority is assigned to a client having a resolution ratio of "0". In (a) of FIG. 6, the hexadecimal number “FF” indicating the absolute lowest is written.

The channel selection management section 104a refers to the priority list L when updating the channel selection right table TA1 based on the channel selection request information CR. Thereby, the priority of the channel selection request client is read and written in the channel selection right table TA1. FIG. 6B shows the channel selection right table TA1 according to the second embodiment. The channel selection right table TA1 is the TA according to the first embodiment (see FIG. 2) to which priority items are added. In FIG. 6 (b), the possession of the channel selection right by the clients A, B and C is shown. The client E reproduces the video / audio information of any selected channel. However, he has not acquired the channel selection right.

The channel selection management unit 104a refers to the channel selection right table TA1 when the channel selection request information CR is input. When the channel selection request client does not have the channel selection right, if there is a blank line in the channel selection right table TA1, the channel selection management unit 104a grants the channel selection right to the channel selection request client as in the first embodiment. To do.

When information is already written in all the rows of the channel selection right table TA1, that is, the channel selection right holding client has already reached the upper limit number N of the selected channels.
When the same number exists as the above, the channel selection management unit 104a refers to the item of the priority order of the channel selection right table TA1.
Thereby, the channel selection right possessing client having a lower priority than the channel selection requesting client is searched. If such a channel selection right holding client is found, the information in the channel selection right table TA1 is erased for the channel selection right holding client having the lowest priority among them. Furthermore, the information about the channel selection request client is written in the erased row. In this way, the channel selection right of the channel selection right holding client having the lowest priority in the channel selection right table is transferred to the channel selection request client.

In FIG. 6B, if the upper limit number N is 3,
Of the channel selection right possessing clients A, B, and C, the lowest client A, the lowest client,
That is, the fifth or lower clients cannot acquire the channel selection right. However, the client E, which has the highest priority, outputs the channel selection request information CR,
The channel selection right can be acquired on behalf of the fourth-ranked client A.

As described above, the higher the priority in channel selection, the easier it is for the client 210A to acquire the channel selection right. Further, the server 110A determines the priority order in the order of the respective resolution ratios of the client 210A. As a result, a user of the client 210A who is more interested in the video is generally more likely to acquire the channel selection right. In this way, the audiovisual information distribution system according to the second embodiment dynamically determines the priority order in channel selection based on information that reflects the usage state of the client 210A, such as the resolution ratio. As a result, all clients 210A can be equally given the opportunity to acquire the channel selection right.

The priority order for channel selection may be set for each user in addition to the resolution ratio. The server 110A stores a correspondence table of users and priorities in the memory 103. The client 210A transmits the user's identification information to the server 110A together with the channel selection request information CR. The server 110A refers to the above correspondence table based on the user identification information. Thereby, the priority of the user is assigned as the priority of the channel selection request client. In this way, the priority in channel selection is dynamically determined depending on the user of the client 210A. Thereby, the user can obtain the same priority when using any of the clients 210A.

Example 3 The video / audio information distribution system according to Example 3 has the same configuration as that of Example 1 (see FIG. 1). Therefore, the description of FIG. 1 and the first embodiment is applied to the configuration. The third embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the process of determining a selected channel by the channel selection management unit 104 as follows.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing a process of determining a selected channel by the channel selection management section 104. Figure
In FIG. 7, steps similar to those in the flowchart of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 3 are designated by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. Further, the description of the first embodiment is cited for the description of the similar steps.

(Step S10) Unlike the first embodiment, the channel selection management unit 104 according to the third embodiment receives the channel selection request information CR at every predetermined channel selection request reception time. In step S10, it is checked whether the channel selection request reception time has elapsed. If the channel selection request reception time has not elapsed, the channel selection management unit 104 branches the process to step S11, and otherwise branches to step S13.

(Step S11) The channel selection management unit 104 checks the input of the channel selection request information CR. If it is input, the channel selection management unit 104 branches the process to step S1, and otherwise to step S10. In this way, the channel selection management unit 104 monitors the input of the channel selection request information CR during the passage of the channel selection request reception time.

(Step S2) The channel selection management unit 104 refers to the channel selection right table TA and checks whether the ID of the channel selection request client decoded in step S1 is recorded in the channel selection right table TA. . If it is recorded, the process branches to step S12, and if not, the process branches to step S4.

(Step S12) The channel selection management unit 104 updates the channel selection right table TA, whereby the items of the target channel for the client holding the channel selection checked in step S2 are set to the target decoded in step S1. Rewrite to the channel number. After that, the channel selection management unit 104 returns the process to step S10.

(Step S13) The channel selection management unit 104 refers to the channel selection right table TA when the channel selection request reception time has elapsed. Thereby, the number of rows of the channel selection right table TA is calculated for each target channel. (Step S14) The channel selection management unit 104 determines the target channel as the selected channel in descending order of the number of rows for each target channel, according to the counting result in step S13. The number of the selected selected channel is transmitted to the external interface 102 by the channel selection control information CS.

As described above, in the video / audio information distribution system according to the third embodiment, the server 100A can determine the selected channels in the order of the number of channel selection right possessing clients receiving the video / audio information. Here, it can be expected that the number of clients that receive the video / audio information of the same channel reflects the degree of interest of the user of the client to the video / audio information. That is, the greater the number of clients that receive the video / audio information of the same channel, the higher the interest degree of the user is. Therefore, in the third embodiment, a user with high interest can generally select a channel, and the client 200A used by the user can surely continuously receive the video / audio information of the target channel. As a result, the client 200A can equally obtain the channel selection right according to the degree of interest of the user.

