JP2003108590A - Content control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate browsing and maintenance of the contents. SOLUTION: This content control system is provided with a home server 3 for sending out the contents to a domestic apparatus for browsing the contents received via a telecommunication line 9, and a content storage device 5 for temporarily storing the received contents, and previously preserves a distributing keyword table in the content storage device 5 for controlling the browsing of the contents with every keyword for indicating a genre of the contents. When receiving the contents to which a keyword is added, the home server 3 forms and preserves a distribution control table in the content storage device 5 for controlling a file of the received contents, and temporarily stores the received contents in the content storage device 5.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a content management system for managing contents such as newspapers and magazines delivered to homes.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to obtain contents of newspapers, magazines, etc., a method of obtaining by paper media such as newspapers, magazines, etc. and a method of obtaining by electronic media using the Internet on a personal computer etc. are generally performed. There is. In addition, in order to save and manage those contents after obtaining and browsing them, the paper media method cuts out related contents from newspapers, magazines, etc. and saves them collectively, and the electronic media method uses a personal computer. It is common practice to give a file name and store it in a storage device such as.

[0003]

Since the conventional content management method is performed as described above, the method using a paper medium is useful for organizing an enormous amount of paper medium when the amount of content increases. It is troublesome, and it is necessary to secure a wide storage space for storing a huge amount of paper media, and it takes time to find and browse the desired content from the stored content. was there.

Further, even in the method using an electronic medium, it takes time and effort to find and browse a desired content from the acquired content when the amount of the content becomes large, and the stored content is saved. However, there is a problem that it is difficult to easily perform unnecessary maintenance.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to easily browse the obtained contents even when the amount of contents is large.
It is an object of the present invention to obtain a content management system that enables easy maintenance of whether or not stored content is required.

As a technique related to the above technique, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 00-132566 discloses an intermediary function technology in which a user can easily obtain information and a content provider can easily understand a user's needs.
In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 133986, there is disclosed a technique in which various expression forms of article sources accumulated in a server are unified and provided to a client.
The publication discloses a technique for displaying more detailed image information, character information, and the like at or near the user's hand while viewing an image on a large-sized television. However, like the present invention, a home server is installed at home. , Does not browse content on existing home appliances.

[0007]

According to the content management system of the present invention, a distribution keyword table for controlling the browsing of content is previously prepared for each distribution-requested keyword indicating a genre of the content. When the content stored in the storage unit and added with the keyword is received, the home server compares the keyword added to the content with the keyword in the distribution keyword table. For each keyword added to
A distribution management table for performing file management of the received content is generated and stored in the index information storage unit, and the content with the keyword for which the distribution management table is generated is temporarily stored in the content storage unit of the content storage device. When receiving a viewing instruction for the received content, the home server refers to the distribution keyword table and the distribution management table, reads the content temporarily stored in the content storage unit, and sends it to the home device. is there.

In the content management system according to the present invention, the home server sends the content to a home device such as a television, a facsimile or a personal computer.

In the content management system according to the present invention, a storage keyword table for performing content storage control is stored in advance in the index information storage unit for each keyword indicating a content genre for which storage is requested, and the home server stores When the keywords added to the content temporarily stored in the content storage unit are compared with the keywords in the saved keyword table, and the matching results match, the file of the content to be saved for each keyword added to the content A storage management table for performing management is generated and stored in the index information storage unit, and at the same time, the content to which the keyword for which the storage management table is generated is added is stored in the content storage unit of the content storage device.

In the content management system according to the present invention, the display order and display time of the content received for each keyword are recorded in advance in the distribution keyword table, and the content stored in the content storage unit for each keyword is stored in the storage keyword table. The storage period is recorded in advance, and the home server records, for each keyword, the distribution date when the content is received, the serial number when the same keyword is plural, and the file name of the content in the distribution management table and the storage management table It is a thing.

In the content management system according to the present invention, when the home server receives an instruction to browse the received content in the automatic display mode, the display order and display time recorded in the distribution keyword table, and the distribution. With reference to the file name stored in the management table, the content temporarily stored in the content storage unit is read out and output to the home appliance.

In the content management system according to the present invention, when the home server receives an instruction to browse the content stored in the content storage unit, the list of the storage management table is used as a menu of the stored content. The content is output to a household device, the file name corresponding to the selected menu is referred to, and the content stored in the content storage unit is read and output to the household device.

In the content management system according to the present invention, the home server refers to the distribution date recorded in the distribution management table and performs maintenance of the content temporarily stored in the distribution management table and the content storage section. is there.

In the content management system according to the present invention, the home server refers to the delivery date recorded in the storage management table and the storage period stored in the storage keyword table to store the storage management table and the content storage unit. The maintenance of the content that is being performed is performed.

In the content management system according to the present invention, when the home server receives an instruction to maintain the content stored in the content storage unit, the list of the storage management table is used as a menu of the stored content. The content is output to a household device, and the content stored in the storage management table and the content storage unit is maintained according to the selected menu.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below. Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a content management system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a distribution server installed by a content supplier such as a newspaper company or magazine company and distributing content such as a newspaper or magazine, and 2 a content server installed by a content supplier to store content such as a newspaper or magazine to be distributed. Content storage device.

In FIG. 1, 21 is a TV content stored in the content storage device 2 in a video format, 22 is a Fax content stored in the content storage apparatus 2 in a graphic data format, and 23 is HTML (Hyper Text Markup La
content for the PC stored in the content storage device 2 in the format of (nguage).