<Fourth Embodiment> FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a video / audio information distribution system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 8, the same components as those in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals. Furthermore, for those similar configurations, the description of Example 1 is cited. In the fourth embodiment, different from the first embodiment, each of the clients stores the channel selection right table and determines whether or not the client has the channel selection right. By allowing each client to determine the presence or absence of the channel selection right, only the client having the channel selection right can output the channel selection request information. As a result, the occupation time of the network due to the transmission of the channel selection request information can be shortened.

<Server 100B> Hereinafter, of the configuration and operation of the server 100B, portions different from those of the first embodiment 100A (see FIG. 1) will be described. The channel selection control unit 105 receives the channel selection request information CR from the network 300 via the server interface 101. Further, the channel selection control unit 105 decodes the channel selection request client ID and the target channel number from the received channel selection request information CR. The decrypted channel selection request client ID and target channel number are output to the channel selection right granting unit 106. The target channel number is transmitted to the external interface 102 as the channel selection control information CS. As a result, in the fourth embodiment, the target channel input to the server 100B is always determined as the selected channel.
When the reception end signal of the video / audio information is input, the channel selection control unit 105 further outputs the ID of the sender client to the channel selection right granting unit 106.

The channel selection right granting unit 106 creates channel selection right possession information GR for the client 200B indicated by the input client ID. here,
The channel selection right possession information GR includes (1) the ID of the client input to the channel selection right granting unit 106; (2) the target channel number; and (3) the ID of (1) from the channel selection request information CR. When decrypted, channel selection right grant information,
Alternatively, it includes channel selection right cancellation information when decoded from the reception end signal. The channel selection right possession information GR is distributed in the network 300 through the server interface 101.

<Client 200B> Below, the client
Of the configuration and operation of 200B, the part different from 200A of the first embodiment (see FIG. 1) will be described. The channel selection right table management unit 207 receives channel selection right holding information GR from the network 300 through the network interface 201.
To receive. Further, the received channel selection right possession information GR
Based on the above, the channel selection right table TB is created in the internal memory. The channel selection right table TB has the same format as TA in the first embodiment (see FIG. 2).

The channel selection right table management unit 207 decodes the ID of the channel selection request client, the target channel number, and the channel selection right grant / release information from the input channel selection right holding information GR. At the time of decoding the channel selection right grant information, the channel selection right table management unit 207 stores the ID and the target channel number in the channel selection right table.
Write in one line of TB. At that time, if the ID is already written in the channel selection right table TB, the line including the ID is overwritten. When decoding the channel release information,
The channel selection right table management unit 207 deletes the information about the client 200B indicated by the ID from the channel selection right table TB.

The number of rows in the channel selection right table TB is equal to the upper limit number N of selected channels. Channel selection right table T
The channel selection right table management unit 207 repeats the above writing until the information is written in all the rows of B. As a result, the channel selection right table TB records the channel selection request clients up to the upper limit number N in the transmission order of the channel selection right possession information GR. As in the first embodiment, the channel selection request client recorded in the channel selection right table TB can specify the selected channel to the server 100B as described later.

As in the first embodiment, the channel selection right table TB may be a correspondence table of all the clients 200B in the network 300 and the numbers of their target channels. At that time, for example, the client 200B whose number is written in the item of the target channel may be regarded as the channel selection right possessing client. In addition, an item indicating the possession of the channel selection right may be provided.

When the channel selection right judging unit 206 receives the channel selection request information CR from the user interface 202, it holds the channel selection request information CR. Further, whether or not to output the held channel selection request information CR is determined as follows. The channel selection right determination unit 206 first accesses the channel selection right table management unit 207. At that time, the channel selection right table management unit 207 refers to the channel selection right table TB. As a result, whether the number of clients having the channel selection right is less than the upper limit number N of the selected channels, or the I of the belonging client 200B is
Whether D is included in the channel selection right table TB,
To check.

When the number of clients having the channel selection right is less than the upper limit number N of the selected channels, or when the ID of the client 200B to which the channel selection right belongs is included in the channel selection right table TB, the channel selection right table management unit 207 A signal to that effect is transmitted to the channel selection right determination unit 206.
At that time, the channel selection right judgment unit 206 uses the channel selection request information CR held therein by the network interface 201.
Output to. Thereby, the channel selection request information CR is transmitted to the server 100B through the network 300.

When the number of clients having the channel selection right is equal to the upper limit number N of the selected channels and the ID of the belonging client 200B is not included in the channel selection right table TB, the channel selection right table management unit 207 A signal to that effect is transmitted to the channel selection right determination unit 206. At that time, the channel selection right judging unit 206 abandons the channel selection request information CR held therein. Thus the client
200B outputs channel selection request information CR to server 100B only when it has the channel selection right.

The channel menu screen creating section 208 accesses the channel selection right table management section 207 and refers to the channel selection right table TB. Thereby, the following channel menu screen M is created and displayed on the screen D of the display 204v. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the channel menu screen M displayed in the screen D of the display 204v. FIG. 9A shows a channel menu screen M on the client having the channel selection right. Figure 9 (b) shows the channel menu screen M on the client that does not have the channel selection right.
Indicates.

In FIG. 9, it is assumed that the total number of selectable channels is 9. Since the channel selection right possessing client can select any of the channels, all the numbers of 9 channels are displayed in the channel menu screen M as shown in FIG. 9 (a). The client 200B that does not have the channel selection right can receive only the audiovisual information already distributed in the network 300. Therefore, in the channel menu screen M, only some numbers of 9 channels are displayed as shown in FIG. 9 (b). Here, the channel number displayed in the channel menu screen M corresponds to the audiovisual information already distributed in the network 300.

The user of the client 200B can easily grasp the number of the selectable channel from the channel menu screen M. At the same time, the client 200B in use
Can determine whether or not it has the channel selection right, by whether or not all channel numbers are displayed in the channel menu screen M.

As described above, in the video / audio information distribution system according to the fourth embodiment, each of the clients 200B creates the channel selection right table TB based on the channel selection right possession information GR from the server 100B. When the number of clients having the channel selection right is less than the upper limit N of the selected channels, or when the own ID is the channel selection right table TB
When included in, the client 200B outputs the channel selection request information CR. On the other hand, the server 100B determines, for each input of the channel selection request information CR, the target channel included in the information CR as the selected channel. Therefore, the client 200B that has output the channel selection request information CR can reliably select the target channel. In addition, continuous reception of the target channel can be stably maintained.

Further, in the fourth embodiment, the server 100B creates the channel selection right possession information GR including the channel selection right grant information for the corresponding channel selection request client each time the channel selection request information CR is input, and the network 100
Deliver within 300. As a result, it is possible to prevent the number of channel selection opportunities from being concentrated only on a specific client.

<Fifth Embodiment> FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a video / audio information distribution system according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. Here, the same components as those in the fourth embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 8, and the description in the fourth embodiment is applied to those components.

In the fifth embodiment, as in the second embodiment, the client 210B has the resolution ratio information creating section 205. The resolution ratio information creation unit 205 inputs the screen resolution of the display 204v and the resolution of the video signal SV from the video / audio information processing unit 203, respectively. Furthermore, the resolution ratio of the video signal SV to the screen is calculated, and the resolution ratio information OR is created based on the result. The created resolution ratio information OR is output to the server 110B through the network interface 201. The video / audio information processing unit 203 sets the resolution of the video signal SV according to the resolution of the video display area, as in the second embodiment. Therefore, the resolution ratio of the video signal SV to the screen is equal to the resolution ratio of the video display area to the screen.

The server 110B has a priority order management unit 107. The priority management unit 107 receives resolution ratio information OR from each of the clients 210A through the server interface 101.
Enter. The priority order management unit 107 assigns a priority order in channel selection to each of the clients 210B in the network 300 based on the resolution ratio information OR as follows.

The priority management unit 107 stores in its internal memory,
A priority list similar to that of the second embodiment (see (a) of FIG. 6) is created. The priority management unit 107 decodes the resolution ratio from the resolution ratio information OR and writes it in the priority list. At that time, the resolution ratio is set to 0 for the client 210B that has not transmitted the resolution ratio information OR. Furthermore, the priority order management unit 107 compares the resolution ratios in the priority order list and determines the priority order such that the higher the resolution ratio, the higher the rank.

The priority management unit 107 updates the priority list each time the resolution ratio information OR is input. Furthermore, priority order update information OD is created based on the updated priority order list. The created priority update information OD is distributed in the network 300 through the server interface 101.

The channel selection right table management unit 207a uses the network interface 201 to update the priority update information O
Enter D and channel selection right possession information GR. Further, based on the priority update information OD, the priority list L,
The channel selection right table TB1 is created in the internal memory based on the channel selection right possession information GR. The priority list L and the channel selection right table TB1 have the same formats as L and TA1 (see FIG. 6) in the second embodiment, respectively.

The channel selection right table management unit 207a decodes the ID of the channel selection request client, the target channel number, and the channel selection right grant / release information from the input channel selection right holding information GR. At the time of decoding the channel selection right grant information, the channel selection right table management unit 207a refers to the priority list L and reads the priority of the client 210B indicated by the ID. Furthermore, its ID,
The target channel number and priority are written in one row of the channel selection right table TB1. At that time, if the ID is already written in the channel selection right table TB1, the line including the ID is overwritten. When decoding the channel selection right release information, the channel selection right table management unit 207a deletes the information about the client 210B indicated by the ID from the channel selection right table TB1.

The number of rows of the channel selection right table TB1 is equal to the upper limit number N of the selected channels. The channel selection right table management unit 207a repeats the above writing until the information is written in all the rows of the channel selection right table TB1. As a result, the channel selection right table TB1 records the channel selection request clients up to the upper limit number N in the transmission order of the channel selection right holding information GR.

When the information is already written in all the rows of the channel selection right table TB1 and the new channel selection right possession information GR including the channel selection right grant information is input, the channel selection right table management unit 207a The channel selection right table TB1 is updated based on the priority as follows: The ID of the new channel selection request client is decoded from the channel selection right possession information GR. The priority of the channel selection request client is read from the priority list L based on the ID. Read priority,
The lowest priority included in the channel selection table TB1 is compared.

When the priority read from the priority list L is higher, the channel selection right table management unit 207a
Is the channel selection table containing the lowest priority
To the row of TB1, I of new channel selection request client
D, overwrite target channel number and priority.

When the compared two priorities are equal to each other or the priority read from the priority list L is lower, the channel selection right table management unit 207a stores the new channel selection right holding information GR. ignore. As a result, the channel selection right table TB1 is not updated and the original information is maintained.

In this way, when the information is already written in all the rows of the channel selection right table TB1, the channel selection right table management unit 207a preferentially selects the channel for the client having the higher priority. Write to rights table TB1.

The channel selection right determination unit 206a refers to the channel selection right table TB1 when the channel selection request information CR is input. Thereby, (1) when the ID of the belonging client 210B is included in the channel selection right table TB1;
(2) When there is a blank line in the channel selection right table TB1; or (3) When a lower priority than the belonging client 210B is included in the channel selection right table TB1; The selection request information CR is output to the network interface 201.