Further, in FIG. 1, reference numeral 3 denotes a home server installed in each home for managing distributed contents and sending them to home electronic devices. Reference numeral 5 denotes contents installed in each home for storing distributed contents. Storage device, 6,
Reference numerals 7 and 8 are a television (hereinafter, TV), a facsimile (hereinafter, Fax), and a personal computer (hereinafter, PC), respectively, as household electronic devices. The TV 6 is separately connected to a video input terminal (not shown) by an antenna line,
Fax 7 is assumed to be separately connected to a telephone line (not shown). Further, 9 is a broadband communication line between the distribution server 1 and the home server 3.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the home server 3 and the content storage device 5 installed at home.
In the figure, reference numeral 31 is a communication means for transmitting a content distribution request to the distribution server 1 via the communication line 9 and receiving content distributed from the distribution server 1, and 32 is for managing the content received by the communication means 31. Content management means 33 is a transmission means for transmitting the content managed by the content management means 32 to a home electronic device, 34
Is a server control unit that controls the communication unit 31, the content management unit 32, and the transmission unit 33 according to a user's instruction.

In FIG. 2, 36 is a video terminal having a video interface for connecting the home server 3 and the TV 6, 37 is an analog telephone terminal having an analog line interface for connecting the home server 3 and Fax 7, and 38 is the home server 3. Is a LAN terminal having a LAN interface for connecting the PC 8 to the PC 8.

As described above, the home server 3 has the communication means 31, the content management means 32, the sending means 33, the server control means 34, the video terminal 36, and the analog telephone terminal 3.
7 and a LAN terminal 38.

Further, in FIG. 2, 41 is a console through which the user inputs an instruction for controlling the home server 3, and 42 is a rewinding of the output content when the user browses the content using the TV 6. A video control device for instructing fast-forwarding and the like.

Further, in FIG. 2, reference numeral 51 is a content storage unit in the content storage device 5 for temporarily storing the received content, and 52 is a keyword for performing browsing control and storage control for each keyword indicating the genre of the content. A table and an index information storage unit in the content storage device 5 for storing the management table for managing the received content, and 53 in the content storage device 5 for storing the long-term storage content among the distributed contents. It is a content storage unit.

Next, the operation will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a content distribution procedure of the distribution server 1 and a content reception procedure of the home server 3. In step ST11, the distribution server 1 reads out the content requested by the contracting user from the content storage device 2 and communicates at a predetermined time every predetermined period predetermined by the content distribution contract. It is delivered to the home server 3 via the line 9. Here, the distribution server 1 uses the T contents depending on the contract contents with each user.
The V content 21, the Fax content 22, and the PC content 23 are distributed. At this time, the distribution server 1
May add an error correction code for detecting a transmission error in the communication line 9 in the home server 3 to the content.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing contents distributed by the distribution server 1. As shown in the figure, each content contains
A content size and a keyword as a headline are added. This keyword is, for example, politics, economy,
It shows the genre of contents such as sports,
The user can specify the genre of the content with a keyword by contract. Further, the size of the content is used for checking whether the content is dropped on the communication line 9 when the home server 3 receives the content.

In step ST12 of FIG. 3, when the communication means 31 of the home server 3 receives the distributed content, the content management means 32 confirms in step ST13 whether the content is normally received or not by keyword. As a confirmation method, it is confirmed whether or not the content is lost on the communication line 9 based on the size of the added content. If an error correction code is added to the content, the error in the content on the communication line 9 may be confirmed using this error correction code.

When the contents of all the keywords are normally received in step ST13, the contents management means 32 temporarily stores the received contents in the contents storage unit 51 of the contents storage device 5 in step ST18. To do.

If there is defective content of the keyword that is not normally received in step ST13, the content management means 32 redistributes the defective content of the keyword that is not normally received through the communication means 31 in step ST14. Request to the distribution server 1.

The distribution server 1, which has received the request for re-distribution of the defective content of the keyword that has not been normally received, reads the content of the requested keyword from the content storage device 2 and redistributes it to the home server 3 in step ST15. .

In step ST16, when the communication means 31 of the home server 3 receives the redistributed content of the keyword, the content management means 32 operates in step S16.
Similar to T13, it is confirmed whether the content of the re-delivery keyword is normally received. When there is content of the keyword that is not normally received, the process returns to step ST14, and steps ST14 to ST1.
The processes up to 6 are repeated until the content is normally received.

When all the contents of the redistributed keywords are normally received in step ST16, the contents management means 32 in step ST17
In step ST13, the content of the keyword normally received and the content of the redistributed keyword are combined, and in step ST18, the content management means 3
2 temporarily stores the combined content in the content storage unit 51 of the content storage device 5.

In the content distribution procedure and reception procedure shown in FIG. 3, the distribution server 1 distributes and receives the content of the contracted keyword at predetermined time intervals and at predetermined times in accordance with the content of the contract with the user. However, the user can individually specify the keyword of the content desired to be distributed and the distribution time.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a content distribution procedure in the case where the user individually designates the keyword of the content desired to be distributed. In step ST31, the home server 3 transmits the keyword of the content desired by the user and the desired distribution time of the content to the distribution server 1 via the communication line 9. At this time, the content of the request from the user is input from the console 41, and the server control unit 34 transmits the content of the request from the user to the distribution server 1 via the communication unit 31.