As described above, the higher the priority in channel selection, the easier it is for the client 210B to acquire the channel selection right. Further, the server 110B determines the priority order in the order of the respective resolution ratios of the client 210B. As a result, similarly to the second embodiment, the user of the client 210B who has a high interest in the video generally tends to acquire the channel selection right. In this way, the video / audio information distribution system according to the fifth embodiment dynamically determines the priority order in channel selection based on information that reflects the usage state of the client 210B, such as the resolution ratio. This allows the client 21
Any of the 0Bs can be equally given the opportunity to acquire the channel selection right.

The priority order for channel selection may be set for each user in addition to the resolution ratio, as in the second embodiment. Thereby, the user can obtain the same priority when using any of the clients 210B.

<< Sixth Embodiment >> FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a video / audio information distribution system according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. Here, the same components as those in the fourth embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 8, and the description in the fourth embodiment is applied to those components.

In the sixth embodiment, each user of the client 220B inputs the target reception time with the remote controller R and the user interface 202a. User interface
202a creates reception time request information TR based on the input target reception time. The created reception time request information TR is output to the server 120B through the network interface 201.

The server 120B has a reception time request management unit 108. The reception time request management unit 108 is the server interface 1
Input the reception time request information TR through 01. Further, a correspondence table of the client 220B and its target reception time is created in the internal memory based on the reception time request information TR.

The reception time request management unit 108 is, for example, the server 120.
Watch the clock (not shown) in B. As a result, each time the time matches one of the target reception times written in the above correspondence table, the client corresponding to that target reception time
The ID of 220B is read from the above correspondence table. The reception time request management unit 108 creates reception reservation client information CD including the read ID of the client 220B, and outputs it to the channel selection right giving unit 106. At that time, the channel selection right granting unit 106 creates channel selection right possession information GR including the channel selection right grant information for the client 220B designated by the reception reservation client information CD, and distributes it to the network 300.

In this way, the user of the client 220B can reserve the server 120B for the channel selection right at the target reception time. As a result, when the user of the client 220B wants to receive the audiovisual information, the channel selection right can be acquired.

<< Seventh Embodiment >> FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a video / audio information distribution system according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention. Here, the same components as those in the fourth embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 8, and the description in the fourth embodiment is applied to those components.

Each of the clients 230B has a timer 209
Have. When the channel selection right table management unit 207 writes information about the client 230B belonging to the channel selection right table TB based on the channel selection right holding information GR, it simultaneously instructs the timer 209 to start timing. When the time equal to the first threshold has elapsed from the start of timing, the timer
209 delivers the reception end notice information EA to the network 300 through the network interface 201. here,
The first threshold is equal to, for example, an average broadcast time per program of television broadcasting, which is about one hour. The timer 209 further outputs the input permission signal IE to the user interface 202b.

Further, when the time equal to the second threshold value has elapsed from the start of timing, the timer 209 outputs a reception end signal to the server 100B through the network interface 201. Here, the second threshold is longer than the first threshold by about 5 minutes. The timer 209 further outputs the input prohibition signal IP to the user interface 202b.

When the user interface 202b receives the input permission signal IE from the timer 209, for example, the light emitting diode
Illuminate (not shown). This indicates to the user that the reception time extension request has been accepted. User remote control R
Then, the reception time extension request is input to the user interface 202b. If the input of the reception time extension request is before the input of the input prohibition signal IP from the timer 209, the user interface 202b outputs the reset signal RST to the timer 209.

When the reset signal RST is input before the measurement time reaches the second threshold value, the timer 209 resets the measurement time to zero. At the same time, the reception continuation information RC is delivered into the network 300 through the network interface 201. Here, the reception continuation information RC includes the ID of the client 230B that is the transmission source and the channel number corresponding to the video / audio information received by the client.

The channel selection right table management unit 207b inputs the reception end notice information EA from the client 230B to which it belongs or another client 230B through the network interface 201. At that time, the information about the client 230B, which is the sender of the reception end notice information EA, is deleted from the channel selection right table TB. Further, the channel selection right table management unit 207b uses the network interface 201 to connect the client 230B or another client 23
Input the reception continuation information RC from 0B. At this time, if there is a blank line in the channel selection right table TB, the ID of the sender client 230B and the channel number included in the input reception continuation information RC are written in the blank line.

In the video / audio information distribution system according to the seventh embodiment, the channel selection right possessing client can maintain the channel selection right for the time equal to the first threshold value from the acquisition as follows. When the time equal to the first threshold has elapsed, the channel selection right is temporarily released. Further, the arbitration for the acquisition of the channel selection right is performed between the clients 230B including the original client having the channel selection right as follows.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram for explaining the above arbitration. FIG. 13A shows a server 100B and three clients included in the video / audio information distribution system according to the seventh embodiment.
230B and network 300 are shown. Here, the IDs of the three clients 230B are represented by A, B, and C, respectively.
FIG. 13B shows the channel selection right table TB in the clients A, B and C. Here, the upper limit number of the selected channels of the server 100B is 2. According to FIG. 13B, the clients A and C have the channel selection right.

FIG. 13C shows a state in which the channel selection right possessing client A maintains the channel selection right for a time equal to the first threshold value from the acquisition. The channel selection right possessing client A delivers the reception end notice information EA to the network 300. The clients A, B and C receive the reception end notice information EA. Further, based on the signal EA, the information about the client A is erased from each channel selection right table TB. Figure 13 (d) shows
The channel selection right table TB in the clients A, B and C updated at that time is shown. As shown in (d) of FIG. 13, each item is cleared in the row of row number 1 in which the information about the client A is stored.