In step ST32, the distribution server 1, which has received the request content from the user, sends the test content to the home server 3 via the communication line 9 in order to determine the distribution start time of the content of the requested keyword.
To deliver to. In step ST33, when the communication means 31 of the home server 3 receives the test content,
The server control means 34 reports the reception of the test content to the distribution server 1 via the communication means 31.

At step ST34, the distribution server 1
Receives the reception report from the home server 3 and receives the communication line 9
Of the content of the keyword requested in step ST31 to calculate the delivery time required to deliver the entire content, and in step ST31
The distribution start time of the content is determined so that the distribution of the entire content is completed by the desired distribution time requested in. In step ST35, when the determined distribution start time comes, the distribution server 1 reads the content of the requested keyword from the content storage device 2 and distributes it to the home server 3 via the communication line 9.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a keyword table stored in advance in the index information storage unit 52 for performing browsing control and storage control for each keyword. As shown in FIG. 6, the keyword table is a distribution keyword table 5 for controlling browsing of distributed contents.
2a and a storage keyword table 52b for controlling storage of stored contents.

The distribution keyword table 52a is shown in FIG.
, The keyword 521 indicating the genre of the content requested by the user for distribution, and the keyword 52
The display order 522 when browsing the content of No. 1 and the display time 523 when browsing the content of the keyword 521 are recorded. Further, in the storage keyword table 52b, as shown in FIG. 6, a keyword 524 indicating the genre of the content requested by the user to be stored,
The storage period 525 of the content of the keyword 524 is recorded.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a management table for managing the received content, which is generated when the content is received and stored in the index information storage unit 52.
As shown in FIG. 7, the management table includes a distribution management table 52c for managing the content stored in the content storage unit 51 and a storage management table 52d for managing the content stored in the content storage unit 53. It is configured.

In the distribution management table 52c and the storage management table 52d, as shown in FIG. 7, a keyword 526 indicating the genre of the content requested by the user, a distribution date 527 of the keyword 526, and the same as the distributed content. A serial number 528 given when a plurality of keywords 526 exist and a file name given to the content of the keyword 526 are recorded.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the procedure for generating the distribution management table 52c from the distributed contents. The processing of each step shown in FIG. 8 is all processing performed by the content management means 32, and step ST1 shown in FIG.
This is the process performed in 8. In step ST41 of FIG. 8, the keyword of the distributed content is compared with the keyword 521 of the distribution keyword table 52a stored in advance in the index information storage unit 52, and the content of the keyword requested by the user is distributed. Check if it has been done.

In step ST42, if the content of the non-matching keyword exists as a result of the collation, the content is not the content of the keyword requested by the user. Therefore, in step ST52, the content of the non-matching keyword is found. Erase.

If there is a matching keyword as a result of collation in step ST42, it is confirmed in step ST43 whether or not there are a plurality of contents having the same keyword. When there are a plurality of contents of the same keyword, in step ST44, the distribution management table 52c of the first content of the contents of the same keyword is generated and stored in the index information storage unit 52. That is, as shown in FIG.
Keyword 526, delivery date 527, file name 529
Is recorded, and “1” is recorded as the serial number 528.

In step ST45, it is confirmed whether or not the next content is the last content of the content of the same keyword. If it is not the last content, in step ST46, the serial number 528 is incremented by 1, that is, The serial number 528 is set to "2", and in step ST47, the distribution management table 52c of the next content is generated and stored in the index information storage unit 52. Similarly, here, the keyword 526 and the delivery date 52
7. Record the file name 529 and the serial number 52
Record "2" as 8.

Steps ST45 to ST4
When the next content is the last content of the contents of the same keyword in step ST45, the distribution management table 52c of the last content is generated and stored in the index information storage unit 52 in step ST48. To do. Here, the keyword 526, the delivery date 527, and the file name 529 are recorded, and a null value such as “0” is set as the serial number 528.
To record. Here, the last content sequence number 52
The reason why the null value is recorded in 8 is to indicate that it is the last content of the content of the same keyword.

Returning to step ST43, it is confirmed whether or not there are a plurality of contents of the same keyword for other keywords. If there are a plurality of contents of the same keyword for other keywords, the above step is performed. The processing from ST44 to step ST48 is repeated.

Returning to step ST43, if a plurality of contents of the same keyword do not exist for other keywords, the remaining keywords of the other contents are different keywords, and in step ST49, A content distribution management table 52c is generated and stored in the index information storage unit 52. Here, the keyword 526, the delivery date 527, the file name 529 are recorded, and a null value, for example, “0” is recorded as the serial number 528.

At step ST50, it is confirmed whether or not the distribution management table 52c for all the distributed contents has been generated, and the distribution management table 52 for all the contents is generated.
If c is not generated, the above step ST49 is performed.
The process of is repeated. On the other hand, if the distribution management table 52c for all contents has been generated, step S
At T51, the distribution management table 52c stores the generated content of the keyword in the content storage unit 51.

As described above, the distribution management table 52
c is generated and stored in the index information storage unit 52, and the content of the generated keyword of the distribution management table 52c is stored in the content storage unit 51.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the procedure for generating the storage management table 52d from the content temporarily stored in the content storage unit 51. The processing of each step shown in FIG. 9 is all processing performed by the content management unit 32, and is processing performed after the processing shown in FIG. Figure 9
In step ST61, the keyword of the content stored in the content storage unit 51 of the content storage device 5 and the keyword 5 of the stored keyword table 52b stored in the index information storage unit 52 in advance.
24 is checked, and it is confirmed whether the content of the keyword requested by the user to be stored is accumulated.