Reception completion notice information EA by client A
13E shows the state in which the client B outputs the channel selection request information CR before the client A outputs the reception continuation information RC after the delivery of. As shown in (d) of FIG. 13, a blank line ((d) of FIG. 13 is included in the channel selection right table TB.
Then, the client B can output the channel selection request information CR. The server 100B receives the channel selection request information CR from the client B. At that time, the channel selection right possession information GR including the channel selection right grant information about the client B is created and distributed in the network 300. The clients A, B and C receive the channel selection right possession information GR. Further, each channel selection right table TB is updated based on the information GR. FIG. 13 (f) shows the channel selection right table TB in the clients A, B and C updated at that time.
As shown in (f) of FIG. 13, information about the client B is written in the line of line number 1.

Reception end notice information EA by client A
After distribution of the information, the clients B and C receive channel selection request information.
(G) of FIG. 13 shows the state when the client A outputs the reception continuation information RC before outputting CR. The clients A, B and C receive the reception continuation information RC. Furthermore,
Each channel selection right table TB is updated based on the information RC. FIG. 13 (h) shows the channel selection right table TB in the clients A, B, and C updated at that time. As shown in FIG. 13 (h), client A
Information is written to line number 1.

As described above, in the seventh embodiment, each time the client having the channel selection right maintains the channel selection right for the time equal to the first threshold value from the acquisition, the channel selection right is temporarily released. Further, the arbitration for the acquisition of the channel selection right between the clients is performed as described above. This gives other clients the opportunity to obtain channel selection rights. As a result, it is possible to prevent only a specific client from monopolizing the channel selection right for a long time. During the above arbitration, the server continues to deliver the audiovisual information. Therefore, when the original channel selection right possessing client can continuously acquire the channel selection right, the audiovisual information from the original channel can be continuously received even during the arbitration described above.

[0147]

As described above, in the video / audio information distribution system according to the present invention, the server determines the selected channel according to the channel selection request information from the channel selection right possessing client. Therefore, the server guarantees the reliable channel selection to the client by giving the channel selection right. Further, the video / audio information of the channel requested by the client having the channel selection right is reliably delivered without interruption. Therefore, the client having the channel selection right can stably and continuously receive the video / audio information of the target channel.

Whether or not the client has the channel selection right is determined by whether or not the ID of the client is written in the channel selection right table. The subject of the determination and the subject holding the channel selection right table may be either the server or the client. In particular, when the client is the main body, the number of channel selection request information distributed in the network is small. Therefore,
It is possible to shorten the time for which the network is occupied by the distribution of the channel selection request information.

When the number of selected channels is smaller than the upper limit number, that is, when there is a blank line in the channel selection right table, each client can acquire the channel selection right by transmitting the channel selection request information. In this way, the channel selection right is dynamically given. As a result, all the clients can equally obtain the channel selection right.

In the video / audio information distribution system according to the present invention, the server may determine the priority order in channel selection based on the priority request information from the client. As a result, the higher the priority is, the higher priority is given to the client to acquire the channel selection right. Thus, it is possible to both give the channel selection right to the client and assign the priority order in the channel selection. In particular, the priority request information may be information about the usage status of the client such as the resolution ratio of the client or the identification information of the user thereof. At that time, the server can dynamically determine the priority order according to the usage status of the client. Therefore, the priority can be assigned to all clients equally. As a result, all clients can equally obtain the channel selection right.

In the video / audio information distribution system according to the present invention, the server may determine the selected channel in the order of the number of clients as follows: (a) Retaining the channel selection right to receive the video / audio information of the channel. The number of clients, and (b) the number of clients who have the channel selection right, which has issued the channel selection request information whose channel is the target channel. As a result, a client used by a highly interested user can generally select a channel, and can reliably and continuously receive the video / audio information of the target channel. In this way, the server can reflect the interest level of the user of each client in the determination of the selected channel. As a result, all the clients can equally obtain the channel selection right.

In the video / audio information distribution system according to the present invention, when the channel selection right possessing client maintains the channel selection right for a time equal to the first threshold value from the acquisition, the channel selection right may be temporarily released. Thereby, another client can transmit the channel selection request information until the original client having the channel selection right transmits the reception continuation information. In this way, the holding time of the channel selection right by one client can be limited, and the chances of acquiring the channel selection right for each client can be equalized.

When the channel selection right possessing client releases the channel selection right after the elapse of the time equal to the first threshold value, the server distributes the video / audio information received by the original channel selection right possessing client. continue. Therefore, when the original channel selection right possessing client can continuously acquire the channel selection right, the audiovisual information from the original channel can be continuously received while the channel selection right is once released.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a video / audio information distribution system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a channel selection right table TA according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a process of determining a selected channel by the channel selection management unit 104 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a video / audio information distribution system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a display 20 of clients A, B, C and E of clients 210A according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a schematic diagram showing a 4v screen D and a video display area W. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a priority list L and a channel selection right table TA1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. (a) shows the priority list L, and (b) shows the channel selection right table TA1.

FIG. 7 is a channel selection management unit 104a according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a flowchart showing a process of determining a selected channel according to the above.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a video / audio information distribution system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a channel menu screen M displayed in the screen D of the display 204v according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. (a) shows the channel menu screen M in the client having the channel selection right. (b) shows the channel menu screen M in the client that does not have the channel selection right.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a video / audio information distribution system according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a video / audio information distribution system according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a video / audio information distribution system according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

[Fig. 13] Fig. 13 is a schematic diagram for explaining arbitration regarding acquisition of a channel selection right between the clients 230B, which is performed in the video / audio information distribution system according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram of a conventional video and audio distribution system using a storage.