If it is determined in step ST62 that the matched keyword does not exist as a result of collation, the accumulated content does not include the content of the keyword requested to be stored by the user, and the process is terminated.

In step ST62, if there is a matching keyword as a result of the collation, it is confirmed in step ST63 whether or not there are a plurality of contents having the same keyword. When there are a plurality of contents of the same keyword, in step ST64, the storage management table 52d of the first content of the contents of the same keyword is generated and stored in the index information storage unit 52. That is, as shown in FIG.
Keyword 526, delivery date 527, file name 529
Is recorded, and “1” is recorded as the serial number 528.

In step ST65, it is confirmed whether or not the next content is the last content of the content of the same keyword. If it is not the last content, in step ST66, the serial number 528 is incremented by 1, that is, The serial number 528 is set to “2”, and the storage management table 52d for the next content is generated and stored in the index information storage unit 52 in step ST67. Similarly, here, the keyword 526 and the delivery date 52
7. Record the file name 529 and the serial number 52
Record "2" as 8.

Steps ST65 to ST6
When the next content is the last content of the contents of the same keyword in step ST65, the storage management table 52d of the last content is generated and stored in the index information storage unit 52 in step ST68. To do. Here, the keyword 526, the delivery date 527, and the file name 529 are recorded, and a null value such as “0” is set as the serial number 528.
To record. Here, the last content sequence number 52
The reason why the null value is recorded in 8 is to indicate that it is the last content of the content of the same keyword.

Returning to step ST63, it is confirmed whether or not there are a plurality of contents of the same keyword for other keywords. If there are a plurality of contents of the same keyword for other keywords, the above steps are performed. The processing from ST64 to step ST68 is repeated.

Returning to step ST63, if a plurality of contents of the same keyword do not exist for other keywords, the remaining keywords of the other contents are different keywords, and in step ST69, A content storage management table 52d is generated and stored in the index information storage unit 52. Here, the keyword 526, the delivery date 527, the file name 529 are recorded, and a null value, for example, “0” is recorded as the serial number 528.

In step ST70, the storage management table 52d for all contents of the keyword to be stored
Is generated, and if the storage management table 52d for all the contents of the keyword to be stored is not generated, the process of step ST69 is repeated.
On the other hand, when the storage management table 52d of all the contents of the keyword to be stored is generated, the content stored in the content storage unit 51 of the generated keyword of the storage management table 52d is displayed in step ST71. The content is stored in the content storage unit 53.

As described above, the storage management table 52
By generating d and storing it in the index information storage unit 52, and storing the content of the keyword that the user desires to store in the storage management table 52d in the content storage unit 53, an electronic scrapbook is created. It is automatically generated.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure for browsing the distributed contents. In step ST81, the user uses the console 41 to instruct the home server 3 to browse the distributed content and specify a home device such as the TV 6, Fax 7, or PC 8 for browsing. The browsing instruction and the designation of the home device are performed by the content management means 32 and the sending means 33 via the server control means 34.
Will be notified.

In step ST82, the user uses the console 41 to specify to the home server 3 the browsing mode for browsing the content. The browsing modes include an automatic display mode in which the contents are displayed in the order specified by the user, and a standard display mode in which the contents are displayed in the order in which the contents are distributed, that is, in the order in which the contents are stored in the content storage unit 51. The designation of the browsing mode is notified to the content management means 32 and the transmission means 33 via the server control means 34.

In step ST83, if the specified browsing mode is the automatic display mode, step S83
At T84, the content management means 32 searches the display order 522 and the display time 523 of the distribution keyword table 52a stored in the index information storage unit 52.

In step ST85, the content management means 32 stores the content of the keyword 526 of the distribution management table 52c corresponding to the keyword 521 of the distribution keyword table 52a according to the display order 522 of the distribution keyword table 52a searched in step ST84. It is read from the unit 51 and output to the sending means 33. At this time, when there are a plurality of contents of the same keyword, the contents management means 32 orders the serial number 528 of the distribution management table 52c, that is,
After sequentially reading from "1" and reading the content of which the serial number 528 is a null value, the content of another keyword is read.

In step ST86, the sending means 33
Displays the read content for the display time 523 searched by the content management means 32 in step ST84,
The signal is output to the household device designated in step ST81 via the video terminal 36, the analog telephone terminal 37, or the LAN terminal 38. As described above, the user uses the home device specified by the user to specify the distributed content.
It can be browsed in the display order specified by the user.

On the other hand, if the designated browsing mode is not the automatic display mode in step ST83, that is, the standard display mode, the content management means 32 is stored in the index information storage section 52 in step ST87. Delivery keyword table 52a
The display time 523 is searched.

In step ST88, the content management means 32 reads the content of the keyword 526 of the delivery management table 52c corresponding to the keyword 521 of the delivery keyword table 52a from the content storage section 51 in the order in which they are stored and outputs it to the transmission means 33. To do. At this time, when there are a plurality of contents of the same keyword, the content management unit 32 reads the sequence number 528 of the distribution management table 52c in order, that is, from "1", and the sequence number 528 is a null value content. After reading, the contents of other keywords are read.