[Fig. 15] Fig. 15 is a block diagram showing a conventional video / audio distribution system that arbitrates competition of channel selection requests among clients by assigning priorities to clients in channel selection.

[Explanation of symbols]

100A server 204a speaker 204v display A antenna V DVC R remote control CR channel selection request information CS channel selection control information SAV multiplexed video and audio information SV video signal SA voice signal

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Katsuyuki Nishimura             1006 Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric             Sangyo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Masayuki Yoshikawa             1006 Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric             Sangyo Co., Ltd. F term (reference) 5B057 CA12 CA16 CB12 CB16 CD05                 5C064 BA01 BA07 BB07 BC06 BC18                       BC23 BD02 BD08

Claims (23)

[Claims] 1. A method for selecting a predetermined selected channel by a predetermined upper limit number or less from a plurality of external channels, receiving video / audio information from each of the selected channels, and delivering the video / audio information to the network. A video / audio information distribution system comprising: a server; and (b) a plurality of clients that are present in an amount greater than the upper limit number of the selected channels and that are received by the server in the network. Yes; (A) (a) a network interface for communicating with the network; and (b) externally input information about the target channel to create channel selection request information, and the channel selection request information is created through the network interface. A channel selection request input unit for outputting channel selection request information to the network;
The client has; (B) (a) a server interface for communicating with the network; (b) an external interface for receiving the video / audio information and outputting it to the server interface; (c) ) A memory for storing a channel selection right table indicating the presence / absence of a channel selection right for each client; and (d) referring to the channel selection right table when the channel selection request information is received through the server interface. (1) If the channel selection right table is the client that is the source of the channel selection request information,
(Hereinafter, referred to as a channel selection request client) indicates that the channel selection right is held, the target channel designated by the received channel selection request information is determined as the selected channel, and the determined target channel is determined. Channel selection control information for designating a selected channel is output to the external interface, and (2) if the channel selection right table indicates that the channel selection request client does not hold the channel selection right, and If the number of clients (hereinafter, referred to as channel selection right possessing clients) that are shown to hold the channel selection right by the selection right table is smaller than the upper limit number of the selected channels, the channel selection by the channel selection request client The channel selection right Update table (hereinafter, the channel imparts the channel choice for the selected requesting client, hereinafter), the channel selection management unit for, said server having: audio-visual information delivery system. 2. The channel selection management unit grants the channel selection right to the channel selection request client up to the upper limit number of the selected channels in the order of reception of the channel selection request information. Video and audio information distribution system described. 3. The client further includes (A) priority request information for requesting priority in channel selection, and a priority request unit for outputting to the network through the network interface; (B) ) The channel selection management unit includes: (a) determining the priority based on the priority request information from each of the clients, and (b) an item indicating the determined priority, the channel selection right. (C) when the number of clients having the channel selection right is equal to the upper limit number of the selected channels, the channel selection management unit (a) refers to the channel selection right table, and From among the selection right possessing client and the channel selection requesting client, the client having the same number as the upper limit number of the selected channels is selected as the superior client. Ranking choose, (b) selected the channel imparts a choice to the client; audiovisual information distribution system according to claim 1, wherein. 4. (A) (a) A video / audio information processing unit for converting the video / audio information into a video signal of a predetermined resolution;
And (b) the client includes a video display device for displaying a video on the screen according to the video signal, the screen including a screen having a predetermined resolution; (B) the priority request unit, (a) Calculating a resolution ratio of the video signal with respect to the screen to create resolution ratio information; (b) including the resolution ratio information in the priority request information; (C) the channel selection management unit including the resolution ratio information. The video / audio information distribution system according to claim 3, wherein the priority order is determined based on 5. When the number of the clients having the channel selection right is equal to or more than the upper limit number of the selected channels, the channel selection management unit (a) receives from the clients having the channel selection right within a predetermined time. Based on the channel selection request information, the channel selection right possessing client is divided into the channel selection requesting client and the others, and the number of each client is totaled for each of the target channel and the selected channel; ) The corresponding target channel and the selected channel are determined as the new selected channel in the descending order of the total number of clients, and the new channel selection control information is output to the external interface; (c) Among the clients having channel selection right, (1) the target of one of the newly selected channels The channel selection request client designated as a channel, and (2) the channel selection right possessing client that has received the video / audio information from the original selected channel belonging to the new selected channel. The video / audio information distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the channel selection right is given to the. 6. (a) For selecting a predetermined selected channel from a plurality of external channels by a predetermined upper limit number or less, receiving video / audio information from each of the selected channels, and delivering the video / audio information to the network. A video / audio information distribution system comprising: a server; and (b) a plurality of clients that are present in an amount greater than the upper limit number of the selected channels and that are received by the server in the network. Yes; (A) (a) Network interface for communicating with the network; (b) (1) Channel selection right possession information indicating that the client has the channel selection right from the network through the network interface. And channel upper limit number information indicating the upper limit number of the selected channels, and (2) each client Type a (c) information about the target channel from the outside; wherein the channel selection right channel choice table indicating the presence or absence of, creating and storing, channel selection right table management unit for the
A channel selection request input unit for creating channel selection request information; and (d) when inputting the channel selection request information, (1) holding the channel selection request information and referring to the channel selection right table, (2) If the channel selection right table indicates that the client belongs to the channel selection right, or if the channel selection right table indicates that the channel selection right is held by the client (hereinafter , A channel selection right possessing client) is smaller than the upper limit number of the selected channels, the channel selection right judging unit for outputting the held channel selection request information to the network through the network interface; Client has; (B) (a) Server for communicating with the network Interface; (b) an external interface for receiving the audiovisual information and outputting it to the server interface; (c) when receiving the channel selection request information through the server interface, (1) the received channel selection Outputting channel selection control information for designating the target channel designated by request information as the selected channel to the external interface, (2)