In step ST86, the sending means 33
Displays the read content for the display time 523 searched by the content management means 32 in step ST87,
The signal is output to the household device designated in step ST81 via the video terminal 36, the analog telephone terminal 37, or the LAN terminal 38. As described above, the user uses the home device specified by the user to specify the distributed content.
You can browse in the order they were delivered.

In step ST86, when the TV 6 is used as a household device, the user can also control the video control device 42 such as fast-forwarding, rewinding, pausing the output content.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing the procedure for browsing the stored contents. In step ST91, the user uses the console 41 to instruct the home server 3 to browse the stored content and specify a home device such as the TV 6, Fax 7, or PC 8 for browsing. The browsing instruction and the designation of the home appliance are performed by the content control means 32 and the sending means 33 via the server control means 34.
Will be notified.

In step ST92, the user uses the console 41 to instruct the home server 3 to output the menu of the stored contents. This menu output instruction is notified to the content management means 32 and the transmission means 33 via the server control means 34. Step ST9
3, the content management means 32 stores the storage management table 52d stored in the index information storage unit 52.
To search.

In step ST94, the sending means 33
Is a menu of contents stored in the list of the storage management table 52d searched by the content management means 32, and is connected to the household device designated in step ST91 to the video terminal 36, the analog telephone terminal 37, or the LAN terminal 3.
Output via 8. This content menu is displayed on the TV when the TV 6 or PC 8 is used as a home device.
Displayed on the screen of PC 6 or PC 8, Fax as a household device
Printed if 7 is used.

In step ST95, the user selects a menu to be browsed from the menu of contents output to the household appliance. The selection of this menu is performed by the user using the console 41 to specify the file name 529 displayed or printed on the home server 3, and the specified file name 529 is transmitted via the server control means 34. The content management means 32 is notified.

In step ST96, the content management means 32 reads out the content of the designated file name 529 from the content storage section 53, and sends it out.
Outputs the read content to the home appliance designated in step ST91 via the video terminal 36, the analog telephone terminal 37, or the LAN terminal 38. As described above, the user can browse the stored content with the home device designated by the user.

In step ST96, when the TV 6 is used as a household appliance, the user can control the video control device 42 such as fast-forwarding, rewinding, and pausing the output content.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing the keyword registration process. This shows a process when a keyword is registered in the distribution keyword table 52a and the stored keyword table 52b shown in FIG. In step ST101, the user uses the console 41 to input a keyword indicating the genre of the content desired by the user, and instructs the home server 3 to register the keyword. The instruction from this user is the server control means 3.
The contents management means 32 is notified via 4.

When the instruction from the user is the keyword of the content requested to be distributed in step ST102, the content management means 32 accesses the distribution keyword table 52a of the index information storage unit 52 and inputs it from the user in step ST103. It is confirmed whether the entered keyword has been registered, and if registered, the process ends.

If the contents have not been registered in step ST103, the contents management means 32 specifies the display order and the display time of the contents to the user in step ST104 via the sending means 33 and the household equipment used by the user. The user uses the console 41 to specify the display order and display time.

In step ST105, the content management means 32 stores the keywords input in step ST101, the display order and display time specified in step ST104 in the distribution keyword table 52a of the index information storage unit 52, with the keywords 521, Display order 5
22 and display time 523 are registered.

On the other hand, in step ST102, when the instruction from the user is the keyword of the content to be stored, the content management means 32 accesses the stored keyword table 52b of the index information storage section 52 in step ST106, and the user It is confirmed whether the keyword input from is already registered, and if it is already registered, the processing ends.

If the content has not been registered in step ST106, the content management means 32 prompts the user to specify the storage period of the content in step ST107 via the sending means 33 and the household equipment used by the user, Specifies the retention period using the console 41.

In step ST108, the content management means 32 stores the keyword input in step ST101 and the storage period specified in step ST107 in the storage keyword table 52b of the index information storage unit 52 in the keyword 524 and the storage period 525. Register as.

As described above, the keyword of the content requested by the user for distribution and the keyword of the content requested by the user for storage are stored in the index information storage unit 5.
No. 2 is registered in the distribution keyword table 52a and the stored keyword table 52b.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing the maintenance process of the registered keyword. This shows a process in the case where the keywords registered in the distribution keyword table 52a and the stored keyword table 52b shown in FIG. 6 are maintained according to a user's instruction. In step ST111, the user uses the console 41 to instruct maintenance of the registered keyword. The instruction from the user is notified to the content management means 32 and the sending means 33 via the server control means 34.

When the instruction from the user is maintenance of the keyword of the content requested to be distributed in step ST112, in step ST113,
The content management means 32 includes an index information storage unit 52.
Of the delivery keyword table 52a is accessed, the contents of the delivery keyword table 52a are output via the sending means 33 and the household appliance used by the user, and the user is prompted to specify a keyword to be maintained. Use to specify the keyword to maintain.

In step ST114, when the maintenance instruction from the user is to delete the keyword, in step ST115, the contents management means 32 determines from the distribution keyword table 52a to step S.
Delete the keyword specified in T113.

Further, the contents management means 32, in step ST116, from the distribution management table 52c,
Delete the keyword specified in step ST113,
In step ST117, the content of the deleted keyword stored in the content storage unit 51 is deleted.

In step ST114, when the maintenance instruction from the user is to change the content of the keyword,
In step ST118, the content management means 32
Changes the display order 522 and the display time 523 of the distribution keyword table 52a according to the display order and the display time input by the user using the console 41.

On the other hand, in step ST112, when the instruction from the user is maintenance of the keyword of the content requested to be stored, in step ST119
The content management means 32 includes an index information storage unit 52.
Of the stored keyword table 52b is accessed, the contents of the stored keyword table 52b are output via the sending means 33 and the household appliance used by the user, and the user is prompted to specify the keyword to be maintained. Use to specify the keyword to maintain.

When the maintenance instruction from the user is the deletion of the keyword in step ST120, the content management means 32 proceeds to step S121 from the saved keyword table 52b in step ST121.
Delete the keyword specified in T119.

Also, the content management means 32, in step ST122, from the storage management table 52d,
Delete the keyword specified in step ST119,
In step ST123, the content of the deleted keyword stored in the content storage unit 53 is deleted.

At step ST120, when the maintenance instruction from the user is to change the content of the keyword,
In step ST124, the content management means 32
Is stored in the storage keyword table 52b according to the storage period input by the user using the console 41.
Change 5.

As described above, the maintenance of the registered keywords of the content requested by the user for distribution and the registered keywords of the content requested by the user for storage is performed.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a process in which the home server 3 automatically maintains the content stored in the content storage section 51. Step S
In T131, the content management unit 32 accesses the distribution management table 52c stored in the index information storage unit 52 every predetermined period, and confirms the distribution date 527 of the distribution management table 52c.

In step ST132, the distribution date 5
If the predetermined number of days has not passed since 27, the process of step ST131 is repeated, and if the predetermined number of days has passed, the content management means 32 causes the content management means 32 to perform step ST1.
33, the keyword 52 for which a predetermined number of days have passed
6 is deleted from the distribution management table 52c, and step ST
In 134, the file name 5 for which a predetermined number of days have passed
The 29 contents are deleted from the contents storage unit 51.

As described above, automatic maintenance of the distribution management table 52c stored in the index information storage unit 52 and the content temporarily stored in the content storage unit 51 is performed.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a process in which the home server 3 automatically maintains the content stored in the content storage section 53. Step S
In T141, the content management unit 32, for each predetermined period, the storage keyword table 52b and the storage management table 52 stored in the index information storage unit 52.
Accessing d, the retention period 525 of the retention keyword table 52b and the delivery date 527 of the retention management table 52d.
Thus, the storage time limit of the content having the file name 529 stored in the content storage unit 53 is confirmed.

If there is no expiration in step ST142, the process of step ST141 is repeated,
If there is an expiration, the content management means 32
In step ST143, the expired keyword 526 is deleted from the storage management table 52d, and in step ST144, the content of the expired file name 529 is deleted from the content storage unit 53.

As described above, the automatic maintenance of the storage management table 52d stored in the index information storage unit 52 and the content stored in the content storage unit 53 is performed.

FIG. 16 is a flow chart showing a process for maintaining the content stored in the content storage section 53 according to a user's instruction. Step ST15
In 1, the user uses the console 41 to instruct to output the menu of the content stored in the content storage unit 53. This instruction is notified to the content management means 32 and the sending means 33 via the server control means 34.

In step ST152, the content management means 32 searches the storage management table 52d stored in the index information storage section 52, and the step S
In T153, the transmission unit 33 outputs the list of the storage management table 52d searched by the content management unit 32 to the household appliance used by the user as a menu of the content stored in the content storage unit 53.

When the user selects the menu to be deleted using the console 41 in step ST154, the content management means 32 deletes the selected menu, ie, the keyword 526 from the storage management table 52d in step ST155, Step ST
At 156, the content with the selected file name 529 is deleted from the content storage unit 53.

As described above, according to the user's instruction,
Maintenance of the storage management table 52d stored in the index information storage unit 52 and the content stored in the content storage unit 53 is performed.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the distribution keyword table 52a for controlling the browsing of the content is stored in advance in the index of the content storage device 5 for each keyword indicating the genre of the content requested to be distributed. When the content stored in the information storage unit 52 and the content added with the keyword is received, the content management means 32 of the home server 3 collates the keyword added to the content with the keyword of the distribution keyword table 52a, and collates. When the results match, a distribution management table 52c for performing file management of the received content is generated and stored in the index information storage unit 52 for each keyword added to the content, and at the same time, the distribution management table 52c is generated. If you add content with And temporarily stored in the content storage unit 51 of the Ceiling storage device 5, when receiving the reading instruction of received content, the content management unit 3 of the home server 3
2 refers to the distribution keyword table 52a and the distribution management table 52c, reads out the content temporarily stored in the content storage unit 51, and sends it to the home device, so that the distributed newspaper / magazine content is already available. The effect that it can be easily browsed by the home electronic device is obtained.

Further, according to the first embodiment, the storage keyword table 52b for performing storage control of content is stored in advance in the index information storage unit 52 for each keyword indicating the genre of content for which storage is requested,
The content management means 32 of the home server 3 collates the keyword added to the content temporarily stored in the content storage unit 51 with the keyword of the saved keyword table 52b, and if the collation result matches, the content is added to the content. A storage management table 52d for performing file management of content to be stored for each of the displayed keywords
Is generated and stored in the index information storage unit 52, and at the same time, the storage management table 52d stores the generated content with the added keyword in the content storage unit 53 of the content storage device 5. The effect that the electronic scrapbook in which the content of the keyword requested to be stored is stored can be automatically generated is obtained.