A channel selection control unit for creating identification information about the client (hereinafter, referred to as a channel selection request client) that is the source of the received channel selection request information; and (d) (1) the identification information (2) create the channel selection right possession information for the channel selection request client indicated by the identification information, and (3) the channel selection right possession information together with the channel upper limit number information through the server interface. A video / audio information distribution system, wherein the server has a channel selection right granting unit for distributing the contents within the server. 7. The channel selection right table management unit,
7. The channel selection right table is updated so as to indicate that the channel selection request client holds the channel selection right up to the upper limit number of the selected channels in the input order of the channel selection right holding information. Video and audio information distribution system. 8. The client further includes (A) priority request information for requesting priority in channel selection, and a priority request unit for outputting to the network through the network interface; (a) inputting the priority request information from each of the clients through the server interface, (b) determining the priority based on the input priority request information, and (c) the determined priority. The server further includes a priority management unit for delivering priority update information including a priority to the network through the server interface; (C) the channel selection right table management unit, (a) Inputting the priority update information, (b) updating the item in the channel selection right table indicating the priority; (D) selecting the channel. When the number of rights possessing clients is equal to the upper limit number of the selected channels, the channel selection right judging unit (a) refers to the channel selection right table, and (b) if the priority lower than the belonging client If the channel selection right possessing client having a rank is detected, the channel selection request information is output to the network; (E) When the channel selection right possession information is input, the channel selection right table management unit a) holding the channel selection right by the client indicated by the channel selection right holding information, and (b) not holding the channel selection right by the channel selection right holding client having the lowest priority. The audio / video information distribution system according to claim 6, wherein the channel selection right table is updated as shown respectively. 9. (A) (a) A video / audio information processing unit for converting the video / audio information into a video signal of a predetermined resolution;
And (b) the client further includes a video display device that includes a screen having a predetermined resolution and displays a video on the screen according to the video signal; (B) the priority requesting unit 9. The video / audio information distribution system according to claim 8, wherein a resolution ratio of the video signal with respect to the screen is calculated to create resolution ratio information, and (b) the resolution ratio information is included in the priority request information. 10. (A) The channel selection request input unit externally inputs (a) a target reception time of video / audio information from the target channel to create reception time request information, and (b) the network. Outputting the reception time request information to the network through an interface; (B) (a) receiving the reception time request information through the server interface, and (b) communicating with the client based on the received reception time request information. Create and store a correspondence table with the target reception time, (c) reception reservation client information for specifying the client corresponding to the target reception time for each of the target reception times in the correspondence table, The server further has a reception time request management unit for outputting; (C) when the channel selection right giving unit inputs the reception reservation client information, the reception Wherein creating the channel selection right possessing information about the client represented by about client information; 6. audiovisual information distribution system according. 11. The channel selection right table is referred to, (A) all of the channels when the client to which the user belongs has the channel selection right, and (B) the selected channel at other times, The audio / video information distribution system according to claim 6, wherein the client has a channel menu display section for displaying a channel menu included therein. 12. (A) (a) (1) Time counting is started when the channel selection right table is updated by the channel selection right table management section to indicate that the client belonging to the channel holding right holds the channel selection right. (2) When the measurement time reaches the first threshold value, the reception end notice information is delivered to the network through the network interface, and at the same time, the input permission signal is output, and (3) the measurement time is the first time. A timer for outputting an input prohibition signal when the threshold value is exceeded and reaching a second threshold value, and (4) when receiving a reset signal from the outside, delivering reception continuation information into the network through the network interface; and (B) (1) Permitting the reception time extension request signal to be input to the outside during the period from the input of the input enable signal to the input of the input prohibition signal, (2) The reception time extension required The client further has a reception time extension request signal input unit for outputting the reset signal to the timer when a signal is input; (B) the channel selection right table management unit; (a) the reception end When the advance notice information is input, the channel selection right table is updated so as to indicate that the sender client does not hold the channel selection right. (B) When the reception continuation information is input, if the channel selection right is held 8. The channel selection table is updated to indicate that the client, which is the sender of the reception continuation information, has the channel selection right if the number of clients is smaller than the upper limit number of the selected channels; Video and audio information distribution system. 13. (a) A server interface for communicating with a network; (b) Receiving the video / audio information from a predetermined number or less of selected channels of a plurality of external channels, the server. An external interface for outputting to an interface; (c) a memory for storing a channel selection right table indicating the presence or absence of a channel selection right for each client in the network; and (d) from the client through the server interface. When the channel selection request information is received, the channel selection right table is referred to, (1) if the channel selection right table is the source of the channel selection request information (hereinafter referred to as the channel selection request client), If the channel selection right is indicated, the received channel selection request is received. Determine the target channel specified by the information on the object selected channel,
Outputting the channel selection control information for designating the determined selected channel to the external interface,
(2) If the channel selection right table indicates that the channel selection request client does not hold the channel selection right, and the channel selection right table indicates that the channel selection right holds the client.
If the number of (hereinafter referred to as channel selection right possessing clients) is smaller than the upper limit number of the selected channels, the channel selection right table is updated so as to indicate the possession of the channel selection right by the channel selection request client (hereinafter Of the channel selection request client, and the channel selection right is given to the channel selection request client). 14. The server of the audiovisual information distribution system according to claim 13, wherein the channel selection management unit gives the channel selection right to the channel selection request client in the order of reception of the channel selection request information. 15. (A) The channel selection management unit is (a)