Furthermore, according to the first embodiment, the display order 522 and the display time 523 of the contents received for each keyword 521 are recorded in advance in the distribution keyword table 52a, and each keyword 524 is recorded in the saved keyword table 52b. The storage period 525 of the content to be stored in the content storage unit 53 is recorded in advance, and the content management means 32 of the home server 3 stores, in the distribution management table 52c and the storage management table 52d, for each keyword 526.
By recording the distribution date 527 when the content is received, the serial number 528 when there are a plurality of the same keywords, and the file name 529 of the content, browsing control of the display order and display time of the distributed content, and saving. The effect that the storage control of the storage period of the content and the file management of the received content and the stored content can be easily performed is obtained.

Furthermore, according to the first embodiment, when the home server 3 receives an instruction to browse the received content in the automatic display mode, the content management means 32.
Refers to the display order 522 and the display time 523 recorded in the distribution keyword table 52a, and the file name 529 stored in the distribution management table 52c,
By reading the content temporarily stored in the content storage unit 51 and outputting the content to the home device, it is possible to obtain the effect that the contents can be output to the home device in the requested order.

Furthermore, according to the first embodiment, when the home server 3 receives an instruction to browse the content stored in the content storage unit 53, the list in the storage management table 52d is stored. The content stored in the content storage unit 53 is output to the household device as a menu of the stored content, and the file name 529 corresponding to the selected menu is referred to for output to the household device. It is possible to obtain the effect that the stored content can be easily browsed by the existing home device.

Furthermore, according to the first embodiment, the content management means 32 of the home server 3 refers to the distribution date 527 recorded in the distribution management table 52c,
By performing maintenance of the content temporarily stored in the distribution management table 52c and the content storage unit 51, it is possible to obtain an effect that the maintenance of the temporarily stored content can be automatically performed.

Furthermore, according to the first embodiment, the content management means 32 of the home server 3 stores the distribution date 527 recorded in the storage management table 52d and the storage period 525 recorded in the storage keyword table 52b.
By performing maintenance on the content stored in the storage management table 52d and the content storage unit 53 with reference to, the effect that the stored content can be automatically maintained is obtained.

Further, according to the first embodiment, when the home server 3 receives an instruction for maintenance of the content stored in the content storage section 53, the content management means 32 lists the storage management table 52d. To
It is output as a menu of stored contents to a household device and stored by performing maintenance on the contents stored in the storage management table 52d and the content storage unit 53 according to the selected menu. The effect that the maintenance of the content can be easily performed is obtained.

[0109]

As described above, according to the present invention, the distribution keyword table for controlling the browsing of the content for each keyword indicating the genre of the content requested to be distributed is previously stored in the index information storage unit of the content storage device. When receiving the content with the keyword added, the home server compares the keyword added to the content with the keyword in the distribution keyword table, and if the matching results match, the content is added to the content. A distribution management table that manages a file of the received content is generated for each of the stored keywords and stored in the index information storage unit, and the content to which the keyword for which the distribution management table is generated is added is stored in the content storage device. Content that is temporarily stored in the content storage section and received When the home server receives an instruction to browse the content, the home server refers to the delivery keyword table and the delivery management table, reads the content temporarily stored in the content storage unit, and sends the content to the home device for delivery. The effect is that the contents of newspapers and magazines can be easily browsed with existing home electronic devices.

According to the present invention, the home server sends the contents to a home device such as a television, a facsimile, or a personal computer, so that the delivered newspaper or
There is an effect that the contents of the magazine can be easily browsed on the existing television, facsimile or personal computer.

According to the present invention, a storage keyword table for performing content storage control is stored in advance in the index information storage unit for each keyword indicating a content genre for which storage is requested, and the home server stores the content storage unit. Match the keywords added to the content that is temporarily stored in the saved keyword table with the keywords in the saved keyword table, and if the matching results match, perform file management of the saved content for each keyword added to the content. The storage management table is generated and stored in the index information storage unit, and the content to which the keyword for which the storage management table is generated is added is stored in the content storage unit of the content storage device. The keyword keyword that was requested to be saved There is an effect that saved electronic scrapbook the Ntsu can be automatically generated.

According to the present invention, the display order and the display time of the content received for each keyword are recorded in advance in the distribution keyword table, and the storage term of the content to be stored in the content storage section for each keyword is recorded in the storage keyword table. By recording in advance, the home server records, for each keyword, the distribution date when the content is received, the serial number when a plurality of the same keywords exist, and the file name of the content in the distribution management table and the storage management table. It is possible to easily perform the browsing control of the display order and the display time of the distributed content, the storage control of the storage period of the stored content, and the file management of the received content and the stored content.

According to the present invention, when the home server receives the instruction to browse the received content in the automatic display mode, the display order and display time recorded in the distribution keyword table and the distribution management table are recorded. By referring to the stored file name and reading the content temporarily stored in the content storage unit and outputting it to the home device, the contents can be output to the home device in the requested order. effective.

According to the present invention, when the home server receives an instruction to browse the content stored in the content storage unit, the list of the storage management table is used as a menu of the stored content for household appliances. Output to
Refer to the file name corresponding to the selected menu,
By reading out the content stored in the content storage unit and outputting it to the household device, there is an effect that the stored content can be easily browsed by the existing household device.

According to the present invention, the home server refers to the delivery date recorded in the delivery management table and performs maintenance of the content temporarily stored in the delivery management table and the content storage section, thereby temporarily storing the content. This has the effect of automatically maintaining the content that is stored.

According to the present invention, the home server refers to the distribution date recorded in the storage management table and the storage period recorded in the storage keyword table, and stores the data in the storage management table and the content storage unit. By performing content maintenance, it is possible to automatically perform maintenance on the stored content.

According to the present invention, when the home server receives an instruction to maintain the content stored in the content storage unit, the list of the storage management table is used as a menu of the stored content for household appliances. Output to and the maintenance of the content stored in the storage management table and the content storage unit according to the selected menu, the effect that the stored content can be easily maintained is there.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a content management system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a home server and a content storage device installed in a home of a content management system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a content distribution procedure and a content reception procedure in the content management system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing contents distributed by a distribution server in the content management system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a content distribution procedure in the case where the user individually designates a keyword of a content desired to be distributed in the content management system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a keyword table, which is stored in advance in an index information storage unit in the content management system according to the first embodiment of the present invention, for performing browsing control and storage control for each keyword.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a management table for managing received content, which is generated when content is received in the content management system according to the first embodiment of the present invention and is stored in the index information storage unit.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a procedure for generating a distribution management table from distributed contents in the content management system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a procedure for generating a storage management table from accumulated content in the content management system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a procedure for browsing distributed content in the content management system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a procedure for browsing stored contents in the content management system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a keyword registration process in the content management system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing maintenance processing of registered keywords in the content management system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a process of automatically maintaining content stored in a home server in the content management system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a process of automatically maintaining the content stored in the home server in the content management system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a process of maintaining the stored content according to a user's instruction in the content management system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 distribution server, 2 content storage device, 3 home server, 5 content storage device, 6 TV, 7 Fa
x, 8 PC, 9 communication line, 21 TV content, 22 Fax content, 23 PC content, 31 communication means, 32 content management means, 33
Sending means, 34 server control means, 36 video terminals,
37 analog telephone terminal, 38 LAN terminal, 41 console, 42 video control device, 51 content storage section, 52 index information storage section, 52a distribution keyword table, 52b storage keyword table,
52c delivery management table, 52d storage management table, 53 content storage unit, 521 keywords, 5
22 display order, 523 display time, 524 keywords, 525 retention period, 526 keywords, 527
Delivery date, 528 serial number, 529 file name.

Front page continuation (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G06F 17/60 176 G06F 17/60 176A 302 302E

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A home server that receives contents such as newspapers and magazines distributed via a communication line and sends the contents to a home device for browsing the received contents, and a content received by the home server temporarily. A content management method comprising a content storage device for storing, wherein a distribution keyword table for controlling browsing of the content is previously indexed in the content storage device for each keyword indicating a genre of the content requested to be distributed. When the content stored in the information storage unit and the content with the keyword added is received, the home server matches the keyword added to the content with the keyword in the distribution keyword table, and the matching result is If matched, the keyword added to the above content For each time, a distribution management table for performing file management of the received content is generated and stored in the index information storage unit, and the content to which the keyword for which the distribution management table is generated is added is stored in the content storage device. The home server temporarily stores in the content storage unit, and when the received instruction to browse the content is received, the home server refers to the delivery keyword table and the delivery management table and temporarily stores in the content storage unit. A content management system characterized by reading out content and transmitting it to the above-mentioned household equipment. 2. The content management system according to claim 1, wherein the home server sends the content to a home device such as a television, a facsimile or a personal computer. 3. A storage keyword table for controlling storage of the content is stored in advance in the index information storage unit for each keyword indicating a content genre that is requested to be stored, and the home server temporarily stores the content in the content storage unit. Match the keywords added to the existing content with the keywords in the above saved keyword table, and if the matching results match, perform file management of the saved content for each keyword added to the above content Save The management table is generated and stored in the index information storage unit, and the content to which the keyword for which the storage management table is generated is added is stored in the content storage unit of the content storage device. Content management method described. 4. The distribution keyword table records in advance the display order and display time of the content received for each keyword, and the storage keyword table records in advance the storage period of the content stored in the content storage unit for each keyword, The home server, for each keyword, in the delivery management table and the storage management table, the delivery date when the content was received, a serial number when there are a plurality of the same keywords,
The content management system according to claim 3, wherein a file name of the content is recorded. 5. The home server stores the display order and display time recorded in the distribution keyword table and the distribution management table when the home server receives an instruction to browse the received content in the automatic display mode. The content management method according to claim 4, wherein the content temporarily stored in the content storage unit is read out by referring to the file name and is output to a home device. 6. When the home server receives an instruction to browse the content stored in the content storage unit, the home server outputs a list of the storage management table to a household device as a menu of the stored content, The content management system according to claim 4, wherein the content stored in the content storage unit is read out and output to a home device by referring to a file name corresponding to the selected menu. 7. The home server refers to the delivery date recorded in the delivery management table, and performs maintenance of the content temporarily stored in the delivery management table and the content storage unit. Content management method described. 8. The home server refers to the distribution date recorded in the storage management table and the storage period recorded in the storage keyword table to maintain the content stored in the storage management table and the content storage unit. The content management system according to claim 4, wherein 9. When the home server receives an instruction to maintain the content stored in the content storage unit, the home server outputs a list of the storage management table to a household device as a menu of the stored content, The content management method according to claim 4, wherein maintenance of the content stored in the storage management table and the content storage unit is performed corresponding to the selected menu.