Input priority request information for requesting priority in channel selection from each of the clients,
(b) determining the priority based on the input priority request information, (c) creating an item indicating the determined priority in the channel selection right table; (B) selecting the channel When the number of rights possessing clients is equal to the upper limit number of the selected channels, the channel selection management unit (a) refers to the channel selection authority table to identify the channel selection authority possessing client and the channel selection requesting client. 14. The audiovisual information according to claim 13, wherein the same number of the clients as the upper limit number of the selected channels are selected in the order of the priority, and (b) the channel selection right is given to the selected clients. Delivery system server. 16. When the number of the clients having the channel selection right is equal to or more than the upper limit number of the selected channels, the channel selection management unit (a) receives from the clients having the channel selection right within a predetermined time. Based on the channel selection request information, the channel selection right possessing client is divided into the channel selection requesting client and the others, and the number of each client is totaled for each of the target channel and the selected channel; )
In the descending order of the total number of the clients, the corresponding target channel and the selected channel are determined as the new selected channel, and the new channel selection control information is output to the external interface; (c) the Among the channel selection right possessing clients, (1) the channel selection request client that designates one of the new selected channels as the target channel, and (2) the original selected selection that belongs to the new selected channel. The server of the video / audio information distribution system according to claim 13, wherein the channel selection right is newly given to the channel selection right possessing client that has received the video / audio information from the channel. 17. (A) (a) communicates with a network, and (b) is distributed by a server into the network from a selected number of channels below a predetermined upper limit number belonging to a plurality of channels outside the network. A network interface for receiving video / audio information from the network; (B) (a) Channel selection right possession information which is distributed by the server in the network and indicates the possession of the channel selection right by the client in the network. , From the network through the network interface, and (b) creates and stores a channel selection right table showing the presence or absence of the channel selection right for each client; ) Enter information about the target channel externally,
A channel selection request input unit for creating channel selection request information; and (D) when inputting the channel selection request information, (a) holding the channel selection request information and referring to the channel selection right table, (b) If the channel selection right table indicates that the client to which the channel selection right belongs holds the channel selection right, or if the channel selection right table indicates that the client holds the channel selection right (hereinafter , A channel selection right possessing client) is smaller than the upper limit number of the selected channels, and outputs the held channel selection request information to the network through the network interface. , Client of video and audio distribution system. 18. The channel selection right table management section indicates that the channel selection request client holds the channel selection right up to the upper limit number of the selected channels in the input order of the channel selection right holding information. 18. The channel selection right table is updated.
Client of the described audiovisual information distribution system. 19. The client, comprising: (A) priority request information for requesting priority in channel selection, and a priority request unit for outputting to the network through the network interface; ) The channel selection right table management unit inputs (a) priority update information including the priority determined by the server based on the priority request information from each of the clients, and (b) ) Updating an item in the channel selection right table indicating the priority order; (C) when the number of the clients having the channel selection right is equal to the upper limit number of the selected channels, the channel selection right judgment unit determines the channel. Referring to the selection right table, if the channel selection right holding client having the priority lower than that of the belonging client If the channel selection request information is detected, the channel selection request information is output to the network; (D) When the channel selection right holding information is input, the channel selection right table management unit The channel selection table, as shown respectively, indicating that the channel selection right is held by the client shown, and (b) the channel selection right is not held by the channel selection right holding client having the lowest priority. The client of the video / audio information distribution system according to claim 17. 20. (A) (a) a video / audio information processing unit for converting the video / audio information into a video signal of a predetermined resolution; and (b) including a screen of a predetermined resolution, according to the video signal. The client further comprising: a video display device for displaying a video on the screen; (B) the priority requesting unit (a) calculating a resolution ratio of the video signal to the screen to obtain resolution ratio information. 20. The client of the audiovisual information distribution system according to claim 19, wherein: (b) the resolution ratio information is included in the priority request information. 21. The channel selection request input unit externally inputs a target reception time of video / audio information from the target channel to create reception time request information, and outputs the reception time request information to the network through the network interface; A client of the audiovisual information distribution system according to Item 17. 22. By referring to the channel selection right table, (a) all the channels when the client to which the user belongs has the channel selection right, (b) the selected channel at other times, The client of the audiovisual information distribution system according to claim 17, further comprising a channel menu display unit for displaying a channel menu included therein. 23. (A) (a) (1) Start timing when the channel selection right table is updated by the channel selection right table management unit to indicate that the client belonging to the channel holding right holds the channel selection right. (2) When the measurement time reaches the first threshold, the reception end notice information is delivered to the network through the network interface, and at the same time, the input permission signal is output, and (3) the measurement time is set to the first time. When the second threshold is exceeded and the second threshold is exceeded, (4) When the reset signal is input from the outside, the reception continuation information is distributed into the network through the network interface. A timer; and (b) (1) permitting input of a reception time extension request signal to the outside from the period from the input of the input permission signal to the input of the input prohibition signal, (2) the reception time A reception time extension request signal input unit for outputting the reset signal to the timer when a long request signal is input; (B) the channel selection right table management unit; When the reception end notice information is input, the channel selection right table is updated to indicate that the client of the transmission source does not hold the channel selection right, and (b) when the reception continuation information is input, the channel selection 20. If the number of rights possessing clients is smaller than the upper limit number of the selected channels, the channel selection right table is updated so as to indicate the possession of the channel selection right by the client that is the sender of the reception continuation information; Client of the described audiovisual information distribution system.